Why go to a small college in a rural area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many schools are located in areas which are neither rural nor urban.

I attended a larger LAC in a remote area. It was not a pleasant experience as almost all social life revolved around drinking with the same familiar faces repeatedly. Didn't help that the school was located in a cold weather area without any nearby ski resorts.

In retrospect, I see that my development was somewhat stunted during my undergrad years at a cold, remote, small school. Certainly was true for most of my classmates/peers as well.

Nonetheless, some LACs seem more interesting than others because they offer social or recreational opportunities nearby.

Also did not like the limited course selection and limited number of faculty members.

What school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:My DS is at Bates. He loves it. He has spent a lot of time getting out around Maine, which is a big plus, but generally he's good with a small school and a social life that is primarily campus-focused. He has much more engagement with his professors than I did when I was an undergraduate at an Ivy a million years ago.

I'm not sure why this is so hard for the OP to comprehend.

I'm the OP. I wasn't being snarky, and nothing is "hard for me to comprehend." I'm wondering why someone would choose a college not close to ample cultural, career, etc. resources. I understand and appreciate the "summer camp" vibe but also wonder if some kids want to get off campus and explore and feel stilted. I went to a rural school and felt that way.

But it does seem hard for you to comprehend. As an adult, you should hopefully by now realize not everyone feels the same. I agree with you about not enjoying a rural environment personally, OP, but I also recognize that others value things differently than me. This whole thread is people explaining that.

But...I only posted once, asking "I am genuinely curious about the appeal." So...I was waiting for replies. There's no lack of understanding. Just curiosity. My school did foster excellent reading comprehension.

Why was it so hard for you to imagine that not every single person on the planet has the exact same preferences when it comes to college size or location? There are many school that I would not want for my kid, but I don't post here to demand others explain their reasoning or preferences.

NP, and this was my thought when I read the OP. I live in the city, hate the burbs, hate a slow paced country lifestyle. But I'm pretty open-minded and non-judgemental, and in my life, I've met many different kinds of people. So it's not too hard for me to come up with reasons someone would like that lifestyle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have your whole life to work in a city.

And, you have your whole life to live in a podunk town! One that has no tertiary care hospital, no south Indian food, no retail store where you can actually try on the boots before you buy, no theater and no museum with European art.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some lovely schools are in distant locations, from Bates and Bowdoin to Grinnell and Oberlin.
Why go to a school like this if you could get into a comparable school with access to more resources? I'm not being snarky. I am genuinely curious about the appeal.

NP. Out of curiosity, were you badly educated? I am having a difficult time figuring out how anyone with a good education would be so limited in their ability to think this through. This is not a difficult thought exercise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with the other posters. There is so much about a remote campus that appeals to me - and also to my kids. Neither had any desire to attend college in a city. They wanted the exact opposite experience.

Certainly was appealing to me - I loved the serenity, the safety and well, collegial atmosphere of being in the middle of nowhere. We had to make our own fun on campus. Plus, I didn’t have a car.

What happens if you're marooned on a campus with people you don't like in the middle of nowhere? That's what gives me pause on a rural campus -- there are no alternatives or outs or diversions (save transferring, if feasible) if you don't find a groove.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have your whole life to work in a city.

And, you have your whole life to live in a podunk town! One that has no tertiary care hospital, no south Indian food, no retail store where you can actually try on the boots before you buy, no theater and no museum with European art.

How many days per semester were you in the hospital?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with the other posters. There is so much about a remote campus that appeals to me - and also to my kids. Neither had any desire to attend college in a city. They wanted the exact opposite experience.

Certainly was appealing to me - I loved the serenity, the safety and well, collegial atmosphere of being in the middle of nowhere. We had to make our own fun on campus. Plus, I didn’t have a car.

What happens if you're marooned on a campus with people you don't like in the middle of nowhere? That's what gives me pause on a rural campus -- there are no alternatives or outs or diversions (save transferring, if feasible) if you don't find a groove.

you learn the valuable skill of getting along with people.

[Anonymous]

I went to a small college outside a small town and loved it. I was from a very large, very busy city that I returned to for most breaks and weeks in the summer. It was the best of both worlds and I learned more about the sort of place I wanted to go for grad school and to settle in later in life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is at Bates. He loves it. He has spent a lot of time getting out around Maine, which is a big plus, but generally he's good with a small school and a social life that is primarily campus-focused. He has much more engagement with his professors than I did when I was an undergraduate at an Ivy a million years ago.

I'm not sure why this is so hard for the OP to comprehend.

I'm the OP. I wasn't being snarky, and nothing is "hard for me to comprehend." I'm wondering why someone would choose a college not close to ample cultural, career, etc. resources. I understand and appreciate the "summer camp" vibe but also wonder if some kids want to get off campus and explore and feel stilted. I went to a rural school and felt that way.

