UTM is the smallest school in the UT system in both campus size and student body.
Even though a degree from UTM will say “The University of Tennessee” just like a degree from Chattanooga or Knoxville, the experiences students have over four years will differ greatly whether they’re a Moc, Vol or Skyhawk.
Martin is a considerably smaller town than its UT counterparts. So the question nearly asking itself is, what’s the difference and how does it affect students?
First, it’s obvious that SEC schools have bigger sporting events- and yes, we mean events, because that’s exactly what schools that offer tailgating do for atmosphere of attending sporting events. Having nationally broadcast sporting events draws a crowd to universities outside of their student populous. It’s good for TV networks, the tourism department for cities, the campus community as a retailer and the general consumer within each individual.
I hear about people going to cities like Knoxville for vacation, but I have never heard the same story about a town like Martin. This isn’t a bad thing; people like myself come to UTM partly because of the small town feel, but I will say that Martin lacks the vast diversity of entertainment found at bigger schools and communities.
These bigger towns also offer more off-campus entertainment for young people. This includes better restaurants, theaters, shopping options and even activities like escape rooms, laser tag and more. A bigger surrounding community gives students the opportunity to spend their time invested in that community instead of either going home on the weekends or going to parties where they’re likely to binge drink.
Bigger schools also have more funding, which can often mean better housing, research facilities, on-campus labs and other departmental perks that end up being vital to the practical working education of students.
In my opinion, the quality of education at these schools is therefore increased. More opportunities to learn obviously results in more learning, right? UTM is growing and expanding, but Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was UTK.
So what are some of the benefits of going to a smaller school?
At smaller colleges, students and professors have a better chance to get to know each other, since there are fewer students. Students at UTM aren’t just numbers.
Classes are also smaller, especially when it comes to taking upper-division coursework. The chances of having 50 or more students in a given class are slimmer than at a large university. This small class-size gives students more of an opportunity for engaged learning and having questions answered during the education process.
The opportunity to get involved and move up the ladder is also more prevalent at smaller schools. The smaller the student body, the smaller the competition. If you can stand out in a big crowd, it’s really saying something, but especially for those pursuing grad-school or other degrees beyond an undergraduate degree, those experiences you can get from leading, maybe, multiple organizations at one time, will better prepare you for the real world and trials ahead.
Really at the end of the day, going to a big or small college is a personal preference. I grew up in a small town called White House, just north of Nashville, almost my entire life. I wanted to go somewhere that would feel like home and give me a great education.
Coming to UTM has been one of the best decisions of my life and I don’t regret it one bit. But, I do see the appeal that larger schools have and I understand why some people prefer a place like Knoxville over somewhere like Martin. Different strokes for different folks and what not.
So though your college experience should be about the education and not the fun, it’s important to understand your own personality and note what will work best for you when choosing your home for the next four years.
