PhilaU is a student-driven and student-centered institution which allows room for creative expression. A large part of the curriculum is centered around collaboration and integration within and among groups of majors. PhilaU is a small-to-medium sized school which has a community feel, even among professors and administrators.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Be passionate! Whether you'll be majoring in design, business, engineering, or are undecided about what you'd like to do, take classes in high school which will further your educational goals.
Apply early! Although PhilaU uses the 'rolling admissions' system, in which you should receive a decision between 4 and 6 weeks after Admissions receives all your materials, our seats and our housing can fill up quickly. The sooner you get in, the sooner you can make a decision!
Visit campus! Whether you come for a daily visit with a tour, a Saturday Information Session, or one of our three annual University Open Houses, you will be able to obtain all the information you need about PhilaU and have all your questions answered. I visited the school at least four times, and it was a large factor in making my decision to come here!
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
The rigor of the academic programs here depends on your major. Design majors as well as science- and math-heavy majors like Engineering, Pre-Med, and Physician Assistant Studies have very intense curricula and often find themselves spending many late nights in studio or in the library. This is true among these majors at any college, however.
General education classes (Writing I and II, math courses, etc.) are largely comparable to Honors and AP classes in High School (although I found some easier than my High School courses). This is fitting, though. We want you to focus most of your attention on the classes within your major - after all, that's what you're here for!
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Living on campus and interacting with the campus community has been one of the highlights of my two-and-a-half years so far at PhilaU. During my Freshman year, I lived in Ronson Hall, a co-ed building with double rooms. The community there was incredibly strong - I often found myself up until 2 or 3am talking or watching movies with my hallmates. I'm even still friendly with a lot of my peers who lived nearby.
Other Freshman options include Partridge Hall (our Honors residence - triples and quads - men on the second floor and women on the first and third), Fortess Hall (triples and quads - all female), and Scholler Hall (double rooms, co-ed). All residence halls have lounges and Partridge even has a kitchen!
As far as upperclassmen options, we have three:
The Townhouses: five-person occupancy with a shared bathroom, kitchen, and living room. Located very close to the campus center, the sports fields, the gym, the library, and other academic buildings.
Independence Plaza Apartments: three- to four-person occupancy suite-style apartments with two to three bedrooms. Each suite comes with a full kitchen, bathroom, and living room.
Falls Center Apartments: less than a half-mile off campus (but there's a shuttle!). One, two, three, four, and five-person apartments. Single apartments can be one-bedroom or studio style. Two, three, and four person occupancy has two bedrooms. Five person occupancy has three bedrooms. All Falls apartments have a kitchen, bathroom (or two), and living room.
I have lived in both the Independence Plaza and Falls Center Apartment complexes. I prefer the Falls complex, but both are comfortable and have adequate space for the amount of students and furniture.
PhilaU does require non-commuter students (>30 miles away) to live on campus for the first two years. I know many students who prefer to live on campus a third, fourth, or even fifth year. I will be living here again my third year and possibly beyond.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
We have four dining options on campus:
Ted's Cafe & Convenience Store: located in the campus center, quick grab-and-go favorites like pizza, milkshakes, wraps, and Starbucks coffee (which works on the meal plan!). Convenience store in the back sells snacks, drinks, household items, and toiletries.
Common Thread: also in the campus center, has five stations consisting of a grill, a salad station, a deli, and two action stations which change daily. Both this option and Ted's are a la carte (priced per item).
Tuttleman Cafe: located in one of our academic buildings, this quick service cafe sells coffee, wraps, sandwiches, fresh fruit, snacks, and more. Also a la carte.
Ravenhill Dining Hall: adjacent to many of the freshmen residences, this all-you-can-eat option hosts many similar stations to the Common Thread but offers as much food as you want for one meal swipe.
As a freshman, you'll be required to take a 19 meal plan (3 meals Monday-Friday and 2 Saturday and Sunday). Upperclassmen can choose 19, 14, 10, 5, or no meal plan.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
PhilaU's Campus Activities Board (CAB) plans events almost every Friday or Saturday during the academic year. These can range from a campus drag show to a movie screening to a hypnotist or magician. We also host over 60 clubs and organizations, including fraternities and sororities (both social and professional), service clubs, social clubs, and intramural sports.
East Falls, the neighborhood in which PhilaU is situated, has several amenities such as local restaurants, shops, and chain stores (RiteAid, Dunkin' Donuts). The main intersection in East Falls (Midvale Ave & Ridge Ave) is about a 10 minute walk from the freshman residence halls.
