College of Charleston
Reviews

A Lot of Help Available.

Although Biology is a tough route to take, there are a lot of people there to help you along the way.

Biology Is Challenging

Being a Biology major I have to put in many more study hours than a lot of other students. Even thought it has been difficult and challenging I am glad that I have chosen to become a Biology major so that I may continue on to the veterinary field.

It's a Friendly City

There is something amazing to do in the city every week - it's a great place and everyone that comes here says the same thing.

So Many Options - Even a Surf Team!

Only miss the Fall Football, as there's no FB team, but I can attend FB games at the Citadel nearby.

21?

If your 21 it is great, bars and clubs everywhere. If not most house parties are exclusive and/or cost like 5-10$. A pretty good local musics spot.

Hope you meet someone with their own house you are close with

Understated Yet Impressive Curricula

A lot of people complain about the General Education Requirements. I don't blame them, and I hoppy I was able to take most of these classes in high school to avoid them. The professors, fortunately, have clearly defined office-hours (they are usually in their offices for a longer time), and will help you beyond the course. Almost all the professors have terminal degrees in their professions, many from top universities, and have extensive experience in the field of interest. This is a university for pre-medical schol preparation with its proximity to the Medical University of South Carolina and great advisors. The sciences and business school are surprisingly powerful here, with the Chemistry program being one of the most recognized in the South and the MBA program being AASB accredited. I don't know about the Liberal Arts programs, but the Honors College also has a strong presence on campus. You can lead a pretty relaxed life and still survive the College and perhaps land a job or a place in graduate school, but there are always opportunities to be challenged and become a prospective candidate for top graduate programs in the nation.

A Different Kind of Diversity

As I'm sitting here now in the Beatty Business Center, I'm looking at three African Americans out of a group of about twenty students, and that's a very high percentage. I hardly see anyone Hispanic, though I have quite a few Hispanic friends, and the same goes with other minorities. The faculty is much more diverse, but still around average. Our diversity lies in the amount of out-of-state students and religious/sexual orientation diversity. Most of my friends are not from South Carolina, and there is a large and powerful LGBT community on campus. Judaism has a large following, as well as a few Hindu and Muslim. There are especially atheists down here. If you look beyond the lack of non-whites on campus, there is quite a bit of diversity, but then again, it wouldn't make a favorable first impression.

Living in Charleston

Off campus housing for me has been very satisfying, the school offers plenty of local listings, but because it is located in such a beautiful town with historic homes, the good ones don;t last long!

I Lived in Berry Dorm...

... and it wasn't at all that great. There was a huge housing screw up at the beginning of the year and we ended up having a third roommate in a double room for a couple of months at the beginning of the fall semester, to begin with. (Don't get me wrong, though, I'm not saying this is a common occurrence for the college, and they also refunded each of the roommates a part of the housing costs.) Also, I never wanted to live in an all-girls dorm.

Berry is okay, the rooms are pretty spacious, and you have a common area in each suite. There is a kitchen with a full size stove and oven, a full size fridge, countertop space, a full size sink, a table to eat at, and a snack and drink vending machine on each floor. There is also a laundry room on each floor with four washers and four dryers, of which you can use for free. Also, a TV room, a small flat screen with couches and chairs all over the place on each floor.

There are a lot of events held on different floors for things like TV show watching nights, craft nights, etc.

The security is top-notch. There's no way that someone who wasn't supposed to be in the dorm could get in - all guests have to be signed in by a resident of Berry Hall. However, it becomes a bit inconvenient when you want to have your friends over. You also have to scan in with your ID every time you enter the building.

Overall, I wouldn't say that it was an absolutely terrible experience, but I wouldn't want to live here again. I hear the upperclassmen dorms are way better, but if I were going here for another semester, I'd look into off-campus housing.

I'd say my favorite part about Berry was its location on St. Philip street, which is only about two blocks away from King Street, and literally a five minute walk to Maybank and Robert Scott, the two main buildings for classes.

The Heart of All Arts

All things here are truly artistic and beauty. The air is filled with art and adventure. Each day is new and there is never a dull moment living right in the middle of Charleston. There are plenty of museums, an aquarium, arts events, scenery, shopping, fine dining, and the weather is perfect.

