Going to a small school is not for everyone, but the majority of people who do choose to attend a small school would tell you that the positives outweigh the negatives. Although small schools may not initially seem to have the resources that bigger schools have, the quality is actually much better. There is a bigger sense of community on a smaller schools campus than that of a bigger school. Through my personal experience of attending a smaller school, I have realized less is more.
1. Strong Sense of CommunityThe biggest perk of going to small college is the huge sense of community felt through out the campus. Since the campus is a lot smaller, you are more likely to run into people you know. Going to a smaller school allows you to get to know more of your classmates on a more personal level, opposed to going to a bigger school where you’re just another number. By being able to walk around everywhere and see a lot of the same people, the school becomes a lot more comfortable. This level of comfort that is felt throughout campus is the reason why a lot of people call their small schools their home.
2. Extensive Knowledge of the CampusGoing to a smaller school means a smaller campus and since the campus is smaller, finding your way around is much easier. By the second week of my freshman year, I knew the campus like the back of my hand. This extensive knowledge of the campus is a huge benefit because I can find things a lot easier, Also, it takes less time to get to class, which means more time to sleep. Most people who go to bigger schools do not know where everything is on their campus, which causes a lot of confusion. The ability to know where you are at all times makes students feel more safe and comfortable.
3. Being Taught by Actual ProfessorsA huge benefit about going to a smaller school that most students take for granted and do not even realize, is the opportunity to be taught by actual professors. At bigger universities most classes are taught by T.A.’s, or teachers assistants, who are often graduate students. Actual professors teaching courses is a huge benefit because they have done more research on that particular topic than a T.A. and have a vast collection of experience. One could argue that students who are taught by actual professors are receiving a better education because they are learning from someone who is incredibly knowledgeable in their field.
4. Having Smaller Class SizesOne thing every college student who attends a smaller school understands is the blessing and the curse of having smaller class sizes. Having smaller class sizes can be a blessing in many ways because it allows each student to be seen as an individual, not just a number. Attending a class at a smaller university is kind of similar to high school because the professors know your name, so they have the ability to help you and get to know you on more of a personal level. At a larger university, students tend to get lost in the numbers and it is more difficult to establish a relationship with professors. A curse to having smaller classes is that it makes skipping class a lot more difficult, since most professors take attendance and if you miss a certain amount of classes, you can be penalized. But this could also be seen as a good thing because then you are almost forced to go to class.
5. Recognition“Wait, where is your school again?” “I never heard of that school”. This is something all college students who attend smaller colleges are sick and tired of hearing. Smaller schools are normally not as well known as the bigger schools so that can be a drawback because not a lot of people may have heard of your school depending on where they live. All smaller college students want is for people to stop interrogating them about details on their school. I go to Fairfield University. Google it.
6. Less VarietyAttending a smaller school will obviously mean less of a variety for a lot of different things whether it’s classes, people, or food. Going to a smaller school means there will be less options has opposed to bigger schools, in regards to different classes that are available that one can take. There are also not many different places one can go to on campus since it’s a lot smaller. For example, bigger schools have multiple dining halls where as at a smaller school there is only one. Also at a smaller school, geographically speaking, most people are from around the same place so there is less diversity.
7. Not Having a Football TeamGoing to a smaller school means that you are going to have to give up your dreams of going to football tailgates and watching your school on the big screen. Tough. I know. Although most college students who attend smaller universities may not see this as a drawback, there are some people who see this as really important. Even though the school cannot come together to support a huge football team, they do rally for soccer games, volleyball games, and lacrosse games. And the fan section you may ask? Small schools tend to get rowdy.Â