Elon: The Big Picture
The best thing about Elon is its gorgeous campus. I also love the small class size. I never feel like just a number here. I can't imagine going to a big school with hundreds of students in my classes. At Elon, my biggest class was 60 people, and that is rare! When I tell people I go to Elon, most people used to respond "Where?" and I'd have to explain that it's a small, private school near Greensboro, NC. However, more and more people are hearing about Elon. It's reputation as a great school is growing and now it seems like everyone I talk to know someone who went to Elon or has heard something about it recently. Elon has a huge study abroad program and the campus is very active in service learning. The Business, Communications, and Education schools are growing and offer some of the best programs in the country where students get a lot of experience from the start.
Elon Academic Life
All of my professors have known my name. My favorite class was a history course on the U.S. Early National Period. My professor was extremely well informed and got everyone excited about the topic. I also did some research with him outside of class and feel that I would not have gotten that opportunity anywhere but Elon. Class participation is common because the class sizes are small. Professors are great about listening to students' wants and needs and often will tailor the nature of the class to student feedback. Elon offers lots of unique classes, especially over Winter Term. Many students choose to study abroad during the 3-week January semester, but there are lots of interesting classes offered on campus, as well. Harry Potter, NASCAR, Disney, and The Beatles are just a few of the topics. I'm an education major and Elon has the best program. Right off the bat I was spending time in the classroom gaining experience in the field. I have heard alum come back and say that Elon prepared them extremely well for their first year of teaching. A lot of the education at Elon is geared towards getting a job, but I think that depends on your major. I feel that Elon's academic requirements allow students to get a broad, liberal college education as well as an in-depth focus within a major before graduation. I feel as though my classes have been fairly easy in my time here, but I know that there are more challenging classes offered for those who have time and want to make the effort.
Elon's Student Body
Elon has a low male-to-female ratio, which I think is felt drastically by everyone on campus. I also feel as though Elon's student body is predominantly white, which is noticeable on campus. The diversity is growing across the board, however, and I think Elon is doing a much better job of creating a niche for all types of students here. Most students are preppy and many wear expensive, designer clothes to class. Sperry's, North Face, J.Crew, Juicy Couture, Lilly Pulitzer, Vinyard Vines, Vera Bradley, polos, khakis, sunglasses... Sometimes this is intimidating, but you always see people wearing sweatpants, as well. I can't afford all the designer labels, and I don't feel out of place. Most people at Elon are from out of state, especially Maryland, Northern VA, Ohio, and New England. I would say that most of the student body comes from upper-middle class families.
Elon Student Activities + Social Life
Greek life is big on Elon's campus, but there are many people who are involved, so you don't miss out on everything if you don't join a frat or sorority. Athletic events aren't extremely well attended, but as our sports programs improve, I have noticed more and more students attending. Elon does a great job of getting lots of different speakers and there is always a theater production going on. The Performing Arts department is great and their productions are high quality. The dating scene kind of sucks because there are so many girls, but I suppose that makes it even better for the guys. I met my closest friends ate Elon based on where I lived. Everyone is over-involved in activities, so I feel like you don't see people often outside of those you live with. I love Elon's Freshman Convocation and Senior Commencement ceremonies. As a freshman you get an acorn and as a senior you get a small oak tree. I don't think there's a whole lot to do on campus on weekends that doesn't involve drinking, so it's up to the non-drinkers to make their own fun. Elon is getting better about having musical guests and other entertainment on weekends. Off campus, there isn't much to do in Burlington. People go to Greensboro, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, or Durham for stuff to do.
