Although some people may argue that bigger is better, we here at Susquehanna think otherwise! Road trips down the Penn State for State Patty’s day and football games may be very exciting events but when it comes to the day to day necessities, Susquehanna has you covered.
Perk #1: Unique Feel on Campus
Weber Chapel- Susquehanna University
Since the campus will be comparatively smaller than a bigger university, the school has the ability to personalize every building on campus because there are less of them. I’ve visited much bigger state universities and everything, especially the dorm buildings, all look the same. On smaller campuses, each building just seems to have more… character. If you venture into the newly renovated Fisher Hall, you’ll find a gigantic pendulum swinging; if you’re eco-friendly, you’ll love knowing that the New Science Building is completely solar powered; and for those who want an excuse to check out Weber Chapel, the basement is perfect for playing late night games of ‘Murder,’ it doesn’t hurt that rumors of the chapel being haunted add that extra creepy factor. The elevators in Seibert also seem to have a life of their own, and I can tell you from experience that when you’re up ‘til 3AM studying for your Modern East Asia final, it’s super spooky to hear the doors open and close and not see anyone walk out of them. Trust us, this campus is full of life.
Perk #2: More Things to Do
This might sound like it would be the other way around but, because smaller schools are usually in smaller towns, it’s more than likely that there will be a better on-campus life. A smaller university might not necessarily have a large budget compared to a bigger university, but there are
Perk #3: A Chance for Individuality
If you go to a small school, the world is your oyster! I mean this in the academic and literal sense. The majority of small universities allow students to personalize their college experience. You can often design your own major if the specialized area of study you want is not offered at your university, as well as choose your own study-abroad destination if no one has chosen to study there yet.
SU is the only university in the country to have anything like our GO (Global Opportunities) program; with the requirement to study “away,” it can be hard to find time or to find that perfect program. One of my friends decided to study in Botswana a couple years ago and even though there was no formal program there, SU worked with her to make it happen. Of course both of these options will requires lots of planning and coordinating with professors and advisors, but the payoff is definitely worth it to have a college experience that is all your own!
Perk #4: Professors Teach Their Own Classes
Ann Piper’s Painting class
This perk is a pretty obvious one, but that doesn’t make it any less important! At a smaller university, professors often have fewer classes that they are teaching and because of this, they are able to teach all of their own courses themselves, without having to rely on teaching assistants. I am a senior at SU and I have not once ever had a TA for one of my classes). This also means professors will often have longer office hours and more time to give individual attention to each student. One of my professors even worked with one of my friends and taught her an independent study course so that she could work the class into her schedule to be able to finish her minor on time.
Perk #5: Everyone Knows Everyone
President Lemons waving to the SU Masterworks Chorus and Orchestra at Carnegie Hall
This, collegiettes™, is the biggest perk yet! Picture this, it’s Christmastime and after your university’s annual church service, the President invites everyone back to his house for cookies and hot chocolate and he welcomes everyone into his home with a hug. Or, right before finals, the President invites everyone to the campus center in their pajamas and he shows up (also in his pajamas) to read ‘Twas the Night before Christmas to all the kids to calm their nerves. Well, this is the reality at Susquehanna, and it’s likely that there are similar traditions at other small universities around the country. Susquehanna is so special because there are fewer students; it’s much more likely that the President and professors will recognize you and know your name when you enter a community like SU. It is also likely that the staff will have more time to cater to each student because there are less of them. At smaller schools, you aren’t just a number in the school’s population, you are a person. Fewer students also means that everyone gets the opportunity to get to know everyone, and this really creates a wonderful feeling of community.
That being said, welcome back collegiettes™!!