Manayunk, a thriving neighborhood in Philadelphia (think Main Street USA) is located about 2 miles from campus and is walkable in nice weather. (There is also a bus line which runs there if the weather is inclement.) Manayunk hosts shops, restaurants, and a bar scene for those over 21. I particularly like going into Manayunk in December when they host a winter festival with a tree lighting and ice sculpture carving.
Philadelphia at large has a whole host of events happening regularly. Some of my favorites are visiting the museum district, shopping on South Street, or running along Kelly Drive and the Schuylkill River. Others include Philly College Day (in September, a networking event for college students from PhilaU and five or six other local colleges) which takes place on the Ben Franklin Parkway in front of the Art Museum and the Rocky Steps.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
The sticker price is a little shocking, but roughly 97% of our students are awarded financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and work study. The quality of the education, though, can be seen in our 95% job or graduate school placement rate within students' field of study in the first six months after graduation. (As our University President says, he wants to find the other 5% and ask why they don't have a job yet!) I personally feel that the value of a PhilaU education is worth the price I am paying.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Great for students who are critical thinkers, creative, and problem solvers.
Great design school - most of our programs are ranked highly in the nation and are accredited by their respective national or state organizations.
Great science school - our PA program is ranked top 10 in the nation and we have affiliations for PA, OT, and Pre-Med with many hospitals and other schools of medicine both in the area and across the country.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
Over 60 clubs and organizations, including fraternities and sororities (both social and business or professional), social clubs, service clubs, and intramural sports.
Campus Activities Board frequently plans events around campus - almost every Friday or Saturday.
If you don't see something you like, you can create it with a few friends and a faculty advisor!
Click here for the full list: http://orgs.philau.edu/default.asp
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
Social Fraternities:
Alpha Chi Rho (AXP)
Sigma Nu
Social Sororities:
Delta Phi Epsilon
Theta Phi Alpha
Academic Fraternities:
Alpha Chi Sigma (Pre-Colony)
Alpha Lambda Delta (Freshman Honor Society)
Delta Sigma Pi (Business Fraternity)
Omicron Delta Kappa (Leadership Fraternity)
Phi Alpha Delta (Law Fraternity)
Phi Psi (Textile Fraternity)
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
While I can't make any guarantees, I've never felt unsafe on campus. We have green emergency beacons all around which are monitored by Safety and Security, who are staffed 24/7. We also have guards in the Residence Halls 24/7 and there are four layers of security (swipe or key into building, swipe at desk, key into hall, key into room) in each Residence Hall.
PhilaU is a student-driven and student-centered institution which allows room for creative expression. A large part of the curriculum is centered around collaboration and integration within and among groups of majors. PhilaU is a small-to-medium sized school which has a community feel, even among professors and administrators.
Be passionate! Whether you'll be majoring in design, business, engineering, or are undecided about what you'd like to do, take classes in high school which will further your educational goals. Apply early! Although PhilaU uses the 'rolling admissions' system, in which you should receive a decision between 4 and 6 weeks after Admissions receives all your materials, our seats and our housing can fill up quickly. The sooner you get in, the sooner you can make a decision! Visit campus! Whether you come for a daily visit with a tour, a Saturday Information Session, or one of our three annual University Open Houses, you will be able to obtain all the information you need about PhilaU and have all your questions answered. I visited the school at least four times, and it was a large factor in making my decision to come here!
The rigor of the academic programs here depends on your major. Design majors as well as science- and math-heavy majors like Engineering, Pre-Med, and Physician Assistant Studies have very intense curricula and often find themselves spending many late nights in studio or in the library. This is true among these majors at any college, however. General education classes (Writing I and II, math courses, etc.) are largely comparable to Honors and AP classes in High School (although I found some easier than my High School courses). This is fitting, though. We want you to focus most of your attention on the classes within your major - after all, that's what you're here for!
Living on campus and interacting with the campus community has been one of the highlights of my two-and-a-half years so far at PhilaU. During my Freshman year, I lived in Ronson Hall, a co-ed building with double rooms. The community there was incredibly strong - I often found myself up until 2 or 3am talking or watching movies with my hallmates. I'm even still friendly with a lot of my peers who lived nearby. Other Freshman options include Partridge Hall (our Honors residence - triples and quads - men on the second floor and women on the first and third), Fortess Hall (triples and quads - all female), and Scholler Hall (double rooms, co-ed). All residence halls have lounges and Partridge even has a kitchen! As far as upperclassmen options, we have three: The Townhouses: five-person occupancy with a shared bathroom, kitchen, and living room. Located very close to the campus center, the sports fields, the gym, the library, and other academic buildings. Independence Plaza Apartments: three- to four-person occupancy suite-style apartments with two to three bedrooms. Each suite comes with a full kitchen, bathroom, and living room. Falls Center Apartments: less than a half-mile off campus (but there's a shuttle!). One, two, three, four, and five-person apartments. Single apartments can be one-bedroom or studio style. Two, three, and four person occupancy has two bedrooms. Five person occupancy has three bedrooms. All Falls apartments have a kitchen, bathroom (or two), and living room. I have lived in both the Independence Plaza and Falls Center Apartment complexes. I prefer the Falls complex, but both are comfortable and have adequate space for the amount of students and furniture. PhilaU does require non-commuter students (>30 miles away) to live on campus for the first two years. I know many students who prefer to live on campus a third, fourth, or even fifth year. I will be living here again my third year and possibly beyond.
