Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!

Decisions, decisions, decisions. That time of year is here. What do I wear to prom? Where should I have my graduation party? Where should I go to college? It seems like all of these decisions can start running together a little. Well, deciding on a college should be less stress then deciding what to wear to prom. It is important to consider lots of things when deciding on a college to attend. What are the Residence Halls like? What should I major in? How many students attend? Do I like the campus and activities on campus?

Residence Halls
There are many different types of Residence Halls out there and sometimes thinking about living away from home or in an unfamiliar place can be quite terrifying. Not at Black Hills State. The Residence Halls at BHSU are small but the rooms are large. So you will find that you have wonderful space in your room without having to share a bathroom with 100 other people. There are also tons of activities that take place in the Residence Halls. How about getting together with some people from your floor and dressing up like Sting for all the football games? Who cares if it starts to snow during one of them. :) Also, each hall has Resident Assistants and a Hall Director to help you with any academic or personal issues.

Campus
BHSU has just over 4,000 students. About 1,000 of those students attend on the Rapid City campus and online. So when you hammer out those numbers, the student-teacher ratio is 20-1. Pretty nice, huh? So most of your courses, especially as you move into your major further, will have about 25 students in them. You are not just a number here, you have a voice and we want you to use it!

Student Life
There are tons of things to do here! We have lots of student organizations for you to try. And you don’t have to be in any specific major to participate in any of them, so you can really try whatever you want. BHSU Athletics are a great way to get involved in university life as well as supporting your Yellow Jackets. Looking for something to do off campus? Well, you can float Spearfish Creek or hike any of the nearby hiking trails. There are also lots of great bands and concerts in the Northern Black Hills and on campus. How about seeing one of the many theatre productions? The Outsiders will begin on April 29th if you want to get an early start. That is just a sample of some of the great things to do here, you will have to come to BHSU to learn about even more!

Academics
Black Hills State offers students over 80 different majors and minors! You can try different courses to see what fits you best if you are not sure what to major in. If you already have a pretty good idea about what you would like to study, you will find many different ways to get involved in your program. You do not have to just go to class and take tests, we want you to try the stuff that interests you. How about research in the sciences? You will find the Center for Biological Resources right up your ally. If you are interested in education, you can participate in one of the many different opportunities to work with kids in the surrounding towns. Maybe you are interested in business? The Center for Business, Entrepreneurship, & Tourism will have lots of ways to do research and learn more about the areas you find interesting.

See all of the great things that will make your experience at Black Hills State unique and unlike anything else? Black Hills State is the only option if that is what you are looking for. Let us know how we can help you make that decision about college. See you around next fall!

Emily Pier
Admissions Counselor
Emily.Pier@bhsu.edu