How does the student population affect life at Florida Atlantic University?

I'm curious about the campus culture at Florida Atlantic University. How does the size of the student population impact social life and opportunities for involvement in clubs or activities?

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) has a significant student population, with approximately 30,000 students spread over six campuses. This size can have a few notable impacts on your college experience.

Large universities like FAU are often characterized by a broad array of social, academic, and professional opportunities. The school has over 300 clubs and organizations, including academic, cultural, recreational, and special interest groups. This range of options allows students to engage with different communities and in various activities, enhancing overall life on campus. Your specific interests can likely be met by one or more of these organizations, and joining these groups or activities can make the overall student population feel smaller and more personal.

Having a large student population can also result in a more diverse set of peers to interact with. You'll have the chance to meet people from many different backgrounds, cultures, or paths of life, which can broaden your horizons and enrich your college experience. It's worth noting, however, that despite the diversity, finding your community can be a bit challenging in such a large sea of students, but it's definitely achievable as long as you're proactive in joining clubs/organizations and attending events on campus.

Academically, a large student body can mean larger class sizes, particularly for lower-level courses or popular majors. However, as you advance and specialize in your major, class sizes generally decrease, allowing for increased interaction with professors and peers in your specific academic area.

Lastly, being a part of a larger university often means a very active athletics scene and spirited student body, both of which can enhance your college social life. FAU has 19 varsity sports teams, known as the Owls, and they compete in the NCAA Division I. Whether or not you're an athlete yourself, attending games and events can be a major part of the social scene.

Remember, the size of the college one attends can influence not just the available resources and opportunities, but also elements like personal comfort, sense of community, and overall satisfaction with the college experience, so you should factor all of those into your college decision-making process. A visit can help you make these decisions without relying on others' opinions. Visits can be scheduled here: https://www.fau.edu/visit/, with both in-person and virtual options for many, if not all, of the campuses.

Good luck with your application process!