Sorry if this is Off Topic.

Which sounds better: a college with 20,000 students or a college with 2,000 students? I was hoping the larger one would help me blend in better, having Social Phobia and all. But I don't really know what to do. I'm depressed and bored and I just want to make some friends or at least have people to hang out with. The larger one's in a larger city and has more things to do and more variety, people from all over the world and hopefully I'd be able to befriend at least some of them. Pleeease help me. I can't make a decision to save my life and I'm running out of time. But on the downside, I don't really know what I want to major in and I don't want to waste my mom's money going to some expensive university when I know I'm never going to be able to have a regular job, you know, that requires social interaction and all. But I want to make friends and have fun and learn things, or else I'm going to go crazy. What should I do? Which should I attend?

[Ultra Darkness]

Hmm. I think you could probably blend in just as well with 2,000 people as you could with 20,000. Plus, the smaller campus would make it easier to get around, which might reduce stress.
I'd choose the smaller one, but someone who's actually been to college may have more accurate advice.

I don't know. The smaller one is in a much smaller city with a lot less to do, both at the college and in the city. The campus is much smaller, and people would definitely notice me.

[Ultra Darkness]

I didn't even think of how much would be available to do. Maybe the big one would be better?
I don't know these things...

[Luvmydog]

A larger university would provide the ability as you said "to blend in better," but at the same time, a smaller college would provide many of the same things. The school I attended had around 2000 to 3000 students, and mainly the other students showed up to attend classes. There were groups that were geared toward students' interests, but most of the students in my classes didn't really interact with the rest of the class as a whole (interacted with the teacher, but not so much the rest of the class). I can say that the smaller class size (30 or so students as opposed to more than 100) made it easier to gain the professor's attention just in case I didn't fully understand the lesson being taught.

I've gone to both a large university and a small college and I think that a small college is better, personally. I felt like I had more access to my professors at the smaller college and I made more friends at the smaller college than I did at the larger university, where the class sizes were much larger and many people weren't really interested in interacting with each other or doing things together. I made friends in both places (or, similarly, blended in at both places) but I guess it just depended on how much I wanted to interact. I found it easier to interact at the small college.

[Sometimes psychotic]

How about the best of both worlds? I went to a very large school...but they had ways to interact with people in smaller settings. They had something called a residential college where you could take basic classes right in your dorm. I was part of a women in science and engineering program that had special classes set aside so we could take them as a group with the same people we lived with. When you see the same people all day it's easier to make friends. There's also so much opportunity at a large school as you said. This happened to be university of Michigan which I highly recommend for in state students. Anyway check for these kind of programs at your large school.

Every time I think I've decided I change my mind. I nearly feel like crying over this.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by nevergoodenough

Every time I think I've decided I change my mind. I nearly feel like crying over this.

Keep in mind you can transfer most early credits between accredited schools so if you goto one and don't like it you can always switch next year.

[BodyMindSoul]

Perhaps you should visit both places and see which one you like better. I guess with a college, it is important to feel at home and so you want a place where the living arrangements are to your taste and you like the scenery and activities. Also, look for a university where you share the same interests and would feel at home within the larger community. that way, it is more likely you will find a friend.

I would initially think, for myself the smaller would be better but then it depends. I'd have to look at what they offer first. Priority above all else is the education itself. If you go out of your way to choose either based on the social factors, you might miss out on the better college (whichever it might be) I mean, it may be worth it to sacrifice the social awkwardness at one of them if their offering is far and above what the other offers. Maybe that will help you to decide

[Phreak]

If you have the type of personality to shy aaway from people you'll manage to do that at either location and vice versa.

Personally I'd preference smaller class sizes

Phreak

Originally Posted by BodyMindSoul

Perhaps you should visit both places and see which one you like better. I guess with a college, it is important to feel at home and so you want a place where the living arrangements are to your taste and you like the scenery and activities. Also, look for a university where you share the same interests and would feel at home within the larger community. that way, it is more likely you will find a friend.

I have visited both places... but I still can't decide.

All right. Well it looks like I'm going to the larger university. Wish me luck.

[Ultra Darkness]

Mm-kay. Good luck!

[Luvmydog]

That's great!!! Congratulations, and the best of luck to you.

I'm kind of excited...

[Bill3]

Good luck!

[Phreak]

Good luck