Connecticut College Top Questions

For me the best things about Conn Coll is that the dance department has become my second home. I love the close-knit community and though Conn sometimes feels a little small, most of the time, I really like the size. One of my complaints is that due to the smallness, everyone knows each others business and gossip is a big downfall. For example, a website went up recently called conncollconfessionals.com and due to its anonymous nature, people have posted some really malicious comments about their peers on this campus. This has caused quite a bit of controversy and uproar. We have a fairly good amount of school pride for a small place. Most people generally like it a lot here. I will always remember performing with David Dorfman's company on the Palmer stage.

DANCE DEPARTMENT!-Location-too small, but I think I like it like that-"oooh, you mean UCONN?"or "wow, that was too expensive for me" or "ooh, a smart one!"-dance studio or at home-"what college town?"-like them, so far they have been very helpful and personable.-ConnCollConfessional-I think so, much more than in my highschool!-our programs offered to us called CELS or our study abroad programs-dressing up and cheering for our Central2 dorms!we won!! but never got that pizza party!!-always the same thing on the weekends.

bring a car! the campus is beautiful but it gets a bit dull if you're stuck on it all the time...new london gets a bad rep sometimes but it actually has quite a few charming bars, restaurants, stores, etc.

I love ConnColl, however, I find many students disagree. They have a difficult time with the campus being so small, but you have to know this when you apply to a school that's just under 2,000. I went to a small high school, so the size does not bother me. I do see, though, how the size can bother someone who came from a high school that is bigger than Conn. Another complaint is that the social scene is lacking. To a certain extent I agree with this... it does get a little repetitive. Because almost everyone lives on campus, there are minimal house parties. But then again, because everyone lives on campus, it is nice to not have to worry about transportation all over. New London is not the safest town, but it's improving slowly, and the bar scene is decent. I love Harris Dining Hall... word on the street is that our bakery is so bomb because Sarah Lee is an alum and donated money to our bakery. No big deal.

Conn college is a pretty awesome school in my opinion. We have a student honor code that is enforced by a student run judiciary board. This means we can schedule our final exams for when we want and professors generally trust their students and treat us like adults. I like being at a small school and knowing most everybody (though if that's not your cup of tea than definitely do not come here). Though you often meet people that you may not have met before, chances are high that you've already seen them before on campus. The school is still lacking a bit in diversity though the adminstration is working on that. Another thing that President Higdon is working on is increasing the school's reputation as not many people know where you're talking about when you say I go to Connecticut College. They mostly ask if that's UConn, which is incredibly annoying. New London and Groton (which is just across the river) get better the more you get used to them though they are still lacking compared to other college towns. Still, there are lots of good restaurants, target/walmart/shoprite for groceries, and some fun stuff like laser tag, bowling, etc. Havin a car or knowing someone with a car definitely helps, though. The administration seems to be doing a pretty good job at this point... The biggest recent controversy here was definitely the Conncoll confessional which was a site where people could post anything anonymously - that got a bit out of hand though it's died down now thank god. School pride is generally pretty high and most people are a fan of the camel mascot including myself :).

The best thing is the campus, it's really pretty and has lots of open space. If I could change one thing I would fix up some of the older dorms and academic buildings because some are outdated and need renovations. The school is a little too small for my liking. Most people haven't heard of Conn College when I tell them that's where I go. I spend most of my time in classes or in the athletic center. We don't really have a college town, but the towns surrounding the school have some nice stores and restaurants. I love Conn's president, but the rest of the administration isn't very involved. The biggest recent controversy on campus was the prohibition of kegs in common rooms for the rest of the year. There isn't much school pride because our athletic teams don't usually do very well. The fact that Conn has an honor code which allows us to self-schedule our exams is very unusual and is one of my favorite things about the school. I will always remember attending our spring festival event Floralia. Students' complaints are often about the food, high tuition, poor athletic facilities, and lack of social opportunities during the week.

I love the school but I wish that it wasn't so isolated from the city. I'm from New Haven and I really like the way Yale is inherently part of the city. I don't like that I have to drive to take the camel van if I want to get off camps. The campus itself is beautiful. I love it now that its spring and everything is in full bloom. I wish there were more large parties and kegs where everyone could just get shitfaced together instead of drinking in your room and then searching for something to do on campus.

People often ask me on my tours if I feel like the size of Conn is too small. It's really not. I think that part of what makes Conn great is its really close knit community where you do know a lot of the people that you see when you're walking down Cro Blvd. It makes people more friendly and outgoing and makes the social scene flow better. You get to know people in your dorms and classes better as well as people in clubs. Everyone gets really involved as well, which makes it really feel like people like the school and want to participate.

