General Education

7 Colleges That Have the Harry Potter Experience

7 Colleges That Have the Harry Potter Experience
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Abby Garcia profile
Abby Garcia January 24, 2014

Here are colleges that will make you feel like you got on the Hogwarts Express and arrived on campus to take classes with Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger.

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Imagine looking at your class schedule and seeing the following courses: History of Magic, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Muggle Studies, and Care of Magical Creatures.

Picture yourself feasting on Butterbeer, chocolate covered frogs, and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans in the dining hall. Step onto campuses with amazing Gothic architecture that remind you of Hogwarts, dining halls that transport you to the Great Hall, and trees that evoke the Forbidden Forest.

Hop aboard the Hogwarts Express (or Amtrak), put on your wizard robes, and travel to the campuses that will take you to the magical world of Harry Potter. Do you feel yourself going to a happy place? If so, take a look at these colleges that offer a Harry Potter Experience!

1. Kenyon College - Gambier, OH

!<a href="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2260/2335480636_3394ddb420_z.jpg?zz=1 "Kenyon College"" target="_blank">Kenyon College

The moment you step onto campus at Kenyon College, you are transported to the wizardly world of Harry Potter. Bordering the campus are large, stunning trees, resembling “The Forbidden Forest." Visit during the day, but watch out for creatures at night!

You won’t find thousands of floating candles at the main dining hall, Pierce Hall, but you will get an idea of how it feels to eat at the Great Hall. If you see a Quidditch team eating there, don’t be alarmed! Join in the fun and celebrate your love for the sport and the books together!

To top it off, Kenyon celebrates “Harry Potter Day," a community-wide event that includes scavenger hunts, Quidditch matches, Harry Potter trivia, and a Harry Potter-themed meal in Pierce Hall!

2. Yale University - New Haven, CT

!<a href="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/45/138622813_f27cf988de.jpg "Yale University"" target="_blank">Yale University

With its combination of Gothic architecture, 12 residential colleges, and secret societies (Scroll and Key, Wolf’s Head, Skull and Bones...Order of the Phoenix anyone!? ), Yale has gotten quite a reputation for its Hogwarts-like environment.

Undergrads are placed in one of the 12 residential colleges, which are living and learning communities just like the different houses in Harry Potter (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin). School pride is a definite must! Take a stroll around campus and admire the Harkness Tower and the Sterling Library. Not impressed yet? Try finding Yale’s hidden tunnel system, and relive the moment when Harry Potter found the Room of Requirement.

3. College of William and Mary- Williamsburg, VA

!<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8304/7953194374_7ea71c16d6.jpg "College of William and Mary"" target="_blank">College of William and Mary

Muggle students can let their imaginations go wild in the historic town of Williamsburg. With the WIlliam and Muggles Harry Potter Fan Club, you can live your dream of being placed in one of the four houses. Can you face the truth behind being placed in Slytherin? We’ll see! Take a stroll around the tree-filled campus and enjoy the beautiful architecture while you think it over.

4. The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) - Ewing, NJ

!<a href="http://s23.postimg.org/phjubm1sr/6882432426_f44b4c7db8_z.jpg "The College of New Jersey (TCNJ" target="_blank">The College of New Jersey (TCNJ)")

Named one of the top colleges for Harry Potter fans, TCNJ is the place to be if you’re looking for a Harry Potter community. With its philanthropic club, The Order of the Nose-Biting Teacups, you can get your Harry Potter fix in no time. Not enough? Join this Harry Potter-loving community and attend the Quidditch World Cup gathering in New York City with them!

5. Chestnut Hill College- Philadelphia, PA

!<a href="http://s30.postimg.org/rvnmsfaa9/CHChalls.jpg "Chestnut Hill College"" target="_blank">Chestnut Hill College

Come to Chestnut Hill College and celebrate your love for Harry Potter at the Harry Potter Festival at Chestnut Hill — a two-day extravaganza, where the college celebrates the joy of Harry Potter with the community. Be there as Dumbledore opens the ceremony. Wear your favorite costumes, hunt for the Horcrux, and try Butterbeer during the beer crawl! If one day of Harry Potter isn’t enough for you, take in Chestnut Hill’s gothic architecture and enjoy a frolic in the surrounding forest.

6. Bryn Mawr College - Bryn Mawr, PA

!<a href="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/23/25816581_ccf47eeabe.jpg "Bryn Mawr College"" target="_blank">Bryn Mawr College

As if having an owl as a mascot weren’t enough to place you on a Harry Potter list, Bryn Mawr claims to be the original “Hogwarts" campus. With its Gothic towers, Hogwarts-esque buildings, and Quidditch team, you will be transported to another world. If those traits aren’t enough, grab a date, imitate Ron’s outfit, and join Bryn Mawr students at the annual Yule Ball.

7. Cornell University - Ithaca, NY

!<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Westcampus.jpg "Cornell University"" target="_blank">Cornell University

At Cornell’s ice hockey, lacrosse, and football games, the undeniable team spirit will make you feel like you are attending a famous Quidditch game. Enter Hogwarts (theme music and all) as you stroll by the Gothic architecture on the west side of campus. If that isn’t enough for you, be one of the lucky few to join secret societies such as Quill and Dagger and Spinxhead.

Haven't gotten your fix of awesome college campus photos? Check out some more here: 7 of America's Coolest College Dorms

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