<p>I know that urban campuses are "in", but I'm starting to think that that is only because prospective students <em>think</em> that there are many benefits to living in a large city during college. What I'm wondering is, how many current students who attend a school in a large city use the city around them and how often? If the city was taken away, would you still be at the school you're at and would there be enough activity on campus to keep you satisfied?</p>
<p>Everyday and I include in that public transport/trains to other metro areas. I go to restaurants, sporting events, concerts, shopping and museums. My experience is that students attracted to metro area campuses are very much taking advantage of opportunities.....big airports with lots of flight choices and no connections is another biggy. I love my city campus and all that it offers.</p>
<p>Going to an urban campus is like going to the mall. People like knowing that they have access to 100+ stores and services, but it doesn't mean that they spend money at every business every time they visit. People like going to the AMC 20+ theaters and may eventually see every movie, but what turns people on is simply having "access" to the possibility of seeing every movie.</p>
<p>An urban city offers access to so many possibilities, even if you only occasionally take advantage of those opportunities, and there always seems to be something happening on or around an urban campus.</p>
<p>I am not certain how many malls have city parks......Central Park, or museums....MOMA, or well I guess if you are talking TimeWarnerCenter you have it all.....PerSe and a grocery store!!</p>
<p>Every great urban city has a great park and lots of shopping & sightseeing opportunities. The nice thing about UC Berkeley and Stanford is that they both have easy access to San Francisco without being "in" S.F. There is some kind of mall on every street corner in the bay area, three airports, every movie house and restaurant imaginable, etc.</p>
<p>Good comments.....I am on the East Coast and you are on the Left Coast which I also love......maybe for law school!! Public transport is great for you also....no need to waste time, you can study, sleep or whatever on BART.</p>
<p>I definitely make use of proximity to Boston at least once a week. It's not that social activity on campus isn't enough, it's just that it's fabulous to get away from campus every once in a while and eat at a nice restaurant or go on a walk in Boston Common.</p>
<p>Son just finished his first year at an urban school, which he chose mostly because it is an urban school. He went to museums, plays, clubs, concerts, and lots of restaurants. He is also involved in groups on campus. He commented that he thought college was the perfect time to live in the big city, because he can get out of the hustle and bustle when he doesn't want to deal with it, and find stuff to do with friends on campus.</p>