Drexel Experience

<p>I've read a lot about Drexel having great co-op but also read a lot about how campus experience was less than satisfactory and pretty bad. I would really like to know how the environment is because even though I feel Drexel has a lot to offer, being that I'm accepted, the undergraduate/community experience is a must. I would like to know the opinions of any current undergrad or grad students on the university. Thanks.</p>

<p>Have you ever visited?</p>

<p>To me I've always felt like the campus is more a collection of buildings on several blocks owned by the university rather than a traditional college campus, mostly because of the lack of large green spaces and the fact that major roads run through it that you keep having to go back and forth across. It bothers some people but not others...you'd probably end up pretty depressed if you were a great nature-lover or something. Also a pretty big majority of the students come from nearby PA or NJ and go home fairly frequently, if not every weekend, which can kind of make it seem a bit empty. That's not to say that there aren't still a lot of people around and a party going on somewhere every weekend, though. Drexel's housing is pretty expensive and there aren't a lot of spaces for upperclassmen so most of the students move off campus into the nearby neighborhoods after freshmen year.</p>

<p>I'd say all that, combined with the quarter system and the fact that at any given time like 20% of the student population is away on co-op, it makes it a lot different than what people would consider a typical college experience. Doesn't necessarily mean that it's always bad, it just depends on what your expectations are. A lot of the students also move a bit farther from campus, into center city and whatnot, and there's always a lot of stuff going on in the city itself at any given time. The co-op is a really great idea when it works out correctly (mine didn't unfortunately). Honestly if you're looking for some sort of small college town experience, where everyone lives in student housing and you can go sit on the lawn and read or play frisbee or attend big sports events or...whatever else, Drexel isn't it.</p>