The teachers I've had so far (that being 10 of them), are very helpful, and really know their subjects. Since it isn't a research university, and there are no graduate students to pawn off freshman-level classes on, they have given their all to their students., and it really shows.
There is also a nice variety of classes to consider, and since a large chunk of their student populace are planning to transfer, it is nice to have options when it comes to your free electives, as well as to be able to fine-tune your Associate of Arts in the direction of your intended major, or even divide it up between a few candidates.
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
I've been very impressed with the facilities, considering that it is a community college. There are a lot of student run events to be a part of, including the welcome back festival and Springfest, an ongoing lecture series welcome to anyone who has the time between classes which brings in famous authors and experts from all fields, and of course the clubs and organizations, some of which are purely for fun, but others can be a big help for your transfer application. There are also regular college and career fairs, which I've attended a few of, and several of them have had very good turnouts of potential employers or colleges.
On a last note, there is student housing available, in a somewhat unusual manner. This fall (of 2009) there will be an actual dormitory opening up, which no one can speak for or against, aside from the major plus that it is located right on the campus. The other housing opportunities are apartments, in two different locations each about a block from campus. One of them is a large complex of 4-bedroom flats, Somerset, but in all honesty, the school bought them up after they'd been there awhile, and from what I've seen of my friends' apartments, they're rather dingy. The other complex, which is now only a year old, is Sophie Court. This last year it has been open to students, and the apartments are all 3-floor townhouses with 3 bedrooms and a full kitchen. I've heard mention of how they are trying to change the demographic of students living there, and they hope to save it for students with families, and possibly staff as well, but they have yet to close application to all other students, and they are very nice houses.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
No one likes paying for textbooks. It's a fact of life. But when I think about how much it is actually costing me to do my first two years here at Edmonds as opposed to going straight to a four-year, it's an amazing difference. The registration fee is only $18, for cripes' sakes.
Another thing to consider is that the Office of Student Life makes many of the school events free or very cheap. There are small amenities, like free popcorn, a free game room, free drama events and movie showings, and everything at the welcome and spring festivals (including the food), are free as well. The school will put a lot of effort into making us students comfortable.
As far as the aforementioned housing goes, the prices for living can sometimes be higher than just finding an apartment in the area, but it is nice to have the option at least, and financial aid can help cut the costs if you are needing a place to stay.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
On your first day, just grab as much relevant paperwork as possible. There are a lot of obscure events and clubs that are hard to find out about, and some of them hardly exist outside word of mouth.
The coffee shop in Mountlake Terrace takes 12 minutes, roughly, to heat up a sandwich or produce a cup of coffee. No joke. A lot of students make the mistake of trying to grab a cup of coffee in the 10-minute passing time between two classes. If there is a large line, many people will just endure being late because they've gotten in line, and want to stick it out. Don't be one of those people. Your teachers will appreciate it.
In every new class, pester the people sitting on all sides of you for their contact info, and give them yours. Some teachers encourage this, but others think it's your problem. However, I can guarantee you that there will come a time in the quarter, where either you need to call them, or they you, and emergency study parties when it comes close to finals are always an acceptable reason to call.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Students who don't want to be too far from home, or those who are trying to save cash until they transfer. Also for those who want to work and go to school at the same time, since there are a good number of evening and online classes available.
The teachers I've had so far (that being 10 of them), are very helpful, and really know their subjects. Since it isn't a research university, and there are no graduate students to pawn off freshman-level classes on, they have given their all to their students., and it really shows. There is also a nice variety of classes to consider, and since a large chunk of their student populace are planning to transfer, it is nice to have options when it comes to your free electives, as well as to be able to fine-tune your Associate of Arts in the direction of your intended major, or even divide it up between a few candidates.
I've been very impressed with the facilities, considering that it is a community college. There are a lot of student run events to be a part of, including the welcome back festival and Springfest, an ongoing lecture series welcome to anyone who has the time between classes which brings in famous authors and experts from all fields, and of course the clubs and organizations, some of which are purely for fun, but others can be a big help for your transfer application. There are also regular college and career fairs, which I've attended a few of, and several of them have had very good turnouts of potential employers or colleges. On a last note, there is student housing available, in a somewhat unusual manner. This fall (of 2009) there will be an actual dormitory opening up, which no one can speak for or against, aside from the major plus that it is located right on the campus. The other housing opportunities are apartments, in two different locations each about a block from campus. One of them is a large complex of 4-bedroom flats, Somerset, but in all honesty, the school bought them up after they'd been there awhile, and from what I've seen of my friends' apartments, they're rather dingy. The other complex, which is now only a year old, is Sophie Court. This last year it has been open to students, and the apartments are all 3-floor townhouses with 3 bedrooms and a full kitchen. I've heard mention of how they are trying to change the demographic of students living there, and they hope to save it for students with families, and possibly staff as well, but they have yet to close application to all other students, and they are very nice houses.
No one likes paying for textbooks. It's a fact of life. But when I think about how much it is actually costing me to do my first two years here at Edmonds as opposed to going straight to a four-year, it's an amazing difference. The registration fee is only $18, for cripes' sakes. Another thing to consider is that the Office of Student Life makes many of the school events free or very cheap. There are small amenities, like free popcorn, a free game room, free drama events and movie showings, and everything at the welcome and spring festivals (including the food), are free as well. The school will put a lot of effort into making us students comfortable. As far as the aforementioned housing goes, the prices for living can sometimes be higher than just finding an apartment in the area, but it is nice to have the option at least, and financial aid can help cut the costs if you are needing a place to stay.
On your first day, just grab as much relevant paperwork as possible. There are a lot of obscure events and clubs that are hard to find out about, and some of them hardly exist outside word of mouth. The coffee shop in Mountlake Terrace takes 12 minutes, roughly, to heat up a sandwich or produce a cup of coffee. No joke. A lot of students make the mistake of trying to grab a cup of coffee in the 10-minute passing time between two classes. If there is a large line, many people will just endure being late because they've gotten in line, and want to stick it out. Don't be one of those people. Your teachers will appreciate it. In every new class, pester the people sitting on all sides of you for their contact info, and give them yours. Some teachers encourage this, but others think it's your problem. However, I can guarantee you that there will come a time in the quarter, where either you need to call them, or they you, and emergency study parties when it comes close to finals are always an acceptable reason to call.
Students who don't want to be too far from home, or those who are trying to save cash until they transfer. Also for those who want to work and go to school at the same time, since there are a good number of evening and online classes available.