College of Charleston Top Questions

Pretty diverse group. All in all everyone is super nice and friendly. Southern hospitality is not a myth.

the student body is one area i would love to improve. school spirit is not very intense regarding sports. no football team and the fields are off campus about 10 minutes away. students generally have a great appearance but accepting of different styles. there are many types of people on campus so anyone can fit in. politics ranges on campus. of coarse south carolina is right wing but being with young students creates a nice balance between dems and repubs.

Racial groups on campus are mostly segregated. I can't help thinking that it's become somewhat of just a way of life here in the south for whites and blacks to stick with their kind a little bit, but that's something I don't condone or understand. One of my best friends at school this year was African-American, and her race never crossed my mind until now. However, nearly everybody is very friendly and willing to talk to anybody else, if they are approached. Four tables of students in the dining hall: One of them is a bunch of unkempt dorky kids, with long messy hair and glasses, eating hot dogs with too much ketchup and talking about...well, who knows. Another table is full of slim blond girls, fresh from the gym in their workout attire with yoga matts tucked under their arms, eating giant plates of lettuce and maybe a tomato. Note- this accounts for many, many of the tables in the dining hall!! The third table is a group of emo kids; boys dressed in skinny jeans with side bangs and girls looking very urban. The fourth table is only African-American kids, just having fun and being crazy. Different types of students tend not to interact. I blame Greek life for much of this separation, and maybe also the subtle racial barrier. What the students wear to class: Whatever is in style. Uggs, scarves, moccasins, giant sunglasses, whatever. On the guys, polo shirts, J.Crew shorts, flip flops. Not many have their own unique style. I have seen a few, but not the majority. You will be hard pressed to find students that don't hail from the South. South and North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and even Maryland are the home states are almost all that I have met this year. The type of student to feel most out-of-place at CofC: Someone extremely dedicated and motivated to progress and grow; someone who is not catty, clique-y, gossip-y, or into Greek life; someone who doesn't follow trends or dress fashionably; someone who is not religious and doesn't read the Bible and attend church regularly (big emphasis on this one). Politics: I find this aspect of CofC extremely interesting, because since it's a college campus, it can be extremely liberal; but since it's the South, tons and tons of kids are set in their parents' extremely conservative ways of thinking. I would say it's more right-wing.

The question of politics is very interesting at the college. While the city, state, and region is predominantly conservative, most C of C students are liberal. The college has a series, the Bully Pulpit series, through which all of the major candidates for the U.S. presidency have came to speak.

I think the students are very open minded which I loved. Everyone is friendly and welcoming. I never had a single problem at the College, but I did feel out of place. I felt the majority of students were upper middle class, whose parents took care of everything for them. There is not much diversity at all, there is very little black, hispanic, asian, etc. I did my associates at Trident Tech which was largely mixed with students of every race and different opinions. Though the students at CofC are different I feel most have the same opinions. Its hard to get a good debate going.

There is low racial diversity at CofC, and a small Greek life presence. Filled with beach bums, and people who love and appreciate a friendly atmosphere that the college provides.

Diverse students

It is a very liberal school for the south and very managable for a northerner such as myself. I enjoy the people many are laid back and some are southern while you find a lot from the north and midwest as well. It isn't a hard school to adjust to if you have an open mind about the people. You can find any type of financial background, typically in state are on the lower financial end while out of state have more money, which I believe you find anywhere.

Students are generally politically naive. Students interact well on group projects.

A little racially segregated, but the groups are able to intermingle without problems. As a gay male, LGBT community for the most part is welcomed, but there are instances of ignorance. I would say though more judgement is placed on socio-economic levels than sexuality, race, religion... Class is very casual, but not pajamas very often. Usually t-shirts, flip flops, jeans or shorts... Different types of students do interact, but ultimately they return to their "group". Most CofC students are from: Ohio, New Jersey, Mass, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Penn, and clearly SC. Upper middle class is most prevalent, followed equally by middle and upper, and a few of lower classes. Students are politically active, and very center-left, unlike the surrounding setting of SC. I have never heard anyone talk about how much they will earn one day.

A lot of the people at CofC are part of what I call "the Clone Army." You know the ones I mean; the perky, preppy people who somehow manage to all be wearing different versions of the exact same outfit at the same time without ever consulting each other. I am not one of these people (as you might have guessed) but I've still found a lot of people who I can be friends with and who are just as odd as me. Most people at CofC seem to be from either South Carolina or, of all places, New Jersey. At least a dozen people in my dorm were from NJ (and that's just of the ones that I actually talked to).

