Overall, I am definitely satisfied with my experience at Xavier so far. Adjusting to a new city, new school, and new friends was tough at first, but in retrospect, if I were somewhere else besides Xavier, it would’ve been a lot tougher. The combination of a small school where you can get to know everyone with a big-school atmosphere, including big-time college sports and a big city to explore, makes Xavier a fun and interesting place to be. The people at Xavier are really some of the friendliest you’ll meet. (As tired as that sounds, it’s absolutely true.) The reason that Xavier has such a high retention rate is that people who take an honest look at Xavier normally want to go here, and rarely are they let down. It’s clear when you visit here that things are laid-back, there are no gigantic parties on a weekly basis, and everything is in general serene and comfortable. While it may differ from the typical college experience portrayed in all our favorite movies, the XU experience is enjoyable and dynamic. The beauty of X is it can be whatever you choose to make it. At another school, the pace of life is often determined by a gigantic student body, and if you don’t conform, you are an outcast. At Xavier, students have the freedom to be individuals and study, work, and play just about any way they want to.
Sure, there are plenty of things you could gripe about The parking situation is a pain. Housing can be a hassle. Also, if you’re looking for a major blowout party every single weekend, Xavier’s probably not for you. However, during your tenure at Xavier, you will meet tremendous people from places and backgrounds you may never have been exposed to before, and you will also get opportunities, both academic and in life, that you could not have had anywhere else. Go Musketeers!