Colby College Top Questions

From an educational standpoint, Colby is an excellent school. Small classes force student participation and make professors easily accessible. Most professors really strive for their students to succeed, though they are demanding. The vast majority of classes at Colby are very rigorous and you need to work consistently everyday to excel. Despite what they say, students here are extremely competitive. I have a 3.0 and my class ranking is in the bottom 50 out of 500 students. Though Colby's small size is an asset for its academics, I really wish there was a larger student body. The population is very homogeneous despite recent pushes for diversity. Missing class is seen as a mortal sin by some professors which can be irritating at times and is magnified by small class sizes. I think a larger student body would be extremely beneficial for the school's social scene - both parties and school-sanctioned activities would be much better if you didn't see the same small group of people all the time. As far as the administration is concerned,there is not widespread support among Colby students. There have historically been issues between students and overbearing security officers, and recently the administration has failed terribly in addressing a disciplinary issue that has the entire campus outraged. The administration is trying to create scapegoats to save face while neglecting to address the larger issue at hand directly.

The administration is largely unfriendly. They don't seem to know what's going on at other schools. The campus is pretty balkanized, a bit clichy. I realized within 10 minutes of arriving here that i had made a horrible mistake. Its just the right size to be a great prep schol, too small to be a college.

Colby is ever changing, and mostly for the better. In the coming years, three new major buildings will be constructed, and three have been built already in the past few years. Colby's becoming more and more selective in admissions and is reorganizing its curriculum. Colby is a good size, but it can feel small. Sometimes you have to search for the students you have never seen before. I love the administration and think that they are incredibly receptive to what students have to offer. The new Director of Campus life was the Dean of Campus life at MIT prior to this position and is AMAZING. Our Career Center offers a 4-year curriculum and is the only one to do so in the country.

No school is perfect, even though every administration likes to think their school is more perfect than the rest. Colby was the perfect place for me though. I met lifelong friends and had the perfect mix of tough academics and socializing. I think people underestimate how much colby students love their alama mater. The student spirit seems to be growing every year and the reunion this year set attendance records. Sure there are people who are unhappy with the school but I think that has more to do with their personality rather than the school itself. If you understand what colby is and accept that then you will love your time there. If you come here thinking the school is a liberal hotbed like Brown or Vassar then you are not going to be happy. The admin is wonderful and caters to all of the students needs. Simply put the majority of Colby students are very intelligent, outgoing, athletic, outdoorsy, and respectful.

colby is a small school that is full of cheerful, friendly kids looking to mature intellectually and drink until they pass out. it is easy to see why alumni rave about their experiences at this school, and the community certainly lives up to its close-knit reputation. however, if you fall on the more stereotypically "artsy", cynical, or even multi-cultural side of the spectrum, you might find yourself in a very small minority. that is not to say that colby does not open its arms wide to difference - in fact, it is absolutely BEGGING for diversity, something that shows up blatantly in its admissions statistics - but it is to say that if you are not what has long been considered a typical colby student, prepare yourself for the fact that you will not enjoy the luxury of totally fitting in.

great size, fun locale, i wish town-gown relations were better

The elitist/snobbish atmosphere that exists at Colby. I think the size is just right. I think that Colby's administration is pretty poor and is often seen sucking up to the rich and wealthy regardless to their contribution to society. No I don't think there is much of school pride - everyone is looking out for number one including the professors and admins. I think the one thing I will remember the most is all the hardwork that the support staff such as the janitors, dinning hall staff, custodians have put in on campus and go unappreciated. During my time at Colby these were the nicest people and the ones I learnt the most from rather than from the classroom.

The school is too small and confining. I have never been so unhappy in my life as to when i came to colby. Administration is unfriendly, student population is extremely homogeneous and unfriendly. There is nothing to do except sleep at colby. Academics can be challenging; it depends on what you make of it. I wish i had never come here.

