Cities are fun. They are also, for the most part, safer than they were in the 80s and early 90s, making them more attractive to students than they were when many of us were in college.

Just outside many sprawling college campuses are college towns that are very walkable and bikeable. Many have public transit and great restaurant, arts and nightlife scenes. It seems like some people are unaware of this.

Anonymous wrote:Don’t you mean why do *SOME kids prefer urban campuses? Ours didn’t. They grew up here and wanted a totally different experience.

Like middle of nowhere small town experience?

Cool factor, they assume they'll be less bored, and access to public transportation allows them to drink and go out without having to drive.

Other practical concerns: often better access to internships, sometimes more opportunities to interact with professionals in their chosen field.

But some kids do like a rural or at least suburban campus. Depends on the kid. My kid is still a few years away but I know right now her dream college experience is a really pretty campus at a SLAC, with a focus on humanities. There are some of those in urban settings, but there are probably more in suburbs (often not very close in) or in college towns. So if she was applying today, I think most of her apps would be outside urban centers.

Because the suburbs have no charms to soothe the restless dreams of youth.

Anonymous wrote:Don’t you mean why do *SOME kids prefer urban campuses? Ours didn’t. They grew up here and wanted a totally different experience.

Many.
That's why schools such as USC, NYU, BU, or NU are the most applied private schools in the US.

Depends on the college as well. Some of the best Universities in the country or in or around urban areas. So that's also a big reason a kid may go there.

Ours want out of the city.

Don’t you mean why do *SOME kids prefer urban campuses? Ours didn’t. They grew up here and wanted a totally different experience.

Anonymous wrote:Better restaurants, more options for entertainment, easier access to transportation, access to school-year internships, access to retail, cafes, clubs, etc.

Yep.

Anonymous wrote:Better restaurants, more options for entertainment, easier access to transportation, access to school-year internships, access to retail, cafes, clubs, etc.

+1 This. For the same reason young people disproportionately flock to cities relative to rural areas after graduation.

Why would anyone especially young kids prefer countryside? Common sense.

As a person who grew up in a semi-rural college town in the Midwest and attended an urban university, everything the first poster said.

My campus was walkable / bikeable not just for class, but for off campus housing and entertainment. Not having a car was no big deal unless you had an internship in the suburbs. Shuttles, city busses, and other transport was easy and available. There was little temptation or reason for anyone to ever drive drunk / under the influence.

Better restaurants, more options for entertainment, easier access to transportation, access to school-year internships, access to retail, cafes, clubs, etc.

Why do kids want to go to school in a city?