Picking the Right College Environment
A Guide to Choosing the College Location That Best Fits You
Nov 10, 2009
Colleges can be found practically everywhere: in bustling cities, near small towns, or in the middle of suburban environments. Each type of location has its advantage, but students should make sure they understand the drawbacks of, for example, attending a college in the middle of a city – or in the middle of nowhere.
Attending an Urban College
The idea of going to college in the city can be thrilling for many. The many venues for entertainment, nightlife, dining and relaxation that surround urban campuses can be a large draw for students, along with educational resources like museums and municipal libraries. If a strong public transportation system is in place, students can visit a wide array of such destinations without the use of a car.
There are some complications to attending school in the city, however. To start, students may not feel safe on an urban campus, though a strong campus security network can help diminish such fears. But students must also make sure that they do not become too distracted from their work; with so many destinations to visit around them, those enrolled in urban schools might have trouble finding enough time to get their schoolwork in.
Some urban colleges could be described as “commuter schools,” where a significant portion of students live in the region of the school, but not in campus dorms. For students coming from out of town, this can make the college campus less lively at night than they might have hoped, especially because students may be going out to other venues anyway.
There also come times in college where students desire a quiet, peaceful atmosphere. This can be difficult to find in the middle of a city, though parks and libraries may provide places of refuge.
Choosing a Rural Campus Environment
Students out in the country are likely to find plenty of peace and quiet around them, and should have plenty of beautiful scenery to take in. Because their peers probably do not live within commuting distance, and since there won’t be too many non-campus destinations in the area, the campus will always be populated – and, hopefully, filled with things to do.
Of course, the very qualities that make a rural college environment desirable for some are likely to keep others away. If a college in the country is not particularly large, students may find themselves wanting of things to do, and might wish that there were more people on and off campus to meet. Simply drinking with friends each weekend can grow tiresome after the beginning of the semester.
Picking a Suburban College Location
Those looking for something in between the urban and rural campus environments may want to attend a suburban school. Such colleges can provide a middle ground between an urban setting, which can be too distracting for some, and a rural campus, which may not offer enough to do.
The suburban environment is not perfect, of course. Unless some form of public transportation exists, students may find themselves relying on a car to go shopping, attend church or head out to a sports game. Applicants should check to see if the college they are considering is known as a commuter school; if so, they may want to pick an institution where more students live on campus.
The Importance of Making a College Visit
Students genuinely interested in a school should be sure, if possible, to visit it. Students cannot be certain of how they will respond to a given environment unless they immerse themselves in it for a day or two. The college visit gives applicants the chance to try out different college settings and see which one suits them best.
 |
