Why did I originally choose UConn? It was pretty close to home, both my parents went here, it’s really good at basketball, and I liked the Husky mascot. After being here for a semester, I’ve realized there are a lot more important factors that make this an amazing college. The University of Connecticut is a big school with a large student body, meaning it is full of life and has something to offer for everyone. Here are eight reasons why you should choose UConn!
- so many majors
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I am undecided and didn’t know what I was really interested in, but now I have so many ideas. The ACES Exploratory program has really helped me learn more about the different fields of study, which has allowed me to narrow down my possible interests. UConn also has “The Major Experience” mentors to reach out to, whom you can talk to and ask any questions you have about specific majors.
- The Anonymous aspect
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It’s nothing like high school where everyone knows everything about you. Coming from a school with a graduating class of 81 students, this has been a strange yet needed change. Even at other universities with a small class size, people say they recognize almost everyone they see. Here, I don’t have to worry about what people think of me and that has allowed me to feel more free.
- a lot of people
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You can talk to every person you see over your time here at UConn, and you still wouldn’t know everyone. Some people might view this as a bad thing, but I see it as a way to meet many different people and not limit yourself to one group. Also, because there are so many people here majoring in all different kinds of subjects, no one is comparing their grades or intelligence to each other. Everyone is doing their own thing, so you don’t need to worry about what other people are doing.
- A crazy amount of clubs
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At my high school, there were probably four or five clubs to choose from. Here, there are more than 700 to choose from. The club fair at the beginning of the year was just like the one in Pitch Perfect. There were tables set up everywhere with every club you can think of. College is the time to explore and find your interests. It might be nerve-wracking to go out of your comfort zone and try something new, but I’m so glad I did. During my time here at UConn, I want to continue to explore what groups I want to be a part of and find both fun and productive ways to spend my time.
- Food at every corner
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When I first came to UConn, I was nervous there wouldn’t be a lot of food options. I quickly realized that wasn’t the case, with eight dining halls on campus and many different restaurants. Having a Dunkin so close has been very harmful to my bank account, but I’m still thankful to have access to my refreshers whenever I am craving one.
- You get your steps in
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I wouldn’t call myself lazy, but I can say I don’t enjoy a lot of walking. That’s why it confused most people when I committed to UConn, a school with a huge campus. That first week of classes was pretty brutal for me I won’t lie, but once I got used to it and in better shape, I started enjoying all the walking (not as much anymore now that campus is a wind tunnel). I wore my Fitbit for the first month here just out of curiosity to see how much I was walking, and most days I was walking more than 15,000 steps. It’s quite the workout being a UConn student, but it is a good exercise if that’s what you’re looking for.
- The rec center
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The Rec Center at UConn is very impressive. They have every piece of workout equipment imaginable. There are also classes run by trained instructors in things like spin, dance, cardio, and yoga. My personal favorite part of the Rec is the pool. It’s almost always empty when I go, so it’s a nice environment to get a workout in or just swim relaxing laps. My second favorite part is Mango, which serves smoothies, sandwiches, salads, and bowls (the Tropical Mango smoothie is the best thing ever).
- Variety of class types
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There’s every type of class imaginable here with hundreds of different subjects. I like working with others and having a connection with the professor, which is how it usually is in discussion courses. But I also like lectures because I enjoy taking notes and listening. Having the opportunity to pick which class style you like and also try different kinds is helpful when you learn better in certain classroom environments.
I was pretty burnt out in high school and was just doing the work to get good grades. But now, as cliche as it sounds, I am actually interested in my classes and have a newfound passion for learning. There have been many ups and downs here as I’m trying to get more comfortable in this new environment, but I am glad I get to experience college as a Husky.