Connecticut College Top Questions

Academics here are all about incorporating intellectual conversation outside of the classroom. While I enjoy most classes and the work I do for them, most of my productive conversations happen at lunch with a professor or during a program in one of the residence halls.

Professors most definitely get to know your name at Conn. Some of my professors even studied pictures of us so they would be able to say our names to call on us in class. Studying is really all up to the individual. Conn is a work hard and play hard kind of campus. When kids have work they chose to stay in on a Thursday night instead of going out with their buddies but most people make sure they get their work done so they are able to go out every thursday and saturday night. Students aren't too competitive. Most people don't share grades and friends are really supportive if you aren't doing well in a class. People will read over your papers for you or help you study for a test because that is just the kind of people that go to Conn. Good People. The education at Conn is definitely learning for its own sake and then the CELS office is what helps students get internships and jobs during the summer and after they graduate.

Great, small classes -- easy to get to know professors. Great career center.

The academic atmosphere is profoundly engaging here. I took both biology and chemistry this past semester and both professors were great and knowledgeable. I learned a lot in both classes--the material was not especially difficult, but tricky sometimes. While both these classes had 100 kids in them (as entry level science courses, when everyone seems to think that they want to be a doctor, there's bound to be a lot of people; then they realize that maybe perhaps this isn't for them). Both professors knew my name and they were very accessible. Both labs were fun, while I found the chemistry labs more engaging and difficult. PICK YOUR LAB INSTRUCTORS WISELY...search around and try to find out about them. My bio one was kinda of wierd, but a nice person and I absolutely loved my chem one. I also took intensive elementary spanish which was GREAT. I have learned so much and my proficiency with the language is impressive according to people who have mastered the language (either in high school, or its their native language). We went to our professors house and she cooked us food and it was great. Every freshman must take a freshman seminar and mine was cool: Seminar on Socrates. It was very thought provoking and I think I have improved my writing skills through it. I like the professor and he seemed very, very intelligent on the subject.

As I said before, professors here know their students' names, and they genuinely care about the classes they teach. There are NO TAs! I've enjoyed my academic experience at Conn immensely so far, but if you want information regarding a specific department, I can only tell you definitively that our Chem and Bio departments are where its at. If you're a prospective sceiences major, you need to check Conn out.

The academics at Conn are one of its huge draws. Your education at Conn is really what you make of it. If you want to challenge yourself, there are plenty of opportunities to do so. If you want to slack off and slide by doing very little, you can do that too, the professors aren´t going to hound you to get your shit together. At the same time, if you want their help, all of my professors have been really open and willing to provide any guidance. I´ve found the academics to be challenging, but not insane. I work hard every night, but I always have time to hang out with my friends and party on the weekends. It probably helps that all of my friends are in the library with me every night so we can hang out there. Since Conn is pretty small, most of its classes are pretty small also. The biggest class I´ve taken at Conn is PSY 101, and even that wasn´t bad at all. The professor knew all of our names and we had plenty of discussions. I´m a Sociology major and have really liked the Soc. classes I´ve taken here. I´m also in the international studies certificate program, CISLA. It´s a rigorous program, but one of my favorite classes I´ve taken here has been one of my required courses for the program, International Studies: Perspectives on Modern Global Society. We studied current global issues from historical, environmental, economic, and religious perspectives. Not only has what I learned in that class been beneficial for my overall knowledge, but I have been able to apply themes that I learned in that class to my work in other classes. The intellectual environment at Conn is not competitive. Yeah, people care about their grades but they care about their own grades. They are motivated to work hard for their own self fulfillment --to learn for learning´s sake AND to prepare themselves for the future.

In almost every subject, professors know your name so well that you will not find yourself being able to skip class. Chinese class and East Asian Studies 101 have policies that if you skip more than three classes the professor "reserves the right to fail you." I think it makes me a better student- what's the point of going to college if you don't go to class? Of course, their objective is not to fail you, and exceptions are made. My favorite classes so far include Film with Nina Martin, East Asian Studies 101 (Mark Silver will no longer be a professor at Conn but he was great), and Anthropology 104. I will confess that ANT 104 was a larger class and I didn't attend every day, but what I learned applies to everyday life in a way that most high school education cannot. I took ANT 104 and EAS 101 at the same time and they enhanced each other because the subject matter coincided on many occasions- I could always make connections between the two that reinforced what I had learned and made my understanding of the subjects even deeper. Conn students definitely take what they learn to the outside world so much so that I was surprised when I got to college. In high school people laughed at me for talking about school outside of the classroom, but that's the difference; in college you are insired and interested in what you learn and people thrive off of intellectual debate. There is a certain level of competitiveness in each class but it varies with the subject. There was definitely competition in Chinese class among some top students but everyone else seemed to be more relaxed. Conn's academic requirements are much more manageable for me compared to high school. It makes such a difference when you take four classes at a time, ones you're interested in, compared to eight of completely different subjects. Also there are Gen Eds but, for those of us like myself who are not mathematically inclined, there are alternative math classes that fulfill the math requirement.

