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 often determines the social environment
on 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 travel to
classes from home each day. Potential undergraduates will want to
know what the atmosphere is like during the weekends on campus — do
most students stay at the university take trips or return home to
visit family every weekend? All of these factors will have an effect
on the campus social life.
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. In addition to organizing social
activities, fraternities and sororities often sponsor philanthropic
events. 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.
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. EducationUSA information and advising centers
usually have a variety of reference books 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 meet and interact with U.S.
students as well as with students from other parts of the world.
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, a
single-sex educational experience, or a majority ethnic student
population. Read the school's mission statement 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.
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. |
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