Goucher is perfect for those looking for a solid liberal arts background with opportunities to pursue one or more interests in depth. Though small, Goucher has a large and vibrant network of students, faculty, and alumni that love learning and sharing their knowledge with others. Any interest, whether academic or extracurricular, can be pursued at Goucher.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Make sure you visit before applying! Goucher is full of quirky, weird, eccentric students, giving it a unique atmosphere. No matter how good the academic program looks on the website or sounds in a book, you won't know if the Goucher community is one that you fit into unless you come check it out for yourself.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
Goucher is by no means the most academically rigorous school, but if you are willing to work hard and pursue your interests, there is no limit to what you can glean from a Goucher education. All the educators that I have encountered genuinely want there students to really get into the material and understand it not just in a general sense, but as it applies in a historical, a current, and a personal context. I find that this mindset encourages me to study harder, read more, and conduct independent research in topics that I might not pursue if not challenged in this way.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Freshman force triples are not the greatest, but are not unlivable, and once you get through freshman living, almost all dorm options are comfortable, spacious, and homey. Goucher goes to great lengths to make every dorm feel like a community, and at times (having to go to 9pm meetings with your dorm mates every Tuesday night of first semester) this can be annoying, but in the grand scheme of things, it makes dorm life far more enjoyable than going through an entire year without ever knowing or speaking to your neighbors, and often does lead to close relationships that span the entire college career.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
If you're a fan of food like I am, then you'll probably like Goucher. Between our five dining halls, there are a lot of options at just about every meal, and all the food is quality. The healthy living dining hall is great for vegans and vegetarians (and also got me eating more vegetables than I ever did at home), the kosher dining hall is great for Jewish students, and the main Stimson dining hall always has the best comfort food and desserts. At times, the lines at the smaller dining halls can get long and cause delays, which makes planning meals tricky when you have several classes back to back, but the quality of the food and the service is always excellent.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
If you're looking forward to huge frat parties or concerts by top bands, then Goucher is not the school for you. People who want to party go off campus or have small parties in their rooms. The activities council plans several activities on weekends or week nights, most of which are poorly attended, with the exception of certain dances or activities held in conjunction with another special event or holiday. Luckily, with plenty of transportation options, several larger schools around, and endless opportunities for fun in and around Baltimore, there's always something inexpensive and fun to do on a day or evening off. In my experience, as long as you get involved in a number of clubs or activities in addition to your academics, you will have very little time to be bored, and will enjoy being on campus working and or playing with classmates, teammates, and friends.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
This category could get a rating of anywhere from one star to five stars. It's all up to you. If you take a full academic course load, join clubs or teams, attend events and lectures sponsored by the school and its clubs, and enjoy the food and other commodities offered, then Goucher is a bargain and you won't regret shelling out tens of thousands of dollars each year. If you'd rather take a minimum course load and then spend the rest of your time in your room or off campus, I suggest looking for a less expensive school.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Driven, self-motivated students; students with diverse interests; students who consider themselves weird or different.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There's a ton of clubs at Goucher, and it's really easy to start a club if you have an idea for one and a couple of friends who like your idea. The only downside to having hundreds of clubs at a tiny school is that if you're trying to get a club going, you'll be competing with lots of other clubs for meeting times and members, so it can be tough to get people to commit. Still lots of clubs - from tea club to ultimate Frisbee to Dr. Who club - means lots more opportunities, events, and fun stuff than fewer clubs.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There is none!
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
Our campus safety is kind of a joke in terms of their ability to deal with actual threats, but, like all campus staff, are very friendly and willing to help if you have an injury or minor problem at any time of day. Luckily, intense security and public safety officers are hardly a necessity, as Goucher is a safe and quiet campus where students' safety rarely feels like an issue.
Goucher is perfect for those looking for a solid liberal arts background with opportunities to pursue one or more interests in depth. Though small, Goucher has a large and vibrant network of students, faculty, and alumni that love learning and sharing their knowledge with others. Any interest, whether academic or extracurricular, can be pursued at Goucher.
Make sure you visit before applying! Goucher is full of quirky, weird, eccentric students, giving it a unique atmosphere. No matter how good the academic program looks on the website or sounds in a book, you won't know if the Goucher community is one that you fit into unless you come check it out for yourself.
Goucher is by no means the most academically rigorous school, but if you are willing to work hard and pursue your interests, there is no limit to what you can glean from a Goucher education. All the educators that I have encountered genuinely want there students to really get into the material and understand it not just in a general sense, but as it applies in a historical, a current, and a personal context. I find that this mindset encourages me to study harder, read more, and conduct independent research in topics that I might not pursue if not challenged in this way.
Freshman force triples are not the greatest, but are not unlivable, and once you get through freshman living, almost all dorm options are comfortable, spacious, and homey. Goucher goes to great lengths to make every dorm feel like a community, and at times (having to go to 9pm meetings with your dorm mates every Tuesday night of first semester) this can be annoying, but in the grand scheme of things, it makes dorm life far more enjoyable than going through an entire year without ever knowing or speaking to your neighbors, and often does lead to close relationships that span the entire college career.
If you're a fan of food like I am, then you'll probably like Goucher. Between our five dining halls, there are a lot of options at just about every meal, and all the food is quality. The healthy living dining hall is great for vegans and vegetarians (and also got me eating more vegetables than I ever did at home), the kosher dining hall is great for Jewish students, and the main Stimson dining hall always has the best comfort food and desserts. At times, the lines at the smaller dining halls can get long and cause delays, which makes planning meals tricky when you have several classes back to back, but the quality of the food and the service is always excellent.
If you're looking forward to huge frat parties or concerts by top bands, then Goucher is not the school for you. People who want to party go off campus or have small parties in their rooms. The activities council plans several activities on weekends or week nights, most of which are poorly attended, with the exception of certain dances or activities held in conjunction with another special event or holiday. Luckily, with plenty of transportation options, several larger schools around, and endless opportunities for fun in and around Baltimore, there's always something inexpensive and fun to do on a day or evening off. In my experience, as long as you get involved in a number of clubs or activities in addition to your academics, you will have very little time to be bored, and will enjoy being on campus working and or playing with classmates, teammates, and friends.
This category could get a rating of anywhere from one star to five stars. It's all up to you. If you take a full academic course load, join clubs or teams, attend events and lectures sponsored by the school and its clubs, and enjoy the food and other commodities offered, then Goucher is a bargain and you won't regret shelling out tens of thousands of dollars each year. If you'd rather take a minimum course load and then spend the rest of your time in your room or off campus, I suggest looking for a less expensive school.
Driven, self-motivated students; students with diverse interests; students who consider themselves weird or different.
There's a ton of clubs at Goucher, and it's really easy to start a club if you have an idea for one and a couple of friends who like your idea. The only downside to having hundreds of clubs at a tiny school is that if you're trying to get a club going, you'll be competing with lots of other clubs for meeting times and members, so it can be tough to get people to commit. Still lots of clubs - from tea club to ultimate Frisbee to Dr. Who club - means lots more opportunities, events, and fun stuff than fewer clubs.
There is none!
Our campus safety is kind of a joke in terms of their ability to deal with actual threats, but, like all campus staff, are very friendly and willing to help if you have an injury or minor problem at any time of day. Luckily, intense security and public safety officers are hardly a necessity, as Goucher is a safe and quiet campus where students' safety rarely feels like an issue.