Now the question comes: What is Elyse looking for in a college? I find that even after three college visits, this question has not become any easier to answer. I just have more answers than I had before. So maybe that’s a good thing. Who really knows. I hope this paragraph is getting across the utter confusion and lack of clarity found in my brain right now. I bet if I could see it (my brain), it would be swirling and mushy. Laying aside of course what we all know what a brain looks like. I don’t even know what I’m saying. Onto business.
Community — A place to belong.
I’m a people person. I join things, I do things, for the people involved. Take golf. I hate golf. Why do I do it? The team. Take school right now. I may hate certain classes but I get up in the morning for the people. NYLF turned out to be one of the better experiences of a lifetime because of the people I met. For that matter, I love Russia because of the people. Heck, I joined Random Shapes for the chance to meet people. Anyway, you get the point. Or do you?
It’s important to me that I go to a college/university where individuals are valued. Where it’s truly about the people. Where it’s about meeting others and getting to know people different than you in many different ways. Where everyone shares a common passion: people. I don’t like the idea of being disconnected. I don’t like the idea of a campus where everyone is just trying to get ahead, not trying to find commonalities. If I had to choose a top priority, this would be it.
Coast
Plain and simple, the place has to be located near a coast. I can’t begin to imagine being holed up in a place like…Indiana. I think I’d die of claustrophobia. Eugh. Even more specifically, I prefer the East Coast. I’m just about done with being three hours behind. I want to see the ball drop in Times Square live!
Russian Language & Literature and Russian Area Studies
This one’s pretty easy. I mean, I just need both. This has already narrowed down my options quite a bit and has been something I’ve wanted for quite a while. I love history, I love culture, I love language, I love reading. Thus the need for both and an ability to double up.
Active Russian Major Population
By this I mean I want a campus where the Russian Majors are doing stuff on campus. Whether it’s weekly meals, a club, a Russian house, monthly activities, anything– I want to be able to experience my major outside of the classroom. And, I’ll put under here too: A good study abroad program that goes to Russia. Anywhere in Russia.
Mixed-Moderate Political Climate
I have a post planned in the next couple of days about this. But in a nutshell, I don’t want to go to a solidly liberal or conservative school. I want one where both populations are well represented as well as those that fall in between. I’m leaving this kind of short just because of the fact that I’ll be writing a whole article on it later.
Easily Accessible Professors/Small Class Sizes
I want the majority (if not all of my classes) to hold 13-19 people. I want them to be small, intimate. Small enough that everyone participates in discussions and gives different perspectives, but big enough that there are different perspectives. I want to be able to get to know my professors. One of my favourite things about high school is the accessibility of teachers and the relationships I’ve forged with several of them. Based on this experience, I’m guessing that’s something I’ll look for in a college as well.
Personality
I want to spend four years of my life at a campus with flare. With… pizzaz. A campus that has superstitions, traditions, weird quirks about it. The more personality and uniqueness I see to a school, the more I’m drawn to it, end of story. If there’s any sort of humour in college mailings (and I read them all), I’ll give them a looksee. It’s frankly that simple.
School Pride/Spirit
A school that exhibits pride in all aspects that the mascot is involved in gets major points. High levels of campus spirit denotes a happy student body, I’d say. Which is why it’s such a big deal. And I think it’s a big part of college life as well. I want to be proud of the place that I choose to go, and I want others to be proud with me.
Involvement
One of my least favourite things about high school are the students who could care less, who coast by in each class doing the bare minimum. I want to have valuable discussions in classes that have everyone in the room involved. I don’t want to wonder what someone in the room is thinking, I want to know. And likewise, I’m not a fan of people who complain about my high school without participating in any clubs/sports and therefore having very little stake in it in the first place. A campus that inspires people to join and get involved in extracurricular things is important.
I’m forgetful
There are probably more. This list will likely get added to. But for now, it’s all I can think of, and I want to give people something to read while I’m gone all day. Those of you who are college bound: What are some of the things you’re looking for?
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