Drexel University Stands Out
Written: Jan 28 '00 (Updated Sep 14 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: in the city, Co-op program
Cons: overwhelming at first
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I'm going to begin my last year of a four year program at Drexel University, and so far, it's been an experience and a half. People always told me that my college years will be my best years, and although I was skeptical at the beginning, I am now beginning to believe it. The college is experience is only what you make of it: if you do nothing, then you will get nothing. If you put forth an effort, then it can only be recognized, and you will be rewarded with it in some way.
Drexel University can boast of many things, mainly the co-operative education program that is offered to its students. If you choose the five-year plan, you get three six-month periods of co-op, meaning you're working in a real world job instead of classes. If you choose the four year plan, you get one six-month period of co-op. Either way, you have an opportunity to gain experience and knowledge that you can't get from sitting in a lecture. As a result of this program, over 95% of Drexel's graduates find job placement immediately or soon after graduation, many returning to the sites of previous co-op positions.
Aside from it's co-op program, Drexel's faculty and staff are among some of the most brilliant and the most qualified in the city. Professors take a personal interest in the success and well being of the students, and are often more than happy to lend a helping hand on schoolwork, or an ear to talk about life in general. They know what they want you to learn, and they know how to get you to learn it.
I love the fact that, while Drexel is located in the city, we still have a campus that is lovely and well kept. There are six residence halls, one of them newly opened in the summer of 1999, with cable and internet hookups in all of the rooms. Our campus is just a short walk from 30th Street Station, a major connection to Amtrak and SEPTA, Philadelphia's public transportation, and borders that of historic UPENN.
I feel compelled to say, that I went to boarding school for high school, so my college adjustment was a lot easier than it was for most, so my views may be a little different. However, so far my experiences here have been filled with lots of ups and downs, as is any college experience. My first year and a half, I struggled endlessly with what I thought was laziness and party-itis. It turns out that I had chosen the wrong major for myself, and was therefore struggling with boredom and frustration more than anything else. A series of meetings with my advisor and favorite professor helped to clear things up right away. They helped to me to figure out what it is that I most want to do in life, and what I most love to do, and helped me find a major that would let me do both. I ended up changing my major to Dramatic Writing.
Many students complain that Drexel lures them in with the co-op program, and then leaves them high and dry on every other aspect. This is, in a way, true and not true. Yes, the co-op program does draw many students to the university, but many find the program to be very helpful and successful. However, there is the feeling that you're on your own once you get here. I, personally, think that may be a good thing for college students to experience early on because that's how it's going to be after college. I understand that it's a difficult adjustment for many...BELIEVE ME, I know. I've gone through plenty of b.s with Drexel, but I've made it this far, so I'm not quitting. But I also think it's necessary for college students to have some semblance of responsibility, instead of depending on someone else to do things for them. If there's on thing I can say about Drexel, it's this: If something doesn't go the way a student wants it to, it's because the student didn't take responsibility.
Though the cost of an education at Drexel often leaves parents and students wondering how they're going to pay for it, I believe that it is mostly worth it. My one complaint is with the financial aid office, which had been in constant disarray for several months now, with no significant change in service. The office was without an active director for quite some time, and that sorely effected the quality of service for the students. Now, even with a new director, the service and competency of those working in the office leaves much to be desired and often leaves students feeling frustrated and helpless. My suggestion is to leave nothing to chance, or the financial aid office, and stay on top of any and everything, so as not to land yourself in a hole later on.
I think the best thing about Drexel, though, has more to do with the things you can learn outside of the classroom. I mean, Philadelphia is a city filled with culture, and you can get to just about anywhere on the easy public transportation system; not to mention that we're just a short walk from the Philadelphia Museum of Art (free for college students w/ID on Sundays before 1pm), Franklin Institute and other such culture/history enriched places. Aside from that, there are countless numbers of organizations, sororities, fraternities, sports, clubs...whatever you may want to join, and if it isn't a club, it's fairly simple to start one. There's something for everybody to choose from.
Drexel is not the party school that some people may look for upon choosing a college, but it's the best place to go (short of an Ivy League school) if you want to get the most out of your college education and the life that goes with it.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
princess2000
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Member: Stephanie Little
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Reviews written: 23
Trusted by: 9 members
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