6 things you didn’t know about Drew University

You probably know Drew University for its excellent programs and small class sizes, but don’t know all the fun stuff there is to do near campus. Here at INTO, (pssst . . . don’t tell anyone), we got the inside scoop on all things Drew.

There’s a lot to explore, whether you walk to town, take the train to the city, or drive the coast to the Jersey Shore. Check out more about Drew university here.

Discover an adventure off the beaten path. Learn more about our campus, local restaurants, what to do in New York City, nearby weekend getaways and our well-known Shakespeare Theatre. 

Our campus nickname – The Forest

Students love living on-campus, a 186-acre wooded home we nicknamed The Forest because of the many trees on our grounds and walkways. About 90% of our students live right here in The Forest, and there is guaranteed housing for all four years at Drew.

The picturesque, Tudor-style Tilghman House is where our INTO student center and classrooms are located. It is easy to get around too. The International House or I-House is right in the center of campus within a 15-minute walk of anything.

Movies and TV shows shot on campus 

Hollywood has been drawn to Drew’s quiet, scenic campus and used as a shooting location for movies and TV shows. The well-known gangster TV show, The Sopranos and a popular show about American football, Friday Night Lights, were filmed here.

Two movies with Sarah Jessica Parker of Sex and the City fame were shot here, including a romantic comedy, The Family Stone and the thriller Spinning into Butter. The most famous film shot here at Drew is Marvel’s The Incredible Hulk. It provides the perfect backdrop for Dr. Bruce Banner, played by star Edward Norton to morph into the green giant and save New York City.

The Shakespeare Theatre

Right here on Drew’s campus is The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, which puts on outstanding performances of plays by Shakespeare and other old masters.

They serve over 75,000 theatergoers every year and are the longest-running Shakespeare theatre on the East Coast. Performances are year-round with the summer season at an outdoor Greek theatre. Internships are available here for theatre students looking for a great place to build their experience.

Getaways near Drew

There’s a lot more to do around Drew than going to New York City. If you want to head to the beach, go down to the Jersey Shore. You will find boardwalks, crystal-clear beaches, fun eats and a whole lot more.

Are you looking for some winter adventure? Head with your friends out to the Pocono Mountains for skiing, bird watching or just some relaxation. You won’t forget the scenery out here in a beautiful resort area of hills and valleys. It is a hidden gem of the East Coast.

If you are into sports, head over to the Meadowlands Sports Complex to catch the US version of football where the New York Giants and New York Jets play. 

Living in Madison

Madison, New Jersey, is a quiet, small-town tucked away from the fast pace of New York City life. It was ranked the No. 1 best place to live in New Jersey by New Jersey Monthly 2019 and one of the safest towns in the state by Safewise 2020.

We have a charming downtown with great food only a 10-minute walk from Drew’s campus. Check out some of these local favorites:

• Slamwich Scratch Kitchen – Wonderful for lunch 
• Begum Palace – Terrific Indian food
• Grillera Mediterranean Cuisine – Authentic fare from the Mediterranean coast to New Jersey
• Daddy Matty’s BBQ – A signature US item with lots of flavor
• Osteria Trevi – Some of the best Italian food in an area with great Italian

Sightseeing in New York City

New York City is one of the best tourist destinations in the US. Drew is only an hour train ride away from the city, making it easy to take a day trip to a museum, landmark or go to a matinee on Broadway.

Take the ferry to view the Statue of Liberty and take a tour of Ellis Island, an entry point for millions of European immigrants coming to the US in the early 1900s. Go to the top of the most iconic skyscraper in the US, the Empire State Building.

Want to attend some of the world’s best museums? The Met has one of the world’s best art collections and the Guggenheim one of the best contemporary art collections in the US. Check out jaw-dropping life-sized dinosaur skeletons at the world-class American Museum of Natural History.

To learn more about studying at INTO Drew University, head over to our website

You may also want to read Top 5 places to study off-campus near Drew University

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