Advice for New Students at Bradley University

Bradley University is a school of about 5,000 undergraduate students located in an urban setting, Peoria, Illinois. There are several things you will love, and others you will hate. Here is a list of things to do and things to stay away from.

Things to Do
-GO TO ACTIVITY WEEK. Probably my best decision as a new student. I got free stuff, met people, and joined a couple of different student organizations. Most students are involved in at least one or two organizations, and it is a great way to build your resume and meet good people.
-Live on of near campus to avoid parking issues.
-Greek Life. I did not join a fraternity, but a large percentage of the student body is in a Greek organization.
-Attend Late Night BU events.
-Work out. Bradley has a great new facility, the Markin Center. The Markin center has several basketball courts, a track, and nice new equipment.
-Bring your own food, food options are very unhealthy and often poor.
-Study in the library, another good way to meet people.
-Go to basketball games. Bradley games are great and for students only $1!
-Attend concerts. Bradley often is able to book quality musicians, and tickets for students are usually only $5!
-Visit professors office hours. Professors are very willing to help for the most part, make sure to show them you are willing to work hard by visiting them outside of class.
-Contests. Bradley has many great contests where cash prizes are available. There is a business plan competition where the winning team splits $10,000, and two other teams are paid cash as well. There are many opportunities within the English department as well through poetry contests and persuasive essays.
-Study groups. I would not have made it through any of my harder classes without study groups. In any class you think may be difficult make sure to get a couple other students e-mail addresses that you can chat with online about upcoming tests and papers.

Things to Stay Away From
-The sidewalk on Main Street during a rainy day. Not only will the puddles cause you to walk in the mud, you will get splashed by nearby traffic.
-Center Court: Unhealthy food, just watch out for the extra pounds. Once again there are not many healthy options available.
-The surrounding area at night alone. I would not say that the surrounding area is a scary place, but you do not want to be alone due to the campus being located directly in an urban location where crime is present but not overwhelming.
-Binge Drinking: Bradley is not a party school, but has many bars nearby that can get you caught in the wrong crowd if you are not careful. Bradley has strict on campus alcohol policies as well, so if you drink be very careful. -Work: If you can avoid it, please do. Not many jobs exist nearby except on campus, and you will need plenty of time to study.
-Eating at la Bamba's; you will feel sick in the morning.

Summary
Bradley can be a great place to go to school, but due to the limited number of students, you want to get into a group of friends to avoid feeling left out. Even though I was a transfer student I was able to join student organizations and meet many people through those which helped me get through two years so far. Study groups are a great way to increase your test grades and meet great people as well. Have fun and good luck.