Jackson State is a great school and simply the best HBCU experience there is. If you want a nurturing, challenging, spirited, engaging, and exciting college experience that will help you grow and mature as well as set you up for success, this is definitely the school for you. J-S-U rocks the house!!!!!
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Observe and do a lot of research not only about what you plan to study, but how the department you'll be majoring in functions. Jackson state offers many great degree programs to choose from, but if you are unsure of exactly what you want to do, it can take you a while to decide on a major and do what you need to do to earn your degree. Also learn to manage your time and your social life. Your social life is a really important part of your overall college experience, especially at Jackson State. Make sure you balance your social life in a way that you can enjoy your time at JSU, BE INVOLVED, and do well academically.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
JSU offers a wide variety of degree programs, many of which are nationally recognized and celebrated. The general core courses have a variety of teachers and scheduling times so there is plenty of opportunity to find a teacher and class time that can help you learn best and is best suited to your learning style. All across the campus, you will hear the phrase, students who go to class tend to pass, and this is very true on JSU's campus. Do not take any class too lightly. Lastly, JSU offers a nurturing yet challenging environment, the teachers will not baby you but they try to help you, especially if they see you making an effort and showing an interest in what is going on in the class. Communicating with your department and teachers is just as important as any other thing when it comes to being successful academically at Jackson State.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
When I first enrolled at Jackson State the oldest and worst kept dorms were for freshmen, while the upperclassmen enjoyed the more spacious and nicer dorms. Now as the university's student population has grown the dorms are first come first serve and about who can afford what room. Make sure you sign up for your room as early as possible to get first pick at where you would like to stay and to even choose who your roommates are. Always try and set up a room arrangement with someone you are compatible sharing a space with, cause they can make or break your dorm experience. Visitation for freshmen is limited to just the weekends, one incident in your building can get visitation for the whole building shut down for any given amount of time if you are not careful. But if you are fairly social, staying in the dorms will be a very fun experience between hanging out with friends in their rooms or yours, or going to the events that are sometimes held in the lobby of the residence hall, which can sometimes be a lot of fun. Dorm life is what you make it
Describe the food and dining at your college.
The food is steadily improving at Jackson State. Dinner is normally the best meal of the day in the dinning hall (referred to as the caf by most students) and also when the caf is the most crowded. Make sure you take advantage of the caf around certain times since they close early and prepare the best items around certain times of day. If you have a meal plan you will aslo be awarded tiger bucks to spend at some of the restaurants in the students center and around the campus, just make sure you don't spend them too quickly like many students do.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
Jackson is a decent sized city, but the problem is you need a car to get everywhere because things are far apart and public transportation is very slow. Several parties a year take place at the Regency or the Mansion, venues not too far from the school. But if you're not into partying there is almost always an event of some type to get into on campus. There are also PLENTY of organizations to get involved in on campus. The student center has a game room and lounge area and every other Friday around 12 the plaza host a hot spot which is just a small celebration with music and dancing, JSU's way of bringing in the weekend.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Jackson State is truly great experience. The school has a very family like nurturing feel to it and you are sure to meet some lifelong friends here, no matter what walk of life you're from. Homecoming at Jackson State is the best time you can have on a college campus, the alumni flock form all over the country to turn up with students and celebrate being apart of the best HBCU there is! Jackson State is also a place of great and many opportunities, both while you are in and out of school. If you're looking for a college home away from home, look no further!
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
The plaza, a courtyard which runs through the center of campus and which many students walk up and down to get to and from class, is always lively at any given time of day. Along either side of the plaza the divine 9 have Greek plots which they enjoy the privilege of sitting at, but there are benches and spots for non-Greek students to sit at and enjoy too
Which types of students will excel at your college?
. Music Majors
.Education Majors
.Criminal Justice Majors
.Engineering Majors
.Biology Majors
.Business Majors
.Student Athletes
.International Students
.Students interested in studying abroad
.Students interested in leadership
.Students interested in pledging
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
One of the greatest thing about JSU is all of the different clubs and organizations there are to choose from and get involved in. Many of the activities on campus are nationally recognized and frequently award winning such as the university marching band The Sonic Boom of the South and the basketball, football, soccer, baseball and volleyball teams, all of which hold several SWAC championship titles. There are many organizations for specific majors and academic departments, and also clubs that showcase different talents and interest of the students such as MADDRAMA performance troupe, clubs representing various home states and cities of the student population, and Insatiable Modeling Squad, just to name a few. There is literally something for everybody and most of the organizations on campus are extremely inclusive and may only require that you show an interest!
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
The full Divine 9 NPHC (National Pan-Hellenic Council) is represented on JSU's campus. Tau Beta Sigma national band sorority, as well as Phi Mu Alpha and Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternities and sororities are also present on campus. Unfortunately by way of tradition none of the Greek letter orgs on campus offer Fall lines so much more of the fun activities surrounding the Greeks only take place in the Spring. Socially the Greeks often host parties at venues very close to the school, and can be seen strolling on the plaza often. They also host forums and community service projects as well. All of the Greeks are active on campus and you will find many of their members involved in other organizations on campus as well. Be sure to observe and research about the organizations and the chapters to find out what may be a good fit for you
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
Jackson is a relatively safe campus but it can still use some improvement. Walking around campus late at night by yourself is not advisable, especially around the time of year where it gets dark pretty early. Campus is patrolled by both campus security, and Jackson police officers who may not always be visible but they both tend to respond pretty quickly. Most recently the university had two traffic checkpoints built at either end of the campus, JSU is working on becoming a safe and more closed campus
Jackson State is a great school and simply the best HBCU experience there is. If you want a nurturing, challenging, spirited, engaging, and exciting college experience that will help you grow and mature as well as set you up for success, this is definitely the school for you. J-S-U rocks the house!!!!!
