Where are you going to college? Will it be a big or small school? Many seniors contemplate this every year. You know a larger college can offer an extensive variety of classes and that has a beautiful campus setting? A larger school may appear like the number one choice of many, but one should also remember that a larger school may mean a a higher tuition cost. This is when a regional college may be your best option.
Regional campuses tend to be similar in nature to larger colleges just smaller in setting. Regional colleges usually make it quite easy to transfer credits to a larger college. This allows you to attend a smaller campus setting to earn your required credits and then move on to the large University if you wish to. You can take your required courses at a regional college in order to set you up for success at a University.
A smaller campus also means, on average, smaller class sizes. For anyone making the transition from high school to college, the adjustment process can be more difficult than most anticipate. By the time some students adapt to the new freedoms of college life, they are already in academic hot water.
Smaller classes means more individualized attention for you which can be a lifesaver if taking core classes that are perhaps not exactly your forte. It is a far easier thing to schedule office visits with professors on a smaller campus than at most of the major universities where you are often lucky if you even see the professor during the course of the semester.
A large college has a great deal of extra curricular activities to participate in. However, you are one of many students that participate so it is hard to become truly involved. A smaller campus will allow you to have an easier time of becoming deeply involved in activities. You won't be just another member or number in a large group activity, but a dominant force in a smaller group of competitors. You have increased your chances of getting to know more people at a deeper level this way.
Administrative tasks such as signing up for classes and taking care of financial aid can be an all-day event at larger universities. While many institutions have streamlined the process in recent years with online registration and other automated activities, anything involving actual human involvement can be a real nightmare. But, if you attend a smaller campus, such tasks can generally be accomplished in a few short minutes.
Tuition plays an important part in the college you decide to attend. Universities tend to have extensive help when it comes to financial aid programs, grants, loans, and scholarships. Universities provide these services at an affordable rate, but you will be paying the loans off for many years the rest of your life. Decrease the financial hassel by attending your first two years of college at a smaller, cheaper school. After which you can transfer to a large University if you so desire.
A regional campus usually doesn't provide the same number of courses and student options as a larger University. This difference can be outweighed by all the money you will save taking your first two years of study at a regional college. You can transfer to a larger University and graduate with far less student loan hassels then your friends who have taken all four years at the University. Many college students take considerable time declaring a major as they are not sure what they want to do with their life. A regional campus will enable you to take time and seriously consider what you want your major to be. Definitely consider enrolling in a regional college to save money and make close, life long friends
