<p>Looking for some information about Elon:
- How big is Greek life?
- How is surrounding area? Seems like there are a few stores/restaurants within walking distance? I know there is a shuttle to get off campus - how frequently does it go, and where?
- What is the typical work ethic of the students?</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>Surprised that no one has answered this yet–I will chime in…I don’t know percentages, but while Greek life is present, it does not seem dominant. My son is in a frat, but has plenty of friends, including his roommate, that are not.
The town of Elon has a few restaurants, shops, bars and coffee shops. The BioBus shuttle has several routes and runs fairly frequently. The schedules can be found on the Elon website. It obviously has routes through and around campus and surrounding apartments, but also to the mall(Target, Best Buy, movie theaters, restaurants and every mall store you can imagine) and another route goes into downtown Burlington(Walmart, Boys & Girls Club etc).
The work ethic seems to be one of work hard/play hard. My son has plenty of work in all his classes, to varying degrees. He has one class where they have a daily quiz on the previous night’s reading-- he says as long as you do the work it’s easy. That being said, he has plenty of time for socializing and fun. You can PM me for more specifics–we are from MA too and my son is very happy at Elon!</p>
<p>I think my daughter would say Greek life is pretty dominant. But she’s in a sorority so most of her friends are Greek, so perhaps her view is skewed. She does have friends in other Greek organizations as well as unaffiliated friends (through a religious group).</p>
<p>The area immediately surrounding campus is fine - it’s dominated by off-campus student housing. There are several restaurants (including a Subway, a coffee/snack shop, a pizza place, and at few sit-down restaurants) a 7-11 type store with gas station, and a few other specialty shops, the post office and a Bank of America ATM within easy walking distance. </p>
<p>A couple miles into Burlington there’s every store and chain restaurant you can imagine. Alamance Crossing is a major shopping area with department stores, chain stores, many restaurants and a movie theater. Many kids at Elon have cars, and Zipcar has a few cars that students can sign up for. The BioBus used to go to the shopping centers but looking at the schedule online it doesn’t appear to goes there any more? I could be wrong about that…([Elon</a> Bio Bus](<a href=“http://org.elon.edu/transit/biobus/busMap.html]Elon”>http://org.elon.edu/transit/biobus/busMap.html)). The Downtown/East Burlington bus is not going to the shopping areas - it’s going to the other side of town where the social services agencies are located, so that the kids who do volunteer work can get there.</p>
<p>OP, noting your name - we are also from MA. If you have a hockey-player son, be aware that Elon has a club men’s ice hockey team. It’s fairly new, but they have enough players that I think they have an A team and a B team. There are a lot of boys from MA, as well as NJ and the northeast in general, on the hockey teams.</p>
<p>I would agree with the work hard/play hard mentality. Elon kids are the kind who are involved in a lot of things - they do volunteer work, play sports (even if just intramurals), join and run clubs, etc. They’re the kids who got B+ and A- in high school, not because they weren’t capable of A’s, but because they were too busy being the captain of the lacrosse team and performing in the school play and running the student government. The kids tend to be fairly outgoing and friendly.</p>
<p>Thanks 3garcons and Lafalum - you have been very helpful.
Sounds like a wonderful place and I’m glad to hear that there are restaurants, fast-food etc within walking distance.<br>
And yes, Lafalum, we are from MA, and S loves hockey, so thanks for the info about the club hockey, I’m sure S will join.<br>
Also interesting to “meet” other MA families, since I do not know anyone from our area who has attended Elon (most have never even heard of it). Your description of the work hard/play hard is actually a perfect fit, IMO. I believe college should not just be about hard work, there should be fun and an overall well-rounded experience. So both of you really helped with your replies. Thanks.</p>
<p>^^Mass is one of the predominant states represented in the freshman class…</p>
<p>Anybody familiar with the Living Communities? Do the students enjoy it? I assume it makes it easier to find groups to study with, etc., but somehow it does not seem to be popular at Elon? (Maybe I am wrong, but looking through the Elon thread, there is not much reference to it). Thank you.</p>
<p>When my D and I were visiting (once in September and once this month), several students with whom we spoke mentioned these living communities. They seem popular.</p>
<p>My son is in one of the LCs. He enjoys it - very nice group of kids - and it got him into Colonnades - so a win all around.</p>
<p>Thanks. Other than the obvious advantages such as the availability of study groups, homework help, getting to know students in your field of study, etc., are there any advantages to living in the LC?</p>
<p>My son joined the Arts and Letters learning community and it has not met his expectations. He has been disappointed in the lack of events and participation. However, it did get him into the dorm of his choice.</p>
<p>I would agree with that post. My sons LC has not done much with their theme. But, as you said, it got him into the dorm of his choice, and he really likes the kids on his floor.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies about LCs.</p>
<p>Another question… I am confused about the January semester being included in tuition. Am I correct that this semester is paid for, so if your student opts not to take a class, you basically “lose” the money? Also, if your student chooses to study abroad, you pay travel and room fees abroad, yet you do not pay for the class? Also, sorry if this sounds confusing, does this also mean that if your student does not do the January semester, is he behind in credits (assuming a normal course load for the other 2 semesters)? </p>
<p>BTW, I’m trying to understand as most colleges do not include the tuition.