We have four dining options on campus: Ted's Cafe & Convenience Store: located in the campus center, quick grab-and-go favorites like pizza, milkshakes, wraps, and Starbucks coffee (which works on the meal plan!). Convenience store in the back sells snacks, drinks, household items, and toiletries. Common Thread: also in the campus center, has five stations consisting of a grill, a salad station, a deli, and two action stations which change daily. Both this option and Ted's are a la carte (priced per item). Tuttleman Cafe: located in one of our academic buildings, this quick service cafe sells coffee, wraps, sandwiches, fresh fruit, snacks, and more. Also a la carte. Ravenhill Dining Hall: adjacent to many of the freshmen residences, this all-you-can-eat option hosts many similar stations to the Common Thread but offers as much food as you want for one meal swipe. As a freshman, you'll be required to take a 19 meal plan (3 meals Monday-Friday and 2 Saturday and Sunday). Upperclassmen can choose 19, 14, 10, 5, or no meal plan.
PhilaU's Campus Activities Board (CAB) plans events almost every Friday or Saturday during the academic year. These can range from a campus drag show to a movie screening to a hypnotist or magician. We also host over 60 clubs and organizations, including fraternities and sororities (both social and professional), service clubs, social clubs, and intramural sports. East Falls, the neighborhood in which PhilaU is situated, has several amenities such as local restaurants, shops, and chain stores (RiteAid, Dunkin' Donuts). The main intersection in East Falls (Midvale Ave & Ridge Ave) is about a 10 minute walk from the freshman residence halls. Manayunk, a thriving neighborhood in Philadelphia (think Main Street USA) is located about 2 miles from campus and is walkable in nice weather. (There is also a bus line which runs there if the weather is inclement.) Manayunk hosts shops, restaurants, and a bar scene for those over 21. I particularly like going into Manayunk in December when they host a winter festival with a tree lighting and ice sculpture carving. Philadelphia at large has a whole host of events happening regularly. Some of my favorites are visiting the museum district, shopping on South Street, or running along Kelly Drive and the Schuylkill River. Others include Philly College Day (in September, a networking event for college students from PhilaU and five or six other local colleges) which takes place on the Ben Franklin Parkway in front of the Art Museum and the Rocky Steps.
The sticker price is a little shocking, but roughly 97% of our students are awarded financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and work study. The quality of the education, though, can be seen in our 95% job or graduate school placement rate within students' field of study in the first six months after graduation. (As our University President says, he wants to find the other 5% and ask why they don't have a job yet!) I personally feel that the value of a PhilaU education is worth the price I am paying.
Great for students who are critical thinkers, creative, and problem solvers. Great design school - most of our programs are ranked highly in the nation and are accredited by their respective national or state organizations. Great science school - our PA program is ranked top 10 in the nation and we have affiliations for PA, OT, and Pre-Med with many hospitals and other schools of medicine both in the area and across the country.
Over 60 clubs and organizations, including fraternities and sororities (both social and business or professional), social clubs, service clubs, and intramural sports. Campus Activities Board frequently plans events around campus - almost every Friday or Saturday. If you don't see something you like, you can create it with a few friends and a faculty advisor! Click here for the full list: http://orgs.philau.edu/default.asp
Social Fraternities: Alpha Chi Rho (AXP) Sigma Nu Social Sororities: Delta Phi Epsilon Theta Phi Alpha Academic Fraternities: Alpha Chi Sigma (Pre-Colony) Alpha Lambda Delta (Freshman Honor Society) Delta Sigma Pi (Business Fraternity) Omicron Delta Kappa (Leadership Fraternity) Phi Alpha Delta (Law Fraternity) Phi Psi (Textile Fraternity)
While I can't make any guarantees, I've never felt unsafe on campus. We have green emergency beacons all around which are monitored by Safety and Security, who are staffed 24/7. We also have guards in the Residence Halls 24/7 and there are four layers of security (swipe or key into building, swipe at desk, key into hall, key into room) in each Residence Hall.