Top 7 Reasons to Attend a Large University
Top 7 Reasons to Attend a Large University
One of the things we love most about working with students is helping so many with different interests and perspectives find schools perfectly suited for them. No two students are alike – and we have worked with our fair share of twins!
As you create your college list, you may already have a sense of how important a factor like size is for you. This is usually one of the primary determining factors in what your college experience will be like on a day-to-day basis. But beyond how many new friends you can make or how recognizable the name brand of your school might be, there are many reasons why you should carefully consider how you will be affected by the size of the student body.
We already previewed benefits of attending a small liberal arts college. This time, we will take a closer look at some of the many advantages offered by large research universities. Read on to learn more.
More Majors and Minors
Compared to their liberal arts counterparts, large universities will boast a greater selection of majors and minors from which you can choose. While a school like Amherst College will offer an economics major, for example, a larger school like Boston University will offer econ in addition to marketing, business, and several other related fields. Your opportunity to specialize from early in your college career is much greater.
Access to Research Opportunities
Similarly, with a larger faculty and graduate student presence, your chances to engage in high level research increases. There will be more projects for you to assist and likely more opportunities to dive into your own deep study through special grants and programs. And for large universities that also feature an honors college, there may be even more ways for students to customize their experience and benefit from the vast resources around them.
Vibrant Sports and Social Options
With most liberal arts colleges having fewer than 2,500 students on campus, it can be hard to recreate that spirited environment that some high schoolers associate with college sports. If you want the “ESPN experience,” you will likely prefer attending a large university. The options for socializing extend well beyond the athletic fields, of course. Your access to clubs and organizations within your niche will be significantly higher the larger your school is.
Something Different than High School
Even if you attended a very large high school, it will pale in size to a large university. If you’re ready for an experience that stretches you beyond this comfort zone, where you will be forced to navigate new, bigger surroundings, you might enjoy attending a large university. For many students, college represents much more than attending classes; it is where you develop your independence and embrace new challenges and viewpoints.
Be Known Only when You Want
One of the pros and cons of attending a large university is the anonymity it affords you. If the idea of disappearing into the crowd once in a while and not being known by all of your peers appeals to you, so might a bigger school. Many students find it easier to recharge their battery within a crowd. Seeing new faces in the dining hall or discovering new areas of campus to explore can keep the newness of your experience alive.
Collaborate with Grad Students
While liberal arts colleges often point to the lack of grad students as an upside to their experience, it isn’t necessarily always the case. Many grad students make excellent, more approachable instructors than tenured professors. And opportunities to assist them in their research can enhance your own undergraduate experience. Consider whether you would find it valuable to have mentors closer to your own age more prominent on your campus.
Find Your Tribe
With 10,000+ students on campus, you will not get along with everyone. But you are very likely to find your tribe – your group of like-minded friends who will walk through this experience with you. Large universities offer a wide variety of clubs and organizations, many of which are quite niche in their focus. Students can find this sense of community and experience many of the same attributes of a small college within a larger university.
Take your time to figure out what experience is most conducive to your happiness. It is common for students to apply to colleges from a range of sizes before ultimately making up their mind. If you can visit the schools on your list, we strongly recommend. And we encourage you to consult an admissions expert or college counselor before finalizing your list.
The expert admissions consultants at Wise World Prep have helped hundreds of students maximize their potential of being admitted to their top choice colleges and universities. Over 20 years, we have successfully guided students through each stage of the application process – from choosing competitive high school courses to building an appropriate college list to drafting winning essays to writing persuasive update and appeals letters. We would be happy to answer your questions and partner with you to create a successful admissions roadmap.
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