In an ideal world, we would all be able to go to any college we want to attend. Unfortunately, most students' choices are limited due to the high tuition costs at private universities. If you have to attend a large university for financial reasons, you can still have a positive experience by taking advantage of the options available universities.

Honors Colleges

Many public universities have an honors college for high-achieving students. Although you will have more work as an honors college student, you'll also get the opportunity to attend smaller classes and may even have special housing where you can study in a calmer environment. If you're planning to attend graduate school, an honors college can offer great preparation because many require that students complete a research project. In order to be admitted to an honors college, you'll need good SAT/ACT scores and a high grade point average. See the university website of the college to which you're applying to get specific information about applying to the honors program.

Branch Campuses

Large universities may have branches to offset overcrowding on the main campus and to attract non-traditional students. Smaller classes, better parking conditions, newer facilities and a more mature student body are some of the advantages of attending classes at a branch campus. And since most satellite campuses offer night classes, you can have a full-time job while attending school. The downside is that they may not offer as many classes as a main campus.

Intersession/Summer Courses

Campuses will be less crowded during summer or between regular semesters. Also, summer classes are usually smaller and more laid-back. Taking summer or intersession classes can also help lighten your course load in the regular semester.

Free Events

Even if you aren’t a sports fan, large universities have plenty of cheap or free entertainment options. Lectures, movies, plays, concerts and musicals are some of the events that students can attend at a discount or at no cost at all. Students usually don’t have to pay to visit campus museums, which often feature work by students or local artists. Don’t overlook these events just because they’re free. You may be surprised at the quality of the performers, artists and speakers at events on your campus.

Clubs and Organizations

With a larger student population, a public university will have a wide variety of student clubs and organizations. There should be at least one club that interests you. The largest campuses have clubs for almost any religious or political affiliation, career interest, and lifestyle. Try to join at least one club or student organization. Not only will you meet new people who share common interests, but your involvement with an organization may give you something impressive to put on your resume.

Health Facilities and Counseling Services

Student health centers are convenient and inexpensive resources for college students. Not only can you get check-ups, prescriptions, and flu shots, but also free counseling. Student counseling centers may conduct group therapy sessions for students struggling with anxiety, depression, and other issues. Therapy is usually conducted by supervised graduate students, which allows for the school to offer mental health services at a reduced cost or for free. Take advantage of these opportunities now because you may not have access to similar resources when you graduate. Nutritional counseling, speech therapy, and student fitness centers are other free or reduced-cost resources that may be available to students at your university.

Career Planning and Development

Your campus career center is an invaluable resource that can help you decide on a career path, develop career skills, and find a job after college. University career centers offer help with resume writing and interview preparation, in addition to career counseling. You can also visit the career center to find internship and job opportunities.

A student can easily feel lost in the crowd at a big university. Instead of seeing the negative side of attending a large school, take advantage of the opportunities that you might not have at a smaller college and try to find ways to make your campus feel a little smaller.