<p>Hi I just got accepted to the college of Charleston. I haven't visited but heard the campus was beautiful. My top choice is Maryland which i don't know about yet. Is charleston similar at all? Can anyone tell me more about charleston?</p>
<p>Charleston is very different from MD in that it is in the gracious Southern city of Charleston. It is very much integrated with the city due to location. UMD is more the typical rah-rah state college, pretty much a “city” of its own. Completely different atmosphere.</p>
<p>College Of Charleston</p>
<p>“It’s satisfaction guaranteed at the College of Charleston, where one enters “the gateway to southern charm, grace, and hospitality” and gets “a private school atmosphere with a public school cost.” Though the almost Siren-like appeal of the South Carolina location seems to have been the deciding factor for a fair number of students, the great value of the education (particularly for in-state residents) is cited by many as a definite perk to an already-perky school. As for the learning part of the easy living, the “very high faculty to student ratio makes it easy to get help when you need it,” and the class sizes “are just a little bigger than in high school,” which is “conducive to learning.” Science and pre-med programs are singled out as being particularly solid, and strong academics also abound in the “challenging courses, especially upper level classes” (which is good, because it can be “sort of hard as an underclassman to get into the classes and sections you want”). Registration can be hit or miss, but professors are “totally available and oftentimes brilliant” and offer “many opportunities to help, whether it be office hours, meetings or review sessions.” Those enrolled here are satisfied with the “enthusiastic” administration as well, who are trying to counteract the school’s very apparent homogeneity by “really trying to expand the school.”” “The almost sickeningly happy student body is “upbeat and positive about being at CofC,” and this collective group of “Southern belles, hard-core northerners, surfers, nerds and party animals” are “all united by the beach,” though the simpler split is between preppy or the “the artsy/hippy type.” It’s interesting to note that there’s a significantly larger number of women than men, and though the diversity is pretty low, students note that it is growing, even if right now they have “mostly your typical sorority and frat type students.” Politically, “it’s definitely the most liberal school in South Carolina,” and “most people are very open to other cultures and lifestyles.” “For example, I had pink hair one time and everybody loved it!” says a sophomore. “It is highly implausible that you won’t find your niche within the first weeks of school.”” “Students just love, love, love Charleston, and it’s not often you find most students using the phrase “Elysian backdrop” outside of a term paper. “When I tell people that I go to school in Charleston, they say, ‘You are not going to school, you are going on vacation!’” says one. “The water is a five minute walk; the beach is a five minute drive,” says another. “You read on the greenest grass in a scene from a movie. You walk around in 70 degree weather with smiling friends and classmates during November and December,” says yet another starry-eyed student. The campus is located in the center of the city, so campus housing options can be somewhat limited. The food has been universally panned, but a new cafeteria, opened in August 2007, will likely improve the culinary quality. Most students walk rather than drive, and having a car “is actually a hindrance,” which comes in handy for resisting the temptation on the weekends, since the school “has great parties and an atmosphere to support them.” Not that this means students shirk their work, they just learn to allocate their time (upperclassmen usually manage this better than the party-happy freshmen). “The real issue at hand is deciding: bar or library?” The arts are also big here—”theatre and music mostly” —and the historic sites even get a fair amount of patronage, such as the popular walk along the “battery where the Civil War started.””</p>
<p>I know it well. Been there many times, and know people there and a graduate of the school very well (who works at Microsoft in Seattle). Charleston is a very special place. But its not Athens, Georgia or College Park, Maryland. CoC as it is affectionately known is a great school with superb offerings. In South Carolina it does live in the shadow of Furman, USC-Columbia and Clemson, but not by much. It has a growing popularity. The beaches are mighty, mighty fine nearby. For some, that is a huge distraction, for others its not a problem. So it depends on your self discipline and motivation in school. It has an extremely active greek life. Great basketball team, but no football. For history buffs its a veritable treasure trove. But also for premed students with a very nearby Medical School. </p>
<p>UMd has more prestige in the USNWR rankings and depending on your intended major and career path. But for many students, the lure of its location, gorgeous campus (even for being inner city) and weather are what draws them there. So its almost a lifestyle decision. It is quintessentially a southern school. But like many southern schools is increasingly a draw for kids from other regions for the very obvious reasons stated above.</p>
<p>Congratulations on your admission and best of luck to you whatever you decide to do. But a visit is key. Trust me.</p>
<p>Thank you soooo much guys!! (especially for getting back so fast). This has been super helpful. I think i’m gonna head down there during spring break to visit</p>
<p>hey i live in charleston so i can tell you much about it
cofc is integrated with downtown charleston so a block away you have king street, which has great restaurants, stores, etc. on the other block is MUSC, if you’re into premed or scientific research, it’s very accessible and they are always open to cofc students
moreover, the college is in the process of building a new science building (it’s huge!) so if you majoring in that area you’ll be in one of the best facility in the college
if you have any more questions just pm me =)
im a senior in hs but i go to the cofc library all the time and have music lessons with their professor so i know the campus pretty well</p>