Anonymous
05/13/2025 12:05
Subject: Why do kids prefer urban campuses?
Just looking at the USNews rankings of the top 50 National colleges, the breakdown is as follows:
12 of the top 20 are in cities, with Providence the smallest city;
3 of the 20 are suburbs of large cities (Stanford, CalTech and UCB);
2 of the 20 are small cities (ND and Duke);
1 is Princeton which is hard to classify...not a city, not a suburb, but definitely a little hamlet within NJ sprawl
2 of the 20 are I guess rural...Cornell and Dartmouth
Of the top 50:
28 are in cities
6 are in suburbs of large cities
11 are in small/medium cities
5 are I guess rural/ruralish (Princeton, Dartmouth, Cornell, Purdue, UGA)
It's not necessarily that kids want an urban campus, but they want a top 50 school...and that's where they are.
12 of the top 20 are in cities, with Providence the smallest city;
3 of the 20 are suburbs of large cities (Stanford, CalTech and UCB);
2 of the 20 are small cities (ND and Duke);
1 is Princeton which is hard to classify...not a city, not a suburb, but definitely a little hamlet within NJ sprawl
2 of the 20 are I guess rural...Cornell and Dartmouth
Of the top 50:
28 are in cities
6 are in suburbs of large cities
11 are in small/medium cities
5 are I guess rural/ruralish (Princeton, Dartmouth, Cornell, Purdue, UGA)
It's not necessarily that kids want an urban campus, but they want a top 50 school...and that's where they are.
Anonymous
05/13/2025 12:03
Subject: Why do kids prefer urban campuses?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why do kids want to go to school in a city?
Lots to do beside joining Greek life and drinking. From museums and theatre to pro sports, to internships at interesting and unique or large and well-known companies.
As someone who went to a prominent college in a semi-urban setting, the idea that students are going to take advantage of urban environments is always more theoretical than real. During the first three years of undergrad most of us rarely did anything off campus or outside the university environment. It was senior year when students started venturing a bit further afield. But you'd be shocked by the percentage of students at urban schools like Penn who never go to any museums or theaters or sporting events. That's how insular and demanding college life can be, especially the more prestigious the school.
Some schools are much more urban oriented than other schools even if both are in the same city. Temple is unquestionably an urban school, Penn is in Philadelphia too but its students have a very different relationship with the city than Temple students.
Yes it's true they don't take much advantage of "off campus", but when they do, it's nice to have stuff nearby. My kid is in a city of 250K, not as nice as Boston or NYC or Chicago, but plenty to do. Also, the airport is less than 2 miles from campus, so a 10 min Uber ride at most.
Versus, like PP commented about Cornell, middle of nowhere, and not that much to do beside campus stuff (ie Greek), and getting to/from airports is a royal pain in the a$$. My Kid did not like it, but ended up only 90 mins away (so the weather was not the issue, it was the huge campus, and lack of anything nearby)
Anonymous
05/13/2025 11:59
Subject: Why do kids prefer urban campuses?
I think we can all agree that in general the culture has shifted from the idea of college as an intellectual bubble, to something practical and pre-professional and basically a more supported version of your adult life. Urban schools make a lot more sense for the latter POV.
There are many reasons for this, including cost, greater access for first gen kids, and a different job market from when we were kids.
Of COURSE there are always exceptions and kids who love the idea of a rural, enclosed campus, but right now urban schools have the cultural upper hand. It just is what it is.
There are many reasons for this, including cost, greater access for first gen kids, and a different job market from when we were kids.
Of COURSE there are always exceptions and kids who love the idea of a rural, enclosed campus, but right now urban schools have the cultural upper hand. It just is what it is.
Anonymous
05/13/2025 11:52
Subject: Re:Why do kids prefer urban campuses?
Anonymous wrote:Most of the state schools get applications mostly for instate tuition and filled with mostly instate students.
So looking at private schools that attract students from all over the country gives you a much better idea regarding what's happening.
Exactly. After controlling for tuition, where do students actually want to be?
Anonymous
05/13/2025 11:14
Subject: Re:Why do kids prefer urban campuses?
OMG. THE FOOD. My kid's campus is traditional, quiet, quintessential NE university--leafy, tons of green space, etc...but also next to a city. The campus is defined by itself. The food options are some of the best in the country, and great places to stay when we visit. We could go out to 4-5 top restaurants every time we go up and still not hit them all by the time they graduate. Lots of art and cultural stuff as well.
My spouse wants to move there. lol
My spouse wants to move there. lol
Anonymous
05/13/2025 11:01
Subject: Why do kids prefer urban campuses?
Anonymous wrote: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.
Yup. That’s why the #1 location for college grads looking for jobs is NYC.
Anonymous
05/13/2025 10:59
Subject: Why do kids prefer urban campuses?
It's a step closer to the adult world. They know that. OP, that's why. It's practice for the life they see in the mist. A life they are more likely to live. They want and sense that they need to build confidence. In a larger setting. Some find it enough to go to a large campus and experience a large university. Swim in a big pond.
Few students see themselves building a life after college in a small, remote, though quaint town surrounded by few people.
Few students see themselves building a life after college in a small, remote, though quaint town surrounded by few people.
