Is It True That Small Colleges Better for Introverts

Being in the company of many saps the energy out of introverts like no other. And that is why having some alone time and peace and quiet is a preference of theirs.

As an introverted individual yourself, you know for a fact that you don’t despise people — it’s just that you would much rather be with a small crowd where you personally know each one.

And as a college-bound teen, too, does this mean you should head to a small college?

While a small college may seem a best-fit school for introverts at face value, a big one may prove to be more suitable for some. A large student body, for instance, eliminates the need for everyone to know everybody. A small college may not be as bustling alright, but a large institution usually provides more activities and cliques.

Read on if you are currently building a college list and fear you might shortlist the wrong ones.

In this post, I will talk about some of the things to consider, thus allowing you to learn that going to a small college isn’t necessarily the most suitable for an introvert like you who wants to earn an undergraduate degree as trouble-free as possible.

What Should Introverts Consider When Choosing a College

Besides academics, there are many other things introverts should take into account in the college selection process to make sure that they will be able to attain success and happiness in their pursuit of an undergraduate degree. They range anywhere from the population, available facilities and clubs and organizations to choose from.

According to a survey the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) published, here are factors deemed “very important” by high school students when choosing a college:

Academic quality or reputation – 74%
Program availability – 74%
Job placement – 73%
Cost of attendance – 67%

Introverted students, on the other hand, may have or need to consider numerous other things than those.

But because not all introverts are cut from the same cloth, the same factor may have to be regarded in different ways, depending on an introverted individual’s personality and specific needs and preferences.

It’s therefore important to have full knowledge and understanding of yourself if you want to end up attending the best-fit school for you.

Without any more ado, let’s take a look at some of the things you should keep in mind when building a college list — feel free to add other considerations that you believe should be pondered upon, too.

Student body size

The small student body of a small college can work to your advantage and at the same time work to your disadvantage.

Of course, sharing the campus with just a couple of hundred students means that there are fewer individuals to interact with.

Sadly, it may mean, too, that everyone will know your name and you may be forced to know theirs as well.

On the other hand, looking alone at a large college’s bustling quadrangle may be enough to stress out an introvert like you, but at least you can easily get lost in the crowd, which is exactly what most introverted students want all the time.

Friends

A lot of people think that anti-socials and introverts are one and the same. Anti-social people hate people.

On the other hand, introverted individuals have an aversion to being with a lot of individuals they don’t know.

Needless to say, introverts still want to — and can — make friends.

While the small population of a small college can keep you from feeling drained as soon as you step foot outside your dorm, it can considerably limit your options in terms of making new connections with people.

In the end, you may find yourself settling with students who you are not 100% fond of or not having any friends at all.

Extracurricular actitivities

While small and big colleges can be equally diverse, there’s no denying that more like-minded students can come together at more populated institutions, thus paving the way for the creation of more clubs and organizations.

Because introverted students feel more comfortable being with people who share their likes and passions, the chances of them finding a group where they can belong are simply higher at a massive school.

As a result of this, introverts can maintain a healthy social life in college and at the same time make their resumes complete standouts.

Dorms

Unless they are 100% chums with their roommates, dorm life can be nightmarish for most introverted students.

It’s a good thing that there are residence halls with single rooms, and most of them can be found at large institutions of higher education.

The University of Texas at Dallas, for instance, currently enrolls 29,696 students. But 100% of freshmen students living on campus reside in single-room dorms — per semester, the cost of a single room amounts to $3,682.

Facilities

It goes without saying that the more populated a campus is, the more facilities there are available in order to accommodate the academic and social needs of each and every single attendee.

Needless to say, too, as an introverted student who is studying at a big institution, there’s always a place to go to whenever you desperately need some alone time.

But because facilities at a big school can get packed with students especially during peak hours, such as dining halls during lunch breaks, it’s important that you know some of the best times to head to your picks.

Classes

Small classes are widely considered better for those who wish to be in and out of college in 4 years.

That’s because not only undergraduate students learn better in small classes but also learn faster.

However, small classes mean introverted students have no reason not to make small talk or make friends with their classmates.

On the flip side, large classes can be exhausting for introverts alright, but at least it’s less likely for them to have to establish a relationship with any of their classmates simply because it’s an absolutely pointless thing to do.

So, What Type of College is Best for Introverts?

The best colleges for introverted students, generally speaking, are those where social activities and organizations such as sports and fraternities are not the biggest constituents of campus life. It’s a good idea for them to go to colleges that provide various opportunities for them to have the best possible postsecondary experience.

Before anything else, let’s get this very important matter straight: there is not one single institution of higher education in the land that can be considered the most suitable for introverts to attend.

The right school for them is also the right school for extroverts and everyone else: the best fit.

Since the best-fit college is a relative thing, it’s therefore a must that, as an introverted student, you take into account factors that you feel are of utmost personal importance in an educational environment.

Needless to say, besides school reputation, academic quality and program availability, you should also consider things that your personality seeks or will align with.

In the end, the best type of college for you to attend is something that can meet your needs and preferences not only as a degree-seeking introvert but also as a promising individual with a specific career goal in mind.