Villanova!

Introduction
I knew that I was going to get my bachelors degree in Nursing (BSN), so I compared the nursing programs of different colleges. Though I am Catholic, religious affiliation did not influence my decision. My decision mostly came down to how much my parents were going to pay and what quality of education was I going to receive. Compared to other colleges, Villanova's nursing program had clinical nursing experience beginning in the fall semester of sophomore year. I wanted to most clinical experience to help me in my pursuit of a career in the health field.

The unsatisfied students that I have encountered seem to be liberal arts majors. Their curriculum is not as defined as other students, so some of them feel unsure of what they are doing.

Other students did not really know what they were going to encounter at Villanova, such as the people, the administration, and faculty. Dealing with the administration can be frustrating. Sometimes it seems as though they are passing you around to different people with each person saying something different.

Campus Life and Social Life
I did not give in to the typical college life of partying and drinking. Nearly every weekend, someone, somewhere partying.

There are other things to do than drink. Luckily, the Campus Activities Team (CAT) has a different movie playing each weekend. They are movies that have just come out on DVD. Many people go to the viewings, which are on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. There is also a bus that goes to the mall, so if you have a hunch to go shopping or see a movie, the bus takes you there for free. You can always take the trolley and the bus to the mall, as well.

There are always games going on and students get in for free. Mens basketball is the only problem because students enter the lottery for tickets. If you put in for a game at the Pavilion, you're most likely guaranteed, unless it is against a higher ranked team, then it gets tight. Some students will enter the lottery and sell the tickets (which I think is unfair), but people buy them. They're always exciting, though, and there's always a viewing at the field house, next door to the Pavilion where there is food, face painting, etc.

There are a number of clubs at Villanova, not as many as other colleges, but there's a decent amount. Intramural sports are popular. Clubs usually have events going on every weekend, but a lot of people do not hear about them, so it seems as though nothing is happening on campus.

Philadelphia is a 30-minute train ride away, too. There are always people going to clubs in Philly. It is only $7.50 for a round trip ticket. You can go into Old City/Historic District and see all of the tourist attractions and Chinatown! You can walk to UPenn, Drexel, and USP, or take the train into Temple. Take a buddy and make sure you bring a train schedule with you so you know where your stop is. You can also take the subway around the city or the bus to places that are out of walking distance. Advertisement
Academics
Every class depends on the teacher. Even though they can be teaching the same material, the presentation makes a big difference. The teachers at the nursing school are wonderful. They make nursing fun and exciting; they usually have the higher ratings of all the professors at Villanova.

Many students have issues with the Augustine priests for Theology. Some people do not want to hear about Catholicism, so they completely tune out the priests.

Most people dread the required "Core Humanities Seminar." The class is challenging and requires a lot of time from the students. Because it is writing intensive, students are constantly worrying about papers, with readings on top of it. Some CHS classes are more incisive than others, again, depending on the professor. It is discussion based, so that is good for some students who are better at expressing themselves in person rather than on paper. There are some great debates that I have had in CHS, most of them being gender issues.

Chemistry is another subject that requires a lot of time from students. For Chemistry lab, a Villanova specific lab notebook is required of all students. The pages are carbon-copy pages, so it is a hassle to write in; plus, some teachers/TAs require that someone sign off on your work, and it is annoying. On top of that, Chemistry lab takes the most time of any other classes because of the requirements of what needs to be written in the notebook. All of that work is for 1 credit. And TAs, just like professors, can make lab easy or complicated. I had good TAs for my first semester Chem lab, but this semester it is not the same case. I can tell they do not want to be there, just as much as we do not want to be there.

Most of the classes are what people make of it. If one puts in the time and effort, than one can expect better grades. Most people just want easy As, and it all depends on who you get as your professor. Some classes are more interesting to others depending on your interests.

Student Body
Many students are philanthropic at Villanova. There are so many community service activities in which students are involved. Even if you are not the type to give back to the community, you will volunteer in at least one community service activity at Villanova. The idea just grows on you. Everyone has fun.

Most of the students are from the area. A good majority will answer, "I'm from Jersey," if you ask. We do have some international students (from Hong Kong and Africa).

Many students are drinkers. They cannot wait for Thirsty Thursdays. It is always interesting in the hall around 11 o'clock from Thursday to Saturday.

In Closing...
Enter college with an open mind. Anywhere you go can be a great experience, if one is open to new experiences. If one is closed-minded, then it will be easy to hate wherever one goes for college. College is what you put into it. Go in with enthusiasm and be involved. Getting involved with the many activities have made me enjoy my days here. I know many people who are out to find every flaw with Villanova, and it is a shame that they do not try to see the good points. There may be some people I do not like, but I have found people that I enjoy being around. It required some searching, but I found them. I want to make the most of my four years here by attending lectures and other events, and there are plenty everyday; one just has to give a little effort to find them.