The idea of shared governance is very strong -- basically students work with administrators or through the SGA to make changes on campus.

I like the small, intimate size of Conn. A lot of people don't know about Conn, when I tell them I go there. Others are impressed. I spend most of my time at conn on campus. If there was one thing I could change about Conn, I would like to be closer to the town itself, within walking distance at least. I think there is school pride, but not like at bigger schools. I think our students have a great opportunity to communicate with the administration, which is great. Also, we have a lot of freedom with the honor code.

I really love the community at Conn, especially in the Spring. Everybody is so friendly when the weather is nice, and people enjoy the outdoors together. I feel that getting involved in extracurriculars is extremely important because you meet people that you may not meet in classes, or socially. It also helps you form a community, which then becomes your best group of friends. New London as a college community is slowly but surely improving. Since Conn is in a "bubble" (a bit separated from New London), you do not have to leave campus for anything, really. It is nice though, to explore New London and the surrounding areas because it has some really great stuff to offer- cafes, shopping, movies, other entertainment. It can get a bit monotonous on campus and leaving always offers a new taste to what there is out there.

Conn coll is a small school where you will really get to know everyone. This is a good thing, but it can sometimes feel suffocating, especially in the social sense. The campus is full of amazing resources if you are brave enough to seek them out and go outside your comfort zone. New London is a fabulous college town, don't be scared of it. It's amazing. Conn has a very normal front but underneath its got this totally awesome artsy side full of musicians and dancers.

The best thing about Conn College, for me is the student body. While Conn is not racially diverse, it is diverse in "types" meaning students have a broad range of interests; the school does not simply sports oriented or arts oriented, there is a great balance. The students are positive and very well-rounded: most play at least one sport, are in a couple of clubs, and put considerable care into their studies. Downtown New London gets a worse rep than it deserves. The problem is not the city but the lack of transportation: downtown has galleries, cafes, bars, and a nice "progressive" atmosphere, but it is not close to campus and the "camel van" is inconvenient and unreliable. The campus itself is gorgeous with old stone buildings and a view of the Long Island Sound and Thames River. There are hundreds of acres to hike around--a resource often neglected by the student body. I have had great experiences with dorms and they tend to be spacious; Sophomores are pretty much garenteed singles, which is great, and all dorms are an equal mix off all classes which really helps breakdown age barriers and create an integrated community. They have been improving the athletic facilities, and will have a totally new fitness center by next year. The library is not very attractive or luxurious, but is large and sufficient for student research, and is part of a consortium with Trinity and Wesleyan, so finding the books I need has never been a problem. The problem with the campus is that the physical area of where there are actually buildings is only about 90 of the campus' 750 acres, add that to the fact that we are surrounded by woods and the campus can feel clostrophobic. People's reaction when I tell them I go to Conn College various: those who know what Connecticut College is are impressed, and those who don't ask about UConn basketball. In the Boston area, where I am from Conn is quite prestigious, so I was suprised to find out that was not the case elsewhere. The reason much of the student body seems to be wealthy is because NESCAC schools seem to attract private school students who have the oppertunity to learn about schools through ample college counseling as opposed to mere word of mouth. But let me put in this way: I came Conn know that most people would not have heard of my school, but that people that mattered (grad schools, jobs) would know my school-- the lack of of a name does not seem to hurt the many Conn students who go on to some of the best grad schools and prestigious financial institutions after graduation. Many students complain that all there is to do on weekends is drink. I have not felt limited to drinking. What I really like about Conn's party scene is the Friday break, meaning, at Conn people generally party on Thursday and Saturday leaving Friday as a night for relaxation. Every Friday the school hosts indie bands at the student center for "Friday Nights Live," there are also student performances, films, and a generally "low-key" atmosphere. This adds a nice break to the weekend. As far as Thursday and Saturday: there is a lot of drinking. Its a work hard/play hard type of school, and many feel that all there is to do is go to a keg (which are held in dorm common rooms) drink in friends' rooms, go then go to the student center which serves as a holding tank for drunk students. It took some searching for me to realize that, while this is the easiest and most common weekend activity, it is by no means all there is to do. Students make oppertunities: Conn's large music community plays a part in this. "MOBROC" the society of bands on campus hosts concerts, djs compete and host dance parties, on campus apartments host theme parties; and then there is always off campus: Providence and New Haven, both of which have great night life are only 45 minutes away, and Boston and New York are two hours respectively. Downtown New London offers a veriety of bars and venues. Ultimately, however, this is a small isolated college, and drinking and socializing is the typical method of blowing off steam. A new president and dean arrived in 2006 who have ambitious plans that seem to be paying off: in the last year, alone, dozens of renovations have occured around campus, our endowment has increased by $60,000,000, and admissions statistics have changed favorably. As a result, Conn seems to be on an up-swing and there is a positive consensus around campus about the changes that are occuring. The administration, however, tends to baby the students, leading to the nickname "camp Conn". Lastly, I think saying any school is "too small" or "too large" is not a helpful comment because it is part of the nature of the school, not a problem with it; if Conn is too small then hundreds of schools are too small... if NYU is too big, then hudreds of schools are too big. Being a small school is an essential part of the Conn College experience: there is a strong sense of community; professors and students form close relationships; and one becomes an important part of the pace and lifeblood of the school after a year or so and finding their "niche".

