“Everyone is capable of going to college.
Those who are lucky will attend
I N D I A N A U N I V E R S I T Y.“
If you’re reading this, it is likely you’ve already made one of the best and most important decision of your life: Choosing to attend Indiana University. If not, let me be the one to persuade you to choose to attend IU. I guarantee you’ll find more than 10 reasons to love being an IU Hoosier. I have way more than 10, but these are the most important:
1. Academics
I’ve overhead people during my first semester saying they were going to transfer over to another school because it was hard to keep up with IU academics and their social lives. In all honesty, one should pick a school that will be the best in educating and preparing them for the future. IU, although known for being a big party school, is actually hard academically. Kelley School of Business. Jacobs School of Music. School of Journalism. IU, often considered a public ivy league school, has so much to offer in terms of majors and classes. IU has some of the best, most experienced and most passionate professors and instructors you could ask for. Professors also hold office hours for any concerns or questions, and I’ve had a few that have written recommendation letters for me. I believe that the IU degree is invaluable, and anyone who has earned one is extremely lucky and some have had extremely successful lives (Please scroll to #8 for examples).
2. Campus
IU is also known for having one of the most beautiful college campuses in the nation. Limestone buildings, the trees, the flowers, the different paths. When I was a senior in high school and I went to go visit my friends that went to IU, I was overwhelmed at how big and beautiful this campus was. There’s honestly no describing it, and I won’t even try. It’s just something you have to see for yourself.
3. Diversity & Culture
I think one of the best parts of going to IU is the opportunity of being exposed to so much different culture. The 4th Street restaurants offer so many great ethnic restaurants. Feeling Turkish? There’s Anatolia. Indian? Taste of India. There’s so many different IU students you meet, whether they’re from California, New Jersey, Florida. You meet students of different races, genders, age, cultures, beliefs, political affiliations, sexual orientations, and so much more. Everyone has a different story. IU also becomes home to international students from everywhere in the world. During Welcome Week, there’s Culture Fest, which allows students to experience different music and foods from other countries. There’s also groups and meetings to discuss and promote different cultures, such as the Asian Culture Center. With all of these things combined, I truly believe it turns IU students into more tolerant, understanding and cultured adults if they’re willing to be open-minded about such experiences and people.
If you go to IU, chances are you know who the great Herman B Wells is. He was IU’s 11 President, and one of the best. A man ahead of his time. I could go on about what this great man did for IU’s campus during his presidency, which included overseeing IU’s desegregation, but I’ll spare you this time. Definitely read up on him sometime though.
4. Bomb Food
Ok yes, Bloomington is home to one of the best pizza joints in the nation: Mother Bear’s. You really can’t go wrong with MB or Pizza X, especially after a long night from cramming for finals and you and your floor mates are craving pizza or cheesy bread. And as I’ve said before, there’s the lovely Kirkwood and 4th Street restaurants. Also, there’s so many great dessert places such as Hartzell’s Ice Cream off Kirkwood and Red Mango (froyo).
Bloomington Basics: Noodles & Co., Red Lobster, Chili’s, Applebee’s, Fazolis, Steak n Shake, Qdoba, Chipotle, Chick Fil A, Subway, McDonalds, Taco Bell, Burger King, etc.
Bloomington Gems: Mother Bear’s (pizza), Buccetto’s, Village Deli (breakfast), Buffalouies (wings), Nick’s English Hut (pub food), Bloomington Bagel, etc.
5. Opportunities
Along with the wonderful academics, each school department has counselors and other adults that help students with graduating on time and looking for internships and jobs. As a journalism major, I have been working as a reporter for the Indiana Daily Student, our award-winning, student-run newspaper. This allows me to have clips to put on my resume. There’s always groups, sororities/fraternities, and student jobs you can apply for that will help you in regards to your future as well. IUSTV, IU’s student-run television station offers jobs in finance, anchoring, advertising, and production. There are business and community service fraternities that are welcome to both men and women. IU also holds many workshops that help students put together a great resume and events that help students network and learn from experts.
6. Weekend Shenanigans
Going to IU, you will always walk away with a crazy story. Remember you’re there for school first. But… It’s college. Whether you go out or not, I guarantee you’ll always see or hear something absolutely funny or ridiculous. Also, if you do decide to go out, party smart, fellow Hoosiers.
Things to keep in mind:
- Your first priority is academics. You go to Indiana University for your education first. Party hard, but work harder.
- Teenage drinking is very bad, yo. Fees for getting caught is expensive.
- Don’t drink in the dorms. Just don’t. It’s also expensive.
- Know your limit.
