Hey guys, I'm Jessica [assumed spelling].
And I'm Ferrari [assumed spelling].
And we are here in South Carolina at the College of Charleston.
Traditionally students pass through this arch in Porter's Lodge on their first day entering into Cistern Yard to find the convocation ledger.
[ Music ] The College of Charleston is located in one of the most historic downtown neighborhoods of Charleston South Carolina.
There are so many local things kids can do, concerts, sporting events, the new arena, you [inaudible] with friends to watch the game.
There's amazing food, amazing restaurants right around campus and right downtown. There's a market with lots of night clubs and bars for people if you want to go out at nighttime, that kind of thing and of course there's the beach. There's my favorite thing about the College of Charleston.
Students have the opportunity to do internships here in the City. We have a very thriving service line opportunity in civic engagement, we are located right by two different, two or three different schools so there's lots of opportunities I think for students to do things off campus.
Charleston's campus is an elegant blend of classical, colonial, Victorian and modern architecture seamlessly transitioning into the City from all sides of the four square blocks.
We were founded in 1770 and since then we've actually had under 30 Presidents to the college which is pretty remarkable considering we're older than the United States but have fewer Presidents. This building is called the Bishop Robert Smith House I believe and it's actually the building where the first college classes were held. Classes were held in the basement of this building and what they say is if students were good during the day they were allowed to climb to the roof and see pirate ships out in the harbor.
Charleston enrolls 9,800 undergrads from all 50 states and 70 different countries. Sixty five percent of the student body is female, 35 percent are male and almost 10 percent is Jewish. The average class size is 20 and the student to faculty ratio is 13 to 1. Looking to attend the College of Charleston, the average incoming freshman holds a 3.8 GPA, a 1221 SAT and is ranked in the top 23 percent of their class. In state students can expect to pay about $18,500 a year toward tuition, room, board and books. Those coming from out of State will pay about $30,500. The College of Charleston offers 46 majors and 81 minors. The most popular majors include biology, communication, psychology, business and education.
So what is so great about this university that would draw some freshmen?
It's a, we find excellence in the liberal arts of arts and sciences, and we get the interactive [inaudible] disciplines. I think focusing on undergraduate education is really the primary selling point for the college. An 18 year old here, I think it's a better experience because of the liberal arts and sciences background they get.
All students are required to take 2 years of a foreign language along with courses in the humanities, social sciences, hard sciences and the arts. Students can then individualize their studies with a traditional major and minor.
The College of Charleston is one of the few schools in the Southeast and the only school in South Carolina to offer an undergrad major and minor in arts management and administration.
I wanted to be more of a [inaudible] than a number. I wanted to be, I wanted my professors to know me, I wanted to have a friend basis with them instead of just being another student in a class that the professor has no idea who you are. And here I've found that already.
The Charleston Cougars participate in the NCAA division 1 Southern conference. The college does not have a football program but it is well known for their strong men's basketball team which has earned multiple NCAA tournament firsts over the past decade.
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There are 29 historic houses and 11 residents halls here at Charleston all unique in their own way.
I would definitely recommend living on campus as an option. We have new, brand new dorms all around campus. As a freshman I was in Berry Hall and that was really fun and then as a junior I actually lived in my sorority house and that was really fun too. I lived in a old historical Charleston home built in 1854 and I don't think I'll ever have that opportunity again. It was a really good experience.
So tell me what kind of stuff is there to do on campus? What are you involved in?
Well that's one of the great parts about the College of Charleston. I feel like it's so easy to get involved. Just coming here four years ago as a freshman it was, there's always something going on. There's different clubs and organizations. We have over 140 student run organizations on campus that, that more or less kind of cater to every students needs.
The Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture [inaudible] with a small museum right here on campus. It's listed on the national register of historic sites. Recognize this campus, it's a popular shooting location for lots of TV shows and movies.
Like O, The notebook, Wife Swap, The Patriot, what else?
[Inaudible] and the most popular shooting location is Rainbow Hall.
It's a good hall. I kind of find the whole cap and gown thing all that fashion forward. Lucky for us the College of Charleston doesn't require gowns or caps for the commencement ceremony.
Sweet. [Inaudible] a cap.
Instead women students wear white dresses and men wear white dinner jackets each spring at graduation. December graduates participate in an indoor ceremony and the dress code is black tuxedos for men and black dresses for women.
One thing that's excited me a lot is graduation. Only being a freshman this is the thing I, people talk about most. I hear it, in the Cistern, it is an amazing site to see and that's something that I won't miss for anything.
Well here we are again right where we started is also where it ends. On graduation day students pass back through this arch, stepping out into the real world. That's it for us. See you later.
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