Size is just right - all the better to really get to know your peers AND your professors. If I could change one thing - I'd move Colby to CA or LA (minus the hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.) No, seriously, Waterville could use a facelift - start up some sort of cafe culture, have more host families from within the community (who have no direct connection to Colby), etc. I spend most of my time in either of my academic major buildings - Diamond Lab or the Mudd seminar room! Colby's administration can be a bit hasty with decisions, but you can't blame them for not trying. On the whole, quite supportive and willing to incorporate students' opinions. Can aim for better transparency, particularly regarding budget allocation and spending which affects clubs and on-campus programming. On the downside, majority of students don't have a lot of faith in the admin and criticism is rampant. Must work on image and perception. School pride - depends on the athletic season and/or how Bowdoin and Bates are faring! Unusual - oh yes! People are very friendly. And if you look carefully enough and take the time to get to know everyone, this is an EXTREMELY diverse population, and not just for the no. of nationalities represented.

Colby is the perfect size. Most of its students are slightly socially awkward, with a superiority complex. Waterville is known for being "sketchy" and the school has a struggling relationship with the town. Colby is in a "bubble" on the Hill. The administration tends to be overly strict, with lots of restrictions on student events.

Small school, evyerone knows everything. But I'd rather have that and actually have a solid group of people I know and a tight knit community than a huge school where I meet someone and then never see them again. I love it Colby. Plain and simple.

The best part about Colby is the size. You are able to get one on one attention from your professors, and all of your professors know your name. The small size also makes it feel more like a community, where you don't feel like you are just a face in the crowd. If I could change one thing, it would be to either be closer to Portland, or Sugarloaf. When I tell others that I go to Colby, they usually say "Where's that?". Colby also has a ton of school pride, everyone goes to our Hockey games with painted faces and such, and you don't usually see that kind of pride at smaller schools.

After you've told the 986784th person that you go to Colby College, your brain engages auto-pilot to field one of the following two responses: The Blank Stare, followed by a half-embarassed "Now where is that again?" or "Thats in Maine right? You must be cold up there" To disambiguate now, in attempt to eliminate any further confusion: yes, it's fucking cold up here, deal with it. I spend the majority of my time, during tundra season, in "The Street," the corridor below Miller Library, the iconic building at Colby. No the street isn't nerdy, it's just where most people hang out because our new student center has proven to be such a colossal failure. There is no draw to Pulver Pavillion, affectionately known as The Train Station or That Uncomfortable Excuse for a Student Center. Unfortunately it is true. But, there have been a number of people consciously trying to make it a better place and it's happening, slowly. By the next year, it should be infinitely better than it currently is with plans to bring in more comfortable seating, area rugs, non-industrial lighting, and whole host of student art. That seems to be emblematic of my experience with Colby as a whole: We are new. A new academic respect and recognition, new buildings and building projects, and a new image. Pursuant to this newness, a few things have become apparent: I think in part to cope with our underwhelming "name power," unlike a Williams or an Amherst, our administration has sought to micromanage every outwardly visible aspect of our college, most blatantly, our website. A visit to the "Prospective Students" area of Colby.edu offers more daily information about our school than 99{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the rest of our campus. The Result: Students feel left in the dark. The level of communication amongst students, the administration, and student organizations is non-existent. Our campus is GORGEOUS, but also very large and the amount of sheer footage coupled with our ivory tower administration has left the majority of students feeling isolated and unheard.

The size is great. You can't disappear!

the people are by far the best thing. i would change the housing; colby should have housing on campus for everyone. the school would benefit from a greater sense of community. when i tell people i go to colby, i'm usually met with 'oh, that's great!' the biggest controversy right now is over sga. there's school pride, but not all that much. the most unusual thing about colby is that it has an extraordinarily high concentration of snotty rich kids. the end.

the people put it in the town just right, but i kind of wish there were more of an urban setting "huh?" it's a small liberal arts school in maine "oh... ok. sounds cool!" (i'm from california...) bixler (art and music building), my dorm (goho. green dorm!!) what college town? lots of red tape. generally caring people that just don't know exactly how to get it quite right security issues (masked man assaulted 2-3 girls in the fall. creepy!!) not a ton of school pride, but most people love it here. it's the right amount for me lots of people complain about the miles and miles of red tape with the study abroad office. the career center hasn't been that helpful for places OUTSIDE of new england...

