Talk to an advisor (9 AM-9 PM EST): 866-442-6062

Talk to an advisor (9 AM-9 PM EST): 866-925-2803

Featuring Matthew Whelan, director of admissions, St. John's University (Jamaica, NY)

Q: I'm excited about living on campus, but choosing the right residence life program seems complicated. What are some of the issues I should consider when looking at residential colleges?

A: Ask college students, and they'll say that living on campus is a vital and rewarding part of their education. Not only is it often their first taste of living on their own (with the benefit of a university's guidance and resources), it's also an opportunity to make friends with people from varied backgrounds -- an education in itself.

In fact, living at college has always been considered an important aspect of the university experience. Hundreds of years ago, the dons of Oxford and Cambridge chose to make residence halls into close-knit "scholarly communities." In the early 1800s, Thomas Jefferson designed the University of Virginia so residence halls would offer views of only trees and lawns -- quiet scenes he felt would encourage study.

Today, as you know, there's a lot more to living on campus. You need to learn everything you can about a college's residence life program. Reading brochures is a good place to start, but it's only the first step. The best thing you can do is visit a college -- and its residence halls -- for yourself. Most colleges offer campus tours that include a look at the residence halls.

At St. John's University, for example, the Office of Admission allows visiting students and their families to take a close look at residence life while school is in session. Our counselors show you the different kinds of rooms available, the lounges, the dining halls, and other residence facilities. And it's a good idea to speak with residence life officials and the students themselves. You'll find that many universities offer the opportunity to do so.

When you visit a college's residence halls, pay close attention to the kinds of rooms available. Do you like the way they are arranged? Do they offer Internet access? It's critical that residence halls are fully wired for computer connectivity or offer wireless access. Also, observe whether the students there seem happy, and definitely try to meet the staff. In a good college residence life program, each hall has its own resident director, a professional who trains and supervises a staff of resident assistants who are available to help students 24 hours a day.

Activities are also an important indicator of the quality of residence life. Residence halls should be exciting places, with activities that engage students on evenings and weekends. At St. John's University, there is a Residence Hall Association -- a mini student government consisting of resident students who plan concerts, bus trips, seminars, and workshops. You'll find this is true of many fine residence life programs.

So as with anything, learning is the first step to knowing. Find out as much as possible about the residence halls at a university, and you will have a superb idea of whether they will be good places to live and learn.

Best wishes for a wonderful college experience!

Sound Off! Post Your Comments