Wondering about college student housing? You should know that things have changed since mom and dad went to school. You have a few more unusual options when it comes to where you can live while at college! My College Guide decided to take a closer look at some of the more unique on-campus housing options available. My College Guide would like to introduce Grand Valley State University and the Frederik Meijer Honors College.
PhotoDocGVSU / Christopher Kierkus
More than just a dorm room, the Frederik Meijer Honors College is considered a living/learning community with an interdisciplinary education — and even Freshmen can apply! A living and learning community is one where you are housed in the same place where you take your classes – at GVSU that means roughly one thousand other students with the same academic mind-set as you.
Instead of trekking across campus to class, the Frederik Meijer Honors College students can actually take classes in the Glenn A Niemeyer Learning and Living Center. In this Grand Valley State University program, classes are always 25 students or less and filled with instructors who really want to be there – and have strong academic backgrounds. Faculty offices are also in the building so GVSU students in the program have easy access to their professors – and can easily get whatever help or support they need.
Grand Valley Honors College students still get to have the dorm room experience, since they are on-campus and may even have a roommate, however – this is anything but an 8 by 12 foot box of a room. These are two and four bedroom apartments and studios with a central common area complete with grand piano and fireplace – and even a kitchen (with plenty of coffee for those long study cram sessions)! There are other study nooks, a library, gardens, and smaller lounging areas scattered throughout the center, too, so you have plenty of space to spread out in — with room to hit the books or simply socialize.
Want to learn more about this unusual (and unique!) program? Watch the Grand Valley State University Frederik Meijer Honors College YouTube video. Stay tuned – My College Guide will be exploring and highlighting unusual and unique housing options in the months to come!
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- Clemson University Living and Learning Community Video
- Need a Challenge? Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College at Florida Atlantic University
- Arizona State University Simplifies the Dorm Move-In Process
- Utah State University: Keep Your Passions, Live the Dream
Tags: Choosing a College, college housing, dorm room, dormitory, frederik meijer honors college, glenn a neimeyer learning and living center, grand valley state university, gvsu, unique academic experience
I lived in Niemeyer for two years, and this does a wonderful job of highlighting some of Niemeyer’s best features. I just want to chip in and clarify a point that people commonly misunderstand about the Honors College.
Many prospective students are concerned that students living in the Honors College will miss the opportunity to socialize with the rest of the university, which is far from the truth. The only classes students take in the building itself are honors courses. Almost all major and minor courses will be taken elsewhere on campus, meaning Honors students have plenty of chances to mingle with students outside of the Living Learning Center. Most Honors students also participate in one or more of GV’s student organizations. So Honors students can take advantage of all the opportunities inside the building without having to miss out on everything else GV has to offer.
Very cool — thanks for sharing a little about your experience with us!
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