Everything To Know About Attending Kent State // FAQ

Hello, hello friends! I’m about two days out from move-in day and the back-to-school requests have been coming in hot. 

One of my favorite things about my job is all of the incredible people I get to connect with! Styled by has allowed me to share my college experience with thousands of people across the country, convincing some of you to check out Kent State for your own college experience.

I’m heading into my Junior year as a Fashion Merchandising student and I couldn’t be more excited. I absolutely love Kent and am eager for another year of campus living.I know tons of my followers are gearing up for their freshman year and have all kinds of first-day jitters. Not to fret, I’m here today to reassure you that it’s all going to work out AND answer some of your most frequently asked questions! 

first time visiting Kent, April 2018

What made you choose Kent State?

I knew early into high school that I wanted to pursue a degree in Fashion Merchandising and Journalism. I’m incredibly passionate about writing in a fashion-focused setting so finding a college that offered both majors was super important to me. 

I toured several schools but Kent checked all of my boxes: it was a good size, within my budget (and offered me lots of financial aid/scholarships!), and within driving distance from home. It’s true what they say—you know when you know! 

Pros and cons of Kent’s location?

Truly my only complaint about Kent is that it’s in the Snow Belt meaning it gets very cold here. We get snow every few days but it’s usually just around three inches. I’m a beach girl at heart so I would have appreciated a little more sunshine but for all else the school has to offer, I suck it up. Plus, I look pretty good in snow boots if I do say so myself. 

Pros I could go on and on about. There are immense opportunities at Kent, especially if you are a fashion major and the education is truly one of the best if you are looking for a traditional college experience. You get sports, Greek life, and people from all walks of life. It’s not too far but it’s not too close to home and the town is adorable. I would choose Kent even if I were to do it all over again!

What’s there to do around the area?

The town of Kent itself is small but bigger than where I’m from. There are a handful of restaurants within the area as well as a few grocery stores. The downtown area is within walking distance of campus and has a handful of bars, restaurants, and a few local shops. It’s an adorable area with lots of photos ops-if you are used to seeing my blog photos they are almost always shot in this area!

We have two towns both about 15 minutes from Kent with different shopping plazas and grocery stores. If you’re looking for a Target, Ulta, or even a good ice cream spot these are going to be your go tos. This is a good escape out of the “college bubble” and makes you feel a bit more at home.

Kent is centered right between Akron and Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland is a fun place to go for a day trip if you’re craving city life and is about 45 minutes away.

first time meeting my roommate!

How do I find a roommate? 

Once you’ve committed to Kent, I recommend joining the “Class of X” Facebook group. In this group, people will post a handful of photos, a brief introduction to themselves, and their socials so you can follow them. I recommend messaging everyone you think you may vibe with. Chat with them, send photos, communicate about what you’re looking for in a roommate, and be HONEST!

I met my freshman year roommate, Emma this way, and my suitemates Olivia and Lauren. It’s a great way to make friends too prior to move-in day. 

How do you sign up for housing? 

At some point in the winter, housing will open for Kent. To get to the dorm you want you need to log on the very first day, right in the morning. I believe my date was in February and I logged on right at 8 am. 

You will answer a series of questions, and be given a spot to request your top dorms as well as roommates. Here is where you will list the person you met through the Facebook group or elsewhere. If you are requesting a Centennial, you are allowed to list your suitemates as well to ensure the four of you get grouped together. That’s what we did!

my freshman year dorm!

What dorm did you live in? Did you like it?

We requested Centennial A as our top choice and were lucky enough to get placed there. It’s important to note not everyone gets their top choice- it’s based on class standing, prior college credits, GPA, etc. 

I personally loved the Centennials! These are the newest dorms on campus and are much bigger than your average room. You have a sink and counter space in your room itself and a private bathroom (with a shower and toilet) that is shared Jack and Jill style with the people next to you. Like I said, we requested our suite-mates that we met through Facebook and loved each other. They are the girls I will live with for the rest of college. 

I will say the dynamic here is very different than the typical freshman dorms like Eastway. People don’t really leave their doors open and we had few friends on our floor. It’s much quieter and people keep to thmselves for the most part. However for the “luxury living,” it was so worth it and we were always the “hosts” prior to going out since we had the space for it. 

Is Kent a big party school? 

It’s not huge compared to other state schools like Ohio State but there’s definitely always something going on. With over 20 fraternities, 8 sororities, and plenty of sports there’s something to do every weekend.

I will say it’s definitely not a huge bar school. At least if you’re underage. Very few fake IDs get by here! I recommend the Dusty Armadillo in Roostown. It’s an 18+ bar that has country music and line dancing. Wednesday nights are college nights and it’s the best!

What is your favorite place to study on campus? 

In all honesty, I don’t study a lot on campus. My freshman year I used the study lounge in my dorm all the time and sophomore year I often sat in the study room of my sorority house. I like being close to my room so I can run back and forth!

