<p>GAILFORCE: I think people just have different ideas about what they want to “do” while they’re in college. Some people see cities as opportunities to go to concerts and museums, try many different types of ethnic foods, and be around hundreds of thousands of other people. However, many students think there is actually more to do at certain rural colleges – because they’d rather be outdoors being active.</p>
<p>As an example, Appalachian State University (around 17,000 students) is in Boone, NC (around 18,000 residents). It is one of the most-loved universities in NC. For a lot of NC students, App is a dream school. Students go there because they love to be outdoors. There are numerous nearby places for hiking, rafting, rock climbing, and mountain biking. In winter, students head to the ski slopes. Most Appalachian students would probably find a university in a city stifling, draining, and boring.</p>