As senior year has come all too quickly I had to start thinking about where I wanted to go to college. My dream was always to go to Iowa State University in Ames Iowa but I quickly changed my mind after putting a bit of time and effort into some research.
I first started my college search by looking at the Midwest Student Exchange program to find what schools would offer me in state tuition as a Nebraska resident. I began my search in Kansas at places like Kansas State, Emporia State and Fort Hays University before looking into the University of Wisconsin but I realized that these places would not be a good fit for me. After doing some more research I looked at the University of South Dakota and then stumbled upon South Dakota State University.
While South Dakota State University does not participate in the MSEP they still offer Nebraska students in-state tuition though the South Dakota Advantage program, making the average cost to go there around $20,202 without scholarships and awards.
After looking more into SDSU I quickly sent in an application and waited to hear back from them. Upon getting accepted I planned a campus visit over our break in October and my family and I made a day trip out of it. It was around a 4 hour drive to campus and when we got there I checked in then waited for my meeting to start. We first went into a room and watched a presentation over what campus has to offer before taking a walking tour of campus.
During the presentation I quickly grew to love that they offered 24/7 on campus security with a blue light program all across campus which allows students to hit a button on a lamp post and the light will turn blue alerting campus police who will be dispatched to you immediately. Another thing I loved was how many clubs and research opportunities they offered to students as well as on campus jobs. They are the second best college throughout the state and have made the top 10 list for the best college towns in the Midwest.
As we went on the campus tour I loved how the campus did not feel compacted together but still allowed all buildings to be within walking distance. We walked through many buildings including the Miller Wellness center, two different style residence halls, and the Bailey Rotunda which is a circular building filled with lecture halls. The dining halls are close proximity to the on campus dorms and offer many places to eat including Qdoba and a pizza place called slices.
Something I found interesting was that they have robots that pick up your food for you and bring it to you wherever you may be on campus. One thing that I was not particularly excited about was how the residence halls, while they were very nice on the inside, are on the opposite side of campus compared to where the agriculture buildings are. Another thing that is unfortunate but not a deal breaker is the weather. With campus being close together, it will allow me to not have to drive my vehicle during bad weather, but it will force me to have to brave the cold over the winter.
While cost is not everything it sure is one thing that has allowed me to keep SDSU at the top of my radar due to its affordability. I loved the dorms that I was shown on the tour and was even more impressed with some of the photographs I found online, exciting me for what is potentially to come in the next nine months. I cannot wait to see where my future takes me and while I am still expanding my research and looking at other colleges I believe that if I choose South Dakota State University it will be a great fit for me.
