College of Charleston
Reviews

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.

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.

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

Overall Experience

The professors are fantastic and really helpful. The nightlife is not that great. If you love southern preppy and conservative people than CofC is perfect for you. Charleston gets really small really fast and you will learn your way around the city by the third month of college.

Absurd

Don't even think about openly drinking in your dorms. RA's have the ability to "claim they smelled alcohol" from the hallways and therefore are allowed to search your room. Even if you are caught with a few cans of beer you can expect a $100 fine, alcohol edu, and a semester of probation. This place is zero tolerance and don't take any violations lightly. I came to this school expecting it to be relaxed, however, I soon discovered that they had been tightening up their policies over the past few years.

If you even forget to sign a visitor out you'll receive a violation slip. Its a little much. Avoid all of this by living off campus.

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.

The Most Beautiful City in the World

When you arrive in August, the temperature is the hottest that you will ever experience in Charleston. For those of up-north, this can be quite a shock, because it is often in the upper 90s. There is a breeze though, because the campus is so close to the water. Springtime is breathtakingly beautiful, as is fall when it starts to cool down a bit. The winters are very mild, although we did get snow last year. Being near the beach is great since it allows you a chance to cool off. It rains a lot in Charleston, or more accurately monsoons, and the streets do flood because of the large amounts of water. This is probably the only downside as far as weather goes, although it's often refreshing because of the heat. Bring your rain gear, and rain boots are a must, in addition to looking super cute!

Charleston Rocks

Charleston is a wonderful town to go to college in! There is so much to do all of the time. If you love history, it is a place you HAVE to visit. Great sports, arts, cultural activities.

I graduated in 2010 and LOVE THIS SCHOOL!!!

Let me start off by saying that I absolutely love everything about College of Charleston. It is a fantastic school in a superb location. If you have yet to visit this school-make a trip!!!!! Once you see it (like I did), you will instantly fall in love.I graduated in May 2010 (in a sorority and majored in Psych/Spanish). I had the best 4 years of my life there. Being from the Northeast, it is always a treat when I can squeeze in a trip to Charleston. Like I said, I am almost obsessed with this school and I feel like anyone who has graduated from there feels the exact same. My only initial concern was being from the North, but there are SOOO many people from VA, MA, NY, CT, MD and even as far south as FL that I never EVER felt out of place. In fact, none of my "close" friends are in-state.

If anyone is saying this is a "drinking" school-you're wrong. Of course there are bars down the street (as well as fabulous shopping and awesome restaurants-hey, it is a TOURIST town!)....but ANY school is a "drinking" school. It is COLLEGE! I never felt overwhelmed by the drinking by any means nor was I ever distracted.

My only recommendation (besides visiting) is that you AVOID the dorm COLLEGE LODGE at all costs!!!!!!! I hated it it is absolutely disgusting/dirty/never has hot water/didn't have a functional toilet. Take my advice on this one. Stick to McAlister and even Berry is not bad at all (it is like a hotel).

Feel free to contact me personally.

Unique

Charleston has wonderful warm weather. The winter is short and sweet! It rains, but idk what everyone is talking about with the flooding.. I have yet to see it and I hope i didn't just jinx myself.. But the humidity is the only thing I had trouble getting use to. It hardly fazes my hair now though.

Gorgeous Weather

The weather in Charleston is the best. It doesn't rain too much, but when it does rain, it pours. It can be 65 in January, and mid-March you can be laying out at the beach. Summers are VERY hot & humid though, so invest in an a/c.

City of Charleston

Charleston is such a beautiful city, with everything from beaches in all directions within a fifteen minute drive, to the great shopping and history of downtown. Tons of amazing restaurants, the people are always friendly, and it's a very young city filled with students!

Everything Centered Around the Bars.

The nightlife is great if bars are your thing. People go to bars pretty much every night of the week.

Nice Kids

A lot of smart girls and bobys, who are for the most part nice and kind

Changing for the Better

In the three years that I've been here, I've witnessed the student body growing more open to diversity and progression. It's a beautiful school in the middle of the Bible belt, but there is an acceptance that is prevalent throughout the campus and the city itself.

Well Respected and Good Profs.

The academic reputation of the school is only going up and the teachers have a reputation of being easy to work with and easy to engage.

Amazing Nightlife

The nightlife in Charleston is incredible. There's always a party going on, a club to go to, or bars to hit up. The only problem is that the bars are all 21+, but it's easy for students to find other ways to have fun.