It dawned on me the other day.
I was walking across campus when I saw a person that I knew from a couple of classes I had taken; we exchanged hellos. I had only walked a few more feet before running into another friend, and exchanging another smile and greeting. As I walked through the Main Building, I came across another acquaintance that held the door open for me. Finally, I made it to my classroom - a room full of familiar faces and a professor that knows me by name.
So this is why I like going to a small school.
Not that it’s something unfamiliar to me. I’ve gone to small schools all my life.
I attended a small, Catholic grammar school and graduated from eighth grade with 18 classmates. The small, Catholic high school I went to had a total of 39 graduating students my senior year.
I guess that in comparison to my previous experiences, Medaille is actually a pretty large school. But compared to the other colleges I looked at, I would still consider it very small. And that’s one of the main reasons I chose to come here.
Don’t get me wrong, there are positives and negatives that accompany going to a small school. Pretty much everything is more limited, including class offerings and campus resources. Making a schedule can be difficult when certain courses are only available once a year. Not to mention, how many times have I been envious of students who can use their declining balance at grocery stores, or who get to see artists like T-Pain on campus at least once a year?
But are these things really more valuable than having a professor who not only knows your name, but probably also knows your interests, as well?
At the end of the day, a small school atmosphere is something that I really appreciate. When I’m frustrated about Medaille not offering a certain class or program, I’ll have to remember the three minute walk to class in which I will most likely know at least half of the people I pass by. It’s the little things, like a smile or a hello, that really matter.
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