By Julie Vultaggio
Assistant Director of Admissions, Tufts University

Each fall, amid all of the "Back to School" sales and the catchy commercials that go with them, millions of high school juniors and seniors begin thinking about a mysterious factor known only to them as "the future," which for many students means college. Hundreds of factors come into play when selecting a school, such as which school offers the majors you're interested in, how big the student body is, where you can find the best research/career opportunities, and of course, the location of the college or university.

While it is important to consider how far you're willing to be from your friends and family, another element that you should think about when choosing where to apply is how near or far the college is from a major city. For students who absolutely thrive on the hustle and bustle of a big city, then an urban college would probably be a good match; for those seeking sprawling campuses that border forests and farms, a rural university may be the better option. However, for students who are not sure which environment they would like best or prefer to try a little of each, suburban institutions—a hybrid offspring of urban and rural schools—typically offer the best of both worlds.

Suburban colleges and universities, which are essentially defined by their location, tend to come with a lot of benefits. For example, suburban schools usually exist on beautiful, sprawling residentia...

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