Let’s face it: stereotypes, especially political ones, are becoming increasingly important in the process of choosing a college. As more Americans choose to go to out-of-state universities every year, there is a growing desire to travel North or West in search of a more liberal community. Likewise, there is a desire of some students to travel to the South because they appreciate the friendliness and Southern values.
When I told one of my best friends which colleges I was choosing between, they straight up told me not to come to Wake Forest because some website ranked it as one of the most homophobic universities in the country. I read a lot of other info online about this school being ideal for white privileged white kids from Christian, conservative, Southern households. Because of this, I was very close to attending a bigger school where I thought I could find more diversity.
Flash forward to seven months later on Tuesday, November 8th and I’m in a lounge in my dorm with a group of twenty or so people, all of whom are concerned about the nation’s political situation right now. The same situation is playing out on the floor above us. A few days after Trump won, our school set up a walk-out on the main quad and several other public events for those who felt uncomfortable with the results of the election to share their thoughts. At the same time, there was an email sent out that week about racist slurs being yelled throughout a freshman dorm in response to the election results.
The fact is, with the financial aspect aside, there are two factors that you need to consider when making a college decision: the education you will receive and the community you will live in. Don’t listen to second-hand information from others about what a college is known for, even if they are your closest friends. Don’t base your decision on the socio-economic status of the students or the way they dress because this often has nothing to do with what they think about the world around them. Recognize that if you take full advantage of your experience, you will have opportunities to become close friends with people who share your values and those who have completely opposite ones, whether you go to a large state school or a tiny liberal arts college. At every school, you will be exposed to opinions that change your perspective because colleges aren’t allowed to restrict students’ freedom of speech.
While I’m not at all certain that all students at my “conservative” school value equal rights and similar values that seem second-nature to me, I am positive that no one who walks onto this campus this month would consider it a homophobic institution. Since arriving in college, I have met a diverse array of people on all ends of the political spectrum from all parts of the country. I know of about three people on our campus who are avid Trump supporters and far more who are with Hillary no matter what, but the majority of students at Wake value respect for each other so much that politics isn’t a divisive issue. Personally, I have come to love the size of my school and I can’t see myself anywhere else because I’ve learned to embrace this “Southern” community for what it is. Your own personal values will shape your college experience far more than the beliefs of those around you.
