Megan’s Reasons for Choosing a Small School
August 14, 2019
by Megan Lengel
In searching for colleges, I found that accessibility matters much more than the size of the school. I personally looked for smaller or medium-sized schools, as I struggle with social anxiety and generally hate large places with many people. I do think that there is a benefit for those with Usher to look into smaller-sized schools, however. Smaller schools tend to be easier to get around, especially as a college student that may plan on pulling all-nighters or stay out with friends late into the night. It’s important to consider your comfort level with getting around at night or asking for help. Many universities have escort services; my school had golf carts or police escorts to take students to their dorms after hours. Larger schools are more likely to have more services, but smaller schools may offer an environment generally less nerve-wracking for maneuverability purposes. My university was on the smaller side, but it actually was often difficult to get around; it was paved with brick and had some areas of steep hills that made it harder to walk to and from class day after day. I found that my vestibular issues made it more taxing to traverse difficult terrain every day, multiple times a day. Size has virtually very little to do with terrain. If getting around campus is a concern for you, I highly recommend visiting the universities on your short list and getting a feel for what it’s like to walk around. You will not regret it.
