The city is certainly not the only post-graduation option. Amanda DeMeola '01 will attend Dickinson Law School of Penn State next fall in Carlisle, Penn., a town of 12,000 inhabitants. DeMeola has come to appreciate the residential atmosphere in a small town like South Hadley. Another factor in choosing Dickinson was that housing is in walking distance of the school so a having a car is not necessary. However, the attractions of the city, especially after four years in little South Hadley, will prove irresistible to many new graduates.
Cities provide jobs, housing, transportation and other resources in a relatively small area.
Historically, these attractions have drawn people migrating out of rural areas. Only in recent human history have large cities been so common. The trend to urbanize is a result of modernization, industrialization and mobility. In the beginning of the 19th century, only about two percent of the world's population lived in cities with over 20,000 inhabitants. In today's modern world, megacities such as New York City and Mexico City, with populations over 10 million are becoming more popular.