Thinking about how to build a college list? Thinking about how to pick colleges to apply to? Thinking about how to pick the right college? In this series, you will get a first-hand perspective of our Matriculate students at their different campuses. Get a glimpse into Charleston Southern University campus life!
Why did you decide to commit to CSU? What factors drew you to this school?
There are so many factors that led me to decide Charleston Southern University (CSU) was right for me! Firstly, I have always considered myself a bit of a homebody, so I felt more comfortable living at home while in college. CSU was quite literally down the street, I felt like all my prayers were answered. Secondly, CSU partnered with my high school to give a select group of students a generous amount of financial aid. I was able to be selected and receive a full-ride scholarship which was a tremendous blessing. Lastly, the atmosphere of the campus drew me in immensely. Everyone I spoke to, from the faculty over the phone to the students themselves, was incredibly welcoming. I had no trouble picturing myself as a future Buc! For more information about CSU enrollment, click here!
Can you share more about your experiences with classes, class size, lectures, and professors? What about clubs and extracurriculars?
The class sizes at Charleston Southern University are quite small which I love! The learning atmosphere feels incredibly intimate and students can become close with their professors and spend more time speaking with them one-on-one. I have never felt rushed during a lecture, and our professors often will review slides if a student feels stuck on a certain concept. The CSU library is a beautiful place to study as well. As for clubs, I recently joined the Pre-Veterinary Club and the Student Nursing Association. I wanted to connect with students who shared my interests and so far it has been a blast! CSU offers a variety of clubs (linked here) and I was amazed by the amount of options offered. My only regret is that I can’t join them all. Although I have only been in college for a few weeks, CSU has numerous resources that have helped me map out a plan as I get closer to graduation. We have had speakers come to my seminar and the clubs I am in to speak about internships that are offered and provide insight on careers available to us that I never even heard about! These past weeks have been such an eye-opening experience in terms of learning all the possibilities out there.
Tell us more about the dining hall and dorm situation! How is the food - are there enough options for those with dietary restrictions? What is the dorm and housing situation like?
I am one of Charleston Southern University’s commuter students so I cannot speak too much about life on campus, however, from the little I have experienced and what friends have told me both dining and dorms are quite lovely. Commuter students are given a meal plan similar to on-campus students, so I have no issues eating with my friends in the caf. We commuters even have an advantage because we can buy Chick-fil-A with our dining dollars! The dining hall also offers foods that are gluten-free and vegetarian. More information about CSU dining can be accessed here.
From visiting my friends’ dorms, living on campus is a fun experience for many students. The dorms are close to campus and have various lounges for students to hang out in between classes. Best of all, NO communal bathrooms! To view CSU housing options, click here.
Share more about the social scene - how did you make friends? Do most people join Greek life or are there ways to make friends outside of Greek life? What is there to do for fun?
There are various ways to make new friends at Charleston Southern University! Since the school is on the smaller side, most people have no problem walking up to someone and striking up a conversation. I often see the same faces around campus, so I make friends that way. Greek life is a big part of campus, but there are tons of ways to connect with people outside of that. We have sports games where many students come to support our school, sixteen events that take place year-round that range from dances to boat rides nicknamed “Sweet 16” (linked here), and student-led worship that takes place once a week called Elevate (linked here). These are some of the major fun events to attend on campus, but we also have much to offer off-campus in the Charleston area. These include going to the beach with friends, mini-golfing, going to restaurants downtown, walking the boardwalk, and so much more. My friends in the Pre-Vet Club and I are also planning on going to a local animal shelter to do a doggy date. In short, you’re never bored at CSU. Obviously, us college students are not known for our lives of luxury, so there are events offered that are free to attend. Typically, student-led events such as intramural games and cook-outs are free of charge. We also have a pool and games rooms both indoors and outside! There is such a large variety of people to meet, including those on our amazing sports teams like Charleston Southern University track and field, soccer, volleyball, softball, basketball to students in wonderful programs like nursing and PA.
How did Matriculate help you get to college?
During my senior year, I was able to meet early on with my Matriculate Advising Fellow, Regina and she helped me compile a college list based on a few ideas I had for the type of school I envisioned myself attending. I was completely unsure of where I wanted to go, so seeing her put all my ideas on paper helped me process college applications tremendously. Regina helped me find the various majors offered at CSU, discover the financial aid that was available to me, and see if this college aligned with the goals I had in mind. It was such a smooth process that was a huge help to me!
NEED FREE COLLEGE APPLICATION SUPPORT?
Matriculate is a national nonprofit that offers 1:1 support throughout the entire college application process! If you’re a high school student, check out our application and resources HERE.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Tirzah Nyamutsaka
Tirzah is a former Matriculate High School Fellow and now proud Matriculate Ambassador who helps spread the word of the organization’s mission. After hearing about Matriculate from a classmate, she applied to the program. She was so inspired by the tremendous help and generosity she received that she wanted to be a part of the behind-the-scenes. Tirzah is a student from South Carolina currently attending Charleston Southern University and hopes to guide many students who, like she once did, may feel completely lost in the college application process.