Thinking big (when it comes to college)

Last week, we argued that choosing a small, liberal arts college might be better than a large university. Why, then, do so many more students apply to large universities – those with more than 20,000 students?

Consider these 6 reasons why, for some, bigger is better.

• Diversity. It’s simple math. Larger schools have more students from more places and all sorts of backgrounds. It’s great to learn from classmates who come from backgrounds unlike yours: different country, state, race, religion, ethnicity and academic interests, to name a few.
• Student life. Larger universities offer more activities and opportunities for involvement. Some colleges have upwards of 500 clubs and organizations for you to join – it’ll be easy for you to find others with common interests! Larger universities also tend to have Greek communities (not found at most smaller colleges) that provide a social outlet for many students.
• Academic choice. More professors often means more classes offered. At some colleges, you’ll find 3,000 or even 4,000 classes offered. Choice, choice, and more choice – you’ll also find more majors, minors and concentrations. If you’ve ever been curious about exploring a new subject or topic, you’ll likely find it at a large university.
• School spirit. Some universities are so large, they feel like a small city. (Think about the University of Texas, Texas A&M, Ohio State, or Arizona State, for example.) It’s exciting to walk across campus and wear your college tee and know that literally thousands of others feel the same pride in their school as you. These colleges also foster a sense of community around their athletic teams – some stadiums hold 100,000 fans. Now that is a college experience!
• Research. Large universities are often driven by groundbreaking research. Wouldn’t it be exciting to work with a professor who is literally rewriting history (or, at least, a new history textbook)? Or to work in the lab of a famous scientist or engineer and help discover new knowledge? Research opportunities for undergraduates are usually easy to come by – you just need to seek them out.
• Alumni networks. More graduates means more alumni. A large alumni network can be critical when finding a job after graduation, or for internships while you’re a student. The sense of community that is cultivated by a larger university will carry through with most alumni for the rest of their lives.

Consider lots of factors when making your college list: distance from home, cost of attendance, geographic location, academic opportunities and size. There are benefits to both small colleges and large universities. Which will you choose?