<p>I live in NJ and am very interested in Rutgers but hear that it's such a big university (having to take buses from campus to campus) and that you're just a number there and nothing else. Am I wrong to be concerned with this issue, being a female on a large campus and all?</p>
<p>No it is not too big, unless you make it too big. If you go to office hours to interact with faculty and find your niche with students then you can make a “big” university “small” oh, and on campus buses are pretty normal on most universities. (I have taken plenty!) </p>
<p>The thing with big U’s is there is no hand holding, BUT you can mold them into what you need, if you are diligent and don’t allow yourself to get lost in the crowd.</p>
<p>Depending on your major, you can stay mostly on one campus - Science is on Busch, Liberal Arts you can take most of your classes on College Ave or Douglass. </p>
<p>I just went to an accepted students day with my son for the Honors program. If you get into that, they do a lot to counteract that large feeling.</p>
<p>Yes, it is too big.</p>
<p>For some kids. </p>
<p>No, it’s not too big for others. Lots of students go to places like Rutgers and do just fine. Others require that bit of “hand holding,” the type provided at the better private LACs (but not at all of them). </p>
<p>My personal belief is that the better undergraduate experience can be had for the majority of kids at a LAC. But that is not often an affordable option, or one desired by the student (what do they know!). </p>
<p>I had the opportunity to do my undergrad work at a small LAC and my graduate work at a medium-sized and large research university. That worked fine for me, but it’s not for everybody.</p>
<p>Big is good or bad depending on what you want and feel comfortable with…the ideas above about making a bigger campus smaller are very good.</p>
<p>My wife loved it when she went. My D felt it was too big for the experience she wanted.</p>
<p>Rutgers is a VERY big school, but Rutgers College is much smaller. You DO need to take buses to other campuses, but the ride is very short. Each campus (Busch, College Ave, Livingston, Cook, etc) has its own little community. You’re in a very small place, which happens to be in a very big place. </p>
<p>Rutgers obviously isn’t like LACs, in that the administration is likely to call you by a number than by a name, but my dad in particular had a very good experience there with advising (one of his teachers really helped him out). In short, at Rutgers you need to be more independent than you would at a smaller school; however, if you need help, the administration will help you. There seems to be a fair amount of red tape at Rutgers, but it definitely seems as if the situation has gotten much better in recent years. </p>
<p>It’s very important to feel comfortable at the college that you choose to attend. I recommend visiting Rutgers a few times, attending classes, and, if possible, hanging out with the students. Also, make sure you try grease trucks – you’ll have your heart set on Rutgers immediately.</p>