DePauw: Work Hard, Party Hard

Introduction
DePauw might not have the highest academic ranking but don't let that fool you. For one thing, slacking off and cutting class is basically impossible given that class size is so small and personalized. They notice, oh do they notice. It's also a Party School in every sense of the word, so if you don't drink or party it might not be the place for you. But as much as we go out on the weekends, we work during the week. Work and play should both be on your agenda if you want to be happy here...if they're not, look elsewhere.

Campus Life and Social Life
The best part of campus life at DePauw is the social scene. Fraternities are where it's at for parties: every weekend, something is going on at half of the houses or there are larger parties at one or two of them. About 75% of the student body is involved in Greek life. It follows, then, that drinking is huge on campus - if you want to drink at any time, day or night, you'll find an opportunity to do so here. Another popular recreational activity is spectator sports: the Monon Bell rivalry football game every fall is a great event (and a two day long party). Weekend social life unfolds almost exclusively on campus; outside it, let's face it, there ain't much to do in the middle of rural Indiana. If you're jonesing for city life, Indianapolis is only 45-50 minutes away... Advertisement
Academics
All of DePauw's academic departments are strong, but the most popular majors are Bio, Econ, and English. Faculty is consistently talented all around. There are no TAs - you have a professor for every class, and classes average around 15-20 students, or in some cases even smaller. The system also eases students into college academics: each first year student has a class with 13 students to get acclimated to the DePauw system. Workload can be tough at times, especially around finals, but overall it's nothing that most students here can't handle. We all manage to get work done with the incentive being the great weekend scene on campus.

Student Body
The typical DePauw student is middle class and from the Midwest, but there are students represented here from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds and states and countries of origin. DePauw frequently recruits in areas that would normally not send students to the school - for instance, NYC or Chicago - and these students ultimately thrive on campus as much as any other.

Perhaps because the campus is the centerpiece of all social life in rural Indiana, it shouldn't be surprising information that DePauw students are very involved in on-campus organizations and activities. Most join a fraternity or sorority and hold various organizational offices on campus while playing sports and chairing a few committees...some have radio shows on Monday nights, other star in campus theatrical productions...and then by contrast, just for diversity's sake, you do have those bespectacled students who sit in their dorm room and play Halo all day. Whatever you do, whatever you're into, you will find a way to fit in here.

In Closing...
I cannot see myself at any other school. The social scene, the academics, and the overall wealth of opportunities on campus are all top notch and I am almost regretting the fact that I only get to spend four years here. The small campus and student body enable friendships to form immediately and remain for years to come, and the academic program is both challenging and rewarding. I am glad I chose DePauw and will recommend it highly for the rest of my life.