Catch Me, If You Can.

Entry 20

This time last year, I was applying to colleges and I had no clue that I would have ended up where I currently am now. If you had asked me where I was going, the first universities to pop in my head would be a UC school or a school that most people have heard of before. Well, it's safe to say that didn't happen. I ended up at the tiniest private school outside LA, and you know what? It's pretty freaking awesome.

The University of La Verne is located in, well, La Verne, but its somewhere past Anaheim but before the bustling traffic panic that is Los Angeles. If it weren't for my cousin, who just graduated from La Verne this year, it's slim that I would've heard about or even considered applying to this college. The undergraduate population is around three thousand students, just a bit more than the amount of students in my high school back in San Diego. I never imagined moving from one huge part of Southern California to another and STILL ending up in a tiny place. Classes are nearly half the size they were in high school (my biggest class is maxed out at twenty four people), and I can cross the entire campus in five minutes on foot, except when I'm trying to pick up food beforehand and stand in what seems like a Disneyland line for a grilled cheese and fries. Eh, you can't have everything.

Attending a tiny universities definitely has it's benefits and advantages. Smaller class sizes translate to more one-on-one time and connections between professors and students, as well as less (but still apparent) chaos when fighting for classes at registration. La Verne ALWAYS has programs happening around campus and it's so nice to show up and there be room for everyone to participate, and a smaller population gives opportunities to promote inclusivity and interconnectedness with peers. It's safe to say that I am definitely more social and free spirited than I was in high school, and I never knew I could befriend so many wonderful people and go on so many adventures until I showed up at La Verne. I find myself always smiling and waving at someone I pass by on the way to class, something I didn't do as often in high school.

Along with all the fun activities, attending a small university also gives way to advantages in one's future and career. Our school is always hosting workshops and presentations to help build resumes, strengths in interviews, and helps students look for work and internships and how to kickstart experience and skills before they graduate. There's a plethora of seminars every week and the ability to work one-on-one is not only a possibility, but encouraged by the university. Alongside them are advisors, or faculty members that help students choose classes and pathways that fulfill the right requirements for the intended field. La Verne has experts in every major that help students choose the most suitable journey to success. We meet with them at least once a semester and they give feedback and tips on our tentative schedules and our plan for the next semester. Basically, they ensure that we're not doing anything (too) stupid. It's a nice resource to fall back on.

To be honest I was planning to do a downside of attending a small university but I can't really think of any! The town does close kind of early since none of the shops and restaurants are chain places, but they're all so good and so cute it balances itself out. Classes are great, the people are great, I feel great. This is definitely a home away from home; I'm probably known as the dude from La Verne because I can't seem to shut up about this place. I guess I'm a bit of a fan.

I love it here.

***NOTICE***
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