Don’t Forget Your Life!
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009Of course, the most important aspect of your U.S university experience is the academic program . . . but, for many students, a close second is social life. U.S. universities have a well-deserved reputation for fostering a fun and active social life, both on campus and off. If having fun outside of class is as important to you as learning inside of it, then the quality of a university’s social scene is definitely something you should consider when researching U.S. universities.
Now, I’ll be honest: I can’t offer much personal advice on this subject, because, well, back in college I wasn’t exactly the coolest student on campus. My inability to dance was indeed legendary. BUT, because this topic is of importance, I’ve fished around on the internet for some resources that might provide you with some good information:
- Forbes magazine, which, as readers of this blog know, has a “Best of” series for pretty much everything, has a “Best Nightlife” feature. 40 cities are ranked according to their suitability for singles, and “nightlife” is one of the criteria. This will give you a good idea of what cities are considered to have good nightlife, and why.
- The Princeton Review has several rankings that relate to social life, the most notorious of which is their “Best Party School” ranking. The link I’ve provided shows only the top 20 schools in this prestigious list. To get more than the top 20, in addition to other data, you’ll need to visit The Princeton Review site, and sign up for a free profile. The rankings aren’t only about the best party schools. You can see which universities have the happiest students, the best radio stations, the most beautiful campuses, and more. This is important because for many students a “good social life” is about a lot more than just parties. Remember, as you peruse these rankings, how to use rankings correctly.
- The Students Review site has a “top social schools” ranking that is a little broader than the rankings that focus only on the “best parties.” What’s more, you can click on individual universities and see actual quotations from students that study there.
Another great resource will be the admissions office of any university in which you’re interested. Most university websites have resources explaining what social life is like on the campus and in the surrounding area. If you can’t find this information on the web, feel free to write to someone from the admissions department and ask.
Finally, this is a great area for Facebook research.
Now, one important warning: remember that in the United States it is illegal to purchase alcohol until you are 21 years of age. Most clubs and bars will check your identification before they let you in. Keep that in mind as well as you’re imagining what your social life might be like at a U.S. university.
The bottom line is that your social life will be a very important part of your university experience in the U.S., so don’t forget to spend time researching the different resources universities have to offer.
For your consideration: How do you imagine you will spend your free time in the U.S.? Do all universities have the atmosphere and resources to support the kind of life you’d like to live?
Posts in this Series
- Conclusion - How to Choose a U.S. University - 02 Jun
- Activities Around a University Campus - 01 Jun
- Check Out U.S. Universities on iTunes U - 26 May
- Extracurricular Activities - 25 May
- Get to Know Your Potential Professors - 21 May
- Don't Forget Your Life! (This post)
- What Do You Want to See in the U.S.? - 19 May
- How Many International Students go to your Chosen University? - 18 May
- The Problem with University Rankings - 17 May
- Using Facebook to Research Universities - 14 May
- Look at the Surrounding Neighborhoods When Looking at a U.S. University - 13 May
- How Weather Should Factor Into Your Search for a U.S. University - 12 May
- Looking for a University in the United States: Cost of Living - 11 May
- Looking for a University in the United States - 10 May