- Help out your fellow Hoosier. If someone has drank too much and is near death, just call 9-1-1.
7. Not Purdue…
Just kidding, but then I’m not really kidding. Banner up.
8. Alumni Base
IU has one of the largest alumni bases in the nation. When adults who attended IU in the past ask you what college you attend and you say, “IU,” there is no look to describe how happy they are. They get so excited and begin telling you about all the fun times they had when they lived in Bloomington. Then they ask you questions about the dorm you live in, the places you go to eat, etc. I had crazy tight bonds with my high school teachers that attended Indiana University, and when I go visit them at school, they ask me a million questions about my experience at IU.
At tailgates and basketball games, you see Hoosier fans of all ages. At Hoosier Hysteria, I overheard the elderly man behind me tell his grandson about how great IU was when he attended. When I told my parents’ friend where I was going to college, her eyes gleamed as she gushed about how when she was a senior at IU, she saw Bobby Knight throw chairs during basketball games and was there to see IU get banner #5 in 1987. It is honestly the coolest thing to see how after all these years, adults can still gush about their alma mater. It makes you so excited to be a part of this awesome and large alumni base. Not only is it just awesome to be a part of something so special, but it’s beneficial. Some employers love to hear that you have a degree from their precious alma mater.
FAMOUS HOOSIERS
RYAN MURPHY
Creator of the hit-television series Nip/Tuck, Glee, American Horror Story and The New Normal, Murphy was a journalism major and worked as arts editor at the Indiana Daily Student.
In an interview, Ryan Murphy said, “Everything about my writing career and my future came from those 4 years at IU.”
SUZANNE COLLINS
Collins graduated from IU with a degree in drama and telecommunications. She went on to write The Hunger Games and worked on television shows for Nickelodeon. She was named one of Time magazine’s most influential people of 2010.
MARK CUBAN
Graduated from IU’s Kelley School of Business, Cuban now owns the Dallas Mavericks, co-owner of 2929 Entertainment and owner of Landmark Theaters. His net worth is $2.3 billion, and he’s basically a baller.
HOAGY CARMICHAEL
The great American actor and songwriter. Before he penned “Stardust” and “Georgia On My Mind,” he was born and raised in Bloomington, IN. He then attended IU before penning American classics. IU dedicated a landmark statue in his honor on campus near the IU Cinema!
9. Friends
Everyone says it, and it’s true: The friends you make it college will be the friends you keep forever. The friends you make at college will be the ones to support you, motivate you and encourage you during the best and worst times of becoming an adult. The floor mates I met this year were some of the most beautiful, sweetest, funniest and goofiest girls I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. We’ve had so many great nights out and in, and I can’t imagine my life without them. The minute we left to go home for the summer, I went through withdrawals. This year I was also lucky enough to a sweet guy who I now call my boyfriend. If it wasn’t for all our great taste in colleges, I probably wouldn’t have been able to meet these wonderful people.
10. School Spirit & Pride
Walking to class every day, it is normal to see half of the student body wearing IU gear. A sea of cream and crimson. The school pride at IU is indescribable. Once you learn the IU Fight Song, you never forget. And if you don’t know it by the end of Welcome Week, you’re a n00b. One of the best experiences of my freshmen year was Hoosier Hysteria. So many people of all ages came out to support the IU Men’s Basketball team, and the very beautiful Sage Steele, ESPN Sportscenter anchor and IU alum, came to give a talk about her time as a student. IU Men’s Soccer and IU Cheerleading won a National Championships. Although we only made it to the Sweet Sixteen, the IU basketball games were insane (I.E. IU vs Michigan game) and the tailgates were the bomb. IU baseball made it to Omaha this year. Our teams are winning. We have the best academics. We have a beautiful campus. We have successful and motivated students.
Honestly? It’s great to be a Hoosier!
Catherine Huynh
Journalism Major, Class of 2016
My name is Catherine Huynh, and I'm currently a junior at the greatest college in the nation -- Indiana University! I'm currently pursuing degrees in both Journalism and Communication & Culture, along with a minor in Sociology. I am a Campus Representative Intern for VS PINK at Indiana University, serve as Director of Communications for the Public Relations Student Society of America - Beth Wood Chapter, a Student Ambassador for the Department of Journalism, and I'm also a proud student blogger here at We Are IU! "The thing I remember best about successful people I've met all through the years is their obvious delight in what they're doing... and it seems to have very little to do with worldly success. They just love what they're doing, and they love it in front of others." - Fred Rogers Follow me on Twitter for various news, Hoosier-related things and the occasional random tweets about my favorite TV shows and Justin Timberlake.
