Is a Big College The Way to Go?

My senior year of high school was an exciting time in my life. It was not that I was about to graduate that propelled my excitement, rather it was the fact that a new chapter of my life was about to unravel: college. Therefore, as I powered through college application essays, I did so with great enthusiasm as I kept anticipating what college had in store for me.

Therefore, as I looked to narrow down my college list, I tended to gravitate toward bigger and more popular schools as I thought that they would give me more of an elaborate college experience. While doing my research I saw how bigger universities had more academic programs, school clubs, internship opportunities, and research positions to offer. I naively translated this to mean a better school. However, fast forward to three years later, I come to realize that these various offerings are not what makes an enjoyable college experience; rather it is the warm feeling of a school community that does. And what I did find out is that bigger schools tend to lack this.

Statistically speaking, bigger schools have a larger student population, therefore it becomes harder to bring those students together. This statement might seem like the straightforward answer as to why it is harder to create a community feel at big universities, however, I think it is something else.

You know how they say that when looking to buy a house it is all about location, location, location! Well, I think it is kind of the same thing with college. From my experiences, I hypothesize that colleges located in quieter and or less active cities or neighborhoods are able to create a greater school community feel because students focus their energy and activities at school due to the lack of distractions (things to do) outside of the school boundaries. Consequently, schools centered in busy cities, like Chicago, suffer from the inability to create a strong school community. Granted, I think one in such schools can still seek community in smaller groups within the school.

This is why I believe that a school’s size should not be a major factor in one's assessment of a school as I think a handful of other factors shape a school. If anything, I believe the size of a college. only amplifies the effects that each of the factors has on the school.