The student body is a mix of everything. There are your stereotypical southern frat boys with the crookies, pink shirts, and short shorts.... I'm not gonna lie, but there are the surfer kids, the skater dudes, and kids just trying to make it. Being a minority it is a bit nerve racking to not see many people of your ethnicity, but once that initial stand-offness is over come mingling is easy.

The College of Charleston is NOT a melting-pot. It's more like a cassarole. Everyone is different--different religion, race, sex, gender, political preference, background, personality. CofC does not bring us all together to become the same. It creates an environment in which all of the elements are separate, but together, contrasting and complimentary all at the same time, all adding a little something to the campus atmosphere and culture.

a very diverse student body, every walk of life. it forces you to step outside of your box and learn about a lifestyle that you've never encountered before.

The student body at C of C is incredibly varied, students of all shapes, sizes, attitudes, interests, and social classes attend classes, and each one adds their own bit to the classes. Students go to class in all kinds of clothes, ranging from suits and dresses, to short shorts and pajamas. Students are able to show their personal styles through their bags, purses, shirts, shoes, pants and sometimes even hair.

C of C is a mix of everyone. Many religions, beliefs, dress codes, trends, etc. Students definitely like to have a good time so students that may be against drinking may feel awkward if they do not like being around that kind of scene all the time. Students at C of C has a problem with smoking cigarettes, its more like a trend. I am one of the very few that does not smoke cigarettes, this could also make others feel out of place. Students come from all different types of backgrounds, from the extremely rich to the very poor. They all seem to have an interest or a passion for something, either music or their studies or a hobbie/sport.

for a southern college charleston is very liberal even compared to the surrounding counties. i havnt run into any racial problems, except some towards the homeless population. the only big separation between students is between those on frats and sorrorities, and the people that did not join. either one you choose you will have a good time but the percentage of ppl in frats and sorrorities is fairly low, something like 14{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}. the student body is made up of 2/3 girls most of which are very attractive, i guess its the beach that attracts them im not really sure but i like it. the financial background of most students is middle class to upper middle class.

it is a fantastic mix. there is greek life. it is a small percentage of kids, a smaller community with the community. and it is unlike any other greek life anywhere else. it is a SMALL organization. everyone knows everyone within. theres a lot of talk, and of course stereotypes, but some of the hardest working and most intelligent people are greek. theres very wild ones too. i have loved my experience within the greek community. but a lot of my friends didn't rush. they still have fun. the commraderie that exists eliminates a lot of segregation. the athletes stick together but welcome their fans readily. there are a lot of strong religious types and then the opposite end of the spectrum as well. you are in the south so certain racial tension still run, but not very deep. during the civil war, the college of charleston did not share the sentiments of the confederate army. racism was not accepted on the campus then and it still isn't today. there is a strong underground art scene. i would have missed it had my roommate in the dorms not been entrenched. a lot of musicians. we have a surf team too. there are plenty of well-off kids but you also have kids putting themselves through school. i haven't run into a lot of judgement. everyone truly is laidback. the people who are there, each person and what they do or care about, makes charleston the school it is. we all love our college.

Very diverse, very tolerant and accepting. You can find any group you need here, and its hard to feel out of place. Its easy to find like minded peers, which is a great feeling when you think your the only one going through some thing. Although if your a fairly close minded person, this may not be the place for you. Our student body does a good job at pushing the envelope on social norms.

The student body at the College is awesome. Typical students are highly motivated and active in their field of study as well as other school activities. The entire student body lives in shorts and flipflops! There is a great mixture of local and out of state students at the College. Most out of state students tend to come from the Northeast and Midwest. This mixture of microcultures helps each student be privy to a different take on life. The sudents at the college tend to be Conservatives but there is a growing population of Liberal students. Most out of state students come from a strong economic background. There is a high political awareness around campus and it is common to find yourself engaged in a heated debate about politics or religion. There is a high alcohol consumption rate among students at the College but there are several groups that sponsor activites aimed at alternative objectives besided getting drunk or high.

Too many girls, not enough guys.

Friendly, mostly women, maybe 70-30 ratio, 2/3 from South Carolina, Greek life is not as popular as other southern schools, not a lot of jocks at the school, population is not very diverse as far as race is concerned, gays are not rare on campus, but come as a shock to many, most students are relatively financially stable, lots of students work, sandals are fashionable almost all year round in class

CofC is stereotypically full of sorority girls, but really anyone can fit in. We have such a great variety of people that anyone can find their niche and fit in.

not diverse

Honestly, CofC does not have a super diverse campus. However, more ethnicities and religious backgrounda are becoming more prevalent on campus.

