"The Experience"



Choosing Your College: The Student Body

Author: petersons, Category: College Search

Ever hear somebody say that college was the best time in their life? Most likely, that has a lot to do with the friends they made along the way. Whether it’s in a classroom or a dorm room, part of the fun of college is meeting new people — and regardless of where you go, you are going to make friends. Keep in mind that not all colleges are the same, and neither are their students. Large schools and those in large cities are more likely to enroll students from a wide range of ethnic, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds. Others, especially small schools and those in rural locations, tend to have a more homogeneous student body.

Give some thought to the type of people you want around, where they may be from, or how many are male versus female. It’s also OK to think about what sort of values the students and the schools reflect. If you’re conservative, a more liberal college may make you uncomfortable (unless you’re looking for a chance to learn about others’ experiences and perspectives), or vice versa. The people you meet during your college years will influence you in ways you may not even imagine!

Campus vibe
While on campus visits, take a good look around. Get a sense of how students are dressed, how crowded the common areas seem, and whether the campus seems lively or a little on the slow side. What do you see? Do you notice a lot of sorority or fraternity jackets, Birkenstocks, pink hair and nose rings, or a little of everything? If everyone seems cut from the same cloth, decide if you’re more comfortable with uniformity or individual expression. These are important things to consider — you want to find an environment where you can express your personality freely.

Boys vs. girls
Most schools are coed, with a balance of male and female students, but some still lean in one direction or the other. You may want to consider whether you want to go to a school with a fairly equal gender ratio or a school that has a significantly higher percentage of one gender than the other. Another option is a women-only or men-only college.

Cultural diversity
One of the coolest things about college is getting the chance to meet and learn from people of all cultures. Do you want to be around lots of different people with a variety of accents and traditions, or does familiarity make you the most comfortable? Most schools will have some level of diversity, but the bigger and more urban the school, the more diverse it is likely to be. If you plan to major in a language or international politics, a school full of diversity may be just the place for you.

Residents or non-residents
There are quite a few colleges that draw the locals, resulting in a larger amount of commuter students and a greater chance that if you’re a local too, you may run into some familiar faces. On the other hand, schools that enroll tons of out-of-state students may provide an opportunity to forge new friendships from the ground up with people from all over the country. Do you have a preference? Maybe you and your best friend want to stick close to home — or meet new friends at an out-of-state university.

The best of both worlds
Many large universities, although diverse, have groups of people with similar backgrounds living together, either by accident or by design. For example, one university places students majoring in certain areas into the same dorms. These living communities allow for easier studying and facilitate quicker social connections, since many of the students have classes together. On campuses like this, you can enjoy familiarity and diversity!

Regardless of where you go, whether you’re an extrovert or a bookworm, the people you encounter in college may become your best buddies, your future spouse, or your verbal sparring partners for philosophical discussions…or all three! It may not matter too much to you what types of people attend the college that you go to, but be sure that you check things out enough that you don’t find yourself surrounded by people that you just can’t relate to. College should be fun and full of great interactions, not spent holed up in your room avoiding people.

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