As with most small schools, sometimes it feels VERY small. Once you meet someone you will see them everywhere, often when you don't want to. Also your business will often become common knowledge. However the small size is one of my favorite parts about the school. I am not an outgoing person and yet I feel like I know everyone. There is also a definite sense of community.

Conn is a small great school that has alot of personality. Everyone gets along and everyone has their own unique style and ideas. Students are able to come together easily and discuss matters from differnt music to politics. You may feel like you know everyone cause you walk by the same people to class everyday but i see someone in harris everytime that i have never seen before.

A little small, but provides amazing opportunities to be close to the faculty. The social scene gets stifling, but there really is no better way to get in touch with the material than look at it closely with professors. The faculty here is PHENOMENAL, and really CARES about the students. There is not very much dating, and the girl/guy ratio really does make a difference...it is hard to find a descent guy because they are in such high demand that they dont want to be tied to one person. The campus is gorgeous, though New London is not. There are a lot of nice restaurants though, and Mystic and Harkness beach are wonderful and easily accessible. Cars are allowed for all four years and all non-freshman get singles.

The best thing about Conn College is the people. Most everyone is very friendly and laid back and generally just wants to have a well-rounded college experience. People usually react in a very nice way, they know that it's an extremely respectable school. Most of the time spent on campus is in friend's room/dorms and on the green (when the weather's nice). Shain library becomes very social when the weather's too cold for the green. The biggest controversy on campus was when a student was kicked out of school for very unfair reasons. There is a bunch of school pride, everyone's always out on the green cheering for lacrosse or soccer games. Hockey games are huge as well, and of course the spring music festival is like Christmas for everyone on campus. The best little known thing about Conn is that the beach is so close, even when it's freezing you can have bonfires on the beach!

The people that go to conn are extremely friendly. The sport teams suck but people still go to all the games and support their friends.

The best thing about Connecticut College is my friends, the small and beautiful campus with its arboretum its close proximity to the water and nice beaches and its fairly liberal students. The worst thing about Connecticut College is its lack of common spaces, housing that accommodates friends living together and party activities. As well if you do not have a car, you can virtually go nowhere and the campus can get very constrictive and boring. I spend most of my time with my friends, during summer it is the beach and during winter it is mostly in my dorm. Although Conn College does not have much of a college town, New London is a growing town in which over my four years at Conn College I have learned to love New London and its many quant restaurants such as lobster dock! As well surrounding towns such as Mystic are very enjoyable and cute. I don't believe there is a lot of school pride because we do not have any major sports teams but when our teams do succeed all of the school goes out to the games to support. One experience that I will remember is FLORALIA and ski club. As well, the first few weeks of school after summer and when the spring comes, the entire school congregates at the beach is something I will never forgot. One thing about Conn College that I do not like is the lack of classes offered and the lack of information about important events or needs that are required by the college.

Conn College is a great place to be because of it's small ratio. However, I would change campus life because some dorms are just tacky! like Lazrus! yo they need some help!!!!!!! People think I go to UCONN when I say i go to Conn College. I spend most of my time at the library so I wish it were open 24 hours.

If you're talking to anyone familiar with small liberal arts colleges, when you say you go to Conn College, you usually get an "Oh! My __ goes there" or "Is it still a women's college?" When you talk to anyone not familiar with these schools (which was pretty much my entire hometown), the response is generally more like, "UConn?" Conn is pretty small and not one of those schools that people easily recognize like Brown or Stanford or Johns Hopkins. Despite the general lack of name recognition outside of the Northeast, I think that Conn is a really great school. I'm studying at one of the best places to learn about Environmental Studies and getting a great education. I wasn't a big fan of the past president, but President Higdon has really gotten involved in the college community and shown that he's going to make Conn a better place. Known as Big Hig on campus, President Higdon really makes an effort to interact with students, learn our names, and remember what we're doing or studying. Conn doesn't have much of an endowment thanks to some past presidential actions, so most students complain about the lack of funding. However, President Higdon really seems committed to improving our financial situation.

