When I was a senior in high school, I was overwhelmed with the amount of choices I had in terms of universities. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life or even what to major in. I chose a handful of schools to apply to based on my small list of criteria: they were in a city and had a good study abroad program. I was still unsure in my decision until I scheduled tours with them and found my dream school. When I toured Temple University’s campus, I felt at home from the moment I stepped foot on it. By the end of my tour I was so certain in my decision, I immediately went to the bursar's office and handed in my deposit. It was a spur of the moment decision that I’m grateful I made every day since.

Temple University has an urban campus located in North Philadelphia. I fell in love with how the campus felt a part of the city surrounding it. It feels like an extension of Philadelphia, rather than a separate college campus. The school applies this to its education as well, using Philadelphia as a part of their teaching.

Temple University has 17 schools and colleges that offer 90 different majors. Students are encouraged to utilize the resources and connections available in Philadelphia to add value to their degree. I majored in international business and had two internships that were only a short subway ride from my apartment. Art classes frequently take trips to museums around the city, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The school often invites professionals from Philadelphia, sometimes Temple alumni, to speak to us about our majors and life after college. Student organizations often take trips into the city for fun and informative activities. When I was a part of the Fashion and Business club at Temple, we were able to take a trip into the city to see a fashion show during Philadelphia Fashion Week! Temple even offers courses tailored specifically to life in Philadelphia, such as Religion in Philadelphia.

In addition to unique academic experiences, Temple offers incredible social experiences as well. My favorite part of fall semesters was taking a bus full of excited Temple students to Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Eagles, to watch our very own football team play. Getting to chant our fight song in a stadium of that size was an experience you don’t get at any other university. They also frequently offered group trips into Philadelphia to see shows, visit museums, and eat out at restaurants. The school often partnered with local organizations to bring new and exciting events on campus. Every year Temple hosts a concert for students called Owlchella, bringing in different rappers and bands each year. Students can get tickets for less than $20, and it’s always a well known artist. These types of experiences are part of the reason why I chose an urban school that gave me a different experience than your typical sprawling campus life.

Temple also has phenomenal study abroad programs. One of the coolest parts of studying in Rome with Temple is that the apartments are located only 2 blocks away from Vatican City. I could see St. Peter’s Basilica from my apartment window! They also offer courses that are meant to integrate the students with local history and culture. I was able to take an art history class that took us to different museums and historic sites around Rome each week to actually see the artworks we were studying in class. Some classes even offered excursions to other countries to see art or meet business professionals there. My roommate went to Austria with her art class to tour some museums there. They also offered events we could take part in to better adjust and learn about life in Italy. I went to an event where my friends and I were able to meet and talk to local Italian students about life in Rome, which clubs were the most fun, and which trips out of the country were the most worthwhile. They also hosted an introduction to wine night where a sommelier came in and taught us how to look for taste nodes in wine and what dishes pair best with different types of wine. The best part about studying at Temple’s campus in Rome was that the tuition rate you paid in Philly was the same in Rome. You didn’t have to transfer credits or pay more money to go to another university’s campus, the only extra cost was the flight!

Temple may not be for everyone. With a campus that melts into the surrounding area of North Philly, it definitely doesn’t have that typical campus feel. However, Temple changed me from a small town girl who had never even ridden a subway before into an independent adult who was able to navigate a city alone for four years. Temple also gave me a solid foundation to build my future career on. I’ll forever be grateful for the friends, connections, memories, and education Temple has given me. Choosing the right school to spend four years at is a daunting decision for an 18 year old, but any school you choose will only be as good as what you make of it.

Why I Chose Temple University

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