<p>D accepted but still undecided. Can anyone talk about college life at Elon. Is the party scene the main social activity. Are students separated by social stereotypes such as hippie vs frat. It looks like most students choose Elon as a first choice so why choose Elon?</p>
<p>Hi Texasmother, I’m sure some current Elon students will reply but also check out my rather long post in response to your posting in the Parent Forum. (Don’t want to re-write it here, sorry!)</p>
<p>The short answer to “Why Elon?” for my D was Elon’s emphasis on Engaged Learning. My D is a “do-er,” she prefers class discussions and group projects to lectures and read-a-book-write-a-paper style learning. She will obviously still have lectures, read books and write papers at Elon, but they are really big on bringing the classroom into the real world and vice-versa. My D was just accepted there ED so she’s not a student yet, but we went to the spring Orientation and it seems like they really “walk the walk” with the engaged learning thing. Also my D has a lot of leadership positions (class officer, team captain, etc) and has done a lot of volunteering, both of which are heavily emphasized at Elon. </p>
<p>It’s a nice size, the campus is gorgeous and well-maintained, the weather is good… </p>
<p>If your admission packed included a card to request the free Elon DVD you should order it. It gives you a nice feel for the school.</p>
<p>(I guess we’ll find out next year if it lives up to its advertising!)</p>
<p>[Elon</a> University Rankings and Recognitions](<a href=“Elon University - America’s Top-Ranked Teaching University”>Rankings & Recognition | About Elon | Elon University)</p>
<p>Thanks for all the information. It is hard since we do not know anyone personally who has applied or attended this college. We are going back in April to see if it is a fit.</p>
<p>:) Feel free to ask any questions. </p>
<p>In response to your first post…
~there is definitely a “party scene”, but you’ll find that at most colleges; it’s there for the people who want it. I’m not much of a partier and I get along fine.
~I haven’t seen much separation by stereotypes. The frat boys and hippies all blend together :p. However, there is a big greek life here and sometimes the frat/sorority boys/girls move around in elegantly dressed packs - I have never seen so many decorative scarves in my life. But in general, greek life is more dominant in the south than the north anyway. It’s only to be expected.</p>
<p>Thanks 1 Sky Pilot and others. </p>
<p>My daughter is pretty sure she’s going there, but I wanted to ask about the importance of the Greek system. </p>
<p>I know the issue is discussed so much-- but I feel like we get such conflicting answers. She has spoken to three current students (though one was a first semester freshman) who all said you could have a very good social life without joining a sorority. But then when I read sites like College ******* and *****, many students mention the importance of going Greek.<br>
Can some more people weigh in on this?</p>
<p>“I have never seen so many decorative scarves in my life.”…what is it about teenage girls and scarves these days?? sounds like my daughter will be jusssssst fine…now we have to visit (and be admitted; small issue) ; anyone else going to be there this Friday?</p>
<p>I too am trying to get a feel for how much influence greek life has on this campus.The review sites seem to place a strong emphasis but the students we have met said it isn’t necessary for a quailty campus experience. Does anyone know how many girls go through rush and how many pledge? We are definately going to be looking at the scarves at our visit on April9th. Didn’t notice on our first visit. So like the others, any insight into greek life on campus wil be helpful.</p>
<p>Greek life is big, but you’ll definitely be fine if you choose not to join it :). I’m currently not involved in Greek life; I’m actually in a learning community which is great! I’m quiet and I was really nervous about meeting new people and all that, but I haven’t had any trouble - 5-10 of us in the learning community have become really good friends and we hang out quite a bit. We play ultimate frisbee every weekend :). The only Greek life that I would ever be interested in are the service frats and sororities - I’m thinking I might join next year. </p>
<p>If you are interested in joining a religious organization, sort of like a church youth group, there is a fantastic club called IV. I’m not a part of it, but I have friends who are and they love it; they always seem like they are up to something fun, like ice-skating. They have also met many friends through IV, and there are leadership positions available.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information! It is always great to hear from a student. She is hoping to hear more about student activities this Friday. My D is Jewish and we have been in touch with the Hillel. Actually, I think I will sart a thread on that topic.Thanks for the help.</p>
<p>So what was the decision? Did many of you/your children decide to attend Elon? What’s life like? Would you recommend to others? </p>
