First of all, CONGRATS on your acceptance to UD! As the oldest of four siblings and a senior at UD, I know that the process of deciding what college to attend is not easy by any means. Below, you can find some commonly asked questions, and insight into my experiences the past four years.
Her Campus (HC): What is the average class size?
Colette Brancaccio (CB): The introductory classes are between 100-350 students, depending on the type of class. With this said, you will have an introductory education course with all first year education majors. A few general course requirements for the major, such as Geography and History, may be on the larger side as well. However, the average class size is 35 students, which I have found consistent with most of my classes. I am currently taking 4 classes, and 3/4 are under 35 students—this is with exception to my seminar course which has about 100 students, since it’s all seniors in my major. If your worry is getting swept up in a huge class and the professor not knowing who you are, you don’t need to worry. My big tip is to sit towards the front of the class, ask/answer questions and get to know the professor so they know who you are!
HC: What do you typically do on the weekends at UD?
CB: There is so much to do on the weekends both on and off campus! We’re not a suitcase school, so students typically stay in Newark for the weekends. Occasionally, we’ll go and visit friends at other schools or go home for the weekend. We do have fun programming events on Friday and Saturday nights through our student centers. We have also had guest speakers come to campus—I got to meet Laurie Hernandez and it was amazing! Our bingo nights are huge, since they have big prizes such as Apple Watches, TV’s, Nintendo Switches, etc. We have fall and spring concerts through UD, and last year I got to see Aly and AJ! A lot of people usually travel together to go to concerts and shows in nearby cities, and sometimes our professors will take us on field trips to some cool places in nearby cities. We also have a mall nearby and lots to do on Main Street, from shopping to eating and just hanging out! Everyone goes to our sports events, and the tickets are free to students which is so lucky—basketball, football, lacrosse and baseball are just a few of the big ones! We also have club and intramural sports which is a great way to meet new people and have fun—I’m part of club swim and it’s been one of my favorite decisions over the past four years. There’s truly so much to do and I’m never bored on the weekend.
HC: What transportation is available on/around campus?
CB: We have a SEPTA and Amtrak station on South campus, and a MegaBus stop on North campus. There is a shuttle bus that transports students around campus, and we are bike-friendly! We also have Delaware Transit Corporation busses that can take you outside campus. It’s so easy to get around!
HC: How has the Honors College contributed to your college experience?
CB: I have loved being part of the Honors College these past four years. All first year honors students live in the same building together, Redding Hall, which contributes to our welcoming community spirit. There are Honors optional housing for upperclassmen students as well. The benefits of the Honors College include priority housing, priority scheduling for classes, and smaller class sizes. The Honors College does have student and faculty run weekly programming events, and they send a weekly newsletter via email to inform you on what you can attend! One of my favorites is Ice Cream on the Porch, where the Honors College building serves ice cream for students. I know my sister ran a wing night event that lined up with the SuperBowl, and a ton of them watch the Bachelor or Bachelorette together in the lounge spaces on each section of the floor!
HC: Any other information or personal experiences you would like to share?
CB: My biggest recommendation in deciding between two schools is to picture where you can see yourself living—not where someone else expects you to go. The ultimate green flag for me was how comfortable I felt on campus. During my campus visits, I noticed how lively the campus was on weekdays and weekends. What especially stuck out to me was how friendly and welcoming the students were, which has remained true these past four years. When thinking about UD, I could imagine myself taking classes in our academic spaces, hanging out on the green, meeting up with friends on Main Street for dinner and shopping, and living in the dorms. While I’m sure I could have been happy at another school, nothing would compare to my experience at UD.
I know that this is is an exciting and stressful time and wish you the best of luck!