You won’t spend 100% of your college years in class. You’ll also eat, sleep, spend time with friends, and enjoy hobbies and activities on campus. That’s why it’s so important to think about your ideal college student life as you consider different colleges and universities.
Don’t worry; we’re not going to make you do all this on your own. This article introduces you to college student life and offers a few things to consider when deciding which school to attend. We’ll help you develop an understanding of your ideal campus life experience so you can choose the right school for you!
What is college student life?
Student life includes everything you’ll do outside class while attending college. Service, friendships, clubs, and hobbies are all important parts of the college experience — even if you don’t get class credit for doing them.
Participating in student life will help you meet other students who share your interests. You’ll also have a chance to build on passions, skills, and interests you can use later in life.
Student life helps you diversify your college experience and live a well-rounded life. If you never do anything besides study, it’s easy to burn out.
Why student life is an important consideration when choosing a college
Each school offers a different student life experience. For starters, you’ll have a much different experience at a larger school than what you might expect from a smaller school.
In addition, each school has a unique spin on student life that may better align with what you’re looking for in a college experience. Take the time to consider what’s most important to you so you have all the information you need to make the right choice when picking a college.
Student life and activities to consider when choosing a college
Now that you know why student life matters, here are a few things to keep in mind as you narrow down your options and choose the right school.
Housing options
Even if you pull the occasional all-nighter and travel home some weekends, you may spend more time in your dorm or apartment than anywhere else on campus. As you think about different college choices, ensure you know your housing options. Some schools require you to live on-campus, while others allow you to choose off-campus housing.
If you get serious about a particular school, consider visiting the campus to look at its residence halls or apartment options. Find out whether you can request a roommate or if one will be randomly assigned to you.
One more note: Many colleges are beginning to offer gender-inclusive housing as an option for students.
Restaurant and food options
Some schools have one large cafeteria where students can order meals, while other universities may have individual cafeterias or restaurants in certain parts of campus. You may even find restaurants in your dorm building to grab a meal from without even stepping outside.
Research your school’s meal plan options and find out what each includes. The average plan includes a certain number of meals each week or semester, and some plans allow you to order food from on-campus or nearby restaurants.
Clubs and organizations
Joining an on-campus club or organization is a great way to make new friends and participate in various on-campus activities, such as intramural athletics and homecoming festivities.
Many schools have fraternities or sororities that students can join based on mutual interests, goals, or relational compatibility. Additional options include academic, political, or community-service clubs.
If all else fails, you can join an acapella group. We hear The Treblemakers and the Barden Bellas are having tryouts soon, but we aren’t sure if Here Comes Treble is still a thing.
Sports and fitness
Want to stay in shape while in school? Enjoy the occasional friendly competition on the field, court, or pitch? Perhaps you should look into the opportunities your dream school provides for intramural competitions or on-campus health, fitness, and well-being (you might even find a friendly Quidditch or quadball team!).
Most schools have large recreational centers with cardio equipment, free weights, and resistance machines. You’ll also find basketball courts, racquetball courts, pickleball courts, rock-climbing walls, and numerous additional amenities, depending on where you look. If working out alone isn’t your favorite thing, ask about group exercise classes and experiences.
Student government
Students interested in going behind the scenes and participating in discussions about decisions impacting the entire campus and student body may enjoy getting involved with student government.
You may have to receive signatures from fellow classmates or run against a competitor to gain a spot. Your responsibilities can vary depending on the student government association’s needs or your specific role’s scope.
Campus events
Most campuses hold special events throughout the year. For many campuses, homecoming is a major occurrence that brings a large number of guests and alums to campus.
You may want to get involved with planning homecoming or facilitating special events during homecoming week. Other schools plan special celebrations or mixers during freshman orientation week to help integrate new students and welcome back returning students.
Check out the school’s events calendar for the most accurate information about upcoming events and student activities. Even if you aren’t on campus yet, it can give you an idea of the choices current students have and what student engagement is like on an ongoing basis.
Volunteer opportunities
Want to give back to your school, your classmates, or the surrounding community? If so, getting involved with on-campus volunteer opportunities might be a great activity for you.
Whether you choose to volunteer for an hour or two per week throughout the semester or participate in a dedicated weekend or season of extended volunteer activity, you’ll enjoy contributing to a cause greater than yourself and working alongside your fellow students to create a positive impact.
Student leadership programs
We discussed student government, but this isn’t the only student leadership program you may want to get involved with on campus. Many schools offer additional student leadership programs to oversee certain groups and functions on campus. These initiatives can help you build leadership skills and provide a chance to lead existing efforts.
Other student services
Most college campuses offer a number of programs to help you have the best student experience. Perhaps your school has a career services center that helps with placement for internships or jobs after college. Maybe you find a school with an academic advising or student success center, where you’ll have easy access to tutoring and study groups.
Campus life looks different on each college campus, which is why it’s important to do your research and learn about your options. This is especially important during your first year, when most students find that the campus community and student support helps them transition to life in college.
Use College Rover to find the best school for you
Student life is a broad category that includes several activities. As you learn more about each one, consider which priorities top your list and explore schools that match what you’re looking for. After all, you’ll be spending the next several years in this little hub.
Do you still have questions about what school is right for you? No problem. College Rover can help you research schools and degree programs. You can even create an account to save your top choices to a spreadsheet to share with family and friends. This is great for students wanting some additional input from people they trust.
Our No. 1 goal is to help you choose a college that fits your needs and gets you excited for this next chapter. We hope that working with College Rover makes the process of choosing a college or university a little more awesome.
