Get Out There and Find the Fun!

Introduction
I decided to go to Hofstra for several reasons. The first and most common here is that Hofstra has unbelievable financial aid and offered me a lot of money to choose this school...but luckily, that's only a small part of what I've loved about my experience here.

The proximity to New York City is awesome: Hofstra is only a 40-50 minute train ride in (while it's not 35 minutes like they tell you, and depends on whether you go from Hempstead or Mineloa, it's very doable for day trips). And academically the professors here are first rate and incredibly experienced. Most have spent time in the field practicing whatever they're teaching, so they bring a real-world experience and perspective to their classrooms...which really enriches the experience as a student. It also means they have connection after connection, and can help students who are committed to the field get a jump on a career in that industry.

Hofstra does have a reputation for being a Long Island communter/daddy's spoiled little brat school...but I think that's a stereotype the school doesn't deserve. Honestly, it's a very diverse school: there are clubs and organizations for almost every interest, and where there are none, the student body totally supports you starting one. Kids here are passionate and proactive. I've founded two clubs so far, and have been given plenty of money by the student government to get things going.

Conversely, introverts and people who are socially closed-minded or judgmental should avoid Hofstra. Sure, you'll see a number of girls showing up to school in $500 jeans, but just like everyone else, they slip on the snow and fall on their collective ass when the school doesn't plow the pathways...just give it a chance.

Campus Life and Social Life
Although only 10 percent of students go Greek, it dominates the social scene, with frequent frat and sorority parties and everything that entails. Drinking, crazy hooking up, some drugs.

Aside from that, there are several bars along Hempstead Turnpike where anyone over 18 can get in, regardless of stamps or bracelets.

The above facts, along with the fact that every night at Hofstra has a theme for party kids (Monday night football, Greek tuesdays, White Trash Wednesdays, Thong Thursdays, Friday and Saturday Happy Hours and nights), have led people to brand this as a Wild Party School. BUT that doesn't apply to everyone here: there are plenty of students who don't go out every night and even some that don't drink a drop of alcohol.

As for sports: by and large, students couldn't care less. The various teams are trying to change this, however, in some cases offering kids freebies just for showing up to the games. (The basketball team has started to do this and been rewarded with better attendance in recent years). Advertisement
Academics
Communications is fantastic and always improving as a department. Political Science is another great department, though in my opinion it suffers from opinionated professors who have a hard time sepaating their views from fact and too often state their opinions as objective truths. The psychology department is also pretty good.

In my 2 1/2 years at Hofstra, I've only had 1 T.A. and she helped us with our final project but never taught the class.

Another unique aspect of the academics here is that professors and TAs are relatively open to reevaluating grades on papers if you feel you've been judged unfairly. They will require that you do some extra work to collaborate with them on making the paper better, but no grade is irreversible, which is good for kids who want to go on to professional school after Hofstra or earn academic honors.

Student Body
No longer just a Long Island communter school, Hofstra's students mainly come from the tri-state area. Bostonians are big here, as is the general vibe of Jersey pride.

In Closing...
I've loved my time here but to find my niche i had to go out and look for it. It was worth it, though, and I recommend it to anyone willing to do some legwork to find their academic and social calling in a fun, stimulating environment.