Wittenberg University

If all you do is sit in your dorm room and study... then it doesn't matter what school you go to!
Here's the stuff that matters: Wednesday night is a big bar night and you will spend your money at one of the 3 off campus bars (within walking distance). Friday and Saturdays start off in the dorms (frosh and sophs) or in your house (upperclassmen). Around 10-11pm you will walk down the street to a house party. Usually 3-4 small house parties on a average weekend night (20-40 students) and 2 large parties (100-300 students) Nights end around 2-3am, with some idiots staying up until 5-6 in the morning - only to sleep until 3pm the next day. In the warm spring and fall semesters - small groups of students head down to the bar on Saturday afternoons and hang out on the patio and drink cheap beer pitchers. By your second semester senior year the party scene gets old - but I assume its that way at any college.

Food: Very important! One can only eat in the cafeteria so long. So withing walking distance there are 3 deli's and 4 bars. But, pretty much it is important that you or your best friend have a car on campus. Down the road are McDonalds, BK, Arby's, Subway, Blimpie, Taco Bell, Steak & Shake, Denny's, Fazolis, Wendy's, Big Boy. And sit down fast food: Perkins, Bob Evans, TGIF, Applebees, Longhorn, Texas Roadhouse, Tumbleweed, Red Lobster, Chi Chis, etc.. Not many nice restaurants in town. A couple of local joints that aren't bad. But surrounding cities Dayton (20 mins) and Columbus (45 mins) have quality eats.

Plenty of gas stations and grocery stores in Springfield. The Upper Valley Mall (5 min drive) has plenty of mid quality mall-like shopping. And, Target, WalMart, Lowes, Home Depot, and KMart all have at least one location in Springfield.

The one negative aspect of Springfield is safety. You will hear stories of street gangs and off campus shootings. These are for the most part just rumors and don't carry a whole lot of validity. But cars and houses will once in a while get broken into. And make sure you don't walk home alone. But, students are good to each other and always help and look out for one another.Also note that in order to graduate from Wittenberg you need to complete 30 hours of community service. Doesn't sound like a lot, but I know 2 people that didn't graduate b/c they didn't get it done in time.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000

Wittenberg is a great school. But, here are few things to consider if thinking about enrolling: You must be active in either: sports, greek life, or secret societies. All three of these involve hanging out with friends and drinking. I know most college kids drink - but I've visited a lot of other universities and it seems like Wittenbergers spend more time doing it. One of the greatest things about Wittenberg was the "off campus housing". Juniors and Seniors can live in the neighborhood, university owned houses or in Frat/Sorority houses. The administration has begun to tear down some of the homes and Greek houses to build cheap apartments that will soon look outdated. This is a big mistake and it is these off campus houses that were unique to Wittenberg in the Ohio region. Look at Denison (all dorms) and Kenyon (shanty off campus living). The city of Springfield is not that bad of a city. I would never raise a family there, but its a perfect college town - filled with fast food restaurants and bars. Overall, the school itself does not get the recognition it deserves.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000