JOHN CARROLL
Brendan Blase | Junior, Neuropsychology, Spanish; St. Louis
Connor Jamison | Junior, History; Brook Park.
Best non-academic part of JCU?
CJ: We're both on the soccer team, so having that is definitely a big part of it and having that friend group. And the student-life atmosphere, John Carroll does a good job with providing stuff for students to do on weekends and during the week. Like last year they brought in a lot of musicians for Streak Week, for freshmen, and they have a lot of get-to-know you events. They bring in a lot of bands.
BB: They bring in a lot comedians, local bands, and the student union will put on a lot of different events.
CJ: Trips to the zoo, Browns games, Cavs games, stuff like that.
BB: For me, it's the overall atmosphere of the school. Being a D-III school — rather small — it just feels like a real community, real family, everyone seems to know everybody. You'll walk down one of the quads and you'll see 20 or 30 people you know.
Worst non-tuition part of JCU?
BB: I'd say maybe food choices. We have a pretty good dining hall but I don't think we have enough variety, honestly. We have like the Inn Between, stuff like that, but if you go to other schools — bigger schools — you'll see more variety. That would make the variety better.
CJ: That, and to be different from him, I'll say a few of the sidewalks need to be redone. Other than that it'll probably be food, just better food choices. You have the cafeteria and the Inn Between, but that's it, they don't have anything outside of that's open for students.
Advice you wish you would have gotten when first arrived on campus?
BB: I wish you would have gotten that you need to manage your time better, with soccer and everything. I came in thinking that since it was D-III, that it was not going to be as time-consuming as it was, so I definitely had trouble my first semesters dealing with managing time and homework with soccer. Now I have it figured out, but I wish I would have done it a little sooner.
CJ: My biggest advice to anybody coming in here new is don't buy your books until you get here. Half the time you'll have teachers that will either switch the books on you — which'll cost you $150-$200, and you'll end up paying for another book. It cost me like $300-$400 because I did that. That was my biggest thing.
How hard is it to party on campus without hassle from RAs/cops/security?
BB: On campus, it's very hard. They do a good job of keeping it — it's supposed to be a dry campus, right?
CJ: Yeah, I don't think they want parties going on or drinking. They keep up pretty well on that, it's pretty hard to have a party. I lived in Murphy my freshman year, even there it was hard.
BB: In dorm rooms and everything, it was hard. RAs are very strict in their policies. But it's a fair strictness, I think, they tell you the rules and if you obey them you're fine. Off campus, the cops know we're college kids and it's going to happen, and unless it gets too out of control, they're pretty fair. If you're just having a party, they don't assume bad out of you.
One thing about JCU you could only know from being here?
BB: For me, it's definitely the family aspect. As much as they'll try to tell you that John Carroll is a medium-sized school, everyone pretty much knows everyone and it's a good thing. We've had struggles like losing a friend, and I've never seen more support from a school than this. It's just the community; something they can't tell you in a brochure. Everyone is friendly; the first day of school I had no problem fitting in. I'm not the most talkative kid but everyone wants to get to know you.
CJ: I would extend that to the education part. The teachers here are so helpful with everything. I would have meetings with the provost, vice president for like several hours, just helping me with papers. They're willing to go out of their way to help students and do anything for them. That's the biggest.
CASE WESTERN RESERVE
Maia Young | Senior, Computer Science; Cleveland
Best non-academic part of Case?
Just being in Cleveland. I don't think I'd like Case as much if I couldn't explore Cleveland. it's definitely in a good spot.
Worst non-tuition part of Case:
The mentality of the student body on some certain things is not — I don't agree with it, I guess. Just the demeanor of certain people.
What advice do you wish you got a year ago?
I guess not to be worried about meeting people at school, because I was really scared about that, like not being able to fit in with people. But from the first day, it was very easy to like find people with similar interests.
What do you do on Friday and Saturday nights?
We definitely like to go out. In terms of partying, we definitely go out to concerts more often than frat parties. And all the free stuff.
Food recommendations?
The Poutine! Go to Wrapz for the Poutine.
Advice for people planning your major?
Not to be scared by all the people who are really ahead, because in terms of programming — I came to Case not knowing any programming at all, but then there's lots of people who know so many languages and all that and it kind of makes you think that you won't be able to do it because you're not up with everyone else, but the classes aren't designed for people who have already mastered it.
AKRON
Daquayla Sellers | Senior, Political Science & Criminal Justice; Columbus
Talisha Crum | Senior, Political Science & Criminal Justice; Columbus
Best non-academic part of Akron?
DQ: The parties, the parties (laughs). Sumner fest, we go out to the clubs, there's all types of stuff to do.
TC: I'd say it's the people. I'm meeting a lot of people from different places, but we all have the same goals and some common things. I'm more outgoing with people in college than I was back home.
Worst non-tuition part of Akron?
DQ: The professors. Only some of my professors. My Criminal Justice teacher was the coolest teacher I ever had, through elementary, middle school or high school, he was the coolest. But some of them, they teach the work only one time.
TC: I'm a quick learner, so the worst thing for me would be stressing over bills to pay. Because I have to grow up, I have my own apartment, things like that.
Advice you wish you would've gotten when first arrived?
DQ: Attend class and focus way more! Less partying, more studying.
TC: Don't stress out as much. I'm the opposite of her.
DQ: She stresses too much!
TC: Over nothing (laughs), and I was getting good grades and all that, but I just stressed too much over it.
What you do on Friday and Saturday nights?
DQ: Party (laughs). This semester we won't be doing much partying. But last semester: party!
TC: I work and then I go party. I study while I'm at work — I'm a CA at the dorms, so I just sit there at the desks, study while I'm working, and then I go party.
One thing about Akron you could only know from being here?
TC: They get crazy. Sumner Fest, they flip some cars. You would never know that unless you go to Sumner Fest. These people are crazy.
DQ: You will meet amazing people and make lifelong friends. You'll meet 'em in class, the dorms, the union, everywhere on campus you'll meet new people.
TC: You'll usually meet the first couple people in your dorm.
KENT STATE
Emily Parrish | Senior, Public Health; New Philadelphia
Best non-academic part of Kent State?
The people. That's a really vague answer, but it's a big enough campus that you don't know everybody but everyone's connected in some way.
Worst non-tuiton part of Kent State?
Tuition would have been my biggest problem. I have no idea, no idea. I really do love it, I know that sounds really cheesy or whatever. Maybe it's the weather that sucks? The wind? Other than that I can't really think of much.
Advice for people who want your major?
I'm not really keyed up with my major because right now it's just a means to my master's. But in general, do something that you love, not something for money.
What you do on Friday/Saturday nights?
Hang out in friends — dorms, houses, downtown.
Something you could only know about Kent State from being here?
It's a very diverse group. My eyes were kind of opened because I lived in a small town, really sheltered. You don't really get that much diversity anywhere else.
CLEVELAND STATE
Franklin Eruo | Senior, Biology/Pre-med; Canton
Best non-academic part of CSU?
The people, definitely. The environment is definitely worth living here, the city is great, it's just an overall feeling.
Worst non-tuition part of CSU?
Sometimes the professors can be off sometimes. If not that, the forming could be improved a lot, that's where I'm at right now. But a lot of people think there's a lot of bad stuff about here, but there's really not.
Advice you wish you got when you first arrived?
To take tutoring more seriously. I was one of those people that got really good grades, but here if you miss something in class you could get behind and the tutors here are really good.