Campus Integration With the City

The life of the city is as incorporated with the life of the student campus. There is not a separation and people love to be a part of everything. Overall security is safe, just avoidance of a few roads and there is always something going on. Not to mention, the weather is amazing. The parties, beaches, and optimistic attitude gives the local atmosphere of Charleston an amazing feel.

Business at Cofc

I am in the Business College at the College of Charleston, and I am very impressed with the overall stature and expectations that go along with this particular major. All of the professors expect high performance out of every student, and as a result one begins to expect the same rate of performance out of themselves. It is a great environment, and it drives me to desire to be successful.

Amazing

Charleston is without a doubt the best place to live during the school year. The summers are very hot though.

Emphasis on the Entire Student Body

No football team and sports are not emphasized so priorities, in my view, are in line with what higher education should be focused on!

The Social Atmosphere

The Library possesses a coffee shop to help with staying awake and is a good social area. Also all the local hot spots are less than a mile from the campus for hanging out and meeting people.

College of Charleston

The College of Charleston is known as one of the best liberal arts schools in the south. Its location and gorgeous campus draw in thousands of students from all over the world, creating an incredibly diverse atmosphere. Every sport, religion, or hobby seems to be represented here. From the Quidditch team to the belly dancing club, every student has a chance to get involved in something extraordinary. As for the politically minded, the city offers many chances to get involved in politics, like working in the mayor's recent reelection campaign or joining the occupiers of Charleston in protest. The campus is extremely diversified by so many students all eager to study at one of the oldest, most beautiful schools in the south.

Greek Life Is Pretty Big

If you're looking to get into a soriety or frat, you've got a pretty good chance of getting into one. Near McConnell dorm there are 5 or 6 frat houses, and there are tons of soriety houses around campus too. It seems like they're always doing some sort of activity, and they do Rush Week and all that. If you're looking for Greek life College of Charleston definately has it.

Huh?

Drug safety... oxymoron? Weed is used just as widely as any given high school. Other drugs (addy, molly, etc.) are available if you have connections.

As far as the safety part goes, no one has overdosed on thc lately, so you're pretty safe...

Foooood

You've got 2 main options: Liberty and City Bistro. Liberty has multiple options (pasta, salad, breakfast foods, mongolian grill, burgers, etc.) but while many things taste good, nothing is fresh. The nutrition here sucks- don't expect to come and be able to have an array of healthy options. You can have salad or overcooked veggie burgers, sometimes a pasta, but that's it. CB is a smaller version of Lib but is take-out oriented, which makes it a more appealing choice. Meal plans definitely over-extend their welcome after the first two months of your freshman year.

GREAT Weather

Weather is always awesome! So nice to lay out and study

Don't Let the Marketing Fool You

Don't let the marketing fool you. Charleston seems like a great place to live and learn but you quickly realize how dull and boring it is after a few weeks into your first semester. The city is small and offers little to those who are under 21. Living on campus is a headache because you are forced to sign in and sign out all visitors who you bring to your dorm. If you fail to do so you will be slapped with a violation. There is very little freedom when living in dorms, and you may receive an RA who has very little to no sympathy for basic college kid mishaps. Such as noise violations, alcohol, etc.

Greek Life at Cofc

I'm not in a sorority, but my friends who are seem to be pretty pleased with what they've got going on. Fraternities are not as intense as those at other schools around the country, but they still throw a heck of a house party.

Great

The team performance and school spirit is awesome. The school facilities are good for a college located downtown.

Strictness at Cofc

Drugs and alcohol are not allowed in the dorms and if they are found you can be dismissed. If any substance is illegal you could possibly be arrested and face charges. You have to scan your school ID to get in your dorm building. If you have someone with you who does not live in the building (student or not) you have to sign them in and out. If you are caught cheating you will be dismissed and there will be a symbol on your permanent record that represents that you were dismissed for cheating. If you are absent for more days than your professor permits you will be withdrawn from that class.

Night

Everyone is always ready to go out every night of the week. However, if you have a lot of work it can sometimes be a little frustrating. It's fun to go out on the weekends and cut back though. Most people enjoy going to a house party with a handful of people who just listen to music and play games. But downtown people also go to bars which are all up and down king street. Everyone walks to each place so no one has to worry about drinking and driving which is a huge plus.