Student Life

Q: If I want to play competitive sports, what are my options?

A: About 75% of our students are involved in competitive sports at Connecticut, taking part in either intramural, club, or varsity athletics.

Q: What division are the athletic teams?

A: We have 28 intercollegiate sports teams, 15 women, 12 men, and 1 coed. We are a division III NCAA institution and a member of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC).

Q: Do you have to walk far to classes?

A: Most classes are a five-minute walk, but it only takes about 10 minutes to walk from one end of campus to another.

Q: How many students of color attend Connecticut College?

A: About 20% of our student population is either classified as a domestic student of color or an international student.

Q: Is it easy to get involved?

A: It's hard to not get involved on campus! The Student Activities Fair is held at the beginning of each academic year where students can sign up to join everything from the Film Society and the College Republicans to tour guiding and the Ultimate Frisbee team. To give you a sense of variety, we have everything from SOUL (Sexual Orientations United for Liberation) to the Hip Hop and Salsa dance Clubs to the Outing Club (they do everything from spelunking to kayaking). Student government, the Office of Volunteer Services (which serves the greater New London area) and the other 100+ groups are always looking for people to get involved as well. Have a look at this list of Student Clubs and Organizations to get an idea.

Q: Is the campus safe?

A: Absolutely. The campus is well lit at night (and during the day when the sun is out), and campus safety officers patrol the campus 24 hours a day. A security code is needed to enter all dorms, and there are safety call boxes throughout the campus for emergency situations. Additional information concerning campus safety is available at http://www.conncoll.edu/offices/safety

Q: Can I bring a car?

A: Yes. Anyone may have a car on campus; however, freshmen parking is a little more, well, remote (10 minutes walk from the middle of campus). Parking is probably the only hierarchical privilege on campus. When you are finally a senior, you get central campus parking, and you definitely feel like you've earned it!

Don't confuse "Can I bring a car?" with "Do I need a car on campus?" So many students have cars that you can easily find someone to take you where you need to go. Transportation can also be arranged to local airports before/after spring, winter and summer breaks. There is a train station in New London that is part of the rail system running between Boston and New York. Also, Connecticut College is only about an hour away from T.F. Green airport in Providence, R.I.

Q: Is social life concentrated on-campus or off-campus? What is social life like?

A: New London is a grand place, but student life is heavily concentrated on-campus. There's so much going on at Connecticut, that most students don't feel a need to leave campus (except on Wednesdays when many students flock to Margarita's in Mystic where the Mexican restaurant offers two for one entrees with your college ID)! Speakers (like Toni Morrison, Miep Gies or Cornel West to name a few), discussions (Is superstition real or are black cats a hoax? Is the problem in Northern Ireland really a religious war? ), student and professional performers (the Charleston String Quartet, student dance recitals, a cappella groups, professional and student art exhibits) and many more are scheduled for every day of the week.

Socially, there is everything from pool tournaments and "Dress like your favorite Superhero" dances, to comedy club shows and impromptu ultimate Frisbee games. It's not a matter of "Is there anything to do?" It's a matter of "There's so much to do, how can I fit it all in?" The campus is alive all week long, and the weekend is chock full into the wee small hours of the morning.

Q: Is there a Greek system?

A: No, and most students are happy that way.

Q: What is there to do in New London?

A: Ocean Beach and Harkness Memorial State Park are spots frequented by Connecticut students in the spring and fall (and in the winter, the view of the stars from Ocean Beach can't be beat!). Many students volunteer throughout the New London area, and nearby Mystic Seaport is a fun place with shops and restaurants where students often go. There are outlet malls within 25 minutes of campus for those who have the shopping bug. Ferries leave from New London for Martha's Vineyard, Block Island, Fishers Island, and Long Island.

Q: Are you a suitcase school?

A: No. There's lots to do on campus (as you can see in the social description above), and though Boston and NYC are only two hours away, the campus does not empty out on the weekends. In fact, about 80% of our students stay on campus over any given weekend.