What I'm looking for in a college...
Below are my top schools for the environment I want to surround myself with during college. I am looking for easy access to a big city, a medium- to large-sized student population, and a school fit for my interested majors: primarily Communications, Marketing, and Public Relations with emphasis on Journalism and Media. I also dream of studying abroad, so a school with a large study abroad program is a must! Another major factor in my college decision is student life. I want to be able to attend sporting events, join clubs, and attend active social outings weekly.
Location: Having easy access to a city is very important on my list of "wants." While I do not want to be completely immersed into city life with no private campus, it is very important to me to have the opportunity and ability to attend concerts, hockey and baseball games, and other events hosted by the city outside of school. Ideally, I would be able to be close to a city or college town with different styles of restaurants, theaters, and shopping.
Academics: I would like to attend a school where I can be challenged in the classroom either through a rigorous curriculum or an Honors and Scholars Program. While I'd like a medium- or large-sized school, small class sizes or work groups and personalized instruction are very important to me. I would also like to attend a collaborative school where I can work with others to find solutions to problems and make our dreams come to reality.
Housing: As an underclassman, I want to live on campus with roommates to make new friends and truly experience college life. As an upperclassman, I hope to have off-campus housing options to live in an apartment or complex with friends while still having close access to my university.
Recreation: I hope to get involved with many things on campus. Lots of clubs, intramurals, and activities are very important to me to make friends and have fun while studying. Some things that I am really interested in and hope to be a part of are intramural volleyball, an acapella group, a student-led magazine, and student leadership and event planning groups.