How Should I Start Choosing a College?
There are virtually thousands of schools out there to choose from, some which are located smack dab in the center of a busy metropolis, while others are sprawled over acres of scenic countryside. As you narrow down your college options, you’ll want to take into consideration the location of the college itself, and whether you want to live and attend classes in an urban or rural setting.
Why Setting Matters
When you are selecting a college, you’ll most likely be focused on a few major factors, such as program offerings, tuition costs, financial aid packages, and school size. School setting can be just as important, though, because it determines how you’ll live your life for the next 4 (or more) years.
You could be a culinary student attending the best culinary school in the world, but if your school is located in the middle of the Adirondacks and you’re a die-hard city girl, chances are you’re not going to enjoy your courses or your college experience as much as you should.
Here are a few factors to consider as you make your decision.
Urban Living
Advantages
- Urban areas tend to offer more social and cultural opportunities: museums, theaters, music venues, comedy clubs, parks, assorted bars and restaurants, street festivals, etc.
- Multiple public transportation options (trains, buses, taxis) eliminate the need for a car on a daily basis. It may also be easier to access a train station, airport, bus terminal for those times you need to travel.
- Surrounded by a large number of varied businesses, internship opportunities are more plentiful. There are also more job opportunities if you need to work while you’re attending school.
Disadvantages
- City schools often lack the picturesque appearance and ambiance encompassed by traditional campuses. If you love nature and solitude, you might be turned off by the crowds, pollution and noise of a big-city campus.
- Another disadvantage is that the cost of living in urban areas can be significantly more expensive.
- Although crime doesn’t run as rampant as Gotham City would have you believe, the crimes rates are typically higher than in rural areas.
Rural Living
Advantages
- With the community tending to center around the campus, there can be a greater sense of unity and camaraderie among the student body.
- Depending on the geographic location, rural areas can offer more abundant outdoor activities.
- The cost of living is typically cheaper. (According to the website Sperling’s Best Places, New York City is 105% more expensive than living in Valdosta, GA. Housing, one of the biggest defining factors, is 296% more expensive.
Disadvantages
- Shopping, dining and cultural outlets can be limited.
- With the towns being smaller, it is not uncommon to frequently run into professors and other faculty, and the population of the town itself may be less diverse than it would be in an urban environment.
- With fewer internship prospects in town, a number of students cannot hold them during the school year. They have to secure a position in another area or city during the summer.
Our advice is to visit both settings and explore which one will prove a better fit for you. Think about whether you can see yourself in that particular environment for the next 2, 4 or more (if considering graduate school) years. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so as long as you take into consideration what’s best for you and what will help you get the most out of your college experience.