-best thing about colby: the students here. hands down. -one thing i'd change: the room draw process. -colby is just about the right size for me. maybe a little too small, sometimes. -when i tell people from my hometown that i go to colby, their reaction is "WHOA! COLBY!!" (this usually occurs after they say to me, "where do you go to school, the university of maine?" when i tell them colby, i know they're thinking 'wow, they're rich' or 'wow, she's smart' -i spend most of my time in mine or a friend's room, dining halls, and the library. -"what college town?": we're a town, and a college. not a college town. -school pride: tons. -one experience i'll always remember: janplan in greece. and doghead of course.

The best thing about Colby is the ability for students to get involved in as many activities as they want. I would make more academic options available at Colby, more majors and minors because I believe that our selection is somewhat limited even for a liberal arts college. I believe that Colby's size is just right. When I tell people I go to Colby, many people say "Oh whoa, it's so cold up there." I spend a lot of my time at the athletic center and a lot of time in the Diamond building. I believe that Colby's administration is rather receptive to the students' opinions; however, there are some institutions on campus that I would like to see improvement in, such as the Health Center. THe biggest recent controversey on campus was when there was an attack on campus. There was also an incident of racism in Mary-Low. There is a lot of school pride, but sometimes there are school sponsored activities with little attendance. There is nothing that unusual about Colby. I will always remember COOT. The most frequent student complaints is that Colby can get repetitive and a little boring.

The best thing about Colby is the people. Everyone here is really happy to be here and really anxious to make everyone else like Colby as much as they do. On a campus where everyone is so active and so involved, it's difficult not to want to be a part of the community, so you do something. Join a club or a sports team, or make an i-play (intramural) team with your friends, get involved and find something else to do to fill your time with. Everyone needs an outlet that isnt only academic. For me, it's rugby, let out some agression, be active, I love it. The one thing I would change would be the housing on campus. We need more suit-style rooms so you can live with your friends, but really even that isnt too bad. I am a sophmore (and we all know sophmores get shafted in room draw) and since my floor only has 6 rooms on it, it is easy to make friend with the other students around me. I think the school size is just right. You dont come to Colby if you are looking for a big university, you come here for a small liberal arts education. So while you end up feeling the school is small occasionally when you walk by the same people every Wednesday on your way to Vector Calc, that is just part of its charm. You actually know a lot of people rather than seeing someone you think you know... if that makes any sense. I spend most of my time in my room, my friends room, the library (i'm a student worker in the library... and i study a fair amount), dining halls. there isn't really one place where i spend most of my time, i kind of go all over the place all the time. waterviile is ok. there are some cute coffee shops and resturaunts for when you need to get off campus, but the main shopping attraction is walmart, so stop by freeport on your way up, or bring a car so you can go places whenever you want. there is ample school pride, everyone loves colby. colby-bowdoin hockey games are a must see, the epic rivalry makes the games exciting and you get really caught up in supporting your school. I will always remember winning the broomball championship... its kind of a big deal, great moment.

The best thing about Colby is the fact that majority of the Colby faculty are welcoming, they invite you over for dinner, assist you academically when you don't understand certain material, and as well serve as a support system such that they listen to what you have to say in regards to social life on campus. One thing I would change is the drinking on campus as well as the few cases of racism and discrimination on campus, I would like to see more diversity such that we have urban students attending Colby and not just suburban students. Another thing I would change is the non-Halal food non-Kosher food option not being available in the dinning halls, because such food are not available many students have to buy groceries on top of paying for a meal plan because many days all the dinning halls serve is pork.

The best thing about Colby is the PROFESSORS! I tell this to all of my tours, and I never have to exaggerate even the slightest amount when I talk about how wonderful the teachers are at Colby. They don't just see their students as grades in a grade book - we're real people to them, and it is not at all uncommon for a professor to attend students' concerts and games or invite the majors in their department over for dinner. Most Colby students take all of this attention for granted until senior year, when they (like I did!) realize that the support and connections of their professors are absolutely essential when applying to grad schools or looking for jobs. If I could change one thing about Colby, I would move it four hours closer to New Jersey. I hate the long drive home! But most of the time I am glad that I have an excuse to stay on campus for shorter breaks and long weekends. Colby is just the right size. It is rare that you will ever be in a situation where you don't recognize anyone, but you meet new people everyday. Anyone who is actually familiar with Colby (which most well-educated people living on the East Coast are) is very impressed when I tell them I am a student here. Otherwise, the usual reaction is, "Colby - where's that? Why on earth would you want to go to school somewhere so cold?" I spend most of my time on campus in the library or a dorm room - my own or one of my friends' rooms. Waterville actually has a nice little downtown area with restaurants and shops, but it's still pretty dead at night. Luckily, our student programming board has something planned practically every night of the week, and the new pub is FANTASTIC - great for a relaxed evening of drinking, if you're legal.

