I come from a suburban area, and I liked NYC when I went, but I’m wondering how a rural would compare. Definetely don’t wanna go suburban
I spent my childhood in a suburb and currently live in a rural area. I want to go to an urban school for the plethora of social, academic, and professional opportunities. Some of the pluses of a rural college might be the tight-knit community (which might be lacking on a big, spread-out campus like NYU’s) and the beautiful campus-- if you’re picturing watching sunsets on a quad, rural might be better.
I would adore going to NYU but am terrified of the price tag…
I go to school in Ithaca, which most people consider rural (although I grew up about 10 minutes away in an actual rural area, so to me Ithaca basically feels like a small city since it was where I would always go when I wanted to do stuff growing up). The first post is correct in saying that rural areas have a tight-knit community – the community in Ithaca is very close and supportive and all about love and peace. The campus also definitely is beyond gorgeous.
Other pros: you may feel safer (not that the city is unsafe, and campuses in cities are usually extremely safe, but I personally feel a lot safer here than I ever do in NYC), and it may be less overwhelming. A lot of rural areas still have buses that go in to cities if you ever wanted to take a weekend trip. I think rural areas seem a lot worse to people who grew up in a city because initially it does seem like there’s a lot less to do. But I’ve never had trouble finding things to do on a Friday night. There are always events and festivals and everyday stuff like parties, movies, and restaurants.
Rural schools tend to be party schools, because there’s really nothing else to do around the area. That’s one thing to take into account.
Also, if you don’t like the people there, there’s really no escaping them. For introverts/picky people like myself, I recommend an urban area just because there are more things to do on your own if you want to get away from your classmates for a day.
But, if you’re a big nature lover, rural schools are perfect.
I don’t know that this is factual, but I feel like students probably focus better at rural schools. Because you’re kind of stuck at school. There’s no other place to go. Unless you pay for a car. That’s another thing - in an urban area, you don’t need a car, but especially if you have a major that requires field work, you’ll probably need a car or a ride from a friend. And it’ll probably be a long drive, because you’re in the middle of nowhere.
Not a fan of rural settings myself, but I know people who love them. They’re usually laid-back students. There’s a whole different energy there than you’ll find at an urban school. I would visit one nearby - it doesn’t have to be one you’re interested in - if you’re curious.
Thanks! It seems each has its own benefits…will definitely make sure to visit a rural school soon