Amy Elfond on University of Delaware

Sydney Brenner, Staff Writer

Amy Elfond is currently a freshman at the University of Delaware.  She graduated from Ward Melville in 2014.

Q: How did Ward Melville prepare you for the difficulty of the coursework at your school?
A: I really don’t think anyone can be well prepared for the amount of work that college is but Ward Melville did a pretty good job. Taking AP classes throughout high school was definitely a smart choice because it helped me to develop a strong work ethic and got me used to putting extra time and effort into school which is what a college expects its students to do. Ward Melville really challenged me as a student and I felt like I had a good foundation to start off college.

Q: Is there anything specific to your school that a person should know about it?
A: University of Delaware has so many opportunities that it can sometimes be overwhelming. There is a club for just about anything and if you’re like me, you want to join them all. Later you learn that you have to pick and choose what’s most important and what interests you most and learn to be happy with what time allows you to do. Definitely get involved as much as you can it will make the experience so much more amazing!

Q: Is there anything that surprised you about the school that you did not know beforehand?
A: University of Delaware over accepted their freshman this year and it is difficult to accommodate everyone. That made it difficult to get into the classes I wanted but it wasn’t too big of a deal.

Q: Do you have any advice to a Ward Melville applicant?
A: GET YOUR APPLICATIONS DONE EARLY! Also try to make yourself stand out as an applicant. Colleges like unique people and after reading the same application over and over again they like to see an applicant that catches their eye. List all the cool adventures and places you went to and what you did there. Make your essay express who you are because it’s just as important as grades.

Q: What is the atmosphere of the school like?
A:UD is so energetic, happy and positive. College work can get really overwhelming and stressful but in my school, as soon as you step outside, go for a walk and see how beautiful it is, you feel better right away. People are so friendly and not judgmental at all. It’s big enough that you see new people almost every day but small enough that you see your friends throughout campus as well.

Q: What is the food like there? Do you eat out a lot or eat on campus?
A: I am a health freak so the dining hall is a hit or miss for me. They always have healthy options but I’m not a huge fan. There can be days where the food is really really good or really really bad. The dessert is always fabulous though! I would rather eat at other places on campus than the dining hall. There are awesome places in the student centers to eat and there are some delicious restaurants in town too!

Q: Do you like the dorm arrangements?
A: I got forced in a triple, so I don’t really like it but I am learning to live with it. I made a lot of close friends on my floor and I am lucky to be living in my hall because it is one of the newest ones on campus so it basically feels like a hotel.

Q: How are your professors?
A: In my smaller classes, my professors are incredible. They really care about you and want you to do well. They are intelligent people and are passionate about their subjects. There is always a great flow of discussion and I really enjoy my small classes. In lecture classes where there are over 100 students, the professors do not have time to get to know their kids and it is a lot less intimate and I feel that I don’t benefit as much from my lectures as I do from my smaller classes. In these lecture classes, I really have to devote a lot of time reviewing and studying on my own.

Q: What is one of your favorite and/or least favorite things about the school?
A: My favorites would be the opportunities that the school offers and the ice cream. And the only disadvantages are when they don’t have your favorite ice cream flavor that day!