Attending a small college has benefits and drawbacks, just like attending a huge state school does. Bigger schools have larger campuses with more buildings, events, resources, majors, and, let’s be honest, parties… but bigger isn’t necessarily better.
Yes, Goldey-Beacom College (GBC) is a small, four-year private college that you may have seen while driving down Limestone Road if you’re from northern Delaware. And yes, this article is going to cover all the reasons why we, GBC, think small colleges are worth considering. We know why because we live and breathe it every day. We see the impact a small campus can have on students, and we know why a school like GBC works. So yes, this article may read like self-promotion (it is our website, after all), but whether you choose to come to GBC or not, we believe you should give small colleges a chance when you’re searching for your perfect school.
Here’s why:
Small colleges = small campus = less opportunity to get lost and crawl into the fetal position under a tree, frantically pulling up the campus map on your phone while trying not to cry.
If the winding brick pathways and endless historic building frighten you… consider going to a small school. You’ll get to know the layout faster, and you’ll feel comfortable more quickly. When you’re already adjusting to a different type of learning environment, living situation, and daily schedule, feeling comfortable will help you adjust with ease.
But feeling “lost” isn’t limited to finding yourself on a map. It’s also about feeling lost in what you want to study. When a large school offers 150+ majors, it can feel nearly impossible to decide. There are just too many options, and inevitably you’ll feel like you’ve chosen the wrong thing, just be nature of how many other choices you could have made.
Smaller schools have less options for majors, meaning you can decide confidently with the help of professors and advisors. And, if you really don’t want to major in something like accounting, you can always change it up. Your first few semesters are spent earning general education requirements anyway, and those courses are necessary for any major. You aren’t wasting time; you’re finding out who you’re about to become.
GBC only has one academic building, one student building, and a handful of residence halls. This means you’ll get to know the campus easily. We also offer 24 majors, which means you can narrow down what you want to study without decision fatigue, or buyers remorse.
Making friends at small schools feels less intimidating. Less people means less feeling like a guppy in the Atlantic Ocean.
All students at small schools are in a similar position. Maybe they were the only person from their high school to go to a particular school, which means they don’t know anyone on the first day of classes. Guess what? If everyone is in the same boat, you already have something to bond over. Part of growing up is learning how to talk to strangers and developing relationships with people. Doing that at a small school gives you practice approaching people and networking, which are both critical skills for later on in your career.
GBC doesn’t have Greek Life, which means no insider/outsider dynamic to make you feel left out. Your classes are with people just like you. Sure, the person sitting next to you in English 101 may be from Spain and they may be a soccer player, but just because you’re not from Spain and you don’t play soccer doesn’t mean you won’t become great friends. They are learning the same material, and they may even be an English major too! Striking up a conversation with a stranger always takes courage, but GBC is an inclusive and supportive environment. You won’t be laughed at, and you won’t be shunned from humanity. You’ll probably just have a study partner.
Most likely, all the college brochures you’ve opened talk about their amazing faculty and staff. As they should! The people who work at colleges are the backbone of the institution. The students are what make a place truly special and vibrant, and everyone else is there to keep it running, and keep you on track. Small schools have the unique ability to know their students deeply. You aren’t sitting in a lecture hall with 300 other people, so your professors will know who you are and will look out for you. When you’re coming from high school, that can be a big help if college feels overwhelming.
GBC’s faculty are incredible people that care deeply about your success as a student, and as an individual. They are going to know your name. They are going to get to know you as a person. Academic advisors will be there to answer any questions you may have, and ease your anxiety. We aren’t transactional, we’re transparent. We’re real people helping real students.
Small colleges are a lot of fun. They have their own quirks, inside jokes, lore, and culture. You might not be attending a football game with thousands of screaming fans, but you are going to talk about the lightning bolt mascot that mysteriously vanished in 2014. You’ll be able to post pictures on social media that no one else from your high school will have. You’re charting your own path at a unique place, and you’re joining a network of students and alumni that share the same experiences as you. It’s not generic, it’s a vibe.
At GBC, you’re not going to stumble into a rock concert (at least, not that we’ve seen), but you are going to be able to play pool or ping pong between classes. You are going to be able to sit with students from around the world at lunch, learning about their culture and connecting over hilarious TikTok videos. And you are going to be able to play music and have a study party while you wait for your laundry to dry in the residence halls.
To put it simply, we keep things pretty chill at GBC. We have fun events that are down to earth and don’t require a ticket queue or long lines.
When you choose a college, the goal is to graduate. Right? You wouldn’t enroll in an institution of higher education if you didn’t want to walk across the stage, shake hands with the President, and get your fancy diploma in the mail a few months later. You want that feeling of accomplishment, and you want the college degree that goes along with it. Smaller schools are there to keep you on track and guide you towards graduation, even if you take a leave of absence or need an extra semester to do it. You don’t run the risk of getting lost in a crowd, or just being another number to a bigger school.
On the flip side, small colleges can also give you the personalized attention you need to graduate early, or maybe even graduate with your bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in five years. (Check out our 4+1 options). Graduation is on the horizon for you, and we’ll do whatever it takes to get you there.
So, if you’ve only been looking at Big 10 schools, or the flagship school in your home state, consider a small college like GBC. You’ll be connected to more students, faculty, and staff. You’ll be surrounded by people who want you to succeed. And, you’ll be charting a new path for yourself that’s not the generic version of colleges you see on social media. Really, you’ll be taking the first step to becoming who you’re meant to be. The GBC community can’t wait to meet you.
Goldey-Beacom College is a Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
Text Telephone/Teletypewriter (TTY) Relay Service: 711 or 800-232-5460 for English or 877-335-7595 for Spanish
