Picking a College: How Important is Location?

For some students, the issue of location is clear. You know that big cities make you feel energized and connected, or that quiet, beautiful surroundings allow you to focus more easily. For many others there are mixed and conflicting feelings about which kind of college environment makes the most sense for you.

The best place to start is by making a list. Sit down with a piece of paper or in front of a computer and at the top of the page make three columns: URBAN, SUBURBAN, RURAL. Along the side of the paper on the top half write: THINGS I LIKE, and on the bottom half write: THINGS I DON'T LIKE. Without thinking too much, start writing. Write it all down--even the things you're not sure about. Keep writing for at least fifteen minutes without stopping. This is a great way to start clarifying how you really feel about location. Take a few minutes to read over your comments.

The next step is to carefully research schools that have the academic environment and opportunities, social scene, and approximate size you are looking for. If you do this carefully, you will be able to find schools in a variety of locations. In April, if you are admitted to a few schools in contrasting locations, you can visit them and then make an informed decision.

In the mean time, here are a few tips on the pros and cons of contrasting locations.

Urban Colleges: The Pros & Cons
Some of you may have your eyes on a school that happens to be smack in the middle of a big city. There are a number of highly selective colleges/universities that attract the attention of students who love the school, but dislike the location. If you're one of these students, you may be concerned about the following:

1. Safety
2. Distraction from your studies
3. Missing out on a more traditional collegiate experience

If safety is your concern, go visit. You may be surprised how safe and contained urban colleges feel. You're not the only one concerned about safety and as a result, urban colleges overcompensate by beefing up every imaginable security measure. Many urban colleges have statistically safer campus' than suburban and rural schools, largely because they take security measures very seriously. When you walk on campus, you'll notice how safe it feels. You'll see the guards and the desk attendants and the gates and, primarily, you'll notice that it feels like a regular college campus. There are no obvious thieves lurking about, nor are there people who don't look like they're affiliated with the school. But you won't know this until you VISIT.

If you you're worried about being distracted by a big city's many cultural events, clubs, movies, etc., only you know can know whether or not you have the maturity to manage your time well. Not every 17 year old is ready to be in an environment that offers constant potential distractions. That said, urban colleges are aware that this is an issue for ALL students, and as a result they generally have workshops and discussion groups as part of freshman orientation to help you deal with time management. The support will be available to you if you use it.

If you're worried that a college in the middle of a big city will lack the sense of community of a school where there's no where else to go, you need to do some more research. It's true that some urban schools have large commuting populations, so fewer students will tend to be around on the weekends. However, there are many urban schools with large international and geographically diverse populations. These schools tend to have a thriving, highly diverse community. Remember, there is as much variety amoung urban schools as there is among every other type of school. Some of them are big on school spirit, sports, and everything traditional. Others are not. You'll have to do the research to find out the real scoop.

In general, urban schools tend to offer endless academic, professional, and social opportunities. If you're one of those students who cannot wait to jump into the next phase of your educational life, this may be a great location to consider. Urban campus life tends to be thriving, highly diverse, and very interesting. The key is to clarify whether or not you have the interest in jumping into the electric, sometimes tiring, sometimes overwhelming, often fabulous experience of city living.

Suburban and Rural
If you've found a school you love, but it seems too secluded for you, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Going to school in a quiet environment can sometime translate into a really interesting and unique experience. When there's not much to a town but the school you're attending, students tend to get to know each other well. Depending on the size and nature of the school, there also tends to be a lot happening on campus. If you're the kind of student who loves to galvanize student involvement, start new organizations, and get involved, quiet settings can offer you a great challenge. If you're interested in a small school in a quiet setting, this is particularly true.

The down side of secluded schools is obvious--there's no where to go. When things are tough either with your roommate, your advisor, or best friend, there's nowhere to hide. If you're the kind of person who thrives on anonymity, think carefully about selecting schools that are in rural settings. It will either be a great challenge for you to stretch into new behaviors, or it will leave you feeling trapped and isolated. As always, the best way to find out how you're likely to react is to visit, and if possible, spend the night. This will give you a brief glimpse into campus life, the pace, the people, and the many ways students keep themselves entertained.

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