Class sizes are perfect, the professors know who you are and are always there for help whenever you need them, again you aren't just a face. People try extremely hard and I rarely see slackers or people who don't care about learning. The system of only needing to take one class from a bunch of general areas is nice because there is a lot of freedom to choose what you want.

disappointing and not that hard. they need to do a far better job hiring more engaging and qualified professors.

I love that professors get to know my name. As far as studying goes, students make what they want to out of their classes. By this I mean that one could potentially get by and earn decent marks by going to class and not studying too much. On the other hand if one chooses classes that interest him/her, so that they are willing to invest time into studying and reading, then one can earn good grades. The professors usually notice and appreciate the individual's efforts. Class participation is common.

Wonderful- if you are willing to push yourself, and take harder classes than your buddy Ray-Ray, you're are going to find a lot of work, and a great sense of accomplishment. That's because even though there is a great disconnect between admins and students, the professors bridge this gap through professionalism, passion, and knowledge. So many good professors- and they get better as you hone in on your major, and meet specialists in your field that will blow you away.

The small class sizes, and relatively small departments allow for good contact with professors throughout the four years. Many professors I never even had were willing to answer questions, or advise on future courses. Although I sometimes wish that more courses were made avalable, the fact that it is a smaller school determines much of the course selection, and the courses i did take were informative, stimulating, and helped me to understand that subject in more depth.

Academics at Conn is definitely taken seriously. There are classes that you can afford to miss and skip but you quickly find out which ones and which professors are okay with it. I think the clearest indication of Conns academics is the activity one see's in the library. The library is practically a social scene Monday-Wednesday nights. People definitely take work seriously but they also know what they can get away with not doing. I constantly hear students continuing conversations from class out into the greens and in Harris.

Classes at Conn are pretty small, especially the upper lever. I was a science major and my senior classes had generally 5-10 people. It's great but the professors have a lot of attention to give you...and you'll get it. The labs can be excruciatingly long. Chemistry is an extremely difficult and time consuming major, especially if you love science but do not have a natural knack for it. Only incredible motivation and a tolerance of B's will get you by. I hear physics is equally difficult. Biology and Neural Science are a degree easier and I've seen some incredibly untalented students get by. Environmental sciences is the easy way to do as little science as possible and still call yourself a "science major". The quality of the science education is excellent, you can have as much one on one time with your professors as you like. Some professors are more willing and friendly to help you than others. In chemistry, to drop a few names, Colleen Kaczmarek, David Cullen, Bruce Branchini and Prof Lewis are incredibly kind and wonderful people to talk to for advice. The best person to do research with is Timo Ovaska, you might get published. Stanton Ching is VERY socially awkward, but generally a nice guy. He's a little too laid back on his research so don't expect to accomplish anything exceptional. For biology, if you're thinking about a senior thesis APPROACH THE PROFESSORS BY THE END OF FRESHMEN YEAR. The department is incredibly disorganized and the professors overworked. To drop a few names: professors Eastman, Owen, Askins and Warren (all I really know) are very kind and helpful. Mardi Grossel is a huge bitch to put it bluntly. Find out for yourself if you like, but I don't recommend crossing her path. Connecticut College will equip you with a great science education. It is excruciatingly painful at times due to the heavy course load and small classes, but it will leave you prepared for anything. You can expect to get a great research job from your lab experience. Also be prepared to feel a little smarter than most kids at the school who do about a fourth of the work that you do.

The academics are Conn are both good and bad. it all depends on what department you're in. The Psychology department was really strong and I got to know my professors. They were all very helpful and patient. Some even host dinner parties outside of class, at their houses or restaurants. It's fun to talk about interesting things we've learned in class with friends, and, at least in my circle of friends, it happens a lot. The students are all pretty competitive, but not ruthless. The only thing I don't like is some of the requirements. I didn't like having to take a language or math. The best thing about the academics are that they're geared toward learning about what you like and not just getting a job.

