10 Reasons to Go to a Small College

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There is no argument that there are certain advantages to a small college. Does that mean that even in general, you cant go wrong by choosing a small school? Absolutley not...it is all dependent on the type of personality you have, the level of interest you may have in experiencing different opportunities, whether or not you are sure as to what you want to major in, and whether academics, and purely academics is what you want to experience as opposed to an overall college experience with the various facets that entails. Whether you go to a small school or a larger research institution, you will get out of it what you put into it. There is a tendancy for those that attend smaller schools to bash the larger schools, just as some that attend larger schools look down on those that attend smaller schools. Grave mistake. The only question is, given who you are and what you are interested in, what is the best choice for you.

Jose of NY 10:19AM August 06, 2010

I'd say the same is true for small (but academically challenging) high schools. I teach at Covenant Christian High School on the westside of Indianapolis.
www.covenantchristian.org
We have about 340 students grades 9-12. Two of my own kids have graduated from this high school as well and most of the things above are true. Our class sizes are small. We read and grade paper thoroughly. Our students do LOTS of writing (and not just in English class) and we have a lot of flexibility in dealing with student requests. We also have a lot of fun. Our faculty and staff are really involved in each other's lives and in our student's lives. In many cases, we have taught their siblings and know their whole family. Sure there are things that big schools have that we don't (football is one of them) but in the long run, small high schools have a lot to offer.

Nanci Slagle of IN 9:50AM August 04, 2010

Those are ten excellent academic reasons to go to a small college. There are several co-curricular or extra-curricular reasons as well. For example, you can be an athlete and sing in the college's choir. You can get much more leadership training and experience at a small college. There are opportunities to meet alumni who may be helpful to you with internships or job searching. And especially if you go to a small university or college like Newman University, you will be very likely to become engaged in community service and develop a habit of service that will last a lifetime. In sum, going to a small college or university provides much greater potential for a well balanced collegiate experience. Finally, at many small schools such as Newman University you will find it to be surprisingly affordable. Average student loans from our school are similar to or less than that of several public institutions. Small private colleges can actually be a bargain!
Noreen Carrocci
President
Newman University

Noreen Carrocci of KS 4:56PM July 30, 2010

Attending a small college also allows you more opportunities to get involved in things from a leadership standpoint. This can be extremely beneficial as you look for actual experience to put on a resume as you prepare to graduate and head off into the real world. While the big university name may look good on a diploma, the small university experience and sense of belonging is just as valuable if not more so.

Dave Parsons of OH 2:02PM July 30, 2010

Great article! Here is a complete student loan guide which explains all of the different types of student loans:
http://helpsavemydollars.com/2010/07/student-loan-guide/

Scott of NY 12:49PM July 28, 2010

Attending a small University provided the extra closely monitored assistance I needed to work for my B.A.
This was also the reason I chose 3 smaller Universities to obtain 3 teaching credentials, 2 Master Degrees, and Education Specialist.

Galen Howard of CA 10:48AM July 28, 2010