Going to university in a booming metropolis, full of life, diversity and a million things to do might seem like the best decision someone can make to prepare for the world after university. It is fun, exciting and bustling with opportunities—until you realise that the public transport relentlessly keeps failing and you’re almost always half-broke or never satisfied with your social life. However, everybody is different and it is important to acknowledge how much the academic environment can affect their university experience and shape the way they feel day-to-day.
After three years in university, I keep asking myself if moving out of my comfort zone for a university in a small town was a genuine choice. The location and what a student is exposed to make a big difference. Oftentimes, I wonder how different I would be if I went to school in London, Edinburgh or Manchester. In the end, I smile knowing I made the right choice, at least for me. For someone who appreciates the smaller things, a slower pace of life, and feeling closer to the people that make me feel like I’m home away from home, St Andrews was definitely the ideal choice. If you are as indecisive as I was in choosing where to go, here are some general pros of going to a campus town (from my experience!).
Sense of community and university spirit
The feeling of comfort knowing all of your friends are in one place and you’re all in it together is like no other, especially in your first year! Making friends, choosing them wisely (there’s no option of escaping your choices in a small town) and arranging get-togethers is so much easier and more convenient. No need for bus rides for chill Sunday dinners and pre-drinks; all you need to do is knock next door. The university spirit is so passionate in a small uni-town. The traditions provide a sense of community and belonging that reinforces the love that grows for the people and the place you’re in. You appreciate the community that would soon feel like family. There is no better way to understand it than actually experiencing it!
The great outdoors!
Nothing screams campus university life more than lying in the quads or the parks on campus on a sunny day. The extra oxygen and fresh air might be a little underestimated and overlooked in a conventional student’s uni-life and might just be what they need to escape the stress. St Andrews is lucky, baring few of the most breathtaking trails like the ‘Fife Coastal path’ and the ‘Lade Braes walk’, my favorite jogging path. During fall, nothing seems prettier than an evening stroll by the creek. The poor souls down in Edinburgh and London might be missing out on some free and easy green therapy.
Safety and Silence
Safety is so important in student life, especially when you want to let go and have a comfortable night out without having to worry. With a dedicated student network and a close-knit circle of friends, you can rest easy knowing the campus is entirely populated by students and teachers. On campus, you have the added luxury of being able to step aside from the hustle of the city. The peace and quiet are worth it, although they are not often associated with the partying and social life that uni-life is all about. However, there will be a time not too far from first year, when you truly value this peace and will do anything to get some.
In contrast, living in a city just doesn’t give you time to enjoy, appreciate or even just acknowledge any of the above. Something or the other is always going on – concerts, festivals or even opportunities to participate in protests and simply being part of something big. On the other hand, in St Andrews, the themed university weeks and its events are all we got, with pub crawls and house parties, of course. The idea to go anywhere outside St Andrews for drinks pains you as you realize that you will need to pile your drunk friends into taxis after, and yes, it is work.
Obviously, you can get a little too sucked into this way of living. It’s easy to get a bit too comfortable in a convenient little bubble. By graduation, you may not be prepared to live outside this comfort zone and reality slaps you in the face. Everybody is different and trying to figure out what they want. For me, it was a college degree, an escape from home, someplace that’s not too alien and fits who I am. But one tip: everybody should consider St Andrews, of course.