Academics at can are really what you make of them. You can ultimately coast through your four years at Conn with minumum effort with low C's and the occasional B. However, the proffessors are always there and, thanks in part to the small class size, you can become engaged in any of your classes in a way not possible at bigger schools. If you want a challenge there are classes and proffessors who will push you and make you work. The bottom line is that for Conn there is an easy route for those students who wish to cruise through at the bare minimum (I think it's called the American Studies Major), but there is also a harder, more challenging road that will take you into close contact with proffessors and engage you in small, discussion based classrooms.

Most classes besides the intros to bio, chem and psych are fewer than about 30 people; more specialized and higher level courses can have far fewer. Professors are generally helpful and personable and open to talking with you outside of class time. There are some stellar professors and the occasional dud.

Academics are very important to the students at Conn. We work hard before we play hard. One of the most valuable aspects of a small liberal arts school like Conn is the small class size. You get to know your professors in and out of the classroom. The opportunities to assist in faculty research are numerous. I worked two summers researching the effects of nutrient enrichment on salt marsh vegetation with my botany professor in the salt marshes of the Plum Island Sound and continued working one on one with him into the fall of my Junior year. During my senior year I was fortunate to co-author a poster depicting our research for the Estuarine Research Foundation meeting in Providence RI. I can't imagine attending a university in which I was one of 500 students in a class. At Conn, you are not an anonymous face in the crowd. Professors know you by first name. You see them around campus and ask how their kid is doing or how that sweater they are knitting is going. Connecticut College truly is a community.

Academics at Conn are very good, at least in my experience. The professors all really know their stuff, and there are no TA's. There are big science lectures, but any other class is under 35 students, and the professors know everyone's name. Class participation tends to be limited to a few people, especially in intro classes. It is really easy to transfer out of classes, so if you get a professor you don't think you'll like, you can switch. Unfortunately, it is surprisingly difficult to get into classes you want to take. The average amount of classes one takes is four per semester, which is less than other schools. You can take five, but not many people do.

The academics at Conn College is unlimited...if their is something you would like to learn you can. The class sizes are perfect and you really get to know the professors which is nice because they always try and make sure you are succeeding inside and outside the classroom and get to know you for who you are. Yes, the majority of students participate in the classroom and usually have intelluctual conversations about what was learned outside the class. Students are competitive but only with themselves trying to push yourself to the farthest limit and always making sure they set challenges and goals. Yes, there are many opportunities to spend quality time with your professors, either getting tutoring help or going out to lunch. I feel that Conn's academic requirements are challenging but at the same time are obtainable. The education at Conn College is geared toward learning for your own sake and later applying what was learned to the great job that you get after the life of Conn College.

Conn is great as far as academics go. It's a small school, so it is usually very easy to seek out professors for extra help and schedule one-on-one meetings. Many students also have end-of-semester dinners at their professors' houses (I went to 4 last year). Study abroad is also a big part of the Connecticut College education for many students, and it is easy to find a program that provides easy credit-transfers back to the college. Overall, Conn is geared toward providing a well-rounded education, which is coupled with an AMAZING career office, CELS (Career Enhancing Life Skills), which allows students to do in-depth searches and be successful in finding careers and internships that match their interests.

It is almost impossible to slip through the cracks at Conn College. In addition to having an academic adviser and a student adviser, the student to teacher ratio is such that professors will know who you are. If you only attend 100 person lectures, than it will be difficult. But most students are in class sizes that range from 10 to 30 people at the most. There is a lot of individual attention and also a lot of individual help available if one wishes to receive it. I've taken classes that are extremely diverse within the English department. I've taken classes that ask questions about race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, time and space as well as the basic things that one always investigates in the topics of literature: structure, character, plot, motif, etc. The academic requirements are tough to swallow at first. But, once you've finished them, you do feel a great sense of pride in what you've done to diversify your curriculum. And sometimes you even take a class that you wouldn't normally take and it actually gets you to take another class in that department or with that professor - solely due to the general education requirements.

Like any school, academics can be as hard or as easy as you want it to be. I think the same goes for relationships with professors-- you can remain unknown in large introductory courses, or end up talking to your professor every day after class. Professors are warm people who strive to make this a good learning experience.

The academics at Conn are pretty good! If you make an effort, you can develop really great relationships with your professors and the deans. Granted, not ALL students are serious about their academics, but if you look you will find a bunch of people who are extremely intellectually motivated and hard workers. Classes vary in difficulty, as do majors. Science and math classes are much more difficult than English or Art classes, which is why many science and math majors have lower GPAs. For the most part, work will come in waves- one week you have no work at all, and then the next week you're swamped. The General Education requirements are easy to fulfill and can usually tie in with your desired major or minor. Conn is NOT a technical school, so don't expect too much preparation for specific jobs- it's more learning to broaden the scope of your thinking.

