Drexel University

Date: Oct 30 2010
Major: Business - Management and Administration (This Major's Salary over time)
This school is certainly experiencing a lot of change from its past. Five years ago at the start of my high school career, I would never have considered going here. Even in my junior year of researching, there were simply more complaints than praise about the school. Yet, today Drexel has gained a lot of face value and continues to grow. With a new president and new buildings, the aesthetics are only getting better and better at Drexel.

Financial Aid can be a pain, but this is true with any university you plan to attend. For me, it was a lot of verifying information and sending in faxes or mail, but I got a great chunk of money from Drexel. I also made sure I was on top of my financial aid, and I didn't lose a penny that Drexel offered me. When it comes down to it, you aren't going to be "babied" along at college. You have responsibility, and you are responsible to get your life in order. There are plenty of resources and people that you can call at Drexel with questions. I know that I called them at least five times during my financial aid process, and they helped me through each question every time I called. Drexel is most certainly one of the more expensive private universities, but it's also #4 on the top universities to look out for and in the top 100 universities on Businessweek.

I find the coursework to be extremely easy for Business majors. This is because I took a lot of business and economics in high school (NOT AP), so the content was the same just different wording. Also, if you took algebra up to pre-calc in high school, I highly advise you don't buy the book for Math 101 as you will shake your head in shame when you realize that you already know how to calculate slope and slope intercept form. The teachers that I have are generally cool (all speak English perfectly) and more than willing to help me out. I will say this. As far as English goes, the harder the english class your in, the better the grade/easier you can expect the course to be. I am not in the honors college, but I did test into Honors English (not too hard). And from what I hear, in lower level English courses, you have to write more AND the professors have an overall lower regard towards your grade as well as a sort of bias of how well you can write. Not to mention if you can get into honors english you won't have to take English for the rest of the year (with an A). The professors are kind of a hit and miss, but if you aim for the higher level courses, you are much more likely to get amazing or at least chill teachers as well as easier course work in some cases.

The social life is primarily for frats & Sororities, drinkers or smokers. If you're into partying, you won't have a problem with that here. If you are the always sober type, the CAB center and campus always has fun things to do (ghost hunt and lecture during halloween, dodgeball events, rock climbing at DAC, etc.) so long as you are willing to get off your bed and stop moping! Of course, you're also in the city of Philadelphia, and Drexel supplies free shuttle rides to center city!

I find the food at the dining center OK. I would consider myself a picky eater, but I am not too picky. Even though freshman are required to have a meal plan, the cost is actually an extremely good deal for what you get. This only applies if you DON'T cook. Let's let lay it out in numbers. I'll say, conservatively, that if left to my own funds, I would probably spend $10 for food in one day (this includes all meals and drinks). Since I have to eat every day, and there are seven days in a week; 10x7=70. Also, there are about 4 weeks in a month 4x70=280. A drexel school year is 10 months. 280x10=$2,800. Meal plans are only around $1,400 at its most expensive. This is a savings of about $1,000. Plus, there are dining dollar options that you can spend at the market next to Kelly or Creese Cafe and Ross Commons. So if you don't cook, a meal plan is not a bad idea at all.

Overall, I'm definitely enjoying my time at Drexel. In the first few weeks everyone is trying to be friendly to everyone and make friends. As the weeks go by, groups will naturally "close in," but you can always meet new people by trying out extra curricular activities or going to a party (you don't have to drink). The only way you wouldn't find a group of friends is if you choose to seclude yourself. Warning: people WILL try to be friends with you. The quarter system moves fast, but that's actually a good thing. When finals roll around the corner, you'll be glad that the stuff you learned in Week 1 is still relatively fresh in your mind as opposed to a semester system in which you have to recall stuff from more than 2 MONTHS in the past. There is no doubt that Drexel is gaining attention and will only grow in the next coming years. There was a yes or no question I was asked on this site. "Given the chance to go to a different University, would you?" I answered no, but here's the thing. If I were given an opportunity to go to NYU instead of here? Heck yes, if they gave me the same financial stability. If I were given an opportunity to attend an Ivy League instead of here? Sure, I'd go! But would I want to go to any other university of equal standing…or below par? Of course not.