Anna Maria College is a beautiful small campus college in the town of Paxton, Massachusetts. We are a family here, and through daily interactions and events and programs, we truly get close to each other. There is always something amazing and new happening.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Come take a tour of our campus. Especially on a bright day, it is so beautiful because we take good care of it. When you get here, talk to everyone and anyone you find. If I find you, you can be sure that I will say hi.
Find out about all of the different opportunities we have here. Most likely, there will be many things that interest you. Get involved as soon as you can. Lives change for the better here at Anna Maria, and I know that because the people I have in my life from Anna Maria and the experiences I have here are a significant part of who I am.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
The academic rigor certainly depends on what your major is. Some of the most challenging majors are nursing and the music majors, music education, performance, and music therapy. Those students have busy schedules with classes for sure. It is all worth it, as each is very passionate about the field they are in. Some of our other majors, such as fire science, which is my own, are not so challenging in the classroom. This is a plus, though. It allows for time for education and experience outside of the classroom, such as clubs, internships, and community service organizations on campus and within the community.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
We are a family in my residence hall. That is the environment that I make for, and it is reality for many of us. We currently have five residence halls, with plans to build more if we increase enrollment. Madonna Hall, built in 1958, is our oldest and houses most of the freshmen year students. Saint Anne Hall, built in 2011, is our newest suite styled building, with suites of four or six people. Alumni Hall, our substance free residence hall, and Coghlin Hall, our quiet, more studious residence hall, are both connected. Alumni Hall was once our art building and was renovated into a residence hall, and in 2008, Coghlin Hall was constructed attached to it. We also have South Hall, which a more temporary housing unit, located to the rear of Saint Anne Hall. Our Residence Life staff is amazing, with resident assistants who care and provide weekly programming within.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
Beginning in the fall of 2011, we now have SAGE Dining Service, and they are wonderful! Each person comes with his or her own preferences and background of food, which makes it difficult at any college to please everyone, but we do the best we can at Anna Maria. They are always open to suggestions and will be honest with you if it is possible to make a particular change. The dining hall is my absolute favorite place to be on campus. It is an amazing feeling to come have breakfast, lunch, and dinner with your friends who you care about.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
There are so many things to do for fun that I could not write about all of them here. Our campus activities board, AM(CAB), has programming at least every weekend, in addition to all that our other clubs and organizations put on. Every day there is something to do. Just on campus, to name a few, we have dances, singers, comedians, hypnotists, and many more throughout the month. Many days of the week, there is something going on in the Campus Center when you walk in for lunch. There is always something and you simply need to get involved and make it happen.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
It is all worth it. It is too much money for many people, and we are working on that, but it is all worth it. You'll never believe how amazing this experience will make your life and who you will become through it. Make the most of each and every day. And, if it does seem too expensive for you, be sure to ask for help.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
My favorite traditions on campus are during the holidays! We have a campus nativity scene followed by a tree lighting ceremony. Yes, our facilities department actually decorates the trees and buildings on campus. We also have a very special Christmas dinner hosted by our college president, which includes an amazing and fancy meal, class tree decorating and song competitions, prizes and gifts, and a special guest. It is the best time! As for special locations, did you know that we have two gazebos on campus? One is behind Saint Joseph's Hall, our science building. Oh, and did you know that a big part of our 192 acre campus is wooded trails that surround it? It is so beautiful! Oh, and thanks to the Sisters of Saint Anne, there are tunnels running under our campus, some that are usable and others that are not. We do use one from the Campus Center to Trinity Hall when the weather is harsh. We seem to have a spirit in the Zecco Performing Arts Center, who I hear is named Teresa and I have witnessed likes to play with the lights. I hear we also have a spirit, or some, in our music building. For me, this is really cool, and is an excellent example of our history.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Anna Maria College is excellent for people who love to be involved in something. You can come in and just go to classes and then leave, but what we do here is so much more. There are so many clubs, organizations, community service opportunities, events, and programs to be involved in to make for a special holistic experience that will be significant to who you are.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
Especially during the 2011 and 2012 academic year, our clubs and organizations have grown to over thirty clubs, organizations, and groups that you can be a part of. Make sure you explore each and every one of them. You will likely find many that interest you. Students at Anna Maria have the opportunity to be involved in more than they even have time for. I know that, because that is how I am.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
We do not have any Greek life at Anna Maria, and that is how many of us like it. We are one big family on campus, and in our residence halls.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
We are in the middle of a very small and quiet town, making it very safe. Our public safety department is staffed every moment of each day, all throughout the year, even during the summer, and they patrol campus constantly simply for precautionary purposes and because they really do not have much to do. All of us here at Anna Maria are very friendly people. And, because we have people majoring in such fields as fire science, criminal justice, nursing, and paramedicine, we have knowledgeable people to help keep it safe and help in the event of any emergency that could arise. Quite a few of our fire science students work and volunteer for local fire departments, including Paxton Fire.
