Going to a big school can be intimidating and lead to difficulty navigating such a foreign space. However, it also offers big opportunities that may not be offered at smaller institutions and pushes students to reach their full potential.
The bustling campus at UW-Madison is invigorating in ways that people don’t always realize. Schools with large student populations offer endless ways to get involved and help individuals find a sense of belonging within a smaller community, even for those who are skeptical.
UW-Madison sophomore Chiara Kenagy said she had some expectations about going to a big school that proved to be untrue when she finally felt like she found her place.
“Even though it is such a big school, it feels pretty small. Things like Greek life and clubs can make you feel like you are part of a smaller community within a large school,” Kenagy said. “I like that I have a lot of different friends, and a lot of them don’t know each other. I am always making new friends because I am constantly meeting new people.”
The transition from attending a small high school to a large university can be daunting. But from game days to big lecture halls, being at a large school like UW-Madison is something people crave.
“I don’t really know if I wanted to go to a big school but a push for it was the fact that I went to such a small high school,” Kenagy said. “I also wanted to go somewhere really different from home. Smaller schools reminded me more of high school and felt too comfortable.”
The feeling of being out of place is something most first-year students experience when first attending college. Looking around and seeing what seems like already-formed friend groups can make individuals feel even more isolated, and trying to find a place to sit in a 400-person lecture hall can trigger deep anxiety.
But Kenagy said she overcame these problems.
“Meeting people and feeling overwhelmed by the big school aspects, like how big my classes were and being in huge classrooms was extremely difficult for me. It was hard to get help at first, but I now realize there are so many resources. You have to make an effort to utilize them,” Kenagy said. “It pushes you to get out of your comfort zone and talk to your professors. Going to the dining hall and having to sometimes sit alone was hard.”
With plenty of trial and error as a first-year student at UW-Madison, students ultimately acquire the tools they need to succeed in the future. Building up the courage to talk to a professor for clarity on something difficult can improve communication skills. Using available resources like academic advisors prepares individuals by pushing them to reach out and schedule appointments to plan their courses for the semester. These are all tools that are very much essential outside of college.
Additionally, attending a large college opens up incredible networking opportunities. UW-Madison has an amazing alumni network, providing funding and connections that can help students find internships or job opportunities or even apply for scholarships and financial aid.
Big schools set students up for success by pushing them to reach out for help. The unfamiliarity of large campuses forces students out of their comfort zones, something essential for growth. UW-Madison has so much to offer, which is why students who attend a large university find success.
Stella Sutton is a staff writer and a sophomore studying strategic communication and economics. Do you agree large universities offer more opportunities to help students strive for success? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com
