Iowa State University
Iowa State University dwarfs Ames, the small town in which it resides. The large school offers more than 750 student organizations, and sports are a big part of campus life. The Iowa State Cyclones compete in the NCAA Division I Big 12 Conference, and share a special rivalry with the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. Despite the Cyclones moniker, the school mascot is a cardinal named Cy because a cyclone was hard to put into costume form. There are nearly 50 fraternities and sororities at Iowa State, and most chapters have their own houses. Freshmen do not have to live on campus, and Greek members can move into sorority or fraternity houses during their first year at school. The Greek system is sizable, but, at a school as large as Iowa State, it counts less than 10 percent of students among its members. There are more than 100 undergraduate majors offered at Iowa State, and, through the Soar in 4 initiative, advisers work with students to ensure they graduate in four years. For a study break, students can take a stroll through the roses in Reiman Gardens or check out more than 600 works of art around the campus-the biggest collection at any school in the country. Each spring, students put on VEISHEA, a campus-wide celebration with a parade and famous musical performers. For trips off campus, Des Moines is 30 minutes away.
