Choosing Bonaventure

I was not one of those students that spent hours perusing college catalogues or scrutinizing big thick guides to colleges. When I initially started thinking about colleges, there were a few factors that ranked highly in my college decision-making process.

I wanted to attend college in a warm climate, on a campus located close to a major airport and one situated in a community that offered an abundance of cultural options.

You might begin to wonder how I ended up at St. Bonaventure University.

After touring and visiting numerous campuses, I knew I wanted a small college campus. The thought of sitting in a lecture hall with over 400 freshmen was truly unappealing. Bonaventure was a small, friendly campus on the east coast that offered a strong health sciences program.

My younger brother is a huge basketball fan. He was familiar with Bonaventure. My mom grew up in upstate New York and had friends that graduated from Bonaventure. So I hesitantly put Bonaventure on my list.

The summer before my senior year of high school, my mom and I made the trek from the airport with our trusted GPS to Olean. On that delightfully warm day, I fell in love with the feel of the campus. The faculty, staff and students on campus were friendly and welcoming, too.

So let’s go back to my checklist.

Is Bonaventure University located in a warmer climate? No. Well, if I were from Toronto this would be a warmer climate. My dad jokingly sends a daily automated text message asking if it started snowing yet. No snow yet, dad.

Is there easy access to the airport? Well, that depends on how one defines easy. I have to hope that the bus leaving the Buffalo airport will coincide with my arriving flight, or I might be camping out at the airport for a few hours.

Are there limited cultural options? There are a few restaurants, a movie theater, and a Wal-mart Supercenter. Not exactly a cultural paradise.

The decision to attend Bonaventure was ultimately based on the feeling of the campus. Students, faculty and staff were warm, friendly and receptive to my questions and concerns. Upperclassmen reached out and welcomed me.

Did I make the right choice? I think so.

How is life is as a Bona? So far everything is going well. Well, read my first year freshman blog to find out.