experience at SFSU vs. Notre Dame college culture

For some reason I had originally thought that My Word would be a bit hard to read, but it has been interesting and easy to read compared to some of the articles we've had to read for class. The last chapter was amusing and it was fun to learn that the college culture of Notre Dame kids are a little similar to SFSU's college culture. It seems that whether you go to private school or public school, Thursdays are the start of the weekend for most students and that the majority of students choose classes based on how probable it is to pass the class.

However, it seems that those are the only similarities between students who go to Notre Dame and SFSU.

My experience here at State has so far been good. I opted out of campus housing and instead chose a cheaper alternative by living with 3 other girls off campus. Roommates are fun I admit, but the roommate situation can be a little distracting and inconvenient at times. Like any other "adult" living on their own, I have to manage my time and my money. I pay rent, I pay my portion of the household bills, I do laundry, go grocery shopping and what not. Last semester I used to work during the school week then I'd commute back to San Jose in order to work weekends. Work and school can be a bit of a hassle, but I feel guilty asking my parents for money when they preferred I go to San Jose State. I admit that it feels good earning money, but its a tad sad when you're putting in more money towards books+rent+living expenses than you're actually earning. With 17 units, I'm no longer working...well, paid that is...haha. anyway I volunteer Mon-Thurs at an elementary school,it's fun but tiring in addition to school. I can honestly say I'm never on campus much! I'm usually off campus by the time my last class ends, but when my laptop died I made it a mission to find computer/internet access on campus. As for my class schedule..I choose my classes based on time[the earlier I get to school and get out of school the better!] which leaves room for a job and volunteering.

Since I'm not on campus much I don't feel as though there really is much of a college community. Perhaps it's more of a community to those that dorm, but SFSU is a commuter school and no one really hangs around unless they still have class. I know we have clubs, sororities and sports teams but unlike Notre Dame, those things have not really added to the community feel of going to school here. The lack of frat and sorority houses is one thing...sports? it's like we don't even have teams! I don't even have a clue about any home games....clubs? you mean those tables set out near Cesar Chavez that people ignore?

Unlike SFSU, Notre Dame has a football team which brings a lot of people together. Notre Dame students party hard for football and most likely have situations in which friends ask, "hey are you going to the game tonight?" Now I know that SFSU kids party too, but it's most likely not for a winning football team. Football unites Notre Dame students. At State, students are brought together by protesting budget cuts and protesting for more funding for public education.

In comparison I also feel that since a majority of the students at Notre Dame are from well privileged families, the students don't necessarily have to work to pay their way through school. Books, tuition, and living expenses are more expensive at a private university like Notre Dame, but I think that the students there are not so worried about money compared to the students that go to State. So perhaps they don't stress about needing a job and getting rent paid, but I'm sure they have the same academic stress to deal with. I mean it's a lot harder getting into Notre Dame than State, so I'm assuming that the pressure to succeed is "normal" and that expectations for better grades are higher. Due to differences in college culture, students at Notre Dame and at SFSU both have different reasons for plagiarizing. At Notre Dame...perhaps the students feel the need to live up to the expectations that come with going to an established private school[the pressure is probably constant, but after partying I bet its greater]...and at State, perhaps students are caught up in the hustle and bustle of city life, extracurricular activities, jobs, and even at times parties.