5 Colleges With the Coolest Extras

By Christine Ascher on March 2, 2017

When you’re choosing a college, a lot of factors probably play into your decision: the school’s reputation, the classes offered, and the professors in your major, to name a few. The majority of your decision will probably be based on the academic credentials of each college you’re considering.

However, given the ever-increasing competitiveness of universities to attract more and more applicants, many schools now offer extra perks to be enjoyed by all of their students. So while the educational aspects of a university and its fit for you remain the most significant when you’re making your college decision, you can also keep in mind some of the fun “extras” offered by your school.

Here are some of the coolest in the country:

Image via http://www.pexels.com

1. Michigan Technological University: An on-campus ski resort

Taking advantage of the cold winter weather, Michigan Technological University sets itself apart with its on-campus ski resort, called Mont Ripley, which is accessible and free for all students. Instead of hitting the campus gym, you’ll be able to get your exercise outside on the slopes. The resort includes 24 different trails and a tubing park, providing you with weekends’ worth of entertainment.

It’s also conveniently located near great restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Michigan Tech’s website boasts the resort’s location in the “snowiest town in the Midwest,” allowing you to ski on fresh snow for much of the year. If you’re an experienced skier, Mont Ripley is perfect for you, as it’s “famous for [its] challenging terrain.”

When the pressures of school become too much, just head out for a day of free skiing and you’ll be left feeling fully refreshed.

Image via http://pixabay.com

2. University of Missouri: One of the best rec centers in the country

When you think of a campus gym, you probably picture a cramped room cluttered with old weights and out-of-date machines. However, at the University of Missouri, you can enjoy one of the best campus recreational centers in the country. It features an “indoor beach” complete with a waterfall and a lazy river, as well as a full-service spa.

According to the website Best College Reviews, which ranked the University of Missouri fourth on its list of “The 25 Most Amazing Campus Student Recreation Centers,” “Missouri’s recreation facilities resemble a high-end gym more than a traditional campus rec center.”

Even if you don’t normally enjoy working out, Missouri’s recreation center will give you a reason to go to the gym.

Image via http://pixabay.com

3. High Point University: A private steakhouse and a free ice cream truck

If you see yourself quickly tiring of dining hall food — something that happens to almost all of us — High Point University in North Carolina has a great option for you: a private steakhouse for students. It’s a first-class restaurant, called 1924 PRIME, and, best of all, you don’t have to pay for the meal out of your own pocket: you can use your dining dollars instead.

Students are allowed one five-course meal each week, which would normally amount to about $50. According to the restaurant’s website, 1924 PRIME serves “as a learning lab, exposing students to proper social and dining etiquette and promoting many of the values that High Point University seeks to model: Service, Generosity, and Fellowship.”

The campus also offers such perks as a free ice cream truck, a free movie theater, and an arcade.

Image via http://pixabay.com

4. Seton Hall University: Free laptops for all students

If you’re stressing out about the extra cost of technology when you start college — after all, buying a new laptop is always expensive — then Seton Hall has a great perk for you: all incoming freshmen are given free laptops through the university’s Mobile Computing Program. As a freshman, you’ll receive a laptop already set up with all of the software that you’ll need as a student. Then, after two years, you’ll receive a new, updated laptop designed to carry you through until after you graduate.

As stated on the Seton Hall University website, “that second laptop is the one you will take with you when you graduate from Seton Hall, providing you with a laptop for that first job after college or for use in graduate school.”

As a student at Seton Hall, therefore, you’ll never have to worry about keeping up with technology.

Image via http://pixabay.com

5. NYU: Free museum admission

If you’re a fan of museums, NYU is the perfect university for you: not only are you located in the heart of a city featuring some of the best museums in the world, but the university will even provide you with free admission to many of them. According to NYU’s independent student newspaper, Washington Square News, these include the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum, and the Frick Collection.

As an NYU student, you can take advantage of visiting free museums at any time you want — and you’ll never be bored on the weekends.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format