Arcadia University

Date: Nov 08 2007
Major: Undecided (This Major's Salary over time)
ADMISSION

Having lived in the area all my life, I still only had a vague idea of the academic level of Arcadia. I knew very few people who had decided to go there right out of high school and almost no one who had it as their "first choice". After spending a semester in community college, I decided that I had to get out of my house and wanted to go "away" to college. Arcadia was only about 45 minutes away and I found out tha they were still accepting students for the coming year. I jumped on the chance. I was so desperate to get out of my house that the price tag seemed like nothing and I wasn't very critical of the academics.

The faculty and administration were very helpful in getting everything through quickly and were flexible and helpful when it came to financing my education.

When I got here the orientation was wonderful and well planned. I got to know a lot of people through the programs.

ACADEMICS

However, when classes began I was immediately disappointed. They were not challenging, and the students were not as intelligent as I had hoped that they were… neither were the teachers. Teachers didn't grade like they should have (I've gotten many 100s and "perfect" comments on papers with a few mistakes). The honors program is also not as challenging as I had hoped. They are basically the normal classes plus an honors project thrown in- which is up to the teacher. (But you do get to go on the one week study abroad "preview" spring break program for free as an honors student.)

SOCIAL LIFE

This is definitely a suitcase campus. Thursday night into Friday there is a mass exodus. Despite the fact that students do seem to leave on the weekends, there are things going on almost every weekend. They have Mr. Beaver (a male beauty pageant), Haunted Castle, Family Weekend,and a lot more. There are also comedians, movies and dances- some during the school week. Partying isn't a huge thing here, however, if that's what you're looking for you can find people that do. If you enjoy spending time in the city, Philly isn't too far away. There is a train about a 20 minute walk away, but this is not an especially safe area. To be perfectly honest, this past month we had two students who were walking in the area and were held up at gun point. That is something that I would have loved to know about before I got here. Being so close to Philly, this is apparently not uncommon.

DORM LIVING

The dorms are old, and many of the "first year" (we don't say freshman here) housing does not have air conditioning which has been absolutely unbearable this past summer and early fall. At all costs make sure that you get an air conditioned dorm (get a note from your doctor for some related illness if you have to) or get to live in the suites. I wouldn't recommend the apartments because you have to walk quite a distance to get to campus and with the unsafe area, the heat and the cold this would be very unpleasant.

Depending on what building you live on and even what floor, some are cleaner than others, some have thermostats, some have air conditioning or nicer bathrooms, it's all the luck of the draw. No matter where you live noise travels, whether it's people being loud outside or in any room around you, you're going to hear it. Bring earplugs.

Also, this may be normal for dorms, but we've had a centipede problem. I've heard that mice are also a problem but I haven't heard of anything like that this year or seen anything to speak to that.

Dining Hall- The food is actually pretty good. They have a good variety of food and even options for vegetarians. It's good, but as with anything, you get sick of it after a while.

POSITIVES

the study abroad program and spring preview program

there's a castle from the 1800s right on campus, and some first year students get to live in it

the school is very open to homosexuals, there is a large PRIDE club on campus

very liberal student body

scholarships are given out pretty easily and in large amounts

it's a small campus so you get to know people quickly, same with administration and faculty

a lot of activities on campus, close to philly

NEGATIVES

academics not challenging

very expensive (sometimes even with scholarships)

not extremely competitive

suitcase campus