Students at Providence College say the small size of their
school feels just right. The friendly student body is close-knit, and there’s
an undeniable sense of community on campus. “There is a sense of community within the gates of PC because everyone recognizes everyone--we are all connected to each other through common associates, etc,” writes a junior education major. She continues with the drawbacks of the small size: “The smaller size can also create serious drama with everyone getting up in everyone else's business.”
Some say the atmosphere is similar to that of high school, but the small
population guarantees that students won’t get lost in the crowd.
The classes at PC have heavy workloads and students complain
about the intense core curriculum, especially the required four-semester Western
Civilization class. An environmental science major says, “Many students gripe about the famous "DWC program"; however, if you approach the course with an open mind it's actually a great course, and the amount of knowledge you learn is pretty great.” Other than the large Western Civ lectures,
the class sizes are very small and allow for student discussion. Students say
professors are accessible and seem to really care that the students are gaining
something from their class. An alum who majored in psychology notes,
“Professors try to get to know you. It's common that they will recognize you outside of class and say hello, and most professors give out their home and cell phone numbers and are more than willing to meet students outside of class time for help.”
The student body at Providence College is pretty homogonous.
Students say the lack of diversity is blatant and claim administrators don’t seem
to be doing much to increase the minority population. The school not only lacks ethnic and racial
diversity, but students say everyone is from the Northeast, mostly from affluent families. Also, because the school is heavily focused on
Catholic teachings (specifically Dominican), students say anyone not sharing
these beliefs may feel left out. A sophomore business major says that though
outward diversity is low, students have diverse personalities and perspectives:
“I have come across a wide range of personalities and backgrounds in my two years here, yet from an outside perspective the school definitely appears extremely homogeneous.”
When they’re not in class or the library, students stock up
on extracurriculars before heading to nightly parties. The most popular groups
students join are the Friar’s Club, the programming board (BOP), and intramural
sports teams. Those involved become chummy with fellow group or team
members. “There is no Greek Life here at Providence College, hence why athletics, Friar's Club and BOP are like cults,” says a senior majoring in social
work.
The nightlife at PC is vibrant, with parties hopping every night of the week to
offset the academic load. “You
can find kids partying on Messed up Mondays, Brown Night at Fishco (a bar) on
Tuesday, PC Night at Fishco on Wednesday, and Thirsty Thursdays,” writes a
psychology sophomore, “but everyone has slaved away in the library all day long
to finish their work first!” Many consider partying to be a part of the requirements at PC, so anyone
looking to escape the debauchery will have to venture off campus. “Sometimes it's hard to find refuge if you don't want to hang out with a bunch of drunk people,” says a political science senior. “However, downtown Providence is a free 5 minute bus ride away, which provides plenty to do.”
Students say Providence has a lot to offer college kids,
especially since the city hosts multiple schools. A freshman student
writes, “It is a great location, only like 7 minutes from downtown Providence and you can go anywhere in Rhode Island for free. Boston is only 30 minutes away and the beaches are close too.” Though the city is nice, students warn
against the area of town directly surrounding PC. “Don't expect to frequently meander off campus to go enjoy a petite scone at the local Starbucks. We're in the middle of a pretty shady neighborhood,” says a senior majoring in political
science.
On the whole, students speak affectionately about their school. Despite the few
downfalls, the warm atmosphere and close community are what make PC a college
that students adore.
