<p>@pamom59
Hi there!</p>
<p>I would like to preface all of this that this is all my personal opinion, and of course, every student’s experience here is quite different from everyone else’s. So if you find someone that says the complete opposite of what I’m saying, we could both be telling the absolute truth. It’s just our personal perspectives from our personal experiences here.</p>
<p>What is the campus culture like?
It’s hard to say as this is a pretty… vague question, haha, and I’m not quite sure how to interpret the term “campus culture.” It’s a very urban campus, and there’s a lot of students. I can’t exactly explain it, but I would describe Drexel as very professional and career-oriented because of the co-op system and the university’s general treatment that its duty is to create students that will absolutely excel in their careers. As for students, I would say most people just seem… active? You can’t go to Drexel and just around not caring about anything, not knowing what you’re doing. I don’t think you would survive. =P</p>
<p>Are there many commuters?
I would say so, yes. I feel like for every six on/near-campus students, you find one who is a commuter. It’s not too big of a deal, it just it makes it more difficult for them to participate in late-afternoon/night clubs, activities, and group project meetings. Drexel does have an organization for commuters which does sponsor activities and events what seems like every other week: make-your-own sundae Sunday and such. xD As far as I know, anyone can attend these, it’s just nice that Drexel tries to provide for more commuter involvement.</p>
<p>Does the fact that students come and go from school on coops have any impact on the feeling of campus community?
Of course I don’t know what a non-co-op college feels like, but people going on co-op is just part of the college. Many/most co-ops are in Philadelphia or the surrounding area, so as long as they’re not working, they can come back to clubs activities and things. I’m in a multi-cultural club (I won’t name it to be more identifiable than I already am), and this is definitely the case: people just come while they can. Which is the same thing as if you were busy with classes: you just come when you can. But that’s just how Drexel is. If you’re not on co-op, then you’re probably sending out your resumes and applying for your next co-op. It’s just the way Drexel is. =P</p>
<p>Do you feel safe on/around campus?
On campus? Yes, very much so. I’ve walked through campus at 1-2am, and still you always see Drexel’s public safety team, riding on bicycles in their yellow jackets. Drexel’s rather concerned about safety and all being in the city, and being so concerned with their reputation of course. I’ve also walked a few blocks north of the dorms during the night, but with a friend, which always a good thing to consider if you’re out late and off campus. You generally don’t want to go too too north or northwest when it’s late out. Or of course use common sense when you do: walk with a friend, keep an eye on your surroundings. The usual stuff for living in a city. =)</p>
<p>How is the food at the dining hall?
Quite a few people complain about the Hans (main dining hall), but I don’t mind it too much. It has enough variety, so I stick to the International foods section with a cup of tea, as I find the sandwiches off the grill give me awful indigestion. The Asian section is pretty good too, and if don’t mind waiting in lines, the Vegan section is always fresh and fantastic. The issue I have with the dining hall is that it’s about five blocks from the dorms, so I only go there about once a day for lunch, while I’m down on campus for classes. By the dorms there is the Northside Dining Terrace, with a Chick-Fil-A, Curritos, Subway, Take-out sushi section, and a little sort of convenience store. Standard food. I don’t mind, I’m not picky at all. =)</p>
<p>How are the dorms?
Well I live in Millennium and… well, the rooms are small. XD The lounges are basically a few couches by the windows at both ends of the hallway, and as I hate to study in my little box of a dorm, I usually find somewhere else on campus to study (and there’s quite a few places to hang out/study, don’t worry 
). Anyway, it forces you to get to know your floormates and dormmates well, and many people like the social aspect of it. The single-serve showers and toilets are very nice, and a cleaning lady comes through about every day, so it’s usually pretty tidy. But the view over the city is to die for, so I can’t complain too much. XD Every dorm is a bit different, has its own feel to it. Some are traditional, some are suite-style, some are learning communities, etc. Though they’re awfully expensive too, at $1k+ a month while apartments are easily half that. But for a first year, it’s a good experience of course. =) </p>
<p>What do you do on a typical weekend?
