I had a college dream: I was going to go to a big university in a huge city far away from home. I was going to be one of the few students from Minnesota and I knew I would meet amazing people from around the country.
I was going to have hundreds of opportunities right at my fingertips. I would major in something marketable such as business and would be involved in dozens of extracurriculars.
None of this happened.
Instead, I go to a small college in a quaint little town close to home. I’m one of the 50% from Minnesota and I end up meeting lots of people from the other high schools around Minnesota.
I only have about 40 options for majors. My college doesn’t have a whole lot of options for business, and many of the students are music majors. My school is incredibly musically orientated.
But, that’s not a bad thing at all.
Going to a small college means that I get to create long-lasting connections with the people around me. The tiny town my college is located in hosts fun activities that I would have the opportunity to experience anywhere else. And being close to home only means I don’t have to drive very far to get home for breaks. Yes, I meet a lot of Minnesota kids. However, I still get to meet people from around the country and the world. Plus, during breaks and summer, I get to see my friends from both high school and college!
Yes, there are only about 40 options for majors. But, that also means I have the opportunity to try out lots of different classes to discover what I really love. And I was wrong: my college does have a business program.
I was able to take an Economics class and discover it wasn’t the major for me. I’m able to continue French and consider studying abroad. I’m not stuck taking classes in only my major. I’m able to take amazing classes with less than 20 students.
My professors know my name, my strengths, my weaknesses. They know how to help me succeed. They come from diverse backgrounds and foster conversation and debate within all of our classes, from French to Political Science to Religion.
And this is why I stayed in Minnesota. The perfect fit was 45 minutes from my house, not a three hour plane ride. As seniors are beginning to make your college decision, think about this: it’s not about the distance. It’s not about the location. It’s about understanding what’s best for you. If that’s a huge school, go there. If it’s a tiny school, go there. If it’s a gap year, go for it.
I’m glad I’m still in Minnesota–it’s a pretty cool place.