What Makes a University Campus Beautiful?

Campus Size

Let us start with the obvious, the size of a campus is probably the most noticeable aspect of the campus. A university campus can vary in size and area. A large campus may indicate a lot of faculties and departments, and also a variety of facilities like sports facilities, lecture halls, and dormitories. But this also means that the travel time between facilities will be significantly large. On the other hand, a small campus usually indicates limited options in terms of education, and limited number of students at any given time, which might be favorable to some students seeking an intimate educational experience. 

Although a small campus could be as tiny as a single building, the largest campus as of the writing of this article is Berry College in Georgia, United States; with a massive 105 square kilometers campus.

Location

Alright, universities are everywhere! Seriously… The University of the Arctic is literally located in the Arctic. So you might want to consider your preferred type of campus. 

Generally, campuses are either Urban, Suburban, or Rural. This classification is important when deciding a beautiful university campus. Urban campuses are located in the inner city, meaning that they will be around other buildings in a more alive atmosphere. This usually indicates that Urban campuses contain a diversity in students. The rural area is usually remote and requires transportation, but this means that most facilities around the campus are aimed at serving students. Each city or town has its own vibe. You might as well research the overall weather of the city, if you enjoy rain, or prefer sunny all-summer climate (or maybe enjoy seeing polar bears on your way to class). Different types of locations also dictate the options and prices for accommodation, so you need to keep that in mind as well.

On-Campus Facilities

It is always good to check out what you might find on campus as different campuses provide different facilities and services. Usually, big campuses have the same services you can find in a small village; from a hair salon, to a fine-dining restaurant. Some campuses offer accommodation options within the vicinity of the campus, which is good for education, but also good in terms of security (which I will talk about in the next point). You can also check the student activities provided on-campus as well as transportation solutions. If you are a bookworm like me, you would enjoy a decent library on campus. There are no limits to what a campus might offer, you just need to know what you want to find and look for the university accordingly.

Security

The most important thing to look out for is campus security! Yes, the building style is important, but this wouldn’t matter if you are unsafe. So it is crucial for you to consider the security both on-campus, and on your way to get into the campus. Check for things like emergency telephones, escorts, security personnel available, and shuttle services. One thing that can help you identify the level of security is whether the campus is gated or just open buildings. A university official can answer all your questions regarding safety and security of students on campus.

Ethos

This may seem like a bizarre concept. But, Ethos is the spirit or feeling that something is conveying. Ethos is purely subjective and variant as what you deem as beautiful might pass as normal to others. Also, sometimes you might be fascinated by a campus that does not resemble what you usually enjoy, but you just feel that it is beautiful. This is why sometimes you need to just follow your heart (not to sound cheesy) and take a look. That might impress you.