I can definitely say that I am being challenged in ways that I never was in high school. I considered my public school education to be fairly adequate, and yet in at least one of my classes, I learned things that I SHOULD have learned in public school. This was not a remedial class or a planned lesson -- this was a digression from the topic to explain how a grammatical rule worked, because very few in the class actually knew. It is kind of embarrassing, but I am thankful that I learned sooner rather than later.
The professors here are spectacular, in my experience. They are genuinely enthusiastic about their subjects, and they encourage open discussion whenever something is either unclear or simply interesting enough that it is worth straying from the planned lecture to explore.
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
As a small-town girl who grew up in a 360-degree panorama of green, I appreciate that the campus is surrounded by trees, providing a cushion from the urban sprawl outside. It is quieter and more peaceful than I thought it would be, for the middle of a city, which is very nice.
The library and Harned Hall are great haunts for studying, and the latter is popular for socializing over a cup of coffee. When the weather is nice, you can go on a long nature walk with a friend, or camp out on a bench to chat or just people-watch.
Somehow, it never becomes dull to hear the abbey church bells or to see the monks walking around on campus, either teaching or attending classes themselves.
I knocked off a star from a full score because the dorms are frequently noisy. I do not know if it depends on what RA you have, but in my experience, quiet hours are rarely enforced outside of Dead Week (before/during finals).
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
I am definitely getting an education worthy of the tuition. Already I can feel that my mind has been stretched to new places, to accommodate new dimensions of thinking.
However, and this may just be nitpicky, I feel like some of the commodities could be a little better. Several of the tables in Harned Hall are wobbly; a large number of computers take a long time to actually log you in, which is NOT fun in the rush to print out papers before a class in three minutes; at any given time, three of the nine washing machines in Parsons Hall (my dorm building) will be out of order or malfunctioning in some way.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Bring earplugs! And definitely bring a foam mattress pad. You will thank me your first night.
If you are doing your laundry on campus, I recommend doing it in the mornings on the weekend before everyone else is up, or in the mornings on weekdays when everyone else is at classes.
Keep an eye and ear out for scholarships and work-study/job opportunities -- going to this school is expensive, and every little bit helps! You might have to network with the people on campus to actually find anything, though.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Students who like to take life at a slower pace -- this is not Seattle, here -- and who appreciate being surrounded by nature.
I can definitely say that I am being challenged in ways that I never was in high school. I considered my public school education to be fairly adequate, and yet in at least one of my classes, I learned things that I SHOULD have learned in public school. This was not a remedial class or a planned lesson -- this was a digression from the topic to explain how a grammatical rule worked, because very few in the class actually knew. It is kind of embarrassing, but I am thankful that I learned sooner rather than later. The professors here are spectacular, in my experience. They are genuinely enthusiastic about their subjects, and they encourage open discussion whenever something is either unclear or simply interesting enough that it is worth straying from the planned lecture to explore.
As a small-town girl who grew up in a 360-degree panorama of green, I appreciate that the campus is surrounded by trees, providing a cushion from the urban sprawl outside. It is quieter and more peaceful than I thought it would be, for the middle of a city, which is very nice. The library and Harned Hall are great haunts for studying, and the latter is popular for socializing over a cup of coffee. When the weather is nice, you can go on a long nature walk with a friend, or camp out on a bench to chat or just people-watch. Somehow, it never becomes dull to hear the abbey church bells or to see the monks walking around on campus, either teaching or attending classes themselves. I knocked off a star from a full score because the dorms are frequently noisy. I do not know if it depends on what RA you have, but in my experience, quiet hours are rarely enforced outside of Dead Week (before/during finals).
I am definitely getting an education worthy of the tuition. Already I can feel that my mind has been stretched to new places, to accommodate new dimensions of thinking. However, and this may just be nitpicky, I feel like some of the commodities could be a little better. Several of the tables in Harned Hall are wobbly; a large number of computers take a long time to actually log you in, which is NOT fun in the rush to print out papers before a class in three minutes; at any given time, three of the nine washing machines in Parsons Hall (my dorm building) will be out of order or malfunctioning in some way.
Bring earplugs! And definitely bring a foam mattress pad. You will thank me your first night. If you are doing your laundry on campus, I recommend doing it in the mornings on the weekend before everyone else is up, or in the mornings on weekdays when everyone else is at classes. Keep an eye and ear out for scholarships and work-study/job opportunities -- going to this school is expensive, and every little bit helps! You might have to network with the people on campus to actually find anything, though.
Students who like to take life at a slower pace -- this is not Seattle, here -- and who appreciate being surrounded by nature.