Academics
Drake University, a small liberal arts school located in Iowa鈥檚 biggest city, 鈥渃ombines specialized academic programs with a small school feel in a way that promotes successful learning and professional preparation.鈥 Nearly one in three students pursues an undergraduate business degree here. Business students benefit from 鈥渆xcellent job placement and internship programs. [The College of Business and Public Administration] graduates almost all of its students within four years, and a majority of them have double majors.鈥 Drake鈥檚 鈥済reat鈥 and 鈥渋ncredibly well known鈥 pharmacy program is another major draw. Like business students, pre-law students, and students of public administration, pharmacy majors have 鈥渙pportunities available to work on completing [two degrees] simultaneously鈥 over six years. Theater, actuarial science, and journalism are among the other popular and well-regarded majors at Drake. In all areas, students tell us, 鈥淒rake really knows how to tailor the college experience for each person going through. The school puts an emphasis on professional development and preparation that is heads above the rest.鈥 Undergrads also enjoy 鈥渁 great network of graduates that stay and work around the Des Moines area. They then come back and speak in classes, and often times have connections that can help students land internships.鈥
Student Body
鈥淪ince Drake is in Iowa, which isn鈥檛 a terribly diverse state, the 鈥榯ypical student鈥 is probably white and from a middle-class family,鈥 students here tell us, adding that 鈥淒rake does do some recruiting overseas and in bigger cities such as Chicago.鈥 鈥淪uch recruitment has brought in some diversity, but it is still a very 鈥榳hite school.鈥 Despite that鈥ll people are welcomed equally, regardless of race, disabilities, religion, or background.鈥 That said, some warn that 鈥淵ou are either a Bible thumper or a frat rat鈥 here, and that 鈥淭here isn鈥檛 much socially available if you are neither.鈥 All in all, students are 鈥渟erious about their study but they also know how to have fun,鈥 balancing both 鈥渧ery well.鈥 They are also driven by a desire to succeed in school in order to position themselves for good careers.
Campus Life
Drake students are split on hometown Des Moines. Some (Chicago and Minneapolis natives, perhaps) find the town 鈥渂oring.鈥 Others differ, telling us that it is 鈥渁 great city because it offers many opportunities for Drake students to get involved in activities that complement your learning experiences鈥 and that it 鈥渙ffers a diverse and exciting range of social scenes that are easily accessible and easy to get involved in.鈥 On campus, 鈥淒rake鈥檚 Student Activities Board, as well as several other on-campus organizations, offers many programs and things to do throughout the week and during the weekend as well. Different speakers, bands, comedians, and other forms of entertainment visit campus. As with any college, there are parties to attend on the weekends, but it鈥檚 not limited to that鈥攂asketball games are a really big campus event and the Drake Relays are always fun too!鈥 While 鈥淐ampus bars sum up the social life of most freshman and many sophomores鈥. If people opt out of the drinking scene, there are plenty of people who also do so. One just has to become friends with nondrinkers and plan sober fun.鈥
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