Anonymous
05/13/2025 10:54
Subject: Why do kids prefer urban campuses?
Anonymous wrote:Pittsburgh is an underrated city.
+1 Have to say, I was pretty impressed by that city.
Anonymous
05/13/2025 10:38
Subject: Why do kids prefer urban campuses?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why do kids want to go to school in a city?
Lots to do beside joining Greek life and drinking. From museums and theatre to pro sports, to internships at interesting and unique or large and well-known companies.
As someone who went to a prominent college in a semi-urban setting, the idea that students are going to take advantage of urban environments is always more theoretical than real. During the first three years of undergrad most of us rarely did anything off campus or outside the university environment. It was senior year when students started venturing a bit further afield. But you'd be shocked by the percentage of students at urban schools like Penn who never go to any museums or theaters or sporting events. That's how insular and demanding college life can be, especially the more prestigious the school.
Some schools are much more urban oriented than other schools even if both are in the same city. Temple is unquestionably an urban school, Penn is in Philadelphia too but its students have a very different relationship with the city than Temple students.
My kid is at Penn and takes advantage of the city all the time...at least once a week doing something downtown with buds, often more than that. BTW, no he doesn't have a huge entertainment budget, so this isn't dropping lots of $$$s. He would estimate this is say 1/3 of the school...though yes some of these kids do have huge entertainment budgets (and may also be the ones that train up to NYC frequently).
I think the difference is that there are kids that attend a school like Penn because they will go Wharton no matter where it is located...but that was the draw, not a city college. My kid also really wanted what a city has to offer.
Same for a kid going to MIT...if they get in, they are going. Doesn't matter its location.
Anonymous
05/13/2025 10:31
Subject: Why do kids prefer urban campuses?
Anonymous wrote:We went to an admission student panel at cornell. Moderator asked kids how they spend free time and they all mentioned hiking to waterfalls, running through nature, etc. My kid is neither an athlete nor outdoorsy. They don't ski, skate, hike or run. It's also not easy to access without a car (no train and bus is almost 5 hrs from nyc). The cornell ice cream was delicious, but the school came off the list. My kid currently lives in a city, likes the energy, walkability, and appreciates the opportunities. Applied ed to a city school.
That’s a great outcome. They researched and found out what they preferred so they could narrow the list.
Anonymous
05/13/2025 10:28
Subject: Why do kids prefer urban campuses?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If everything else is equal, why would anyone choose middle of nowhere vs a city.
What would you choose(hypothetically), Cornell in Ithaca or Cornell in Boston or NYC
LOL
Because people are different and like different things.
Why are the urban campus boosters so defensive? Why not just accept that not everyone likes the big city? It’s ok if you do. It’s ok if I don’t.
The thread is titled “Why do kids prefer urban campuses”
It’s not as though this is some side thread created by urban boosters…it’s literally the subject of the thread.
But some kids don’t prefer urban campuses and that seems to be threatening to some parents whose kids prefer the city. People saying their child prefers a rural or >gasp!< suburban location are not attacking those who prefer urban schools.
Anonymous
05/13/2025 10:26
Subject: Why do kids prefer urban campuses?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why do kids want to go to school in a city?
Lots to do beside joining Greek life and drinking. From museums and theatre to pro sports, to internships at interesting and unique or large and well-known companies.
As someone who went to a prominent college in a semi-urban setting, the idea that students are going to take advantage of urban environments is always more theoretical than real. During the first three years of undergrad most of us rarely did anything off campus or outside the university environment. It was senior year when students started venturing a bit further afield. But you'd be shocked by the percentage of students at urban schools like Penn who never go to any museums or theaters or sporting events. That's how insular and demanding college life can be, especially the more prestigious the school.
Some schools are much more urban oriented than other schools even if both are in the same city. Temple is unquestionably an urban school, Penn is in Philadelphia too but its students have a very different relationship with the city than Temple students.
Anonymous
05/13/2025 10:17
Subject: Why do kids prefer urban campuses?
We went to an admission student panel at cornell. Moderator asked kids how they spend free time and they all mentioned hiking to waterfalls, running through nature, etc. My kid is neither an athlete nor outdoorsy. They don't ski, skate, hike or run. It's also not easy to access without a car (no train and bus is almost 5 hrs from nyc). The cornell ice cream was delicious, but the school came off the list. My kid currently lives in a city, likes the energy, walkability, and appreciates the opportunities. Applied ed to a city school.
Anonymous
05/13/2025 09:32
Subject: Why do kids prefer urban campuses?
My son went to a city college. Loved the vibe and stayed. He has a very good job in the city. Loves the nightlife, street festivals, restaurants, and other young professionals his age.
Anonymous
05/13/2025 09:29
Subject: Re:Why do kids prefer urban campuses?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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?
For some, yes.
It's not an exact science.
We are talking in general.
Yes, in general, some people like the city and some people like the country.
In general, kids like urban setting.
Most applied private schools in the US are NYU, Northeastern, Boston Univ, USC. They are all in cities. Location helped the popularity of these schools.
Those are private schools. There are many publics that are far more popular with students - and that aren't in urban locations.
DP
Most of the state schools get applications mostly for instate tuition and filled with mostly instate students.
So looking at private schools that attract students from all over the country gives you a much better idea regarding what's happening.