Locations do play a critical role while choosing the right university. During your hunt for the right college match or making a college list, you may be divided between large-city destinations and a small-town setting. Each of these options has its own advantages and disadvantages. Your ambitions and dream college experience will ultimately assist you in deciding which is the right fit for you. In this post, we will look at small town vs big city – how to choose the right one.
Colleges in the Big City: Pros and Cons
Is a crowded urban campus the right option? Big cities have a variety to give students in terms of opportunities, but they may also detract from the typical college experience. If you want to know the benefits and drawbacks of pursuing college in a big city, here are a few!
The Pros of Attending a University in a Big City
- Career resources: Students in big cities often have more internships, competitive courses, and other career-enhancing resources. Think about getting an opportunity at a top organization in your field on your resume before you even graduate.
- Better transportation: Most students can get to where they need via a train or bus. You do not need to get a car, even if you wish to go home for breaks even during holidays when an airport is nearby.
- Cultural diversity: In big cities, college students get to experience cultural diversity, as people from different parts of the world come to big cities to make a fortune.
- Cultural opportunities: There’s no lack of activities to do off-campus, with museums, plays, theatre shows, and other artistic gatherings occurring all the time.
Negatives
- Scattered student community: Instead of being focused on and around the campus, students will live all around the city because of the hype. Furthermore, there is so much to do in a big city that students may not spend much of their free time on campus. As a result, the sense of culture may not be as strong at an urban college.
- Cost of living: In a big city, the cost of living is usually higher. So make sure you can handle it. Read how to save money while studying abroad.
- Less conventional feeling: Often, urban campuses neglect sports, student life, and other classic signifiers of college. A big-city campus may not be for you if you crave the typical college experience.
- Distractions: There are far more distractions a big city can offer than a small town. Big cities are noisier and might have higher crime rates.
Colleges in Small Town: Pros and Cons
Do you think you are more comfortable in a small-town setting? And if you are, before considering a small town or rural environment for your college years, some pros and cons should be taken into account.
The Pros of Living in a Small Town
- Closer community: Colleges tend to be reasonably self-contained in small towns, and most students reside on or just near the campus. Students are always seen doing stuff on campus, whether it’s a school-sponsored event or just hanging out in the free time. This will contribute to the student body getting an immediate sense of culture.
- Traditional college experience: The classic college experience is more likely to exist in a small-town college: football games, Greek life, and a lovely campus atmosphere.
- Fewer distractions: There are few distractions in small cities, making it easier to concentrate on academics.
- Cheap: With anything from food to entertainment to rent, most small towns have a lower cost of living.
- Outdoor experiences: Rural colleges are more likely to have ready access to woods, camping, waterfalls, and more. This may be ideal for outdoor styles or those who hope to major in agriculture or environmental science.
Negatives
- No social life: While there are many activities to do on campus, the local environment does not have anything extraordinary. Generally, a small-town college would have a quieter atmosphere than a large-city college.
- Tougher transportation: You would need to get a car or hitch a ride with a friend if you need to go to the grocery store or go home on a holiday break because transportation in small cities is limited.
- Fewer resources: While a rural environment is ideal for a few majors many other students may not be able to find a relevant internship in a small city because of a lack of resources. Owing to minimal supply, the few internships available could be highly competitive.
Final Word: Small Town vs Big City – What’s better?
Picking the ideal college may be difficult. Begin by daydreaming about what you want to get out of your college experience and visiting campus as many times as possible to get a better understanding of what both your options look like: small city or big city.
Keep in mind that there are still certain limitations to the rule of law. If you’ve read about all of the benefits and drawbacks and still can’t decide which is best for you, there are some choices where you can find a harmonious blend of both worlds. No matter what you choose a small city or a big city to live in, UniAcco has got accommodations in both with all the modern amenities and student-friendly budgets.