Go Big?

Everyone knows the pressure of picking colleges. There’s a lot to consider, like am I going out of state? How much does it cost? And, do I want to go to a big school or a small school? That’s what I’m going to try to help you out with. A big college has a lot to offer.

• Wide variety of majors and courses
• Large libraries
• Variety of housing opportunities
• Well funded and noteworthy sports programs
• Wide range of academic choices and student activities
• Distinguished or famous faculty
• State-of-the-art research facilities
• More people to associate with and become friends with

 But, a small college has some advantages as well, like:

• Small class sizes
• Hands-on learning opportunities
• Individually designed majors
• Strong advising system; advisers know students well
• Strong sense of community
• Professors, not teaching assistants, teach most courses
• Opportunity to get to know professors well

These were the questions I had asked three Leyden teachers:

• What college did you go to?
• Where is that college?
• Is it big or small?
• What college do you prefer is better? Bigger or Smaller?
• What are the pro’s and con’s to which ever one you picked?
• Did you like going to your college?
• Do you feel like you got individual attention
• Is there anything you would change about the college you went to?

And these were their responses:

Mr. Russotto

• “Illinois State University”
• “Bloomington/Normal Illinois”
• “It is a bigger school, about 20,000-22,000”
• “I personally preferred a bigger college”
• “Pros: It being far enough to where I felt like I was away at college but it was close enough to go home and visit when I wanted to.”
• “Cons: Being such a popular school you went their with your high school people while wanting to meet new people.”
• “For my general education classes, no. But my major classes, I did get some one on one help”
• “No not at all.”

 Mr. Markey:

• “I went to The University of Northern Iowa”
• “Cedar Falls, Iowa”
• “I think it’s kinda medium sized, about 12,000 students”
• “I mean my preference was a larger school, I didn’t want to go to a small school because i wanted to go to a larger school with a lot of opportunities and more people”
• “I think one big advantage is when you go to a large university there’s a large amount of opportunity; otherwise for a small school they focus on one thing and might have to transfer school, another advantage is the network of a large school, almost anywhere you go you’re going to find a lot of people that graduated there and have things in common with people.”
• “I loved it, one of the things I was interested the most was that back then the college was known for the “State Teachers College of Iowa” everything revolved around becoming a teacher, but also sports and activities. The campus was small enough to walk everywhere but big enough to have your own space. And also, all of my classes were taught by professors and not teaching assistants”
• “I definitely got individual attention”
• “No not really, but looking back I feel like I wish I took more advantage of the opportunities that the school had to offer.”

Mr. Gerber:

• “Cedarville College”
• “Cedarville, Ohio”
• “Small, back when I went it was 700 kids, but now it’s about 3,300 kids.”
• “Well, I mean I went to grad school after Cedarville, there are pluses and minuses for both. Small colleges you know everybody but then everybody knows you and a small college isn’t going to be in the Big 10, but you did know everybody so that was nice.“
• “Yes it was fantastic. It was an amazing time for me, wonderful experience. I didn’t want to leave, but I was offered a teaching job so I left!”
• “Oh yes, I knew my professors really well.”
• “I would just study more and take more opportunities and have a better plan but things worked out and I thank my professors for that. The college itself was great.”

Overall it’s up to you and your comfortability and personality. If you’re outgoing, can make friends easily, and can do your school work in large groups, maybe you should consider going to a big college. Nothing is wrong going to a small college either, if you need more one on one time with your teacher and prefer close connections. Either one you pick the experience is amazing, you get to do and study what you want to be in life and just that thought is exciting itself.