Choosing a College Based on Location
Urban, Rural, or Suburban Settings for School
One part of college is the academics. Another is the social aspect. Outside of the classroom, students will spend a fraction of their time actually studying. When not studying, students need to find other activities to fill their time.
The actual setting of the college should be a great factor. Activities within the college's city or town can be a determining factor for student looking for a school to attend.
Colleges Located in Rural Areas
Besides being known as the Buffalo City, Jamestown, North Dakota has a population of around 15,000. Within this small town is Jamestown College. This small school hosts nearly 1,000 students. For students attending Jamestown, the college is the main source of social activity: band, choir, student groups, and sporting events.
Students attending colleges in a small, rural area are at the mercy of the college for social activities. Rural towns offer limited entertainment opportunities for college students. Many small towns have one main street, which may contain a supermarket, bars, some fast food places, and a drug store. Some towns may have a one screen movie theatre, which usually is the extent of entertainment.
Because of the limited entertainment options, students attending rural colleges will need to find their own source of social entertainment. Usually college parties are the overwhelming venue of social interaction. Because of the limited activities available, student who attend rural colleges will spend the week on campus and then head to their hometown for the weekend. This type of school is known as a suitcase college.
Colleges Located in Suburban Areas
Suburban areas are considered cities that are less than 50,000 people. These towns can border rural areas on one side and urban areas on the other. Suburban towns, or suburbs, contain aspects of both rural areas and urban areas.
Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota is located in a suburban area. This campus is positioned directly in the middle of Moorhead. Students attending Concordian can partake in campus events like sports, clubs, and volunteering. Outside of campus students can experience more activities within the city of Moorhead, like museums, shopping, concerts, and restaurants.
Suburbs have relatively low crime rates, as do rural areas. Most of the dwellings in the suburbs are single family homes, so parks, walking/biking trails, and recreational areas abound. Most activities die down around 10:00 pm; however, students usually can take in a late movie or a variety of fast food ventures.
Colleges Located in Urban Areas
Urban cities cover a vast area. Many times the city is sectioned into mini areas or neighborhoods. Some areas are zoned for residential or industrial/business. In order to travel around the city students will need to navigate bus schedules, subways, taxi, or lightrail. Crime rates are usually higher in an urban areas than in the suburbs and rural areas.
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis/St.Paul, Minnesota. Students choosing to attend this university will also be sharing the campus with 50,000 other students. The campus is considered its own part of the cities, referred to as Dinkytown. The campus is surrounded by several bars and restaurants, clothing shops, theatre, hospital, coffee shops, and a plethora of fast food places.
Major cities offer students several activities outside of campus. Students in need of employment while attending college, will find more employment options within an urban area. Larger cities will have traditional theatres, shopping malls, bookstores, ethnic stores and food venues, street fairs, and concert halls. Activity abounds all day and evening within a city.
Overall, students who are exploring college options need to also consider the location of the college. Students who are looking for a more intimate and quiet experience, will find a college in a rural area a good choice. Colleges located within suburban areas will provide students with access to urban areas but still provide students with a low key social experience. Colleges within urban areas will provide students with a vast array of experiences, both social and diverse, both on and off campus.
Understanding College Location
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