<p>Hey all, first time I've ever posted on here so here it goes. I was just wondering how many people here are going to or are at a small college? I'm leaving for school in August, it's 1,000 miles away and in the middle of nowhere and has about 2,000 students, with the 'college town' having a pop. of about 800. It has great programs for my major (Animal Science, an Ag. Major), but I'm just worried about how I'll adjust to student life. I had my friends in high school but I will know no one at this school. Just wondering if because it's so small it will be clanish and cliquey, just like high school. Most of the kids are from that area but two of the people living in my apartment (I opted for student apartments instead of dorms, private rooms shared living space, 4 to an apartment), are from out of state which is a good sign I guess. Just wondering if anyone has any insight into smaller schools.</p>
<p>I'm going to Oberlin, college town pop. 8000. I haven't been yet, though.</p>
<p>I'm going to a small school with about 1,500 people. Since the school is aimed at such specific majors it seemed to help unify the school, because everyone seems to have common interests. From what I hear everyone is really down to Earth, and there really are no cliques. However I also have the best of both worlds because the school right next door that we share things with has 12,000 students. So if I for some odd reason can't get along with anyone at my school I can walk across the street. :P</p>
<p>In my visits to colleges, it seemed that the larger schools seemed to have people of the same type all hanging out with one another. I'm not sure people at a small school can be that picky. But thats just the personal observation of myself and the few schools I visited. (:</p>
<p>Yeah I don't think it will be that big of a deal just wondering who else is going to a school this small. It's aimed towardsd Agriculture, that's their largest major. I went to a high school with 2500 kids so it will definatley be different. Since there is not much to do in town, seriously just a gas station and a post office, hoping there will be a lot to do on campus.</p>
<p>FWIW, college is never like high school.</p>
<p>I will be going to a small rural community school. Penn state, not the flagship school, but Mont Alto which only has about 1000 students. It's a 2+2 program which means 2 years at any campus of the Penn state univ. and 2 years at the flagship school (univ park). You can start any program at the smaller campuses and finish them at univ park.
So yeah about 1000 people going to the school, only about 200-300 living on campus. I'll be living on campus. Although, I'm happy to be going to school close to home and getting the same kind of education I would be getting at univ park for a cheaper price, I'm a little worried about the campus life... if there's going to be enough activities to keep me busy, friends, etc. It is a very small campus (it's in the hills, beautiful setting).</p>
<p>Really, dont worry about meeting people. Even there are only 500 people in your class and it becomes "cliquey" it definetly wont be like that at first. No one will come in having a set group of friends unless you are going to a very localized school where everyone knows eachother from high school. Because even at smaller state schools where everyones from the immediate area they will not all know eachother. Chances are everyone will be looking to make friends evn if they do know people. College is a time to grow and have new experiances and most people realize that you cnat do that by haning out with the same kids you have been for years. Youll do fine.. just make an effort to meet as many people as possible and join clubs in the beginning.</p>
<p>I'm going to school with about 4000 students. I'm so excited. I've always been in a "smaller", more personal setting at school, so I'm totally happy that I've picked a small school where I can get to know a lot of people really well, rather than just blending into the masses at a large school. Plus, our campus is so nice and compact, lol. My residence hall is right in the center of campus and it takes me about five minutes, tops, to walk anywhere I need to go from my dorm room.</p>
<p>Small schools are the way to go, if you ask me. And I wouldn't worry about it being "cliquey". You'll find your niche.</p>
<p>I am. Dartmouth College. I don't regret it though, since there'll be nothing to do but party hard.</p>
<p>I go to a small college (1800 students?). I've liked it because everyone knows everyone, and there are always things to do on campus or off campus. My high school was about twice the size, and while sometimes college reminds me of high school, everyone acts more mature in general, and there are not any cliques. People are very friendly, and since a lot came from even smaller towns than my college town, they know how to have a good time without the usual city stuff!</p>
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I go to a small college (1800 students?). I've liked it because everyone knows everyone, and there are always things to do on campus or off campus. My high school was about twice the size, and while sometimes college reminds me of high school, everyone acts more mature in general, and there are not any cliques. People are very friendly, and since a lot came from even smaller towns than my college town, they know how to have a good time without the usual city stuff!
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<p>which college do you go to?</p>
<p>my school will have around 1300 students. after visiting a couple big schools I decided I wanted a small school, and only applied to schools around that size.</p>
<p>Jason1117: I go to Embry-Riddle. (it's an aeronautical school)</p>
<p>I'm going to a school with 280 students, yes 280, not 2800, and it's in rural Maine, town has about 4,000 residents year round I think. I haven't been there yet, but from I hear, the students mostly band together and do original stuff like..i'm not even sure :D I'm sure there's a lot of things because I don't hear of boredom being a problem.</p>
<p>I have friends in a school with 800 students. My school has 5,000 undergrads, but it's in a small town. It's an hour drive to a decent movie theater :( .</p>
<p>An hour drive to a movie theater? It's about 1 and a half hours to any decent sized town, don't even know about movie theaters, the smell from the feedlots can get pretty rank too. I'd like to know where some of these colleges are. Guess I'd rather go to a small school and have a sense of community than a big school where it's easy to get lost in the crowd.</p>
<p>I go to Bennington which has about 650 undergrads and about 150 graduate students. There are not really "cliques" but more like groups of friends. I have found it really easy to move around within the groups. It is about half the size my high school was, but I have more in common with more people than I did in high school, so there are really more options for friends. I like going to a small school because I like knowing the people in my classes, in the dining hall, that I cross on the paths, the sense of community, etc. It can get a little close sometimes in terms of who is dating who, who just broke up with who, stuff like that, but I am going in to my third year and I am still meeting new people all the time, making new friends. I think if you go in with a good attitude and are friendly, looking to make friends, you'll do fine.
In terms of the size of the nearby town--Bennington VT is a small town (it does have a cineplex however!) with not a whole lot to do but there is always so much to do on campus that most people don't even notice or care. Most colleges have a lot going on and whether it is a movie, concert, party, lecture, whatever, it is fun because you are doing it with your friends.</p>