College (sub-neighborhood)
Colleges are sub-neighborhoods in The Sims 2: University. They returned in The Sims 3: University Life.
The Sims 2: University
The neighborhoods that shipped with The Sims 2: University are:
As with other sub-neighborhoods and neighborhoods in The Sims 2 series, users can create their own custom college neighborhoods using terrains imported from SimCity 4.
Young adults attend college where they choose a major and attend classes to improve their class performance or get put on academic probation. Failure to pass the semester on probation results in permanent exclusion, where the Sim will be sent back to their home neighborhood. They cannot return to college if this happens. Sims from outside the college sub-neighborhood can be invited to visit, but cannot travel there.
All three pre-designed colleges have houses around campus available to rent, as well as dormitories where students can live. Each college also holds a secret society lot that is invisible from the neighborhood. The pre-designed campuses also feature public facilities such as student centers/student unions, gyms, cafes, libraries, lounges, and shops where young adults can go when not in class. Sim State University and La Fiesta Tech both have Greek houses which students can try to join. There are no academic buildings on any of the pre-designed campuses, so it is unknown where the Sims attend class or take their final exams.
If Nightlife is installed, students can have cars.
Dormitories and some community lots use the ShinyTyme Cooktop and counter islands to provide cafeteria service. At 4 am, or shortly after playable Sims arrive on a community lot, a cafeteria worker will appear, go to the cooktop, and begin preparing food. Food that is ready to eat will be placed on the islands; the cafeteria worker will make more when at least half of them are vacant. Cafeteria service ends at midnight, and the cafeteria worker will not appear on community lots if Sims arrive too close to midnight. Selection is limited: usually pancakes for breakfast and mac and cheese for lunch and dinner. Occasionally, the cafeteria worker will make omelets for breakfast, chili con carne for lunch, and spaghetti for dinner. The cafeteria worker will clean up spoiled and abandoned food, but only if it is in the same room as the cooktop. Playable students on a lot with a cafeteria can be directed to work in it, and will earn money as they do. The player can tell a Sim working in the cafeteria to quit by canceling the action.
Features unique to college sub-neighborhoods
College sub-neighborhoods have a Campus Directory, which lists all Sims on campus. This directory can be accessed by using the Call...College option on a phone, then selecting Campus Directory. The player will then be able to select which Sim to call, and will be asked whether to invite that Sim over, or simply talk to them. This feature allows college students to call campus Sims who they have not met, which will fulfill the want to Meet Somebody New. Aside from that, it has no advantages over using the regular phonebook.
Time in college sub-neighborhoods works much as it does in The Sims, in that there are no days of the week, and bills come every three days.
Unlike the main neighborhood or other sub-neighborhoods in The Sims 2, Sims in college sub-neighborhoods are grouped into households, where each Sim retains their given first and last name, but money and friends are collective, just as in typical neighborhoods. Households can be created by:
- Using the Create-A-Sim tool while in the University sub-neighborhood,
- Using the Send Teens to College tool in the Families bin of the Neighborhood menu,
- Manually joining two or more individual Sims into the same building.
The Sims 3: University Life
The only college in The Sims 3: University Life is Sims University, a college sub-neighborhood. As with the vacation destinations in The Sims 3: World Adventures, Sims going to college will leave their home world and travel to the Sims University campus via loading screen. While Sims are at college, Sims and pets left behind in the home world will not age. Pets, pregnant Sims, and Sims who are teens or younger, cannot travel to the campus. Sims who have babies or toddlers will need to hire a babysitter while they are at college.
In this expansion, college is considerably different from what it was in The Sims 2: University. College is open to young adults, adults, and elders, and there is no limit on the number of times a Sim can attend.
A Sim can sign up for one or two terms, and can take 1, 2, or 3 classes (for 6, 12, or 18) credit hours per term. A term lasts one game week. Unlike The Sims 2: University, Sims will be charged tuition for each class they take; the amount will depend on the Sim's major.
Completing a degree requires 48 credit hours, but Sims who take the Aptitude Test and do well in specific subjects can get 6 or 18 credits toward those majors. Sims who do well on the overall Aptitude Test can get §1,000 or §2,500 per term in scholarship money. The total tuition costs for the Sims in a household who are going to college will be subtracted from the total scholarship money they have earned. If they have not earned enough to cover tuition, the difference must be paid out of family funds.
When Sims arrive on campus, the player must choose if they will live in one of the co-ed dormitories, a single-sex fraternity or sorority, or in a rental house. The cost of a dorm or Greek house is considered to be covered by tuition. The cost of a rental house is paid up-front, and is covered by leftover scholarship money and/or family funds.
In addition to leftover scholarship money (if any), Sims can use family funds while at college.[confirmation needed] They may also apply for extra funds at the Administration Building once every 24 hours; how much they get will depend on their performance.
- This section is in need of additional information. You can help The Sims Wiki by expanding this section.