Deciding Between a Small or a Big College or University

First of all, congratulations on being accepted to college! That in itself is a big step forward and you should be very proud. It is wonderful to have been accepted to more than one university, and you should be relieved to have a choice. However, with this choice comes a heavy burden-the dilemma between a small and a big college. If you are stuck deciding between two great colleges, one small, one big, there are many pros and cons for each choice.

Class Size
Most small universities and colleges can boast small class sizes throughout all class years. Small colleges usually have class sizes of 15-30 students, depending on the popularity of the major and the course itself. This means that your professors will more likely know your name and know your interests; it also means you will get to know your professors and their research topics more intimately, if you desire that kind of relationship.

On the other hand, big Universities usually have much bigger class sizes-for lower-classmen (freshman and sophomores), don't be surprised if your introductory courses see class sizes in the hundreds. Upper-classmen usually have smaller classes that range from 20-50 students per class. In this type of learning environment, your Professor will not know you unless you make a distinct effort.

Class Choice
Small Universities have a lower number of students per graduating class, which means they also have less Professors, which means less class variety. If you choose to attend a small College, you will definitely have less choice when it comes time to select classes. On the other hand, you'll also have less competition to enroll in the class of your choice.

Big Universities will have a massive array of different classes available each semester or quarter. Most of these courses will have required pre-requisites, which will prevent you from enrolling in upper-division courses if you are an under-classman. Competition in big Universities for popular and required-major courses is tough-many students are constantly denied from enrolling in classes they need or want due to high demand.

Major Choice
Small Universities normally have a reduced number of available majors for students. If you do decide to attend a small College, be sure to check out their available classes and majors online to ensure that your preferences are available.

Big Universities have a vast amount of different majors, from the obscure to the common. You will never feel limited when choosing a major if you attend a big College-big Colleges have classes and majors out there for everyone, no matter how odd or unique.

Professors vs. Teaching Assistants
Small Colleges definitely have an advantage over big Universities in this area. If you want your classes to be taught by Professors, you will be better off attending a small University.

Big Universities often have graduate students (students pursing PhDs) teach lower-division courses as "Teaching Assistants". While many TAs are great teachers and often more personable and helpful than Professors, they also aren't as experienced in the subject matter as Professors are. This trend begins to dwindle as the courses become upper-division, and then Professors are more likely to teach.

Accommodations
Small Colleges and Big Colleges both normally guarantee housing on-campus for first years (freshman). However, most big Colleges simply do not the space to house students after their first year, so students attending big Colleges will need to find and arrange their own housing for subsequent school years.
Students attending small Colleges, however, will likely be provided the opportunity for multiple years of housing on-campus, if desired. However, some small Colleges require students to live on campus for their first two years, which may not be favorable to you. Living on-campus can end up being a huge money saver for students who attend College in big cities where rent is high.

Physical Campus
Due to the different in number of students who attend big and small Universities, the size of the campus is often radically different. Students who attend big Universities often have to navigate across a big campus, which some may prefer. Many big Universities, if situated in urban cities, often do not have a physical contained campus, but will have classroom buildings situated throughout the city (think of New York University in Manhattan).
Small Colleges are more likely to have contained campuses, and these are usually less sprawling than the campuses of big Universities.