St. Bonaventure University (SBU)

St. Bonaventure University is a small Franciscan school of nearly 2,000 undergraduates. It provides "a well-rounded college experience that allows [students] to feel confident after graduation," great academic programs, and "an enormously huge heart." St. Bonaventure University is "very responsive to the need of having small class sizes to improve education outcomes" and the 12:1 student-faculty ratio guarantees personal relationships with the professors and thoughtful discussions with peers. Students "know just about everyone. You go through the same classes with the same students throughout [your] career, and it makes it easier to work in groups and get help," says a student. This is a group of eager learners who have a drive to learn and succeed not only in the classroom but "beyond, in meaningful applications to current and future employment endeavors."

The faculty comes equipped with real-world experience and sparks students' interests in a variety of academic disciplines, and "every single teacher goes out of their way to help students in any way they can." If students need help and show that they really want to learn the material, "[the faculty] will devote so much time to you." Professors "really work hard to make their classes better" and "really take our teacher evaluations to heart." Bonaventure's small size provides each student with "the opportunity to tutor, teach, do research and lead during their undergrad," and the school shows excellent career placement rates.

Here in the Bona Bubble, students "look out for each other both during and after our collegiate careers." The campus culture encourages students "to be respectful with each other." "All of my peers know that the bubble we have on campus is unquestionably unique," says one. Besides holding the doors for each other all around campus ("If door holding was an Olympic sport we would win gold"), these "unfailingly kind" students "bond and form a group passionate for their small-town school." "Once a Bonnie, always a Bonnie," says a student. The familial atmosphere that students revel in here often keeps people so tightly knit "that going home for break can be difficult because you miss them so much."

Between the great people and gorgeous scenery, "it's not that hard to go to school in the middle of nowhere." During the week, the most popular place to be between classes is "either the dining hall or the library." The small campus means students "can roll out of bed 10 minutes before class and still make it on time," and it features "a beautiful trail to walk." Division I athletics at SBU receive a lot of accolades, and students say there's nothing better than cheering for Bona basketball in the Reilly Center. "You can always tell when game day is for the men's basketball team just by walking through campus; it gets pretty crazy." Extracurricular clubs are extremely popular, as is spending time in the Rathskeller, "an on-campus bar that features two pool tables, ping-pong, multiple TVs, a dance floor with a DJ usually, [and] other games." Off campus parties are "very common" on weekends. Everyone pretty much sticks to campus or hometown Olean, but for those that do want to venture further (and have access to a car), they can always "spend the day exploring the nearby national forest, or take a trip to Buffalo or Erie."