Lasell College in Newton, Massachusetts has become my home away from home since September. As a freshman, it was super nerve racking, yet exciting to be starting college. What makes this transition much easier is knowing that you are going to school that you fell in love with.
Here are the reasons why I chose Lasell College to be my one and only.
I grew up in a suburban town in Massachusetts that, like Newton, was close enough to Boston to visit if I wanted to. I knew for sure that I was not cut out for city life, hence deleting schools that were located in the heart of downtown. But Newton/Auburndale is the perfect neighborhood to live and learn in. Lasell students are surrounded by beautiful houses, luxurious landscaping, diverse communities, and accessible public transportation.
Lasell's campus is comprised of the old and the new, the historic and the modern. While we are located in a historic neighborhood, our campus has numerous restored Victorian homes (that are used as residence halls) scattered throughout the college. These houses add traditional charm to an evolving institution. For a college founded in 1851, we have new buildings that accommodate the modern world. Valentine Dining Hall has been remodeled a few years ago into the present swanky cafeteria. Spacious residence halls, such as North, Rockwell, and East, give a modern touch to students who reside there. Also, to keep up with the current times, two outdated academic buildings, Wolfe and Wass, will be going under construction within a few months to a year.
The issue I had with choosing the right college for me was trying to find the perfect major to match. I knew that I wanted to go into Communications, but not with traditional media, such as television, journalism, etc. I wanted to focus on the entertainment and social media.
Most American universities and colleges are known to provide small dorm rooms in these highly populated residence halls. While Lasell does have traditional style halls, the remodeled Victorian homes caught my attention. I living in close quarters and concrete walls and ceilings just gives off a dull vibe for me. Knowing that I could potentially live in a big, beautiful house was a huge factor for me when considering enrolling at Lasell College.
Lasell is ranked among the best colleges in the Northern region of the U.S., by U.S. News and World Report for 2016! And rightly so. Lasell has so many different opportunities for students. For academic purposes, there are programs such as Shoulder to Shoulder international service trips, study abroad, Linked Credit, the Academic Achievement Center, the Center for Community Based Learning, fall and spring symposiums, plus so much more. Internships are also integrated into the Lasell curriculum. Every student must complete at least one internship before they graduate from Lasell College, and most often students may receive a full-time job from where they interned after graduation. Events such as COM Day and Hospitality Day also give students chances to network and create connections with professionals in those fields.
My favorite part about Lasell, and the final factor in my decision, is its sense of community. Students are so supportive of each other and willing to lend a hand when needed. It does not matter if you are a freshman or a senior, everyone is friends with everyone. There is no exclusivity throughout the campus. All you can find is love.
Until next time,
Stay gold.