To be honest? I love it here. When I was applying to colleges in in 2010, I had no idea what I wanted. I applied all over the US to every type of school (big, small, city... you name it!) and I had no idea what my major was, let alone what I even wanted to do with my life. When I visited UConn, I saw countless opportunities for me. There are so many options for majors and minors. And, if you're not satisfied with your options, you can have your own individualized major! There are so many different academic support services on campus that help you choose a major(s), learn better study skills, become a stronger writer, and guide you through your time here.
Also, I love the environment here. Even in the most stressful times of year (midterms, finals), the students and faculty are incredibly down-to-earth. Sweatpants and t-shirts are a common attire here, which I absolutely LOVE. Oftentimes, the professors love what they're doing and want to get to know their students. Are you nervous about huge lecture halls? Not to worry, all professors have office hours each week available for you to visit them. They love helping you individually with your work, and are more than happy to go over anything again!
The most talked-about thing at UConn, whether you're a student or my Dad, is the athletics. I personally love going to the sporting events and cheering on the Huskies, because it's a lot fun and is so cool to see our school win national championships. Athletics is a major part of UConn, and is a big reason to be here for a lot of students. There is so much school pride on campus with the students, which can get a little crazy at times. For example, Gampel Pavilion, where the men's and women's basketball teams play, was completely filled with UConn students the night of the men's championship game last spring. We all watched the game on huge screens set up in the middle of the court, and had an amazing time. It truly felt like I was watching a game with my family. When that final buzzer went off, we all rushed the court and sang "We are the Champions." It was a wonderful moment, and really brought UConn together. But, believe me, UConn is so much more than sports.
If I'm not in my dorm room, I'm oftentimes and the Student Union. The food is fantastic, and there's always something going on! It's a great place to hang out with your friends, watch a movie in the theatre, eat some great food, meet with your clubs, and many other things.
UConn is an incredibly large school with many students, but I feel that it's the perfect size for me and many others. Walking across campus takes 15 minutes, tops, and is an absolutely beautiful walk in the spring and fall. Once you get involved here, whether in clubs or sports or a job, you'll feel that the campus is a much more comfortable place to be. You quickly make connections here with other students, and feel much more at home. It's easy to feel lost the first few weeks, but you soon get used to the size and all the many buildings. Soon enough, you'll be a pro!
One of the most common complaints about UConn is that it is "in the middle of nowhere." Now, I'm not going to deny that there isn't much going on once you drive off-campus (except for cows :D), but UConn is well-equipped for this issue. This school has so many different things for students to do around campus to keep us happy. There are over 500 different clubs and organizations here - whether you want to be involved in volunteer work, student government, ski/snowboarding, or even a trampoline club, believe me, we have a club for you! And if we don't? Feel free to make your own! On weekends, there's always countless activities going on at the Late Nights in the Union, and the Union Theater is always playing awesome movies (on Fridays, it's free!). Basically, although there isn't much going on outside of UConn, there is plenty of things here on campus that you'll love. The best way to start is to GET INVOLVED. This campus can be a bit big and scary at the start, but it will soon feel like your home once you find something that interests you! In just a month, I joined 2 clubs, and have made some of my best friends through them.
UConn is the perfect place to be yourself. With such a large campus, you will meet every type of person. You'll feel completely comfortable being yourself and getting to know people.