These campuses ARE the cultural and career resources. I went to a SLAC in a rural area. Either I was performing in concerts/plays/musicals or my friends were, so I went to watch. We also had lots of visiting musicians and lecturers for campus events (all free), as well as free movie showings. The students at the my college were among the most creative, interesting people I've met, so it wasn't boring in the least. And as for career resources--I was in college, working a campus job, so I didn't need a full-time job yet. The career center was a great resource for post-college.

There is no shortage of activities if the school is well resourced and prioritizes it. I loved that for four years I was in a bubble more or less with academic peers with truly interesting and diverse talents. Plenty to do and see between cultural events on campus, sports, and all the extras the school brought in. I met former presidents, world leaders, authors, etc. It makes college a very immersive experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some lovely schools are in distant locations, from Bates and Bowdoin to Grinnell and Oberlin.
Why go to a school like this if you could get into a comparable school with access to more resources? I'm not being snarky. I am genuinely curious about the appeal.

NP. Out of curiosity, were you badly educated? I am having a difficult time figuring out how anyone with a good education would be so limited in their ability to think this through. This is not a difficult thought exercise.

What a peculiar question. I was asking people why rural colleges appealed to them. I was genuinely curious to read the responses. I did not say, "Rural colleges are horrible, and my enfeebled mind simply cannot fathom why anyone would attend one."

Your question is poorly (badly?) formed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with the other posters. There is so much about a remote campus that appeals to me - and also to my kids. Neither had any desire to attend college in a city. They wanted the exact opposite experience.

Certainly was appealing to me - I loved the serenity, the safety and well, collegial atmosphere of being in the middle of nowhere. We had to make our own fun on campus. Plus, I didn’t have a car.

What happens if you're marooned on a campus with people you don't like in the middle of nowhere? That's what gives me pause on a rural campus -- there are no alternatives or outs or diversions (save transferring, if feasible) if you don't find a groove.

you learn the valuable skill of getting along with people.

It's not really that simple, though. You can be the kindest and most open-minded, socially savvy person around. But what if you're on a cold, isolated campus dominated by party life or cliques, feeling alienated and bored? And your entire universe consists of that campus? No opportunities to get a part-time job at an interesting place or to see other faces beyond a bubble that isn't working for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bates is in Lewiston, the second largest city in Maine.

Oberlin is a half hour from Cleveland.

Some kids prefer to be in a small town or at least, a town smaller than e.g. Montgomery County is, because it's a pleasant experience and they are getting an excellent education.

Lewiston is a remote and depressed city.

Cleveland is...Cleveland.

DP. I enjoyed Cleveland. They have a good art museum and science museum along with restaurants and coffee shops.

+1

Whether you like Cleveland or not, it's a good-size city with amenities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back to add, Brunswick is a half hour from Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state.

Umm, Portland has 68,000 people…

And?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with the other posters. There is so much about a remote campus that appeals to me - and also to my kids. Neither had any desire to attend college in a city. They wanted the exact opposite experience.

Certainly was appealing to me - I loved the serenity, the safety and well, collegial atmosphere of being in the middle of nowhere. We had to make our own fun on campus. Plus, I didn’t have a car.

What happens if you're marooned on a campus with people you don't like in the middle of nowhere? That's what gives me pause on a rural campus -- there are no alternatives or outs or diversions (save transferring, if feasible) if you don't find a groove.

you learn the valuable skill of getting along with people.

It's not really that simple, though. You can be the kindest and most open-minded, socially savvy person around. But what if you're on a cold, isolated campus dominated by party life or cliques, feeling alienated and bored? And your entire universe consists of that campus? No opportunities to get a part-time job at an interesting place or to see other faces beyond a bubble that isn't working for you.

Fit matters at a small school. Luckily there are lots of ways of learning about a place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is at Bates. He loves it. He has spent a lot of time getting out around Maine, which is a big plus, but generally he's good with a small school and a social life that is primarily campus-focused. He has much more engagement with his professors than I did when I was an undergraduate at an Ivy a million years ago.

I'm not sure why this is so hard for the OP to comprehend.

I'm the OP. I wasn't being snarky, and nothing is "hard for me to comprehend." I'm wondering why someone would choose a college not close to ample cultural, career, etc. resources. I understand and appreciate the "summer camp" vibe but also wonder if some kids want to get off campus and explore and feel stilted. I went to a rural school and felt that way.

These campuses ARE the cultural and career resources. I went to a SLAC in a rural area. Either I was performing in concerts/plays/musicals or my friends were, so I went to watch. We also had lots of visiting musicians and lecturers for campus events (all free), as well as free movie showings. The students at the my college were among the most creative, interesting people I've met, so it wasn't boring in the least. And as for career resources--I was in college, working a campus job, so I didn't need a full-time job yet. The career center was a great resource for post-college.

+1

Oberlin offers over 500 musical events a year.