Why I chose a small liberal arts college

For the high school senior deciding where to go…

When I was deciding on where to go to college my senior year, I had a wide range of schools in mind. Some were small and some were state schools. Once it came down to actually choosing the one, it all came down to the vibe I felt while visiting. I  ended up picking Bates College in Maine. Bates is just shy of 2,000 students, which is the size of a lot of people’s high schools (I know). While the small size might not be for everyone (or even sometimes I think myself) there are benefits that state schools can’t beat. Here are some reasons to consider going to a small school.

Academics. For the most part, small colleges tend to give you more one on one attention. I am someone who needs an interactive classroom experience. My largest class has a total of around 30 students in it and my smallest class this year has about 9 students. If you are someone who typically needs some motivation in the classroom, a smaller school might be for you due to the easy accessibility you have to your professor and other academic resources. This was the biggest reason why I decided to go to a small school.

Sports. I have the opportunity to place academics first, all while still getting to compete in track and field. I think this is important for a lot of people. Before deciding on Bates, I was considering competing division 1, but I realized that going to a small school would give me a better opportunity for having balance.

Scholarships and awards. If you are leaning away from smaller liberal arts colleges and more towards state schools because it is cheaper, you are missing out! Most small schools have a lot more money to give to you, so if you are doing well in school, the high sticker price that you see is sometimes more than double the price of what you are actually going to pay… Don’t be fooled!

If you often run late. Maybe this is just a me thing. But I truly feel lucky to wake up sometimes at 7:50, roll out of bed, and still successfully make it to class on time because my walks are never more than five minutes to class! This is also amazing for being a busy student. My schedule gets kind of hectic when I try balancing everything. If my commute to class, the gym, and work were longer, I do not think I could do it all.

If you like a close-knit community. Small schools can seem super close-knit which can be a good or a bad thing depending on the person. My school focuses on being as inclusive as possible. We don’t even have frats or sororities.  But even so, small schools are inevitably going to sometimes feel like a high school. You are going to bump into people you might not want to, and it might be often. You are probably going to notice cliquiness. Social life at state schools and small school both have their advantages and disadvantages, you just have to weigh everything out and see what you like more!

And remember, always go with your gut feeling when you visit <3