Thanks.</p>
<p>Hi - I found this very confusing as well. The January class is included in the fall bill. So - the fall bill is slightly higher than the spring bill (about $600-$700 higher - meal plan is where you see it). If your student is on campus taking a class in January - you have no additional expenses. But, if he chooses not to take a class in January - you do not get a pro-rated refund. My understanding is that most freshman are on campus in January taking one class. It meets 3 hours a day, M-F.</p>
<p>A January trip abroad will have additional expenses - several thousand dollars worth - depending on the trip.</p>
<p>I don’t think that skipping the January term puts you behind - but taking it puts you ahead - if that makes sense. A typical semester (fall and spring) would be 16 credits - 4 classes of 4 credits each - which would keep you on pace to graduate in 4 years. My son - like many - has 19 credits this fall - due to the 1 credit Elon 101 class and the 2 credit health class - but that would not be typical after the first semester. Most kids take the January term - some come in with AP credit as well. So - at the end of freshman year - you could see kids with as little as 32 credits completed - and some with 40 and higher.</p>
<p>Thank you Rockvillemom. I was confused when they explained this at the informaiton session. </p>
<p>Is Elon 101 a compulsory class? Is this the orientation class? And if yes, did your S find it helpful? I always wonder if “orientation” classes are as useful as they can be, as I think they are highly needed, but often times poorly executed. Did you get any feedback from your S?</p>
<p>Elon 101 is not mandatory, but most freshmen take it. It is a 1 credit course that meets for one hour/week all semester or twice/week for just the first half of the semester. It is a very easy class, maybe the college version of a hs home room. My son said they discussed campus resources, time and money management and how to get involved on campus. The Elon 101 professor is also your academic advisor, so good opportunity to get to know that person. </p>
<p>I don’t see any harm in taking it. My son went to dinner with his group the first two nights, he received assistance on registering for next semester, and I think it gve him a first stop to go to with questions. He had the twice/week section, so he is already done with it.</p>
<p>My understanding is that 99% of Elon freshmen take Elon 101. There’s no real “work,” it’s orientation and it’s a good way to get to know other kids and get questions answered. One example of what they do is to walk the kids through how to register for winter term and spring semester classes. At orientation, parents were given a chance to meet with their student’s Elon 101 professor, and we found it helpful and reassuring.</p>
<p>As for winter term, if your child enters Elon with zero AP credits and takes exactly 16 credits per semester (4 classes @ 4 credits each, a normal load) then they would need to attend 2 winter terms in order to graduate on time.</p>
<p>Over 90% of freshmen return for winter term, and most upperclassmen are either on campus for winter term or on a WT study abroad trip. (Sometimes a spring semester study abroad will over lap with winter term, so the kids miss WT). The students really seem to like winter term. It’s a very different feel, only having one class, even though that one class is 3 hours/day, 5 days/week. And it’s followed by fake break, usually a weeklong break (but this year it’s 10 days) before they start up with spring semester.</p>
<p>Any annual fee you see quoted for Elon includes winter term. When you get your bill you’ll see that fall semester fees are higher than spring semester because fall fees include winter term. It’s a use-it-or-lose-it proposition, you don’t get a refund if you skip it. Study abroad classes don’t have an extra tuition fee but they do have several thousand dollars in travel costs - airline tickets, ground transportation, admission to different sites, some meals, housing, etc.</p>
<p>One of the aspects I liked about Elon 101 was D’s prof had a requirement for her class to attend at least 4 on campus program like events. It got my daughter to go to a theater production & to some events that had top speakers (Dave Barry + others) who were brought in by the University. Kids will often skip these value added programs- now that my D is familiar with them she is more likely to attend more programs & has done so.</p>
<p>Thanks for your replies. Elon 101 sounds like a really good way to get to know the “system”. I love that your D had to attend 4 events - a great way to get her to see what it’s all about. I would not be surprised if a lot of freshman aren’t comfortable checking out such events, but as you said, once she tried, then she continued to do so. Sounds great. Helpful info and sounds like a useful class.</p>
<p>Yes, my son had a few required events as well - the fall activity fair, sports fest or field day, something like that, and an honor code ceremony. He chose a sports themed section of Elon 101, so he was also required to sign up for an inter mural sport. He was also required to join one non sports related club. I think he would have done these things anyway, but it was good encouragement to get involved.</p>