College Admissions: Is a Big-City School Right for You?
Monday, December 12, 2016
If there is one difference between students going to college today and their parents, it has to be the high percentage of kids who think that they want (and need) to go to college in a city. In the 1970s and 1980s, it seemed that most of us wanted a pretty green campus in a quaint college town. Today, 70% of the kids I counsel say that they want a city school. I theorize that it is the result of an over stimulated generation, accustomed to being bombarded by an array of media devices….but perhaps I am wrong.
The Upside of City Colleges
It’s true that city colleges offer a cafeteria of off-campus options for amusement. Museums, the theatre, pro sports games, concerts, shopping and clubs-- cities have it all. If you are bored, you need only hop on the subway or bus to find something that stimulates you. City schools also usually have access to other colleges nearby, and students may share academic or social resources. Internships are usually more accessible, as are off campus jobs and volunteer opportunities. Transportation is certainly easy, since airports, trains and buses are all nearby. So, getting home is a breeze. There is no denying that there are convenience aspects to city colleges.
The Downside of City Colleges
First, only a very small percentage of colleges are in cities. So, if you focus exclusively on city schools, you are really limiting your options and missing out on an abundance of great colleges. Second, students often forget the sense of community that comes with a centralized campus, smaller dorms and a big green quad where kids throw around Frisbees on sunny days. Few big city schools offer that, and the biggest complaint I hear from students who want to transfer out of big city colleges is that they lack a sense of belonging. Make no mistake about it, the attrition rate is higher at big city colleges. Safety is also a factor. While many city schools have excellent security on campus, once you step off campus, you have to be aware of your surroundings and the crime that comes with big city living.
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One of the most common misconceptions about colleges set amidst the mountains of Maine or flatlands of Ohio is that there isn’t much going on. In fact, colleges in more remote locations usually try harder to bring concerts on campus, create a sense of school spirit, and provide numerous extra-curricular venues for students to enjoy life outside of class. Rural and suburban campuses are alive on the weekends because students don’t leave campus and scatter in multiple directions, as they do in cities. In the end, college is about education, but it’s also about having a sense of community and looking back on dorm friends, hockey and football games, the clubs you belonged to, and the place you called home for 4 years. So, for students who think they have to be in a city, take a second look at that beautiful green campus in Vermont or Virginia that you think is too remote. You might just end up having the best 4 years of your life.
Cristiana Quinn, M.Ed. is the founder of College Admission Advisors, LLC which provides strategic, college counseling and athletic recruiting services for students. www.collegeadvisorsonline.com.
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