Class sizes are small and professors do know student names. I really enjoy my economics major and finance courses. I wish we had an accounting course though. Great support in the job department.

I have had great experiences in terms of my academics at Connecicut College. Most classes are small, and I find professor's usually know my name. I have gotten to know my academic advisors well and they are able to offer useful advice. The faculty student relationship within the dance department is exceptionally unique. Dancers and students are on firts name bases, professors have students over for dinner and babysit their kids. many of these relationships continue beyond Conn Coll. Professors are great resources for finding job contacts and are generally willing to help students.

I double majored in International Relations and French, and by the time that I graduated I would say that the majority of professors in those departments knew me, and my fellow senior majors, by name. I decided to become an International Relations major after taking Gov 113: International Relations, with Professor Borer. She was unbelievable, kinda intimidating, and an awesome professor. Fast forward to senior year and I had not had a class with her since Gov 113; however, as I sat down in the classroom she addressed me by name and even remembered things about me being in that class four years before. The students at Conn are not overly competitive, and there is more of a "work together" attitude about work. Group study sessions are extremely popular, and there are many intellectual discussion happening outside of the classroom.

many students feel like school is a free ride to party and skip class and cheat even with the honor code. The honor code is a joke.

If you want to forge a relationship with a professor, then YOU have to talk to them outside of class. I have only had one class with more than 30 students and the professor always teaches the classes. There is very little grade competition. It is a very laid back atmoshere. Intellectual conversations outside of class are lacking, but again YOU have to take the initiative. The department parties are awesome and I have been to some professor's houses. The education is geared towards becoming an intellectual (it is a liberal arts college after all), but CELS is great about getting you a job. They pay you $3000 to get an internship summer after junior year and are great about building your resume and getting a job after college.

There are plenty of classes for students to take at Conn, however they are difficult to get into. For two semesters now I have tried to get into an art or film studies course only to find that they just filled up. Right now my favorite class has to be Writing the Short Story, but I'm really looking forward to taking Screenwriting next year. Some teachers can be unhelpful while others will guide you all your years as a student. It's a strange adjustment coming from a school where you were on top, maybe even valedictorian, only to come to Conn and find yourself surrounded by similar peers.

I like the small class. Even in my biggest class (90 students) the professor knew my name. There are a lot of opportunities to get extra help. There are no teaching assistants and a lot of professors will even give you there cell phone number. The academics are competitive and very good.

there's a pretty good selection of classes that are very interessting and most often challenging. the General Education requirments give you a chance to try some new things; things that you would never have tried otherwise.

Professors always know your name at conn. classes are small with the exception of a few large lectures for the science classes. we take 4 four-credit classes per semester, which makes the work load totally managable! classes are pretty challenging, but there are tons of places you can go to get help. if you dont have a major you want to declare, you can design your own.

One of the things I love about Conn is that almost all of my professors know my name. A couple of the introductory science courses have enough students that the professors do not get to learn everyone's name, but for the most part, professors call on you by name in class...if the class is large enough that a less formal discussion cannot be held. Classes range in size, but even first year students get the opportunity to take courses with very few students. My first year seminar, Women's Work in Creative Writing, only had six students, but first year seminars are not the only courses with just a few students. While I would not say that many students spend time outside of class with their professors, professors love for you to visit them during their office hours. In fact, I've even had professors require all the students in class to come to their office hours just to talk.

All of my profesors know my name. Students spend a good amount of time studying. However a popular phrase is "work hard, play hard." The amount of time spent studying really depends on your major with science majors being more time consuming. Class participation is very common. Conn Coll students do have intellctual conversations. Students help each other and want everyone to succeed. I am double majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology and I love it. The professors are great and I find it really interesting. Education is

Conn's academics are top-notch. Classes are relatively small, and even lecture courses often feel smaller than they are. Professors usually know students' names after just a few weeks of having them in class. In my experience, professors are approachable and eager to help their students understand course material. Despite the caliber of academics at Conn, students are not competitive with each other. I have no what my friends' GPAs are like, and I honestly don't care. One of the things that sets Conn apart from other schools is the laid-back atmosphere around academics. Most students are pretty chill, even when they're stressed out. The night before finals started for the fall semester, the dining hall opened up from 10 PM until midnight and served everyone breakfast food. It was an awesome way for everyone to take a break from studying and just relax with their friends for a while. The general education requirements here are easy to fulfill in a variety of ways, and there hasn't been a course that I've absolutely had to take. Some of my required courses were covered by AP classes, and I was even able to fulfill my math requirement with a course from the philosophy department.

