A first impression is key. It usually makes or breaks a deal.

For the freshmen, their first impression of Fairfield University was enough for them to decide to attend this fall. However, you can’t judge a book by its cover or a school by its beautiful campus. Have their opinions of Fairfield changed drastically from when they first decided to attend the University, or have their thoughts of the school prospered ever since they stepped onto campus in early September?

When choosing a college, a few things come to mind: dorms, campus, location, social life, and fitting in. Bravo to Fairfield because for most of the Class of 2016, a big check was placed next to a number of these things. Freshman Lizzie Hart said, “Fairfield was my second choice, but after I visited the campus I fell in love with the school.” For this nursing major, Fairfield had everything to offer. Hart was searching for a small community and felt that Fairfield had that.

Freshman Brittany Smith came to Fairfield because of the size. Smith said: “Fairfield was one of my top choices. It has a pretty campus and it seems like everyone who goes here really loves it.” Current Fairfield students’ positive attitudes towards the school also attracted Smith.

For others like Mairin Lane ‘16, the checklist above did not cover all of the reasons why she wanted to attend Fairfield.
Lane believed that Fairfield had a pretty campus, was a good size, and had mediocre dorms, but her decision wasn’t made based on these reasons. Lane said, “Both of my parents attended Fairfield University, so I always had an idea that this is where I was going to go to school.” Lane also liked the fact that Fairfield was away from her home in New Jersey, but not too far so that she couldn’t go home once in awhile.

Now that these students have moved in, have their opinions of Fairfield and their initial feelings changed? Did Fairfield just put on its best face to reel new students in? Hart does not believe so.

She said, “My opinion of Fairfield has only gotten better. I am happy to be living here and moved in. My classes are good, I like my teachers, the dorms are bigger than I thought they would be, and overall, I had a really good transition.”

Smith has somewhat of a different opinion. She said, “There is a lot of work! I was not expecting this much.”

Of course it is only the first couple weeks and students are still getting into a routine, so her remarks are expected.

Although Smith was not crazy about the amount of work, she is still happy with her decision to come to Fairfield and said, “I really like it and am happy to finally be here. I joined the women’s rugby team which I never planned on and is contributing to my happiness at Fairfield.”

Lane, once again, offered a different perspective. Lane said, “ The dorms are alright, and there is way more reading than I really expected.” She was not crazy about her FYE group at first and found that it was very “cliquey.” However, she did open herself up and meet new people and truly likes them. She said she was, “very happy that classes started up because you get to meet so many more people.” Like Smith, Lane joined many things that have only increased her positive feelings of Fairfield. She joined the radio station, something she always wanted to try.

It’s expected that some Fairfield students will find something that will alter their opinions of Fairfield.

But for now, students’ first impressions of Fairfield seem to be going strong and the Class of 2016 is having a great time. Only time will tell and hopefully these students graduate with the same feeling they had the minute they walked onto this beautiful campus for the first time.

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