However, I know this doesn’t work for everyone. When I do go on campus the Integrated Science building is my go-to. It’s super quiet here and they have individual study rooms that I could sit in for hours! Plus it’s really pretty. If I’m on the other side of campus, I like the Fashion School. They have huge windows that look out onto campus—although it’s not the quietest here!

always eating good in Kent

What is your favorite place to eat off-campus?

Oh, I could go on and on about places to eat, lol. It’s one of my favorite things to do on the weekends! I personally live Barrio for cheap, but yummy build your own tacos. Over Easy is the best brunch spot and their breakfast tacos are unreal. I love Panini too—their Buffalo crunch wrap is the best and it’s a mix of a restaurant/bar. Ray’s is a must-see for bar food/parents weekend and Bricco for a nice sit-down meal. 

What is your favorite place to eat on campus? 

I didn’t have a meal plan last year but I did freshman year and I ate in the Prentice dining hall most days. This was gluten-free + right across the street from my dorm so it was very convenient. Unfortunately, it closed during Covid but it was the best. Eastway has tons of options but it’s typical dining hall food! Boars Head Deli is downstairs and it’s the best—try their pretzel roll and thank me later. It’s a part of meal exchange and is the bomb. 

Any advice on making friends as an upperclassman? 

I know it seems intimidating making friends as an upperclassmen, especially when it seems like everyone has their group already but I promise it’s doable. My advice is to say yes to everything. You never know who you’re going to meet and it never hurts to put yourself out there.

Join clubs, go to sporting events, consider Greek life, say hi to your classmates, and DM the girl whose shirt you loved on Instagram. It’s 2021, the internet is your best friend. Use it wisely! I can’t tell you how many friends I’ve met through sliding into their DMS- literally. 

some favs!

Where are good spots to take photos?

I take photos 24/7 because of the blog and have found all kinds of hidden gems over the years. I actually have an entire blog post on photo locations here. It’s packed full of good stuff- check it out!

Do you feel safe at Kent State?

Absolutely yes, 100%. In all honesty, I could walk alone at night and still feel safe (although I never recommend wandering from the pack). It’s one of the homiest areas I could think of.  

What are the study abroad options at Kent? 

As I said, fashion students at Kent have to study abroad. They make it easy and cost-effective to try and accommodate all family situations. This meaning you are able to “study away” somewhere as close as New York City or Los Angeles or can go as far as Asia! You can go for as little as ten days or up to a year! The options are endless, however, the costs do vary. 

The most typical study abroad program is a semester in Florence, Italy which is what I will be doing next fall. You typically go your junior year and your advisor will work out the kinks with you + make sure you’re all set to go! 

freshman year organizations

Did you join any clubs? 

My freshman year I didn’t join any clubs but I was heavily involved! I joined a sorority, Alpha Phi, in the fall and took on two college team roles through PINK and Bumble. Through these roles, I hosted events, made friends, and met all kinds of people across campus while raising awareness for those brands.

It was lots of fun but I chose to take a step back my sophomore year to spend more time on Styled by. Last year I was a part of the fashion magazine A Mag as a Web Writer covering different stories on current trends and upcoming events. 

How do you get around without a car on campus?

Freshman year I didn’t have a car and as you know I am an out-of-state student, originally from Maryland. I met a wonderful friend Corinne my second month of college who coincidently lived ten minutes from me at home. She did have her car and drove me home for every break. 

If I needed to go to the store she would take me, however I very rarely left campus. I did more walking than I ever have in my life. Truthfully everyone else is in the same boat so there’s no need to worry. You’ll figure it out. We do have a bus system that runs to the grocery store, downtown, etc however I’ve never ridden it so I don’t know much about it!

game days in Kent

Do people attend football games? Or other sporting events? 

Kent does have a football team and while they aren’t the best they are a team, lol! I wish more people went to games but it’s not a huge thing where we go to school. If it weren’t for Covid, I would have loved to make more of an effort to go to games on the weekends. Maybe this year!

I do however have several friends on the baseball team and rarely miss one of their games. There are tons of sporting events across campus and it’s a fun way to meet people! Although I knew I wasn’t going to continue cheering in college, I wanted a school that had athletics as it was a huge part of who I was in high school!

When is sorority recruitment?

Sorority recruitment begins September 10 and registration is currently open. You can sign up here if you’re interested in going through it. 

We have eight sororities at Kent and it’s an awesome way to meet people/get involved. If you’re interested in learning more about getting involved, costs, what to expect, and more I recommend watching this video I just uploaded—it covers all the basics!

Phew, that was a long one! If you’re thinking about attending Kent or are an incoming freshman, I hope you found this post helpful and that it answered some of your questions. If there’s anything I didn’t cover that you’re still curious about, feel free to leave a comment or DM on Instagram @styledbymckenz to chat more. Go flashes!

With love, McKenz

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