By Audrey Lovell, Social Media Editor
It’s college game day. After waking up in the dorms and heading down to the dining hall for some super tasty food, you think about all the activities you have planned for the day. First things first, you have to pick out your game day outfit. Next, you have to make your way to the tailgate before heading to the student section to cheer on the football team.
While this sounds like a typical fall Saturday for most college students, many high schoolers also have found ways to experience the same thing as they get a taste of what college life will be like.
“Unofficial” college visits may be able to give high school students a more in-depth look into what it’s really like at different colleges. Staying with people you know is crucial to seeing the real college experience each school is able to provide.
“I went and toured NC State and it was nothing like when I went and stayed with my friends,” senior Courtney Beasley said. “When I actually toured it, it was just all brick.”
Official college visits, with an upperclassman in the admissions office carefully giving students and parents all the flashy statistics about how great the school is, are a chance to see the learning facilities each college offers; however, you will not get to experience what student life is actually like.
Senior Brooke Hymiller often visits her sister, who attends East Carolina University.
“I went to a sorority event that was super fun and I got to meet new people there,” Hymiller said.
Greek life captivates the lives of many college students. Official visits often do not provide any information regarding their fraternities and sororities. They are also a way to meet other new students when attending college.
Most Greek life will also host pre- game events as well as other social gatherings they provide throughout the school year. Senior Michael Peters got to see that firsthand on a visit to the University of South Carolina.
“They (Gamecocks) really love their sports and the tailgates are really fun,” Peters said. “You get to see how much fun they really have at the school.”
Pregame events as well as the actual game bring the school together to cheer on their team. The student section is where all the students are able to gather and show their school pride.
“I went to my first college football game and I sat in the student section with my friends,” Beasley said. “I was able to meet other students there.”
When attending college as a freshman, it is definitely a perk to have people there who you already know. Those who already have a year or more under their belt will most likely be able to provide academic, social and emotional support.
Although education is a huge part of college, so is the social aspect. It’s not just a place to learn, but it turns into a home as well.
“This experience has shown me that college isn’t just about getting an education,” Hymiller said, “but also meeting new people and making life- long friends.”
Senior Audrey Lovell can be reached at [email protected].
