A caring and vibrant community
The scariest time for many is when you realize you're in a whole new group of people and you don't know anyone.
At Bloomsburg, it only lasts a moment. Take a poll around campus and most students will tell you that it took three days or less to have more friends than the social calendar can handle. Here's what students say:
Katie Huff, a senior Nursing major from Mechanicsburg and graduate of Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School, will join the staff at Hershey Medical Center after graduation to work in pediatric oncology and hematology. She chose Bloomsburg because of the university's reputation in Nursing and, upon visiting the campus immediately felt right at home. Having served as president of the BU Honors Program and chairing its recruiting efforts in her junior year, she also did research on Staphylococcus aureus transmission in heathcare settings and did two externships at Hershey. She also manages the student learning lab in the nursing department to mentor younger students in nursing practice. Huff says nursing is "a lot different and a lot harder" than she expected as a high school student, especially beginning with the first clinical work students do at area hospitals in their sophomore year. Her preference to pediatrics centers around her interest in working with long-term care patients.
No matter who you are, you'll find a bunch of people just like you -- same interests, same style.
You're accepted for who you are. There are no cliques or social castes.
Everyone's learning how to mature and handle independence. Everyone helps.
Most are eager to meet new people and expand their horizons. Tolerance levels are very high.
Bloomsburg recognizes the challenges of change, so it starts with a mid-summer orientation to help you recognize you're not alone. And just before fall semester begins, three days of orientation helps you get acquainted, form initial friendships, find peer support.
The beginning of the school year finds students expanding relationships beyond residence halls and social encounters into those who share academic interests. Many study in groups at Andruss Library.
After class, the social whirl of Bloomsburg quickly draws you into organizations, activities, sports and recreation. Newcomers are welcomed into the sustaining efforts of clubs of every kind imaginable, and then there's always those things you've always wanted to explore -- just like everyone else.
BU students are especially fond of social causes, centered on campus and in town, and are quick to volunteer for everything from Red Cross blood drives to Habitat for Humanity and helping community children to raising money for a number of charities. Many participate in programs directly related to their majors, gaining valuable experience. They are passionate about the entire spectrum of politics and are involved in all religious denominations.
Hundreds participate in intramural, club and just pickup sports for recreation, fitness and stress relief, while just as many become involved in performing arts, academic societies, or just hanging in favorite haunts, talking.
One thing's for sure: the person you meet ten minutes after you move in could easily become a life-long best friend.