Large College Vs. Small College

At first you may think the only things different with college are living in Residence Halls and living away from home, but there’s so much different that you don’t realize and it can be quite overwhelming at first. Sure, there’s differences in your classes, but something that you may not even think about is the size of your college and it’s a consideration you need to think about at the beginning of your college search. Do you want to go to a smaller college with a couple thousand students, or are you okay with a large campus and a lot more students?

To start with, the choice you make shouldn’t be based on what anyone around you says. Your mom or best friend can’t tell you if a large university is right for you or if you should stick with a small private college. There are benefits and drawbacks of each and you need to fully look into your college choices to evaluate which is best for you.

To start with, finances are a consideration. That small college may seem better, but are you paying a lot more in order to go to that college? The large university may have quite a price cut. A $20,000 (more or less) price cut per year. Determine what you can and are willing to pay. That tuition may not seem like anything right now, but if you take out loans, you have to pay them back after college and it can be quite stressful. It may seem weird to think 4 or more years ahead, but this is the time to do it.

The courses and majors are going to differ slightly, but so are the other offerings. This is when you want to look into sports, clubs, and other extracurricular activities. You want a well-rounded education and at this point in your evaluations, you’ll want to make a checklist. What do each of the campuses offer that you are interested in? Yes, even the physical campus environment can count. You may want areas that you can sit in and study or hang out with friends whereas one college doesn’t offer much other than buildings. Once you make your checklist, determine between the lists what you absolutely can’t be without. In the end, the choice should be yours. You’re the one going to college, and you need to be happy with your decisions, not transferring over to the other college partway through your college years.