Professors have always known my name. I even have a lecture class with at least 60 students and my professor called me by my name in class! I study everyday for 3 hours. My favorite class so far was a political theory class because the professor was very interesting and since he was excited about the subject it made me excited about it! I can definitely use the education I am getting at Conn to get me very far in life!

Professors put a lot of effort into helping students and are very enthusiastic about the courses they teach. There are any options for different classes and little to no competition within a class, students are always willing to help each other. The academic requirements are also fairly easy to fulfill.

If you don't want your professor to know your name, don't come to Conn! I have close relationships with all my professors because of the small class sizes. Some of the unique classes I have taken include "Words in Translation" (translation between French and English), "Women's Work in Creative Writing" (a class with 6 female students where we shared our written work), and "Introduction to Mathematical Thought" (math for people who don't like math.) There are some core requirements, but they're not so intense that you can't choose any classes. (You only have to take one class from each of 7 different areas, as well as Writing Intensive and language classes.)

I know all of my professors' names, their email addresses (if they have them), and their private telephone numbers. More so than in high school, class discussions carry on outside the classroom. It's a great feeling to know that the subject matter you are learning pertains to real life.

Professors definitely know your name and are often very willing to help you academically and even personally. I think the academics are the best part about this college. Students are not competitive which is great, and many students are very intelligent. I think Conn's academic reqs are fair and are very easy to fulfill. Education at conn is definitely geared towards learning for its own sake.

Hard as you want to make it. You can glide through without getting a C but its tough to make straight A's

I think the academics are amazing at this school. Classes are challenging, teachers force you to think outside the box, and i've never felt that a course was so easy there was no point in attending it. Teachers really get to know their teachers, and i feel i've developed friendships with them, and if i was to do bad in their class, it would almost be a personal offense to them. Not that that's how they look at it, but they definitely have a pull in how well one does in their class. I also feel they WANT their kids to do well, they aren't purposefully making things hard or failing kids because they have vendettas, which is what i've heard in many other schools.

Professors know me. My bio professor first semester, in the intro bio class, knew he would have trouble learning our names, so he took pictures of us in our labs and studied them like notecards. In my intro chem class of 80, my chem professor gets our tests back the day after we take them.

Conn has amazing academic opportunities. During my freshmen fall, one of my professors wrote a grant to take our class to Puerto Rico to study bioluminescent organisms for a week. The trip was completely funded and we were able to experience first hand what wwe had studied in the classroom the whole year. I am a junior now, and every semester I have grown closer with my professors. Professors here are very intsturmental in engaging students with the class material. Professors get to know students; whether your class has 90 students or 6, your professor will know your name and your academic habits. It is not uncommon to go to a profesor's house for dinner or babysit their kids or meet up with them after class. Some of my professors at Conn have been the most influencial people and have inspired me to change the way I think and approach issues. Some of my classes have been so interesting that I have changed my summer work plans to more closely reflect the material we learned in class.

Really depends on your course of study. However every professor is challenging and you will learn which courses to take and which not to.

the sciene department is fabulous, the classes are great and the professors are very helpful, i have also been on two trips to tropical places with my classes which is just awesome, i also love the honor code and the fact that we can take our finals whenever we want, it makes the whole process a lot less stressful

professors very accessible and knowledgable about their field, interesting and engaging classes - ethics particularly; able to have intellectual conversations with my friends about class material and current events; requirements seem fair; conn education definitely oriented toward a career (CELS program)

Connecticut College is a melting pot of academics. Some departments, such as english, have very strong professors across the board and provide great opportunities. Smaller majors, which attract less students, are underfunded (even though we pay 50K a year) and the professors are hit or miss. My favorite classes have all been ones in which I really felt like i was getting my money's worth, professors that are stimulating and highly intelligent always have better classes regardless of the subject. My least favorite classes have mostly been economics classes where I was not challenged at all and mostly have felt I could have taught better than some of the professors. Students are not really competitive and mostly support each other, group work is common and encouraged in most majors. Conn is small enough that most of the time you can have strong relationships with professors in and outside of the classroom. Having good relationships with professors is key to really learning in my opinion so this is something Conn has in it's favor. My experience at Conn has been geared towards learning and not real world application.

I am pretty sure that all of my professor's know me by my first name. My favorite class so far was my freshman seminar called "Environmental Challenges in the Politically Developing World." This was a very fun class because it was taught by a great professor and we learned about third world countries and what it would take for them to catch up to the level of first world countries without harming the planet. Students are not very competitive but they are very diligent and they know when it is time to work and when it is time to play. I feel that Conn's academic requirements are very stringent and annoyingly un-flexible.