So, it’s not a secret that out of the universities in Calgary, Ambrose is one of the smallest. Our student body is growing like crazy, but we’re still just under a thousand students. And some of you may see that reality as a negative thing, because the size of school is often seen as what determines the number of opportunities for students. But, I’m here to tell you not only that a small university is awesome, but also that it really should be preferred. Here’s why:

1. Small class sizes: In a large university, it isn’t uncommon to find yourself in a lecture hall with hundreds of other students. This means that you are basically just a number to your professor; there is little to no opportunity for discussion in class, and it can be extremely difficult to get help from your profs. Compare that large university experience to Ambrose. Our average class size is around 23 students, and depending on your program, it’s not uncommon to find yourself in a classroom with 10 other people. This can create a really fun atmosphere in your class, because you often spend more time in discussion, and you get to know the other students really well. You become a team of people working together to crush the material and work.
2. Community: I don’t know about you guys, but I can get lost in a crowd. In a large university, it is incredibly easy to come to class, do the work, and go back to your dorm room or back home having spoken to no one. I’m introverted, so it’s especially easy for me to fade into the background. Here at Ambrose, we have programs in place that make sure you aren’t that anonymous student who slips through the cracks. If you’re living in res, you’re placed into an instant family of brothers and sisters who are there to support you and do life with you. And if you’re a commuter student, a cool thing that’s unique to Ambrose is our Commuter Student Lounge. We have staff whose primary role is to oversee commuter life and create opportunities to build that same family and community among commuters that you’d find between students who live together in residence.
3. Student-Professor Interactions: I’m in my third year of my program, and I know my profs well. I know some of their life-stories, I’ve spent time with them outside of class, and I’ve walked into their offices countless times without setting up a meeting ahead of time to talk. I’ve been counseled, encouraged, and tutored by my highly educated, PhD instructors. I’ve cried, laughed, and worked through things that bother me with my profs. I’m on a first name basis with all of them, and they all know and recognize me. They know a lot about my background and about my ambitions and goals in life. My professors maintain professionalism, but most have chosen to work at Ambrose because it gives them the opportunity to build more of a helping relationship with their students. They want to see us succeed in life and I’ve seen countless examples where professors at Ambrose have bent over backwards to help a student, either with an assignment, or finding an internship placement, or figuring out career path. I’m not assuming that you can’t find relationships like this at a larger university; I’m just saying that what’s rare at a larger university, is the norm at Ambrose University.