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Social Colleges: Studying and Having Fun

Colleges have their own personalities– apply to those that offer your ideal social setting.

In just a few months you’ll move into your college dorm and settle into your classes. Then the real fun can start – making new friends, getting to know your new surroundings, and just having a good time!

But for that to happen, you need to apply to colleges that offer the social life you are looking for.

Just how social should your college be? There are as many answers to that question as there are students … and there are colleges that answer to each and every one.

Here are a few suggestions and considerations:

1. Looking Beyond the Campus Gates

Depending on the location of the school, you may have anything from a large urban city to a small college town in front of you once you step outside campus gates.

A big city will offer you many options, including coffee shops, restaurants, shopping, clubs, bars, music venues, and more. A rural area will provide much fewer options.

College towns in America are accustomed to catering to student needs, so they are guaranteed to offer plenty of fun activities as well. Student-oriented coffee shops and bars are likely to offer student discounts, as are grocery stores, restaurants, and other establishments

2. Living in the College Dorms

Your dorm or off-campus apartment will be your home — or at least your home away from home.

Make sure the types of student housing at the colleges where you apply are actually something you can live in. If you can’t imagine sleeping in a loft but that’s all the school offers for freshmen, maybe it isn’t the right college for you.

Whether you’re in a dorm or an off-campus apartment, it’s always great to have a good relationship with your roommates. It means you’ll always have someone to chat with at the end of the day and a group of people to go out and explore your new surroundings with.

But while one roommate may be fine, five may be two many. Find out the housing options at the colleges you are considering.

3. Checking out the Types of Student Activities

Most schools offer a wide variety of student activities on-campus, from outdoors clubs, to student choirs, to sports, career clubs, and more. These are a great way to get involved in the social scene at colleges.

On your campus visit, check out notice boards on campus, in dorms, and in the dining hall – there are sure to be lots of posts regarding various clubs, auditions, and social events at colleges which might interest you.

4. Competing in (or Watching) Sports

There are a lot of ways to get involved at colleges with sports, whether you’re playing sports or simply watching them. In addition to more serious competition-level varsity and intercollegiate sports, many colleges also offer non-competitive intramural sports where students form teams and play against one another just for fun.

In some cases, social life at colleges with sports can revolve around a school’s specific high-profile sports team. Students join friends in attending games to cheer on the team, and have enormous parties when the team wins big.

5. Taking Classes … All on Your Own

Maybe the social atmosphere of a college isn’t important to you.

If you’re a motivated student with many outside obligations, or if you want to attend a school far from home without uprooting yourself or your family, earning an online degree might be for you. But remember: This option will provide you with little or none of the social experiences that many consider to be essential to the college experience.

Have Fun!

No matter what your interests are, you’re sure to find a college that offers the type of social life you crave when you’re not busy studying!

Whether you want to sing in a choir, form an ultimate Frisbee team, or catch a live music show after class, odds are that you can find a school that has whatever suits your interests.

Social life is a big part of every college experience, so make sure you find a place where you can enjoy it!

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