Our student body is represented by students from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and 21 other countries. The diversity is refreshing :-) Overall, the student body is politically aware and active yet open-minded and agree to disagree. There are several student groups, and many of them are open to everyone. We have four different eating locations. The main cafeteria is pretty nice and large. The food isn't like gross high school cafeteria food.

There are a variety of ethnic groups/ religions/ etc.. at CofC, however, it may feel like you are surrounded by upper class southerners-some snobby. Not too bad, though. Please remember CofC is a liberal arts school, so don't be surprised.

The CofC campus is becoming more diverse. There have been many improvements in getting students involved in different activities. From recreational to educational clubs and organizations, there are many opportunities available

diverce student body with many ethnicities represented. open minded and accepting of all life styles and preferences

The students here in my opinion are VERY liberal, but nice!

C of C has a pretty diverse campus in terms of religious beliefs, political beliefs, etc. However, there is very little ethnic diversity, not to say though that students aren't accepting. There are a lot of well to do people that go to Charleston, but not all of the students are well to do, and most of them don't have too much of an attitude about it.

There are clubs and organizations that support different religious beliefs or strange hobbies, but whether you are interested as well or not, no one I've met will judge you if you don't believe what they believe. Everyone is very accepting. In general, a lot of people are from the south, but there is definitely a big percentage from elsewhere... it provides for a healthy variety. People also seem to be of all different financial backgrounds and political beliefs. I would say a fair amount of girls dress up a bit for class, but I think the majority of people (both men and women) wear jeans, and tshirts with flip flops or sperry's for shoes.

CofC is a predominantly caucasian school with much of its diversity stemming from the different regions of the country that students come from. There are a lot of out-of-state students at CofC. I've had roommates from South Carolina, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Italy, and friends from Ohio, New York, Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Canada. I would say most of the out-of-state students are from the North. There is a belief from outsiders that Charleston girls dress up to go to class, but this just isn't true. The ones who do wear dresses to class usually also wear flip flops. Most just wear t-shirts and sweats. Wealthy financial backgrounds are most prevalent, but there is definitely a mix. It almost feels like a private school at times.

I really enjoy singing so I decided to try out for the CofC choir. On the registration sheet it asked which choir you were interested, and when I saw Gospel Choir I immediately got excited. I'm not a very religious person, particularly just because i wasn't brought up that way, but I absolutely LOVE the music. It has a way of touching people and lifting even the heaviest spirits. However when I was in my audition the choir professor noticed that I wanted to do Gospel Choir as well as the concert and decided to mention to me that the gospel choir is composed of mostly african american singers, and very few, if any, white students. Being from a small town in Wisconsin where the only African American I had ever talked to was Donald Driver of the Green Bay packers, i was a little hesitant. I immidiately signed up for gospel choir after my audition, because I wanted the cultural experience that I realized I so desperatley needed. I absolutely loved it. The people in the choir are amazing! They were all so talented, and had such vibrant personalities. The professor was a strong, spiritual, and kind man; the type of figure I had never had in my life before. He saw my potential and helped me achieve it. I really grasped the idea of spiritual, racial, and phisical differences between people and grew to understand the world around me better. The experience I intentionally put myself through has proved to be one of the best choices of my life. Thanks to stepping out of my normal boundaries I grew more in my one year of college than I have in any other year of my life.

It defiantly bothers me how "white" of a campus is at CofC. Coming from the D.C. area, I am used to having more diversity, and I wish that people from around the country could be exposed to it. We are in the 21st Century, and racial stereotypes need to be broken, and I believe that college is a good place for those to be broken. If you love the beach and the city, Charleston is defiantly for you. It may not be the fastest city, but it is a fun place where there is always something to do. I know that when I'm bored, my friends and I will go take a walk in Marion Square or go window shopping at the Market. I mainly hang out with all of the sports people at Charleston, so they tend to be from all over the country. However, I think that most people are from South Carolina.

There are a lot of out-of-state students, mostly from the Northeast, which makes for a really cool atmosphere for a college in the heart of the South. There are two veins of fashion at CofC: people who wear sweatpants and tshirts to class and people who dress super-fashionably for class. It's an interesting mix.

In my honest opinion, no student would feel out of place at C of C. Of course, you're always going to have those people who are ethnocentric (especially in the South), but they are few and far between at C of C. Students at C of C are definitely in left feild politically speaking. I am as well. Barack Obama speaking at the college was one of the highlights of not just my college experience, but also a life experience. Financially speaking, most students come from a middle class, upper-middle class background. But, since I am an independent student, there are students like myself who are from a more lower-middle class background.

