Public vs. Private Schools

Now that we are coming to the end of our Mid-term break, I have noticed several main differences between public and private schools. I spend most of my smaller breaks, including this past one, at Buffalo State College visiting my friends and boyfriend in Buffalo instead of going home. Buffalo State has about five times as many students as Elmira and the campus is significantly larger than Elmira as well. I remember when I was a senior in high school trying to narrow down the college search and I came to the point when I had to choose between attending a large school or a small school. Obviously, I decided to choose a small school, and now that I have experienced both, I am still very happy with my choice. First, everyone knows, or at least recognizes everyone else at Elmira College whereas in a large school, everyone is a stranger and the walkways across campus are silent with students walking with their heads down. Second, the farthest building on the Elmira College Campus is still within eyeshot from every dorm and is less than a five minute walk, whereas on larger campuses, student have to leave 20 minutes or more early to get to class on time. Third, there are traditions and closeknit relationships that larger schools are incapable of producing. Fourth, I feel that the Elmira College environment is more conducive to learning and education than larger metropolitan schools. With average class sizes no larger than 25, attendance is necessary and absences are moer noticeable than larger schools with class sizes of over 100 students, when missing class is easier and focusing on the topic at hand in a large, stadium shaped room, surrounded by dozens of people on every side is nearly impossible. Fifth, there is more opportunity on smaller campuses. For example, Elmira has three terms, the third of which offers "fun," lenient classes including several term three international travel trips that larger schools are unable to offer so frequently. Sixth, the Elmira College school year lasts about two weeks longer than other SUNY schools, but we have more, much-needed small breaks in between terms. Most college students would agree that having small, week-long breaks after mid-terms are much more welcome than plowing through a semester with few or no breaks just to be out of college two weeks earlier. Overall, for the students who want to graduate college feeling extremely proud of countless accomplishments, and have life-long friends at their side, having countless memories and trips of a lifetime and knowledge that will help them succeed in whatever future endeavors life has to offer, smaller schools like Elmira College are the better choice.