 |
College Environment
Social Life | Fraternities
and Sororities | International
Students | Affiliations |
Extracurricular Activities
Social Life
Most U.S. colleges offer students a variety of social, cultural,
and sports activities in addition to their academic programs.
The level to which each is emphasized will determine the social
environment you will find on your campus. You should also
consider whether the majority of the students live on or off
a university campus. At colleges referred to as commuter schools,
most students live off campus and commute to classes. Potential
undergraduates will want to know what the atmosphere is like
during the weekends on campus — do most students stay
at the university or leave to take trips or return home to
visit family every weekend? All of these factors will have
an effect on the campus social life.
Back to the top
Fraternities and
Sororities
A unique feature of U.S. campus life is the Greek system,
which offers students the choice of joining a fraternity or
sorority. (The term "Greek" is used because the
names of fraternities and sororities are composed of two or
three Greek letters.) Fraternities (male) and sororities (female)
can be the focus of undergraduate social life on many U.S.
campuses. However, as well as holding parties, fraternities
and sororities often sponsor philanthropic activities. Students
with a strong preference for or against the Greek system need
to find out whether the fraternities and sororities dominate
the social life of a campus. If you do not wish to be part
of Greek life, attending a university where the Greek scene
is prevalent can be problematic, because the pressure to join
may be high and the social life options outside of the system
may be limited.
Back to the top
International
Students
The number of international students enrolled at a U.S. college
ranges from less than 10 to over 3,000, and of course most
fall somewhere in between. College directories often list
exactly how many international students are enrolled alongside
other data on each institution. U.S. educational information
and advising centers usually have a variety of reference books
that can provide you with this type of information.
When considering these figures, think about your own needs.
On campuses where there are few international students you
may be considered a very special person to get to know. However,
you may find that these schools provide fewer services for
international students. Campuses with many international students
may provide a built-in support group who can share your experiences,
but it may require extra effort on your part to make sure
you meet and interact with U.S. students as well as with students
from other parts of the world.
Back to the top
Affiliations
All U.S. colleges will accept students of any race, color,
or creed. Many universities or colleges, however, were founded
with a certain mission, whether to provide a religious atmosphere
on campus or a single-sex educational experience or a majority
ethnic student population. Read the school's mission statement
printed in its catalog carefully and decide if your goals
match the goals of the campus. Out of the 3,600 U.S. colleges
and universities, there are about 600 to 700 affiliated with
a specific church denomination or religious tradition. In
addition to these, there are approximately 70 bible colleges,
which are committed to helping students integrate faith and
learning and preparing them to live out their faith in all
areas of life. Based on current listings, 13 colleges are
for men only, and there are around 65 women-only colleges.
There are also some colleges that cater to African-American
or Hispanic students.
Back to the top
Extracurricular Activities
U.S. universities offer many opportunities for students to
develop skills through extracurricular activities such as
sports teams, academic clubs, university newspapers, drama
productions, and other rewarding programs. If you have a definite
interest, make sure there is a student society that caters
to it — don't forget, though, that if there isn't, you
can always start one. Also, looking through the various student
organizations will give you an idea of the interests and concerns
of the student body, and thus give another insight into student
life at various colleges.
Back to the top
|
|
