Answering your questions...

I've been getting a lot of questions from you prospectives lately via email, so I thought I'd post some of them here so everybody can see the answers.

Is Greek Life a big deal on campus?
Well, based on the numbers, only about 30% of the campus is involved in Greek life - and that includes non-social greek life like professional pharmacy and business fraternities/sororities and things of that nature. But it FEELS like the social greeks are everywhere. I wouldn't say I feel "left out" or "outcast" from Drake society because I'm not involved, but from time to time it feels kind of overwhelming. The social greek thing isn't my cup of tea whatsoever, so I might not be the best person to ask. Just know that social greeks are a particularly strong presence on campus.

What's the food like?
The food is campus food... so... lower your expectations and you'll be happy. I think Drake food kinda gets a bad rap and I don't think it's as bad as people say it is, but it's nothing to be excited about. Except for Hubbell brunch. mmm.. Hubbell brunch. Bonus - you'll REALLY appreciate home cooking when you visit your family.

Are there community service opportunities on campus?
Well... what a wonderful question. There are a lot of service organizations to join, or if you don't want to commit to an organization, there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of on your own. I'm in Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed community service fraternity, and, as you can imagine, we do all sorts of community service. There are also organizations like 10,000 Hours Show that reward their volunteers with a concert at the end of the year, Circle K, and others that aren't coming to mind right now. Plus, Drake participates in "Feel Good Fridays" where different service opportunities are offered every Friday. You don't even have to join an organization to participate.

Should I bring a car?
I spent two years without a car. Guess what? I survived. But now that I have a car... well, let's just say it's awesome beyond all reason. The DART city bus system is free for Drake students and it's becoming more and more popular, but sometimes it's confusing and you have to worry about catching the bus at the right time. There are things to do around Drake, but I think students really exhaust those options fairly quickly. It's probably likely you'll find a friend who happens to have a car, but I always felt funny about bumming rides and stuff. If you have a car to bring, I'd recommend it. If not, you won't be miserable.

What are the dorms like?
THEY'RE AWESOME, thanks for asking. All the freshmen residence halls were renovated over the summer or the previous summer so they're pretty brand-spankin' new. They're gorgeous and have air conditioning and giant white boards by every door and new furniture with real mattresses and all sorts of awesome things. So... yeah. Halls are awesome. And they're a nice size, too.

Should I loft my bed?
Yes. The end.

What is Drake West Village? Is it nice?
Drake West Village is an on-campus-but-off-campus apartment complex for upperclassmen. I'm living there because this year's freshmen class didn't fit in just the freshmen halls and the extra freshmen were put in the upperclassmen hall I was supposed to live in and I was booted to Drake West Village. I live in a 4-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen and two bathrooms and all that good stuff. The apartments are totally furnished and everything so it's nice to not have to worry about buying furniture. Because I was supposed to live in the dorms, I'm just paying room and board. If you sign a lease, you have to pay a monthly rent which, honestly, runs rather high considering a college students' budget. The gym they talk about in DWV is nice, but tiny. The laundry room is nice and smells good. And there are study rooms which are nice when you have to get out of the apartment...

Ok, keep your questions coming, kids!!!!