Dear current drexel students, parents of students and any drexel faculty.
Please share your light on this thread reguarding some the important topics the new freshmen class should keep in mind.
For example,
Dorms tips,
Academic suggestions,
Which co-op plan and why that preferd over another?,
Party scene?
Dinning and meal plans,
What’s good and what’s not,
City perks and tips,
Dorm essential packing,
And much more.
We the freshmen 2017 will really appreciate if you can spare some time for us from your busy schedule.
Unless things have changed you can’t choose your co-op scheme. Make lots of friends because half will get one scheme and you the other and you’ll end up hanging out more with the ones that have the same scheme. There is a new dining service but I don’t think Drexel will suddenly start having great food. Lots of great food around though so get the smallest meal plan they make you get freshman year.
my D is in her second year. Dorms are typically small, most of D’s stuff was packed under beds in drawers that we brought. She is a Chem major (small population,only about 30 per class), and the way their classes are structured they all take spring/summer co-op in order to take the required classes in the fall/winter. As a whole, there are more spring/summer co-ops than fall/winter. there is a party scene, but D does not partake (as far as i know,lol) She is however in many clubs and just started an art club with some others. as @Dolemite stated, Drexel just switched food services, but wouldn’t expect great food…but you never know. Freshman orientation week is really helpful. They have a week of activities to help you get acquainted with the campus & city. The RA on my D’s floor gave them transit tokens and took them into center city. I know there is a parents facebook group which is very helpful, maybe there is a students group you could join. best of luck to you!
This comprehensive review was exactly what I needed to hear! No-doubt these are “value tips”, which will really come handy.
Thankyou for your time @Dolemite and @mommabear67 .
This thread is informative. Thank you @Dolemite and @mommabear67.
What size are the intro classes? 30 students per class is reasonable for my D but I was wondering if there are large lecture style classes. That would be less than ideal for her.
in three years my daughter has taken two large lecture class. The good news is that both included a weekly small group session with a TA. All her other classes average about 20.
pick your first year dorm wisely. A really wide range of “niceness”. Housing at Drexel, IMO, is the biggest drawback. Be smart when making selections. If you do enroll, ask your mom/dad to join the parents Facebook page to learn all the tips and tricks. With that said. Drexel made some significant changes to housing policy last year which very much improved the entire experience.
the party scene. From what my daughter tells me: Greek life is pretty active. Most of her friends are involved. it just wasn’t for her. Despite not being in sorority she seems to hang out with the girls who are–so not that “exclusive”. And she finds lots of Non-greek social activities. Lots of music, smaller gatherings. And don’t forget it’s philaelphia with tons to offer. Drexel sells discount tickets to sporting events concerts, special events, and so on. the student active board, run by students, does a nice job of making a cross section of activities available. So for parties, you can go to big Frat party, or hang out with few friends on the roof deck, do crafts, play video games, go to Basketball game, on snowy nights you can sled down the art museum steps on cafeteria trays… On spring days you can order Pizzas delivered to Drexel park, picnic and play frisbee.
Pack light for the dorm. Less is more. Seriously.
Meals and dinning s another area where Drexel is taking much needed steps to improve. there are several meal plan options close to freshman dorms. The main cafeteria–let’s just say not worth the $$$. Some of the Freshman dorm come with kitchenettes–pluses and minuses. Depending on which dorm you may want to invest in minifrig to share with your roommate.
Drexel does an outstanding job orienting the first years to campus, to the different programs available, and to the city at large–in fact it’s required one credit class you have to ride the subway, go to art museum, go the liarabary at penn, go to a game, go to the gym (rated #1 in Philly-btw) etc in order to pass. it also helps you make friends fast. In my daughters major, she had very regular meetings with her advisor/ Never a problem with selecting classes–pretty unheard of for a large u.
Truth be told, even with all the distractions of philadelphia, my daughter seems to spend alot of nights in the Westphal studios /labs, doing what she came to drexel to do–learning. you’ll find many serious students who are on the same path.
DONT get behind in work. The ten week quarters fly by, make sure to keep up with assignments and be prepared to have two or three midterm exams in the same week.
Through it all though you have to believe you can do it. Have a positive attitude and you’ll be fine!
I am not a current Drexel student, but I do live in Philly. My recommendation is to explore the city as much as you can because it is the greatest city in the entire world! Good luck.
This thread has been so informative about classroom size and social scene. I have a question about class exams/grades. Are most of the classes where just single midterm and final make up your grade? Or are there also assignments or papers? I know it may just depend on the class or major, but I was hoping to hear some current student perspectives.
My daughter is a senior - she’s had all of the above type classes. Some very writing intensive, others with just a midterm (at 5 weeks) and final. The pace is fast and furious so be sure to keep up and ask for help because it keeps moving! One word of advice regarding housing/coop. Stick with Drexel dorms. Chestnut and Summit try to suck you in and if your coop is out of the Philly area you are stuck with a rent you can’t get out of. Everyone gets stuck and is trying to sublet them so try to avoid that trap.
Thanks @drexelmom! What is your daughter’s major? Best of luck to her.