What are some differences between rural, suburban, and urban campuses?
The more rural the school, usually the tougher it is to get to and usually the more of the college life revolves around the campus, which can be a good or bad thing depending on your preference.
In a word, access. Urban campuses offer more cultural offerings close by such as museums, theatre and dining unparelled by smaller college towns. Urban colleges often attract and furnish a larger cross-section of diversity, be it cultural, religious, socioeconomic or lifestyle. Rural campuses become the apex of student life and activity. Frequently, the surrounding communities come to rely on and support college events and activities as a refreshing source of intellectual and cultural simulation.
A rural campus is often what support the town it is in. Rural does not have to mean boring. A perfect example is Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. Because of it's premiere School of Music, Broadway Touring Productions and major entertainment swing through campus on a regular basis. Suburban campuses tend to be on the fringe of a town. It may feel like you have one foot on campus and one in town. It's a way to not be remote and still not feel overwhelmed by an urban city. Urban campuses tend to be surrounded by the city. Opportunities abound as a result, but don't confuse that with distractions. Some students will feel more comfortable attending school in an environment similar to the one they've grown up in. Other students will welcome the chance to experience a different lifestyle for at least four years.
making the transition to a different enviornment is not easy for anyone. however, the focus should be on campuses in terms of the resources that open to students. if would not apply to you unless you are going to use it.
Rural colleges will have close campus life because there will not be much to do off campus. Suburban campuses offer the feeling of seclusion within a city, giving a student more options off campus. Urban campuses are in the middle of large cities with crowds of people and traffic, and they are usually more spread out. Options for activities are diverse and available. Take a look at each type, you may be surprised at what you really like.
•If you are a rather cosmopolitan individual a city may be the right choice as you have greater access to cultural events, museums, major league sports, ethnic food, public transportation, internships, etc. On the other hand, it also has many more safety issues, generally significantly higher living expenses ($$$ to park your car) and less of a “campus feel.” •A rural environment offers a close-knit community, access to an abundance of outdoor activities, a generally safe environment, the campus set apart from the neighboring town, activities that are almost entirely focused on the college, etc. On the other hand, they can also seem more stifling, not have as much access to internship opportunities during the academic year, and be more difficult to get to via public transportation. You often need a car, but will also have a place to park it. •Suburban campuses fall somewhere in between the urban & rural settings, often having a quintessential college campus and town, easy access to cultural events and internships, relative safety, and ease of transportation. Which is best for you depends on you. It is important that you assess yourself to determine which type of campus would be the most comfortable for you and where you would thrive. Not everyone would be happy on each type of campus.
In a very general sense, the location of a given school can have a pretty large impact on the social environment of that school. For instance, on a rural campus, where there is not much to do off campus, the campus itself drives the social life. Those schools will work hard to bring in plenty to keep the students occupied and happy. This tends to engender strong feelings of community and school spirit. At an urban school, there might not even BE a campus necessarily. The social life is mostly driven by the city itself with its restaurants, bars, theatres, museums, etc. A suburban campus might be more like a rural one, but with accessible cities so that students can experience what the cities have to offer in addition to campus life.
As you can imagine, if you study at an urban, suburban or rural school the area surrounding the school will definitely affect your experience. Here are some of the factors to consider between the three types of campuses: Urban The choices for off-campus entertainment and restaurants will be unlimited. Transportation within and to and from the city should be frequent, easy and convenient. If you’re looking for a job during the school year, summer internship or when you graduate your chances will greatly improve with an urban school as you`ll be surrounded by a variety of employers. Also, you probably will have a number of alumni who are living in the city whom you’ll be able to network with. Urban campuses tend to offer a number of events that are open to both students and community members and this can be an advantage to you as well. Furthermore, you’ll likely be able to learn from and network with a number of guest speakers who find it easier to speak at urban campuses. Many times they can piggy back on a business trip to that city. But be careful, you still have to study so you must maintain a balance between school and the many distractions on and off campus. Rural A rural campus is probably the direct opposite of an urban campus. But depending on your personality, a rural setting may be perfect for you. No urban activities and sins of the city to distract you from your studies. Most of your entertainment and weekend activities will be on campus. While you may enjoy the peace and tranquility of your surroundings, you may hate how difficult it is to travel home. The lack of variety and diversity may at times be an issue. Suburban A suburban school may be the best of both worlds; offering nearby access to off campus entertainment, employers, alumni, etc. but with less distractions from an urban school. Transportation to the city may be frequent and convenient and it may not be too difficult to travel home on weekends. There may be a number of alumni who continued living close to the campus and therefore networking with them will be easy. But of course, the choice is yours and ultimately you`ll want to be comfortable in the school and the surroundings whether it`s urban, suburban or rural.
The differences among rural, suburban, and urban campuses are less about the campuses than about the opportunities that exist for students in their rural, suburban, and urban surroundings. The campuses themselves maybe not be any different. Columbia or Vanderbilt are in major urban centers but their campuses still feature the nice grassy quads that embody what one typically thinks of as a college campus. However, if you step to the edge of the campus center, you find yourself in the heart of a pair of vibrant cities and it is in those areas that the differences are real and where there are things, good and bad, that cannot be found in a truly rural area that does not offer the same surroundings. Admittedly some urban campuses do not have the quad like set up and may be more reflective of the its urban setting, but in general the true differences are more about the surrounding areas and their attendant opportunities and drawbacks than about the campuses proper.
When students are weighing the value of rural, suburban and urban campuses, they are really considering: Accessibility and Community. Urban campuses will undoubtedly offer great benefits of accessibility (internship/job opportunities, great off campus excursions, easy travel to and from), but may be lacking in providing a central, cohesive residential community. Meanwhile, Denison University is known for a great on-campus community despite the sparse surroundings. The student camaraderie that comes from building a community together is an appealing alternative to an indistinguishable city/college atmosphere. As you determine the best campus type for you, consider the importance of accessibility and community to your personal and professional goals.