Villanova University - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Although Philadelphia is a good time for any college student—whether you like to party on the weekends or grab a cup of coffee and tour various art museums—as an underclassman, you are often restricted to areas closer to the campus. The surrounding towns vary in how they treat college students, but none represent a true college atmosphere. But don’t let that stop you from having a good time. For a few bucks and a short train ride, you can land yourself almost anywhere in the greater Philly area. Your best bet would be South Street, dubbed by many as the “hippest street in America,” as it is a wealth of entertainment and Philly culture. Whether you’re up for a night of clubbing, savoring Philly’s cheesesteak rivals, or feasting on Jamaican jerky, South Street has endless opportunities for students restricted to mass transit.

If the bustle of city life is not your thing, Villanova’s suburban communities also have a good deal to offer. Almost every town up and down the Mainline has a quaint small-town feel, with higher-end stores and restaurants. The closer you get to the city, the more likely you are to get a bigger bang for your buck. Since there is so much to do, it is difficult for students without cars to rely on mass transit to tap into all the activities out there.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

The town is great. It’s a township... The town is great. It’s a township comprised of several small towns, all of which possess a small-town feel. Since it’s an upscale neighborhood, there really is nothing to steer away from, but plenty to check out, especially if you decide to go into the city. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Villanova is set in a pretty much... Villanova is set in a pretty much suburban atmosphere, but with close proximity to the city. There are a ton of smaller universities along the Mainline, but there is also a bunch in Philly that provide opportunities to hang out at other colleges. There really is not much to stay away from, but you definitely have to go to various parts of Philly. South Street, the Linc, and downtown Philly are definitely places to frequent. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

I really like the surrounding... I really like the surrounding area. There are about six or seven colleges if you drive down one road, but I barely ever leave campus, unless it’s to go to the mall or something. I would recommend every place around here that I’ve been to. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The Mainline in Pennsylvania is... The Mainline in Pennsylvania is truly a beautiful place. Nestled 15 miles outside Philadelphia, it provides all the comfort, safety, and beauty of the suburbs, with the nightlife, culture, and fun of a nearby city. The surrounding towns of Bryn Mawr and Wayne are very close-knit communities and provide all the functions and services of any suburban area. There are several universities on the Mainline: Haverford, Eastern, Bryn Mawr, and Cabrini. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The Mainline is a very classy... The Mainline is a very classy neighborhood, one that can easily give off the air of being snooty. But at the same time, it does offer lots of nice shops, friendly cafés and restaurants, and lots more. There are universities found up and down Lancaster Avenue, and even more right in Philadelphia. Villanova has a nice balance of a young college community right in the middle of a pleasant neighborhood setting. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts about Philadelphia:
• Philly has a long and interesting past. Founded in 1682, the city brims with its own history, culture, and atmosphere distinct to Philadelphia. As the birthplace of American democracy, Philly boasts Independence Hall, where patriots signed both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
• With nearly 50 major universities and colleges in and around Philly, you never get tired of seeing the same old people, and the rivalries are for more than school pride. 
• Philadelphia’s silver screen hero, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), trained and filmed in South Philly’s Italian neighborhood and hit the bags in North Philly’s Blue Horizon Boxing Club. Other movies filmed here are The Sixth Sense, Fallen, Twelve Monkeys, Trading Spaces, and Blow Out to name a few.
• Every New Year’s Day, native Philadelphians celebrate Mummermania, something resembling Mardi Gras without the excuse of Lent. Having survived medieval folklore, court orders, and strict Puritan regulations, it still is celebrated in its entire historic splendor without much change from decades ago. A must see if you are in the city.
• The modern Uilleann, a traditional Irish instrument that is in the same family as the bagpipe, was ironically not developed in Ireland, but rather Philadelphia.

Famous People from Philadelphia:
Edmund Bacon
Kevin Bacon
Bill Cosby
Brian de Palma
Tinay Fey (Upper Darby, Pa.)
W.C. Fields
Benjamin Franklin
Grace Kelly
Jack Kelly
M. Night Shyamalan
Will Smith

Local Slang:
Blue Route – I-476
The Mainline – Lancaster Ave., which can take you directly in and out of the city
Whiz-wit – requesting Cheese-Whiz with onions on your Philly cheesesteak
Whiz-witout – requesting Cheese-Whiz without onions on your Philly cheesesteak
Yo – a greeting like hello, rumored to have been popularized after the filming of Rocky

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Margaret Rigas
Hometown: Lancaster, PA
Major: History

Margaret's favorite team is the New England Patriots. Go Pats!

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