I like Colby's size a lot because I like the idea of knowing almost everyone in my class. Some people might find the small size suffocating, but I'm halfway through my sophomore year and am still meeting new people.

I like the friendly atmosphere, how kids here work hard and party hard. Waterville is not a great college town but the town-gown relationship is improving along with the revitalization of the downtown area.

The best thing about Colby is that it is a small liberal arts college, but has strong mathematics and natural sciences departments. Also, while there are bound to be clicks and groups at any school, there seems to be a great community where anyone can get along with anyone else. The town is nothing to brag about.

The best thing about Colby are the people here. I feel that this school tends to attract people who are genuinely nice, open-minded, and receptive - and it makes for a strong community and learning environment both inside and outside of the classroom. I feel that, for most purposes, the school's size is just right. Almost every class I've taken here has been under 20 people, with the exception of two introduction lecture classes. The student body is small enough that you get a sense of knowing, or at least recognizing, almost everybody on campus - but still big enough that you're being introduced to or discovering new people throughout the year. When I tell people at home (Connecticut) I go to Colby, they have no idea what I'm talking about. I've started just saying "I go to college in Maine" because that's what the conversation always boils down to anyway. It's frustrating that for such a competitive school, it's so unheard of by most people south of Massachusetts. The town of Waterville doesn't have a ton to offer students beyond the movie theaters and restaurants. The local music scene is non-existent (beyond Colby events). We have a Wal-Mart and a Starbucks that students frequent, and some nicer restaurants down on Main Street for couples going out on dates, but there's really no incentive for students to go into town unless they're volunteering at a school, going out to dinner, or buying something. Our sense of school pride doesn't necessarily stem from athletics or reputation like other schools', but I definitely think there is a sense of pride in our community. There's this sense of closeness as a group of kids out in the woods in Maine that I don't think people at other schools necessarily get. If you see a Colby sticker on a car on the highway, you honk and wave ecstatically. It's exciting since the experience is so rare, and it's like you're both in on a secret.

The best thing about Colby is that everyone wants to be here, and everyone loves the school. Thats why I came, I knew no one was sure if they would like the college they decided to go to, but if I chose a school where everyone I talked to loved it, I had a fairly good chance of loving it as well. I would try to improve the schedule of activities so I could participate in more. The school feels small at times, but I have a very close group of friends, and I still havent met everyone in my grade. I meet a few new people every day. I traveled to Ecuador last January, I was wearing my Colby sweatshirt and walking down the street, and a gentlemen yelled out to me "Yeah Colby College!" I have gotten similar reactions in my home town, and several other parts of the country. Colby is everywhere, and the alumni are very proud. Overall our reputation is something to hold our head high about. I cant even begin to try to figure out where my time on campus is spent. Everywhere? We have a college town, its small, and closes up early. The advantage is we dont need to leave campus, but we can, and we have bowling, movies, bars, and great food a few minutes off campus. Colby administration works hard, they hold the students hands a little too much. They do struggle with realizing that we are adults. We had a small incident in one of our dorms recently with a racial slur being written on the white boards. The student was caught, and the school had meetings and sessions to discuss the matter and resolve the issues caused. There is an enormous amount of school pride. One of the most attractive qualities about Colby is how proud the students are.

The best thing about Colby is the wide array of people with whom you can meet and be friendly, without feeling like you are crossing any awkward borders. Everyone is so smart and friendly that you will find yourself having an incredibly intellectual arguments/discussions with your group or friends over lunch. If I could change anything, it would be to have more housing on campus and have more suit-style living available. The size is just right for me - bigger campus so I can spread out or be alone when necessary, but small enough that I know people really well. "What College town?" Colby's administration could be a little more willing to give student leaders more power and freedom. There is tons of school pride. Colby, unlike Bates and Bowdoin, used to have fraternities and is thus socially a little still as if there are frats. But no one seems to get excluded. If you are willing to put yourself out there, you will find friends.