<p>My D has Elon at the top of her list and she has no idea why?</p>
<p>My daughter is a freshman and she LOVES Elon. Loves the students, the campus, the weather, and the professors. She’s already been invited by her first semester English professor to help out with some undergraduate research. </p>
<p>The best I can tell you about Elon is that it is what it advertises. Very student oriented, very focused on engaged learning. The #1 ranking in Princeton Review’s “Runs Like Butter” survey is accurate. My son is a senior is at an LAC that charges $15k/year more than Elon. He had 2 intro-level “lecture” classes with 50+ students. D has had none of those at Elon. </p>
<p>At the holiday Open House at the President’s house at just before winter break, the students could have their picture taken with President Lambert. We then received a holiday card, featuring a high-quality photo of D and her roommate with President Lambert. They also had a “Ceremony of Lights” one evening in early December, when the walkways were lined with luminaria, lights were hung in the trees, and students, faculty and the community gathered around the fountain in front of the Alamance Building. They lit a giant Menorrah, then sang traditional Christmas carols.</p>
<p>I wish I could go to Elon…</p>
<p>my daughter will be attending in the fall and, like lafalum, I wish I could go to Elon…</p>
<p>texasmother’s daughter is there now as a freshman…</p>
<p>how cute that holiday card must be…a keeper…</p>
<p>My D has been accepted as well but still has to audition for MT. I really hope she gets in as it’s her favorite choice. My D is Jewish as well so I love that they incorporate the menorah in the holiday pic and that they have a decent Hillel on campus. Keeping our fingers crossed!</p>
<p>Festival of lights:
[E-net</a>! - Elon ushers in the holidays with annual ceremony](<a href=“http://www.elon.edu/e-net/Note.aspx?id=949356]E-net”>Elon University / Today at Elon / Elon ushers in the holidays with annual ceremony)</p>
<p>New student convocation August 2010 (this was a truly stirring ceremony)
[The</a> Pendulum - New student convocation welcomes students, offers advice](<a href=“Informasi Seputar Pendidikan Dan Ilmu Pengetahuan”>Informasi Seputar Pendidikan Dan Ilmu Pengetahuan)
My favorite part was when Dr Lambert told the new freshmen that metaphorically speaking, they had just entered a great banquet. “Don’t make yourself a bologna sandwich.”</p>
<p>We will be visiting with our son, a jr, over President’s week-end. We love everything we have read and heard about Elon. On paper, it sounds like a great fit for him. Keeping our fingers crossed that he likes the feel of the campus! Thanks for everybody’s feedback about their experience with the school - it really helps to paint the picture before our visit.</p>
<p>When my son choose Elon some people around here were surprised and had not even heard of it if they did not recently go through the college application process. </p>
<p>My son seems very happy. He has made a ton of friends, and has participated in a lot of activities. The best thing though is that he feels he is learning a ton. He loved the required Global class he took. He learned in depth about topics that inspired him to learn and do more. He entered Elon undecided as to what he wanted to study but I can see that he is starting to find his way and form a direction of study.</p>
<p>He finds the professors and staff very accommodating and easy to talk to. </p>
<p>His dorm is not the best (It is one of the ones being torn down this summer) but it does not change his opinion of Elon. He hopes to get a better one next year. He has visited other colleges to see friends and he thinks Elons food service is better than most and provides more options. He enjoys the more moderate weather.</p>
<p>Lafalum84, thanks so much for posting those links. Great for my D to check out and the campus looked so beautiful all lit up.</p>
<p>Thanks All! My D is truly excited and really thinks that Elon is the school for her. No one mentioned Greek Life in their posts today. How is it? And do people that aren’t a part of Greek scene have a decent social life?</p>
<p>My son is graduating this year – his friends have been a mix of greek and non-greek (he’s a non) and he really thinks the whole Elon greek v. non-greek debate is overstated. Not many people seem to care all that much, particularly at the Jr/Sr level.</p>
<p>embracethemess - our paths keep crossing! We will be visiting Elon for the 4th time in April. Two visits with S1 - accepted but attending Wake Forest and two visits with S2 - who has Elon as his top choice. We like the size, location and climate; the 4-1-4 plan with the option to take an interesting class or go abroad for a few weeks in January; the price tag - hooray for not being a $50,000+ school; and the academic options - my son is interested in business, psychology and sports mgmt - all of which are offered as both majors and minors.</p>
<p>It’s the only school on S2’s list that does not have some negative features - we really have not identified any cons for Elon.</p>