When I was applying to colleges, I knew right away that I wanted to go to school in Boston. Coming from a small town in rural, central Massachusetts, I knew that I wanted to experience all that Boston had to offer: the history, the art, the music, the sports, and the culture in general. There is this atmosphere in Boston that is unlike anything else, and there is always so much to do.

I originally started out at a different Boston-area college, and it wasn’t long until I realized that Suffolk University is the school that actually offered the perfect learning environment for me. I transferred to Suffolk in the fall of my sophomore year and immediately loved everything that Suffolk has to offer its students. Right when I first took a tour of the campus, I realized just how unique Suffolk is because it is located right in the center of the city. During my first year at Suffolk I lived at the 150 Tremont Street residence hall, and was just steps away from some of the greatest sites and attractions in Boston. I lived across the street from the Boston Common, and a street or two away from both the Theatre District and Downtown Crossing. Living in downtown Boston introduced me to so much diversity and culture that I learned just as much outside of the classroom as I did inside the classroom.

I also quickly learned that Suffolk is unique in other ways as well. The classroom environments are so personal and welcoming that it makes going to class so worthwhile. I have also learned a lot from my professors because they are always so friendly and eager to help. They actually take the time to get to know you and really want you to learn the material so you can enjoy class as much as possible. Before I came to college I was not sure of what I wanted to major in and what I wanted to do with my life, but I have had professors and advisors to talk to about this, and they have helped me realize what my career goals are: to work as a Child Psychologist.

The small class sizes here at Suffolk (about 25 people per class) enhance what knowledge the professors have to offer because you get to actively participate in class; you’re not just a number in a lecture hall of 300 students. Because of this, you also get to know your classmates well, which is really comforting when you are looking for people to study with when midterms and finals roll around.

That is another thing that I really like about Suffolk: the students are friendly and always provide a sense of community both around campus and in the classroom. I have learned so much from my peers because students here really create an atmosphere where you feel welcome right from Day One. Because of this, it is easy to get involved in many different activities and can find your niche in the Suffolk community. I personally have gotten involved in a few different aspects of the Suffolk community through community service work in our Jumpstart program, and becoming a teaching assistant for a freshman seminar class, SU101.

As for my advice for any students applying to college and considering Suffolk: do the best you can to figure out what each of your prospective schools have to offer, and once you realize which one is the right one for you, take complete advantage of everything it has to offer.