From campus clubs to the people in your classes, there are lots of different ways to think about college diversity and whether your schools of interest are meeting your standards. This is crucial to your comfort and success over your four years on campus. When searching for potential colleges, I look to see how diverse they are in these four areas.
1. The student body
You probably already know that your classmates affect your school experience, for good or bad. The last thing I wanted was to attend a college where everyone is the same, a school that’s all this or all that. I wanted to attend a college or university where I could meet people of different backgrounds. This was important to me because I've seen how valuable it is to have relationships with people from different classes, countries, ethnicities, and more than me. Simply knowing I could meet so many new people on campus from a new place served as a motivation for me to be part of campus life and expose myself to it. Also, it's great practice for the real world because you will be exposed to all kinds of people, and you will be expected to know how to interact and work with them.
2. Campus clubs and activities
Have you ever found comfort in knowing something is there even though you don’t necessarily need it? This is how I feel when it comes to college clubs and organizations. When visiting a college’s website to check out clubs, seeing such a diverse selection actually comforted me. In my eyes, it shows this college is accepting of all people, whether they be environmentalists, civil rights activists, animal lovers, aspiring doctors, devoted writers—the list goes on. It also shows that the learning continues beyond classroom hours.
Once I finished reading about the clubs and activities available on campus, I tried to find out how easy it was to start a club at each school. I wanted to know that I could add to the diversity of my college. It is possible that there may not be an existing club focusing on your interests, so it's important you have the option to start your own club even if it may be different than the others, weirder than the others, or crazier than the others. Find a school where your own diversity will be embraced rather than shut down.
Related: Fostering Diversity: College Clubs That Welcome Students of All Cultures
3. Teaching approaches
How many times have you been asked: How do you learn best? When it comes to the college search, look for diverse ways of teaching too. In high school, I was exposed to different styles, methods, and approaches to teaching. Some were great and some were horrible, but I have always appreciated teachers who take the time to use various teaching styles to support their students.
Some colleges stick with traditional lectures and books, but it's easy to find colleges with professors who are open to a variety of teaching and learning methods, which they incorporate into the classroom. I was always been told that in college you're going to be an adult who needs to “figure things out on your own." As true as that is, it’s also important to find a college that helps you make that transition. By being exposed to varying teaching methods, you'll learn how you learn best as well as your academic weaknesses. Knowing your weak areas may feel troubling at first, but it's just an opportunity for you to grow as an individual.
4. Academic offerings
Whether you already know what you want to major in or haven't decided, I was advised by several people to concentrate more on picking a college, go in undecided, try a few different classes, then pick a major based on what I enjoyed doing. That advice was somewhat helpful, but what do you do if I discover the college you attend does not offer that specific major you end up deciding on? What then? If you find yourself stuck in such a situation, things could get messy quickly. Sure, you can transfer to another college that offers your desired major or look for ways to design your own. Avoid these complications now by searching for colleges that offer a range of diverse majors. Once you finally do make a decision (either before you begin school or after), you want comfort in knowing your school likely offers the major you are looking for.
Related: College Options for Students With Multiple Major Interests
To me, college diversity means that each day on campus, whether in class or hanging with friends, I will be exposed to something new. It means being constantly exposed to people, ideas, and cultures that can expand your perspective on the world. It may be a new person or it may be a new club. Being motivated by the excitement of new experiences encourages you to not only attend a diverse college but to be part of it and what it stands for.
Connect directly with colleges and universities that value diversity all over the country right here on CollegeXpress!