This past weekend I went to a few club meetings, watched about five movies in a row, and caught up a bit on my homework. Last weekend I went home (I live about two hours away… not too far, but far enough ). The weekend before that I went with a few friends to the anthropology museum on Upenn’s campus. Two weekends before that I went to a party. =P I talk to my friends going to other colleges around PA that are in the middle of nowhere, and I literally cannot imagine living like that. XD You’re in Philly. If you can’t find anything to do on a weekend, you’re obviously lying.</p>
<p>How are the academics and the advising?
I would figure this to be a rather major-specific question, as of course the engineering classes are different from the humanities ones. At the moment and in the fall, the classes are pretty on-par with the difficulty and workload of my high school AP classes, but managing 4-5 of them at once takes some getting used to. I will say that the grand majority of professors I have had really and truly enjoy their subject. They might not be the best and most organized teachers, but they all are worthy members of their field. In my experience, they have been the people to always sit down with you and give you help if you ask for it, and of course they all have office hours. It’s just the matter of asking them for it. There’s also a math tutoring center, a cyber (computer science/programming-ish) learning center, a writing center that will proofread your papers and give you advice. I mean, as long as you go there and ask for it. And as for advising, I’ve never had a problem with contacting my advisor, but the iSchool is the smallest college: we have like fifty freshman or something. It may be different in other colleges with many more students (like the College of Engineering for example), but haven’t heard anything about it, so I don’t know.</p>
<p>Do students have a hard time getting the classes they need?
Ahhhh well of course I’m biased, I’m an honors student so we get priority registration. So I’ve always gotten classes when and with who I’ve wanted. I know some classes are only offered at certain times of the year, but I have never heard of a case where someone seriously needed a class and couldn’t take it. I feel like if you would bother your advisor and the professor enough they’d have to let you in. I’ve heard of people on co-op complaining that there were no decent classes left to take (on co-op you can take one class without paying extra for it, but you register for them the week before classes start). But otherwise I’ve never heard of such a problem.</p>
<p>Do you take any classes at night?
Yes, I take one 3-hour lecture 7-10pm, once a week. It’s pretty relaxed, and you can tell most people are ready to fall asleep, haha. But thankfully the professor is very understanding and kind, the matreial is light, and the latest we usually go is 9:15. Other weeks were were out by 8:30. It’s not too bad, it’s just that sometimes I miss club activities and meetings because of it. And after it I have much less time to do homework before I sleep. =P Walking back to my dorm is not a problem, like I said before.</p>
<p>What, in your opinion, are the best and worst things about Drexel?
Worst thing first. Generally, it is expensive. The tuition is expensive, the dorms are awfully expensive, I have the “cheapest” meal plan and still don’t use it all, etc. I’m actually doing a survey for my English class at the moment, and most freshman are paying $30-$40k overall this year. Drexel also over-admits, taking in more freshman than they have room for, knowing that many will drop out. So sorry to all you future freshman, but even if you’re accepted and admitted, some of you will be in over your head (which is okay; Drexel is not for everyone!).</p>
<p>Best things? Well, in total and complete honesty, I feel like I’m getting the experience and opportunities to do well in my field. The co-op program is Drexel’s huge redeeming factor. Despite everything, if it still had co-op, people would still want to go here. And beyond that, it’s professional and career-oriented-- they want you to get a career and do well in that career, which is really what college should be for. So it’s comforting that all the other students are of that mindset: really very headstrong, forward-looking competent people (though that may just be public high school me talking =P). It’s a great university environment, something is always happening, there are opportunities everywhere to do whatever you want to do, as long as you want it badly enough.</p>
<p>Errr, does that answer all your questions? Ask some more, keep them coming!</p>
<p>@Rme123
Ummmmm you seem kind of epic amazing. xD I know if you were a domestic student you’d probably be accepted and in the honors college in a heartbeat. And I’m inclined to think that even as an international student, it would be the same case, lmao. I don’t know, I’m not really good at Chance Mes? I will say that I’m pretty sure that Drexel accepts by major, so what major you’re applying to does determine if they’ll favor you or not. But you seem fantastic, I’m sure you’d do well either way!</p>