There are what feels like an endless number of decisions to make when picking a college, one of the most fundamental being big school or small school. Everyone from your parents to your teachers to your friends has an opinion on this, but the truth is, you have to pick which is right for you.
I applied to a combination of large and small schools, and knew a lot of people who did the same. As for those who went with a larger school, I’ve heard countless reasons as to why; some of those reasons multiple times. One thing I’ve noticed: Naz meets the demands of every reason.
Reason 1: There are so many organizations to join.
Having a large campus/student body often means there are a wide variety of clubs to get involved with. We may be on the smaller side, but Naz isn’t any different! Radio station, check. Crew, check. Quidditch Club, check. Naz even just started its own record label. My point is, you name it we have it, and if we don’t, you can get it started! Student Activities and the Senate are super supportive of new clubs and make the process of starting one fairly easy. My boyfriend and his roommate started the club basketball team when they were freshmen and it’s been going ever since.
Speaking of basketball…
Reason 2: The sports are amazing.
You may not see us in the NCAA tournament, but Naz students are always ready to cheer our athletic teams to victory. Between soccer, basketball, hockey, lacrosse, and more, there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re on the team or in the stands, you can feel the purple and gold pride. Plus, because there are so many other colleges in the area, Naz students will check out games at those schools as well if we’re not playing that night. We’re also covered when it comes to non-college sports with Rochester Americans hockey and Red Wings baseball in town, and the Bills and Sabres a short drive away.
Reason 3: There’s always something going on.
The Campus Activities Board (CAB) members I know are some of the most dedicated and hardworking students on campus. They go out of their way to plan creative, unique, and (most importantly) fun events multiple times a week on campus. From the recurring favorites, like trivia nights, pinterest night, and grocery bingo, to comedians, movies, magic shows, and concert trips, there’s never a dull day at Naz. Plus, we have larger events like White Squirrel Day, Formal, and Springfest to look forward to.
In addition to student planned activities, various departments and professors are always bringing in speakers, organizing panel discussions, and holding other events for the campus community. Last semester, I helped market a screening of The Invisible War, followed by a talk by Heath Phillips, sponsored by Title IX and the Student Veteran Association. Earlier this semester, eight departments came together to bring transfeminist philosopher, essayset, and performance artist Dr. Sayak Valencia on campus to discuss her work.
Reason 4: You’re constantly meeting new people.
The idea that “it’s a small world” doesn’t necessarily apply to a small campus. I’m pretty familiar with a decent number of students in my major and my year, but even as a senior, I’ve never taken a class where I knew every student on the first day and I’m still meeting new people almost daily. While each major requires you to take certain classes, there’s a decent amount of flexibility in most when it comes to scheduling, so you may not meet someone in your program for several semesters, just because you never took classes at the same times. Plus, Nazareth really encourages students to explore a variety of disciplines, especially though our liberal arts core, so you’ll meet people from other programs often. On my first day at Causewave Community Partners, another intern and I starting introducing ourselves to each other, only to find out we are both seniors at Naz and had just never crossed paths.
Reason 5: No huge lecture halls.
Fine. If your dead set on having more than 35 people in all your classes, I can’t help you. But, allow me to make an argument for small class sizes. Sure, lecture halls are great if you want to miss class unnoticed, but, if you want your money’s worth when it comes to your education, having an accessible professor and an opportunity to ask questions and have class discussions makes all the difference. Plus, these professors have come to know me and my classmates on a personal level, so they frequently share internship/job postings, event announcements, and other opportunities they think we would be interested in with us. Smaller classes also give you a lot of extra experiences, like the chance to work with community partners and go on the occasional field trip. I love my internship with Causewave Community Partners, but I would never have ended up there if my Communication Campaign Management class didn’t visit there. You can’t do a trip like that with 100 other students.
Reason 6: Alumni everywhere.
Our Alumni Relations Department and the Center for Life’s Work are constantly keeping in touch with Naz grads and connecting them with current students. One example; next week we’ll have our Spring Job and Internship Fair, and the School of Business and Leadership has organized an alumni networking event to follow. Some graduates stay in the Rochester area, which makes them great resources for current students, but our reach is far wider. There are regional alumni chapters in Massachusetts, California, Ohio, the Carolinas, Pennsylvania, South Florida, Washington D.C., and more, so wherever you go, you can connect with other Golden Flyers.
To summarize, you don’t need a big school to have access to big opportunities and big fun. Plus, when you roll out of bed with only minutes to spare before class starts, you’ll really appreciate that it’s only a ten minute walk from one end of Naz to the other!