One thing I've never liked about CofC is the lack of racial and economic diversity, but that's honestly something that comes from being in the South. The school is always working to improve diversity, but we're still overwhelmingly white-middle-class. I would also say that the student body tends to be fairly clique-y. Not everyone falls into those catagories, but sometimes it's difficult to navigate socially-speaking if you don't.

our campus is so diverse! people wear anything from lily dresses, pajamas, or goth clothes to class. there is no 'typical' cofc student, which is part of what i love you most.

The student body is diverse, unique, and definitely fun at CofC. However, most classes at the college are not that diverse. I have had a few all Caucasian classes in the two full years I have completed here, but I do not feel like any particular race, religion, creed, or socio-economic status would feel unwelcome or out of place here. The student body is quite friendly and laid back. Several people a month into the semester will start wearing pajamas and sweat pants to every class.

There really are not many foreigners at our school at all which is too bad. The girls get unbelievably dressed up in the beginning of the year for class, but after a while people chill out and act normal. There a re alot of rich kids, but most of them are cool and don't brag or anything like that. Most kids wear jeans and a t-shirt, or shorts and flops to class. Girls wear lots of dresses.

This is where all the stereotypes come into play. Kids are usually white, well off, liberal, etc. There are a number of diverging opinions though, and plenty of people can mix and match without clashing.

I think all students can find some group on campus to feel comfortable with. You never see a loner kid around, everyone is always with a friend. You don't have to dress up to go to class. Jeans and a t-shirt are common for me, but some people come in sweatpants or running shorts or way too dressed up. A lot of students are from the state of South Carolina of course, but there are a lot of students that come from up north to the College as well. Financial backgrounds are not really prevalent but you can tell usually who has the most money. Students are very politically aware on campus, especially with the upcoming 2008 election. There are probably an equal amount of liberals and republicans.

Kids on campus are pretty racist as is the city in whole due to the divide between the wealth. Girls that aren't wealthy or attractive would probably have a hard time enjoying the college because of its shopping district that attracts so many wealthy attractive southern girls. However if they do come they'll be forced to enter either the hippy or preppy crowd. There's not much of an in-between. Class attire often includes Jeans, Khakis, Polos, Greek Life T-shirts, Pearls, Jack Rogers shoes, Rainbows, New balances (preppy). Otherwise it includes jeans, old t-shirts (etc.).

There are so many different groups of people at CofC it would be hard for a student to feel out of place. Almost everyone dresses for class, rarely do you see someone walking to class looking like they just rolled out of bed. The girls will be in summer dresses and the boys in polos. Most students are from Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, New England area and South Carolina. Financially, most of the out of state students come from well off families. Students are politically aware and very outspoken about their political views.

I have run into maybe two racist people while down here which isn't bad I guess. The black kids usually keep within their own groups, seemingly not because white people don't want to hang out with them, but because the black people don't want to hang out with the white kids. I don't know... There are religious and LGBT groups on campus and they are all widely accepted. I think a quiet student would feel out of place at C of C because it is very friendly and to get involved you have to put yourself out there. Most girls get pretty dressed up for class while boys usually wear khakis and a t-shirt. Most C of C students are from the east coast, lots of southern and northerns. It seems there are a lot of rich kids, or middle class kids there. A lot of kids are politically aware and the campus is mostly democratic. We have had many prominent political figures on campus.

Primarily white.

The school does appear to be segregated racially, whether it is intentional or not, I cannot say. Most students wear anything from PJ's, athletic wear, to their best Sunday's dress ranging from way too informal to formal. Students with well-to-do backgrouands are most prevalent.

It's such a mixed group socially. The school is 75{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}+ white, which can be a little weird sometimes. I can't think of any student who would feel out of place at College of Charleston. Maybe only those who don't like to party or go out. It's not always necessary to do this, but it's a big part of C of C. A lot of the students are from South Carolina. Maybe... 55{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}? The rest? New Jersey, New York, Connecticut. I've met more people from the Northern states than from, say Georgia or Alabama.

Everyone who is a minority on campus is generally welcoming. Occasionally, you will run into groups that aren't comfortable with the majority. This is the South after all. However, if you are kind and nice to them and they realize that you aren't the same stereotype that they have encountered, then it is okay. It's a lot of work but the experiences you have with these groups can be life changing, to say the least. Flip flops are the thing to wear at CofC. Everyone wears flip flops, jeans, tshirts and when it is warm outside, I am proud to say that our students go the extra mile to look good. CofC has some of the more stylish students I have seen. Most of the people from CofC come from an upper middle class background or better. They are mostly white people. The minority voice is being heard on campus now with diversity becoming an issue. However, it can be kind of daunting for those who aren't from the same background. I wasn't from an upper class white family so I know what challeges people face.