Observe and do a lot of research not only about what you plan to study, but how the department you'll be majoring in functions. Jackson state offers many great degree programs to choose from, but if you are unsure of exactly what you want to do, it can take you a while to decide on a major and do what you need to do to earn your degree. Also learn to manage your time and your social life. Your social life is a really important part of your overall college experience, especially at Jackson State. Make sure you balance your social life in a way that you can enjoy your time at JSU, BE INVOLVED, and do well academically.
JSU offers a wide variety of degree programs, many of which are nationally recognized and celebrated. The general core courses have a variety of teachers and scheduling times so there is plenty of opportunity to find a teacher and class time that can help you learn best and is best suited to your learning style. All across the campus, you will hear the phrase, students who go to class tend to pass, and this is very true on JSU's campus. Do not take any class too lightly. Lastly, JSU offers a nurturing yet challenging environment, the teachers will not baby you but they try to help you, especially if they see you making an effort and showing an interest in what is going on in the class. Communicating with your department and teachers is just as important as any other thing when it comes to being successful academically at Jackson State.
When I first enrolled at Jackson State the oldest and worst kept dorms were for freshmen, while the upperclassmen enjoyed the more spacious and nicer dorms. Now as the university's student population has grown the dorms are first come first serve and about who can afford what room. Make sure you sign up for your room as early as possible to get first pick at where you would like to stay and to even choose who your roommates are. Always try and set up a room arrangement with someone you are compatible sharing a space with, cause they can make or break your dorm experience. Visitation for freshmen is limited to just the weekends, one incident in your building can get visitation for the whole building shut down for any given amount of time if you are not careful. But if you are fairly social, staying in the dorms will be a very fun experience between hanging out with friends in their rooms or yours, or going to the events that are sometimes held in the lobby of the residence hall, which can sometimes be a lot of fun. Dorm life is what you make it
The food is steadily improving at Jackson State. Dinner is normally the best meal of the day in the dinning hall (referred to as the caf by most students) and also when the caf is the most crowded. Make sure you take advantage of the caf around certain times since they close early and prepare the best items around certain times of day. If you have a meal plan you will aslo be awarded tiger bucks to spend at some of the restaurants in the students center and around the campus, just make sure you don't spend them too quickly like many students do.
Jackson is a decent sized city, but the problem is you need a car to get everywhere because things are far apart and public transportation is very slow. Several parties a year take place at the Regency or the Mansion, venues not too far from the school. But if you're not into partying there is almost always an event of some type to get into on campus. There are also PLENTY of organizations to get involved in on campus. The student center has a game room and lounge area and every other Friday around 12 the plaza host a hot spot which is just a small celebration with music and dancing, JSU's way of bringing in the weekend.
Jackson State is truly great experience. The school has a very family like nurturing feel to it and you are sure to meet some lifelong friends here, no matter what walk of life you're from. Homecoming at Jackson State is the best time you can have on a college campus, the alumni flock form all over the country to turn up with students and celebrate being apart of the best HBCU there is! Jackson State is also a place of great and many opportunities, both while you are in and out of school. If you're looking for a college home away from home, look no further!
The plaza, a courtyard which runs through the center of campus and which many students walk up and down to get to and from class, is always lively at any given time of day. Along either side of the plaza the divine 9 have Greek plots which they enjoy the privilege of sitting at, but there are benches and spots for non-Greek students to sit at and enjoy too
. Music Majors .Education Majors .Criminal Justice Majors .Engineering Majors .Biology Majors .Business Majors .Student Athletes .International Students .Students interested in studying abroad .Students interested in leadership .Students interested in pledging
One of the greatest thing about JSU is all of the different clubs and organizations there are to choose from and get involved in. Many of the activities on campus are nationally recognized and frequently award winning such as the university marching band The Sonic Boom of the South and the basketball, football, soccer, baseball and volleyball teams, all of which hold several SWAC championship titles. There are many organizations for specific majors and academic departments, and also clubs that showcase different talents and interest of the students such as MADDRAMA performance troupe, clubs representing various home states and cities of the student population, and Insatiable Modeling Squad, just to name a few. There is literally something for everybody and most of the organizations on campus are extremely inclusive and may only require that you show an interest!
The full Divine 9 NPHC (National Pan-Hellenic Council) is represented on JSU's campus. Tau Beta Sigma national band sorority, as well as Phi Mu Alpha and Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternities and sororities are also present on campus. Unfortunately by way of tradition none of the Greek letter orgs on campus offer Fall lines so much more of the fun activities surrounding the Greeks only take place in the Spring. Socially the Greeks often host parties at venues very close to the school, and can be seen strolling on the plaza often. They also host forums and community service projects as well. All of the Greeks are active on campus and you will find many of their members involved in other organizations on campus as well. Be sure to observe and research about the organizations and the chapters to find out what may be a good fit for you
Jackson is a relatively safe campus but it can still use some improvement. Walking around campus late at night by yourself is not advisable, especially around the time of year where it gets dark pretty early. Campus is patrolled by both campus security, and Jackson police officers who may not always be visible but they both tend to respond pretty quickly. Most recently the university had two traffic checkpoints built at either end of the campus, JSU is working on becoming a safe and more closed campus