It’s that time of year again: housing applications! For all you new freshman, there are tons of options as to which neighborhood to live in, your roommate, and most importantly, which learning community to join. Though not everyone chooses to participate in these living-learning communities, they offer fantastic ways to meet people with similar interests as well as expose gain access to various opportunities. From Outdoor Adventure LLC in Teter-Elkin, to Fitness and Wellness LLC in Briscoe, to Kelley LLC in McNutt, to Collins Living-Learning Community, there truly is something for everyone. If you gain admission to the Hutton Honors College, I implore you to consider living in an Honors Living-Learning Community, especially the community in central neighborhood. Why you may ask? Well…
- Everyone’s good at something. Whether you’re struggling with a finite problem, want someone to proofread your paper, or need help formatting in Microsoft Excel, there is always someone on the floor ready and willing to help. Since the floor is filled with a variety of different majors, it’s easy to find help with a concept you have trouble understanding. Floor lounges are often used to facilitate group study sessions among floor members in similar classes.
- Awesome Programming. When you sign up to live in the Honors Living-Learning Community, you are required to pay a $100 activity fee to be used throughout the year. This money goes to a multitude of things the Honors Leadership Council plans, with input from the residents, of course! From pancake nights to subsidized cultural dinners on Kirkwood or 4th Street, the Leadership Council does a fantastic job of planning projects residents want to attend.
- Honors Community Trip. Since the Central Honors Living-Learning Community is the biggest honors community on campus, the funding for this community is the largest, which means more fantastic programming, namely the community trip during the second semester. Residents of the honors community can vote on their desired trip destination and the Honors Leadership Council will plan the trip, with input from you! The trip takes place over MLK Jr. weekend so no classes are missed (we are honors kids, after all!). This year, the Central Honors Living-Learning Community went to New York City. While there, resident skated at Bryant Park, had a group meal together, and had tons of free time to explore the Big Apple. The trip is always exceptionally successful and is always considered a highlight of living on an honors floor.
- Balance Between Academics and Social Life. I was hesitant to live on an honors floor at first, worried that everyone would be obsessed with academics all the time. However, this could not be more far from the truth. Though focused on academics, it is certainly not the only focus. After all, this is college. People on honors floors still rush fraternities and sororities, go to parties, and have a typical college experience. The nice thing about the honors community is students know when they can have fun, and when they need to study for a test.
- Fantastic People. I came to Indiana University knowing three people, and I was terrified to adjust to life at IU, particularly to make enough friends to feel comfortable. After getting to know everyone on my floor though, I knew this would not be an issue. Everyone on my floor, as well as on the other floors in Boisen, is genuine, friendly, and just the right amount of crazy. For my floor personally, we have a wide range of majors and people from different backgrounds; we have the wallflowers, social butterflies, the leaders, the quiet contributors, the constantly positive, and more. From group dinners on Kirkwood to late night heart-to-hearts, your floor truly becomes your family, and I could not be happier with mine.