Anna Maria College is a beautiful small campus college in the town of Paxton, Massachusetts. We are a family here, and through daily interactions and events and programs, we truly get close to each other. There is always something amazing and new happening.
Come take a tour of our campus. Especially on a bright day, it is so beautiful because we take good care of it. When you get here, talk to everyone and anyone you find. If I find you, you can be sure that I will say hi. Find out about all of the different opportunities we have here. Most likely, there will be many things that interest you. Get involved as soon as you can. Lives change for the better here at Anna Maria, and I know that because the people I have in my life from Anna Maria and the experiences I have here are a significant part of who I am.
The academic rigor certainly depends on what your major is. Some of the most challenging majors are nursing and the music majors, music education, performance, and music therapy. Those students have busy schedules with classes for sure. It is all worth it, as each is very passionate about the field they are in. Some of our other majors, such as fire science, which is my own, are not so challenging in the classroom. This is a plus, though. It allows for time for education and experience outside of the classroom, such as clubs, internships, and community service organizations on campus and within the community.
We are a family in my residence hall. That is the environment that I make for, and it is reality for many of us. We currently have five residence halls, with plans to build more if we increase enrollment. Madonna Hall, built in 1958, is our oldest and houses most of the freshmen year students. Saint Anne Hall, built in 2011, is our newest suite styled building, with suites of four or six people. Alumni Hall, our substance free residence hall, and Coghlin Hall, our quiet, more studious residence hall, are both connected. Alumni Hall was once our art building and was renovated into a residence hall, and in 2008, Coghlin Hall was constructed attached to it. We also have South Hall, which a more temporary housing unit, located to the rear of Saint Anne Hall. Our Residence Life staff is amazing, with resident assistants who care and provide weekly programming within.
Beginning in the fall of 2011, we now have SAGE Dining Service, and they are wonderful! Each person comes with his or her own preferences and background of food, which makes it difficult at any college to please everyone, but we do the best we can at Anna Maria. They are always open to suggestions and will be honest with you if it is possible to make a particular change. The dining hall is my absolute favorite place to be on campus. It is an amazing feeling to come have breakfast, lunch, and dinner with your friends who you care about.
There are so many things to do for fun that I could not write about all of them here. Our campus activities board, AM(CAB), has programming at least every weekend, in addition to all that our other clubs and organizations put on. Every day there is something to do. Just on campus, to name a few, we have dances, singers, comedians, hypnotists, and many more throughout the month. Many days of the week, there is something going on in the Campus Center when you walk in for lunch. There is always something and you simply need to get involved and make it happen.
It is all worth it. It is too much money for many people, and we are working on that, but it is all worth it. You'll never believe how amazing this experience will make your life and who you will become through it. Make the most of each and every day. And, if it does seem too expensive for you, be sure to ask for help.
My favorite traditions on campus are during the holidays! We have a campus nativity scene followed by a tree lighting ceremony. Yes, our facilities department actually decorates the trees and buildings on campus. We also have a very special Christmas dinner hosted by our college president, which includes an amazing and fancy meal, class tree decorating and song competitions, prizes and gifts, and a special guest. It is the best time! As for special locations, did you know that we have two gazebos on campus? One is behind Saint Joseph's Hall, our science building. Oh, and did you know that a big part of our 192 acre campus is wooded trails that surround it? It is so beautiful! Oh, and thanks to the Sisters of Saint Anne, there are tunnels running under our campus, some that are usable and others that are not. We do use one from the Campus Center to Trinity Hall when the weather is harsh. We seem to have a spirit in the Zecco Performing Arts Center, who I hear is named Teresa and I have witnessed likes to play with the lights. I hear we also have a spirit, or some, in our music building. For me, this is really cool, and is an excellent example of our history.
Anna Maria College is excellent for people who love to be involved in something. You can come in and just go to classes and then leave, but what we do here is so much more. There are so many clubs, organizations, community service opportunities, events, and programs to be involved in to make for a special holistic experience that will be significant to who you are.
Especially during the 2011 and 2012 academic year, our clubs and organizations have grown to over thirty clubs, organizations, and groups that you can be a part of. Make sure you explore each and every one of them. You will likely find many that interest you. Students at Anna Maria have the opportunity to be involved in more than they even have time for. I know that, because that is how I am.
We do not have any Greek life at Anna Maria, and that is how many of us like it. We are one big family on campus, and in our residence halls.
We are in the middle of a very small and quiet town, making it very safe. Our public safety department is staffed every moment of each day, all throughout the year, even during the summer, and they patrol campus constantly simply for precautionary purposes and because they really do not have much to do. All of us here at Anna Maria are very friendly people. And, because we have people majoring in such fields as fire science, criminal justice, nursing, and paramedicine, we have knowledgeable people to help keep it safe and help in the event of any emergency that could arise. Quite a few of our fire science students work and volunteer for local fire departments, including Paxton Fire.