<p>I'm trying to weigh out the pros and cons of going to either an intimate, cozy liberal arts-type college and a fast-paced, urban university where you can get exposure to connections, career opportunities, and so forth.</p>
<p>I like how there is a much more intimate atmosphere for more rural, small-town colleges - but I also feel like it's living in a bubble.</p>
<p>Conversely, I like the opportunities and freedom a large city provides. I'm only afraid I won't be able to get the intimate education that I want.</p>
<p>Actually, I had the same dilemma when it came down to my final decision. Small LAC in a tiny town, medium LAC in suburbia, or big university in major city. All 3 had their merits and all 3 have stong programs for my intended major. I opted for the LAC in the small-town over the big city school. The suburban school was okay as well but it really came down to the 2 opposites in my decision.</p>
<p>If you are female you should check out Barnard College in NYC. It's a small LAC affiliated with Columbia University (so you can take classes and use the facilities there) in a fast-paced urban environment.</p>
<p>I'd very much like the best of both worlds - I'm trying to look at big LAC-like universities (Brown, Dartmouth), although I'm highly doubtful that I can qualify. They're big reaches for me.</p>
<p>At the same time, I really, really like LACs like Reed, Bowdoin, and Middlebury but I'm scared I'll be in an isolated bubble community. It seems like there's only so much you can do in a small town.</p>
<p>There are some very nice colleges in suburban settings with easy access to big cities, where you can choose the extent to which you get involved in city life. I'm thinking of Tufts, Boston College, or Brandeis (Boston), or Haverford or Swarthmore (Philadelphia).</p>
<p>That's funny that you mentioned Barnard, because when I read the OP, I was going to mention Columbia. It's got a nice small campus with (kind of small) green lawns and trees in a neighborhood of NYC--not in the uber-busy downtown or midtown, but not in a field somewhere either.</p>
<p>improvethesilence: Reed is in a small town? Portland was called North Americas Best Big City by Money Magazine. Downtown is 10 to 20 minutes (car, bus) from campus.</p>
<p>hi! i really need help! i thought since you mentioned barnard you know somehting about it and could help, i accepted tufts' offer of admission, but barnard just got me off their waitlist..where should i got-- i was gonna major in International Relations and minor in Media and Communications at Tufts....help!~</p>