When one steps off the subway on Fulton Street in New York City, they are greeted with the fast paced movements of students rushing to class, famished and looking for a place to eat, or tiredly heading back to Maria’s Tower.

36 miles away, in Mount Pleasant, a campus lies quietly in the small village of Pleasantville. Many students commute, and others stay cooped up in their chosen dorm, only leaving for classes, sports or food.  Two totally different worlds set under the same name; Pace University.

Living on campus at Pace NYC can be an exhilarating and maturing experience. The campus is in the middle of the financial district and the dorms are either above the school or a few blocks away. There are hundreds of people rushing the streets at all times around 1 Pace Plaza, some students, others tourists or nine-to-fivers who work in the area. Looking outside your dorm window, you have a view of the city, different stores, restaurants, gyms, ice cream shops and so much more.

“What’s amazing about going to school in NYC is that my campus does not stop at school, the whole city is my campus,” Pace senior, Juliana Martins said.

The feeling of being a student in the city is one of freedom. When you step outside your dorm, you are surrounded by endless opportunities from the city, so it doesn’t give you that typical “college life.” Stone Street, a street filled with restaurants and bars, is a block away and provides students a place to enjoy their nights. The atmosphere is active and it is easy to get distracted as a student, but there is never a dull moment being a resident in the city that never sleeps.

When driving into the town of Pleasantville, a peaceful feeling washes over you. It is a quaint village in Westchester that screams family friendly, serene and the perfect place to take a stroll. Pace is only up the street from the main town itself, but is a whole different setting. Unlike Pace NYC, where the city and campus are one, the Pleasantville campus is disconnected from the town-life.

Students will venture in for only a handful of reasons, like to grab a bite to eat at the Pleasantville Diner, or get a slice of pizza from Sal’s Pizza and Pasta. On Thursday nights, you can be sure to see a line of students out the door in front of the local bar Paulie’s. Living on the Pleasantville campus has everything a college student would need. The cafeteria is in walking distance from all four dorms and just a walk down the hill from the townhouses.

“Living at the Westchester campus has been great for me,” Pace junior, Imani Williams said. “I like that everything that I need is a short distance away and that I have a great view from my room!”

This campus is more of a community with a spirited feel. You can always find athletes repping Pace gear or students filling the common area in the dorms to watch TV, partake in activities or chat with friends. The best part is you only have to roll out of bed five minutes beforehand to be on time for class, as all classrooms are in close proximity as well. The ease and comfort of being on campus in Pleasantville is huge and it gives a much more laid back and relaxed vibe.

Both campuses have a ton to offer but are vastly different at the same time. Some students make the trek up from the city on Friday night to catch a football game the next morning, while others hop on the Metro North to spend a night out in the city. Either way, whichever way of life works best for you, Pace has the best of both worlds.