More of a Party School

Introduction
As a student in financial need, I wanted to go somewhere that gave me a large merit/need-based scholarship. Delaware provided me with just that. Moreover I wanted to impress my parents by going somewhere far away and with a low acceptance rate, and Delaware was fairly competitive. One of my final motivators for the school was that it's about an hour and a half from DC, so I figured being really into politics having DC in my backyard was fairly nice.

Campus Life and Social Life
If you're really into partying- go here... if you're not... don't. I'm a more studious student who takes academics seriously, and there really seem to be a lot of kids here who don't. The party scene is huge; off campus partying is nearly "the thing" to do if you want to be anyone, but if you're like me that party scene translates into bearing witness to public drunkenness at 3:00 am, loud parties in the room next door, and a huge frat/sorority culture. Don't come here if you take academics very seriously. Academics
Engineering ranks within the top 50 of the country. Business is decent and Liberal Arts & Sciences really isn't known. The university has an honors program which provides intelligent students a more intimate professor-to-student relationship by holding drastically smaller classes and specially designed study groups outside of class. Honors students live together, but while one would expect that they would hold themselves to a higher standard than the average students- they don't. Again, Delaware has a large party reputation so even the honors students party. For average students, you're likely to be stuck in a huge freshmen lecture hall where you don't really get to know the professor. The only departments this won't happen in are foreign languages and science (the lab req.). There are a lot of TAs, but they're not terrible. Lots of professors care about students and make themselves accessible through office hours (the university requires they hold office hours). During these office hours if you have an issue you can go to their office and discuss individually with the prof., usually no one is there so they're glad to see you're taking initiative. Finally, the workload here is decent. If you're university honors it really sucks- you're always working- but for the rest it isn't so bad. Just keep up as you did in high school, and you'll be fine.

Student Body
Here is why I wish I would have made a better college choice: Delaware ranks within the top 10 colleges nationwide for having the most politically apathetic student body. Being really into politics, it is terrible here- no one cares about current issues or elections, just about their looks and partying this next weekend. The students are typical rich, white, preppy suburbanites. It's a very homo-genius population- very stereotypical of the college frat boy or sorority girl. I suppose everyone is very good looking- there really aren't any noticeable nerds or geeks running around, but it seems what you gain in looks you lack in intelligence. I have no idea how Delaware only accepts just above 40% of it's applicants... being here and experiencing it, you would have thought otherwise.

In Closing...
If you're smart I would suggest looking elsewhere. IF it is the party scene you seek- come here. If you're smart and you like partying- apply for the honors program- you'll be surrounded by smart partyers. Honestly, partying is really what may define your college experience here, and if you're not into partying you may become detached from the general student population. I love how this university looks- it is very pretty and kind of looks like it'd be an ivy, but don't let looks deceive you. Delaware is competitive for admission, but at the same time admits some really stupid people. Last comment, if you're from far away my suggestion is also to look elsewhere. It's a very regional school attracting mostly Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland students. I'm from the Midwest, and I pick up some kind of stigma from being from so far away. Moreover, I personally hate the $40 shuttle to the airport, the $200 plane ticket, and the $40 ride back- it gets annoying and expensive. Delaware has decent academics, a really nice campus and a (in my opinion) annoying, not-to serious student body.