1. Extraordinary Education
With more than 5 different schools of study, at least 10 different academic buildings, 46 majors, 46 minors, and 206 full time faculty members, I believe it's safe to say that for our size, we take academics very seriously. In addition to just the academic buildings, we also have four different library locations staffed by librarians who help answer all of our questions. It doesn't matter whether we are just starting our projects, or we're 12 and a half cups of coffee in and haven't slept in three days. The library has even made an online chat available through the website so that if we've barricaded ourselves in a study room, we can ask them questions on how to site journal articles in APA style for the millionth time.
2. Inspiring Environment
It always sounds funny and awe-inspiring when Nido says it, but it's actually completely true. You literately cannot go to this school if you do not encounter an inspirational quote at least three times a day. They are on the ground, on the benches, on the TV's, on the walls, and on social media. It's impossible. I dare you to try not to be inspired at least once a day at this school. Bonus points if you're uninspired during freshman or senior seminar with Nido.
3. Caring People
This. This reason enough could have millions of blog posts on it. The amount of caring people I have encountered at this University astounds me. From my professors, to Student Life, to the ladies at the Farmer's Market and the Bakery, to the Security Guards who actually try to get to know the students, and for that matter, the students who make an effort to get to know you. The girls in your sorority, the guys in your fraternity, the members of your intramural team, or study group, the people who start new organizations, the people who lead service trips and other community service events. These people care. And their amazing at it. I can honestly say, some of these relationships will last a lifetime.
4. Study Abroad
We have over 40 different study abroad programs. For those of who you missed High Point's big "transformation" that began in 2005, at that time we only had 5. Which means we've added over 35 new programs. And the wonderful thing about the people in the study abroad office is, if there isn't a program where you want to go, they'll find another university that you can go with. Or if you want to completely make your own, like I did, they'll help you. Even if you don't go through High Point at all to go abroad, they still want to know your travel itinerary so that they can keep an eye on you from afar. They care that much.
5. Undergraduate Research
This was something that I always thought was for the science majors. When I was approached by a professor who suggested a project that I had done had the potential to be published and presented, I knew nothing about the Undergraduate Research department. Luckily, we have a great one. Dr. Altman works hard to get HPU as represented as she can at research conferences. We even sent five students to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research at the University of Kentucky this past April. That was huge for a school of High Point's size. If it's something you're interested in, go talk to Dr. Altman and you can make it happen.
6. Service Learning
While many people shudder when they realize they have actually signed up for a service learning course, they normally end the semester with great things to say. Service learning courses allow you to take what you're learning in the classroom, and apply it. There are classes that started a writing center for local elementary school children, and not only did it help the kids immensely, it also taught a lot to the college kids who ran it. This is just one of the many ways that High Point University gives back to the community.
7. Community Service
While service learning courses are just that, a course, there are many community service opportunities beyond the classroom. We have the Civitan Club that focuses on helping people with developmental disabilities with another concentration on helping homeless people in our area. Habitat for Humanity works on local jobs that Habitat is doing in the area. The Volunteer Center is in place strictly to provide students who want to give back to the community a way to do so. There are endless numbers of these clubs, ones that are strictly community service based, ones that affiliate with a certain major and more.
8. 15:1 Student to Faculty Ratio
Being an alumni has shown me what I consider to be one of the most important relationships in college, the one between student and professor. I absolutely love seeing my classmates keep in touch with influential professors after we have graduated. My relationship with my mentor means everything to me. I owe a lot of my accomplishments and career decisions to her, and I don't know where I would be without her. To find that person in a pivotal moment of my undergraduate career made all the difference for me, and it has for so many other students. These relationships are built in our classrooms.
9. Top-Notch Equipment
Just as in our residential life, in our educational experiences, we want for nothing. We have a room with a stock ticker in it for goodness sake. In that room there are also computer systems that I'm sure make the business and marketing students drool. The design students have access to a 3D printer and a laser cutter in Norton. The communications students have a news room and a game design room complete with a suit that supposedly helps with character movements. In the education building there is a whole room designed to look like a classroom equipped with the top of the line LEGO technology with a fully stocked children's library downstairs. At Oak Hollow Mall, we have a bio-mechanics laboratory full of state of the art equipment to study human movement and how to prevent injury and develop new ways of treating injuries. And the best part is, if we don't have it, all you need to do is ask.
10. Pride
High Point LOVES its students. Every summer, students working at internships across the globe grace the pages of our website. High Point even recently began the Class of 2014 profiles, highlighting students who have been successful after leaving High Point and how HPU got us to where we are. They want to showcase us for the world to see because they are so proud of the students they create.
You can come to High Point University for the ice cream truck if you'd like, but I prefer to look back on my time at HPU with these things in mind. I not only enjoyed many afternoons by the pool and then went home to my awesome dorm room, I also learned an incredible amount in and out of the classroom from some pretty fantastic people. I'm grateful for my time at HPU, and it's all because of the support and the people I encountered.
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