As an overly exuberant student, I am proud to present my opinion of Arizona’s top-notch college, Grand Canyon University. I’ve always had the pleasure to say that I loved my experience, but not nearly to the extent that I’m about to here. It’s about time I shared my biased, yet informative, perspective with incoming freshman and transfer students!
First things first: the campus. Located several miles Northwest of Downtown Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a locked and loaded campus. The entirety of the campus is enclosed with tall, spiked metal fencing for the safety of students. While the area outside and around the campus is considered “sketchy” or unsafe, the implemented security works well for a sense of solitude. In fact, the university is always aiming to improve the environment. Students are encouraged to help and play with kids at the park right next to the campus. This is a privilege for those kids who may have struggled growing up, depending on the severity of their home environment.
Speaking of the campus environment, the students make it what it is: simply outstanding! With only around 12,000 students I’ve never felt more at home than just being in the presence of every ambitious, outgoing, like-minded student. You know, the first time I set foot on the campus, I felt comfortable. I was anxious and amazed but nevertheless comfortable.
Grand Canyon University was only the second college I visited. Because of this, I was still nervous and unsure of what I was really looking for–the education or the experience? I knew I had excellent high school grades and a self-driven attitude, but I worried about how my experience at college would turn out. I worried about potential annoying or mean roommates. I worried about the thought of studying more than sleeping.
My conclusion was to stick with finding the right environment for me. Being that GCU is a Christian university, it suited my personal worldview necessities. After all, how bad could my experience really be? Turns out I was extremely lucky with their online dorm and room choosing system. I picked an empty triple occupancy room and got situated with five other incredible guys! Each roommate, like me, was individually artistic, and we all had the time of our lives, to say the least. I even took the opportunity to blog about each college day–about 208 days–so that I could reminisce!
I’m also missing the dorm rooms, which exceeded my expectations. You could really fit a lot in the new dorms with six people. Also, since the campus is fairly small, food and activities were relatively close. It was convenient picking up a coffee on the way to class or even retrieving lunch after class on my way to the dorm. I even picked the right dorm because it was the only new one with a gym attached! It gave me more motivation and reason to workout.
However, the real workout was more mental than physical. First semester felt like an overload, yet it was bearable because it reminded me of my high school. Our smallest class was 30 people! Although it was cool that students got along with each other, it was even more awesome that our professors were involved. Unlike most colleges, the teachers at GCU are there to teach (surprise!) and offer any help to students. Sure, lectures maintain their notoriety, but students can interact with the professors during or after classes. As studying goes, I didn’t even need to study for more than a couple hours per week! I mostly wrote essays. Besides, the first year is just general education courses to help you get a feel for what suites you.
Last but not least, the activities are the spark of every night! I say night because during the 100-degree plus temperature no one wants to be outside toasting in sunlight. At night, the temperature stays to a dry 70-degree haven. People play soccer, football, frisbee, and basketball by the intramural fields. Any activity you want, it’s available with plenty of people to join you! Sometimes I prefer a night of bowling in the Thunderground with a cup full of FroYo. However, the biggest event nights of them all are the basketball games in the arena. Everybody gets pumped for our team, because heck, they’re division 1 and why not?! IT’S COLLEGE, GET LOUD!
There is so much more I could list and go into further detail, but I hope this is enough to get any future Lopes excited to enroll or come back! For anyone not considering GCU, you’re missing out. As for me, I’m dying to go back for my sophomore year!!!
Lopes up!
