What are CC's negatives

teacup
Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:09:12 +0000

Hi there!

I transferred from CC at the end of last year and would like to weigh in here, if that’s alright.

I actually found the drug scene to be very pervasive, and though there was absolutely no pressure, I had a difficult time finding things to do at night. I’m much more of a stay in pajamas and watch a movie girl than a party girl. If you don’t drink or smoke pot, the parties really aren’t fun. I remember a distinct incident at Winter Ball where I had beer spilled on me three separate times through the course of the night, and by the end of the dance the floor was so sticky that you could feel resistance every time you tried to take a step. If you do like to party, you’ll have no problems. The people I’m friends with who do party have a lot of fun and really look forward to them. Contrasted with my current college, I can say that the party scene at CC is a much bigger part of campus life.

The Block Plan was great, and there are times when I miss it, but I think I personally prefer the semester system. I did fine until 6th block, at which point I was so wiped out it was a struggle to go to class everyday. It’s not too big a deal if you miss a day, but keep in mind that everyday on the block plan is a week on the semester system, and missing more than a day can make it difficult to catch up. I ended up getting fairly ill right before spring break, and there just wasn’t anything to be done about it. I took a day off, and then had to go back. As far as foreign languages go, I found learning Italian on the Block Plan to be far easier than on the semester system. You get so involved in it that it’s impossible not to pick it up (unless you just don’t do homework). As an English major, I can say that the reading was intense, and I had many days where I did nothing but read. We did Paradise Lost in two days and The Aeneid in three. But the discussion the following day is always phenomenal and the teachers are fantastic. I don’t have any input for science. I did take a Psych class, and did not find the workload too overwhelming, but I was never in Chemistry, Biology, etc.

I’m from California, and I found the weather to be insane. It was really fun for the most part, and the snow days were awesome, but there was a huge blizzard the day winter break started and we were all snowed in for three days. The college was wonderful about it, and kept the dorms open and the dining hall running. I eventually got out when the highways opened back up. Some friends and I rented a car and drove to New Mexico and flew out from there. I don’t know how long it was before the Denver Airport and the Colorado Springs Airport opened again. I doubt another blizzard like that will hit again soon, but it is something to consider. You have to be ready to deal with a whole lot of snow if you’re coming from somewhere that doesn’t have it. There were a few days were I felt really cooped up.

The dorms are okay, and the dining hall is alright, too. I definitely had night where I was sick of the food, but overall, they have a good selection, and always a salad bar and a selection of cereals if nothing else appeals to you that night. They also have a grille every night that serves quesadillas, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and grilled cheese. One night a week, the grille moves outside (if it can) and makes some sort of special. I still crave the chicken breast sandwiches they made from time to time. I was also a big fan of the frozen yogurt machines. Also, keep in mind that you are in the middle of a city, and you can go out and get something to to eat if you don’t want to eat in the dining hall. There are plenty of affordable restaurants by campus. My dorm room was fine, I was in a double, and it bigger than I thought it would be. If I could be really, really picky I would wish for carpet. Those tile floors get cold in the winter

Overall, I would absolutely recommend CC to anyone who was considering it. The teachers and classes are wonderful, the people are very friendly, and the campus is great. I urge everyone to visit if they can. I’m not sure if I would have gone if I had visited before. It just wasn’t a good fit for me. It was too far from home, too cold to be outside a lot of the time, and I had a hard time finding things to do. The groups I was in and the things I did, even the poetry club, had some center with partying. But I know there are people who will disagree with me completely. This was just my personal experience. My roommate found it to be a wonderful fit and loves it there. I don’t think fit is something you’ll really get a feel for until you visit. But I did make some great friends (who I miss terribly), still keep in contact with two of my teachers, and looking back on it, I’m really happy that I did go, because it gave me a lot of good experience. Visiting is the best advice I can give.

Good luck to all of you! I hope you get in!