<p>No problem, astrophysicsmom. :)</p>
<p>I can still recall the excitment in my hometown when we surpassed the 7,500 mark in population and technically qualified as a “city.” No question, very different opportunities are available in really large urban areas! </p>
<p>The OP mentioned Carleton, though, and so I’m not sure how large a city she has in mind. </p>
<p>The NASA internship possibilities near UMD-College Park are a major plus. I don’t happen to know UMD’s astrophysicists (just a coincidence that I knew some at UNC, Chapel Hill); but in my field, the program at UMD-College Park is excellent.</p>