The size of a college or university campus can impact many things, such as the number of students in a classroom, which courses or subjects are offered, the ease of meeting new friends, and the overall environment. Imagine yourself going to a small, medium, or large campus: what are the pros and cons of each? The number of international students enrolled at the institution may be important to you as well, as there could be a low, medium, or high international student population. Would you prefer to have lots of others students from your country on campus, too? Or maybe you would like to be one of a few, or the only one – the most famous person from your country on campus!
It is also important to consider the setting of your university. Do you prefer to live in an urban city, a suburban residential area, or a rural countryside? U.S. colleges and universities are located in a wide variety of settings. Urban cities with larger populations provide convenient access to stores, entertainment, public transportation, and international airports. Urban areas may have higher average living costs. Suburban residential areas can be close or farther from cities, with moderate populations and more spread-out restaurants and shopping areas. Suburban areas may have more moderate average living costs. Rural countryside areas have smaller towns with fewer people and areas of land used for mining and agriculture. Rural areas may have lower average living costs.
