When I was trying to figure out where to apply for college last fall, I remember constantly getting hit with the age-old question: “Well, do you want to go to a big or small school?” Coming from a small town, I felt like everyone around me expected me to go somewhere small to match my high school experience, but the opposite was true; I wanted a chance to get out and join a big community – so I went with my gut. And I’m glad I did.

(Note: not everything I list here will apply to EVERY big school, but they all apply to Iowa and I’m assuming they’re general enough to be the case for most big schools)

The Pros:
– You always have new people to meet. If you’re ever feeling like you don’t fit in with the people you’ve been hanging out with, you will always have the chance to find new friends. Friend groups are much more fluid and flexible than they are in high school, too, so it’s easy to join a pre-existing one.

– You have a city at your disposal. In my experience, most small schools are in small towns. The opposite is true with big schools, and it is extremely convenient. If I need anything, it’s a five-minute walk from my dorm to the Target downtown. There’s plenty to do, which is not usually the case in small towns.

– Your school’s sports teams play on the biggest stages for college sports. If you’re someone who isn’t that into sports, you might not think this point matters much to you. But personally, as someone who never really was into football before, I’ve become the Hawkeyes’ #1 fan. Just this week, we got to play (and BEAT) #4 ranked Penn State in a sold-out Kinnick Stadium to move us up to the #2 ranked football team in the nation. I’m from Pennsylvania, so getting a win over my local state school felt SO good. The energy was insane and is something that you could never find at a small school.

– There are (typically) more resources available. More buildings, more places to study, more clubs, more options for majors, etc.

The Cons:
– At a big school, you’ll have a really hard time being the “best” at something. For example, an RA I met is insanely good at Chess. He can beat people blindfolded, is an International Master, and in an online format, is considered a Grand Master… but there’s another guy in the Chess club that consistently beats him. In a setting where so many people from all over the country come to study, the competition is really stiff.

– It can be tough to stand out to a professor when you have large lectures, which you wouldn’t find at a small school. Luckily, Iowa doesn’t really have this problem; despite the large student population, most classes are pretty small. However, it can be difficult for some people to get used to having educators that can’t match their name to their face.

– The transition from high school to college at big schools can be more overwhelming than at small schools. Feeling lost and lonely in a huge sea of unfamiliar faces is really difficult, and small schools usually have environments that are less intimidating.

Overall, I’m really happy with my decision to go to a big school. I feel like I’ve been well-equipped to overcome a lot of the cons, and I enjoy being a part of such a large community. Iowa has been great so far, and I can’t wait to tell you guys even more about it here.