Colleges in drab, dull, ugly, or boringly remote towns

[Anonymous]

Bates and Bucknell were in downright scary towns. Beyond depressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to a college in deadville. We had a great time hanging out with each other on campus, made our own fun. It was actually a bit of a party school because of it.

Plus 1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I ask the same question (to myself) about colleges in urban areas. What is the appeal? Why on earth would one choose to go to college in the inner city, with no defined campus, and block after block of cement? Not for me.

OTOH, I loved my four years at a rural university in a beautiful setting. Different strokes.

Totally agree!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bates and Bucknell were in downright scary towns. Beyond depressed.

I don't think "scary" is the right word for Bates. It is a down-on-its-luck old industrial town. Not the most attractive place. But it is not scary or dangerous. Just not much to it. Drive a few miles in any direction and there is some nice nature.

So I agree that it is far from ideal, but it is a lot less scary than Penn, Hopkins, or other schools in truly dangerous neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blacksburg checks all three boxes. It also checks the hick box which is nice if you're into that sort of thing.

Ah, the usual malcontent has found the thread. Here are the boxes Blacksburg checks:
- mountainous
- small town
- charming

As for “hicks,” aren’t you charming. Locals can be found in any college town, including Charlottesville and Williamsburg.

Maybe Williamsburg but not Charlottesville. No rednecks like are in Blacksburg populate Charlottesville to the same extent.

The UVA booster is back! Sorry, Charlottesville and the surrounding areas are just as “country” as Blacksburg and any other town in VA. Also, the way you write makes it pretty obvious you know more than your fair share about rednecks.

Guessing you received a summary rejection from that university which remains your mind 24/7? You wish you went to UVA and your jealousy of those who did is sickening.

Are you the dolt calling residents of other VA college towns, “rednecks”? Too, too funny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the appeal? I always wonder about this! Why on earth would one choose to go to school in deadsville?

This may come as a surprise, but for some students off-campus distractions aren’t a significant consideration. Besides, the rural schools tend to have large campuses that are great for jogging or biking. And more time on campus can mean more serious academics and more meaningful, lasting relationships.

+1. For a lot of students, most of their time is spent on campus even if there is a decent town nearby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bates and Bucknell were in downright scary towns. Beyond depressed.

They have nothing on Syracuse, NY

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I loved loved loved my 4 years in a small, remote college town. It was safe, it was quiet, it was friendly, it was unlikely, it was charming, it was different than what I’d known, which gave me space to grow in ways I didn’t expect. The skies were big, and the streets were quiet, and everything felt heightened as a result.

I wouldn’t do it any differently today. Not a chance.

+1

[Anonymous]

I would rather my kid attend a college where the college is the focus of the town. I think it breeds a closer knit college experience.

Per PP above, Syracuse the town is certainly not great, but the alums from that school rave about their experience there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It just means everyone starts drinking like mad.

100% accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ithaca has 40 frats for this reason.

Ithaca is a beautiful town...even honeymooned there

I agree. Ithaca is stunning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ithaca has 40 frats for this reason.

Ithaca is a beautiful town...even honeymooned there

Ithaca is gorges...

I spent a summer in Ithaca. Absolutely hated it. Dreary and depressing. And that was in the summer, not in the winter when it is cold and full of snow. But I also did not have a car so could not explore the surrounding area so perhaps that would have helped. And I don't question why others might like it. To each his own. I did love the Hot Truck at Cornell, but I gather that is long gone.

So many Judgey McJudgey-faces here.

Maybe just too remote for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bates and Bucknell were in downright scary towns. Beyond depressed.

There is nothing scary about Lewisburg PA. It’s definitely small and the surrounding area is quite rural, but the town itself isn’t scary.

[Anonymous]

Anyone could see from a mile nothing good would come from this thread. Same can be said for most of the threads on this sub-forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bates and Bucknell were in downright scary towns. Beyond depressed.

There is nothing scary about Lewisburg PA. It’s definitely small and the surrounding area is quite rural, but the town itself isn’t scary.

Agree. Bucknell alum here. There's even more to do in town now than there was when I went there in the 90s.

Loved my time there, but we did drink A LOT.