Its location is the best thing. 2 hours from boston, 2 hours from NYC and right on the sound. Id change the food. Just right. They usually say "oh great basket ball team"-- meaning U Conn. I spend most of my time in my room, on the water, and in the library. the biggest recent controversy on campus was the development of the conn coll confessional. There could be more school spirit. its unusual that almost everyone that wants a single gets one after freshman year. and its unusal that we have kegs in common rooms. Ill always remember camel sailing. the most frequent complaints are bad food, the internet not working, and campus saftey sucks.

I like the Conn campus, its very pretty. I love walking back from the AC and being able to see the Long Island Sound. And its really fun when the Green is full of students when the weather is nice. I like the size of Conn because its big enough to meet new people and have character, but the relatively small size encourages a stronger sense of community. Unfortunately, New London is lacking and not very accessible. Having a car on campus is the best solution to this pitfall. The school spirit could use a boost. Camplympics is a great demonstration of school spirit, but during the other normal weekends of the school year, the spirit lacks a bit.

The best thing about Conn College is the attitude of the students and staff on campus towards others. Everyone is polite and helpful, and very friendly. If there was one thing I'd change about Connecticut College, it would be the parking situation. There are not very many spots on campus. The school size feels at times too small (as everyone knows everyone); however, this can also be nice because you never feel as though you are just a number. When I tell people that I go to Conn, they are usually impressed. I spend the most time on campus hanging out in my friend's rooms. I go off campus often to dine or shop, but there really is no "college town". I wouldn't choose New London to hang out in. I think there is a lot of school pride- going to games is very popular. Students often complain about the campus safety at Conn, but in reality, their rules are pretty lenient.

I think the best thing about the school is the small atmosphere because it makes the professors approachable and we can build real relationships with faculty. Most of my time on campus is spent hanging out with friends in dorms or apartments or at the athletic center. New London is not much of a college town to be honest, but it has really improved over the past four years and the city is making an effort to improve the downtown. There are some good cafes, bars, and little shops that werent there just a few years ago. The President of the college right now is amazing. He is moving the school in the right direction and is very involved in all aspects of campus life. One thing that does bother me is the lack of school pride. People do not really attend alot of the sporting events and I think not having a football team plays a large part in the lack of school pride.

The best thing about Conn College is the intimate environment. The enormous amount of personal attention and the comfortable size have enabled me to really figure myself out through my major, my interests and my friends. One thing I would absolutely change is the lack of Greek life. On a small campus without access to a city or even a town within walking distance, students need somewhere to go outside of the halls of their dorms. I wish that Conn was close to bars or to frathouses-it would give people somewhere different to socialize than where they live and would be a fun organized way to meet people. Some say that sports team serve as the alternative to Greek life, which shouldn't be the case. Another thing I would change about the school is the residential arrangement. We need suite style living instead of merely singles or doubles. My best friend at BC lives in an 8 man suite with four doubles and a common room, and another group of her friends has one next door. I think it would completely change the dorm life and if the college is looking to make renovations, this is the best place to start. When I tell people that I go to Connecticut College I either get a confused reaction (UConn) or an indifferent one, which always sounds to me like they are blowing it off as a small, mediocre place, which always bothers me.

the small community. coming from the midwest nobody knows about conn.

Too small people are very friendly most time spent in dorm rooms or outside during warm seasons no college town, new londo sucks administration is fair, strait-forward for the most part school pride, but not at sporting events ConnColl Confessional is biggest contraversy

Best thing about conn college: its academics. One thing I'd change: it is very isolated. A little too small, not enough going on socially.

The best thing about Connecticut College is its landscape. It is absolutely beautiful. It overlooks Long Island Sound, which is amazing, but I feel as though it isn't as impressive, because you can see Long Island, and I personally would prefer to just look out on the vast expanse of the ocean, not just what would seem to a Minnesotan to be a lake but for the knowledge that it is the Atlantic. Otherwise, there is an Arboretum on-campus, and it is incredible. For those of you who aren't Environmental Studies savvy, an Arboretum is basically a giant park. No, playgrounds are not included, but there is a lot of Nature. Trees everywhere, a nice lake, even a marsh-type area. A great place to take walks, or lie in the sun on the main hill that leads down to the lake. That's another thing about Conn: there are a lot of 'greens' to relax on, play on, run through, whatever. Just a lot of green mowed fields throughout campus. When it isn't raining, they are covered in students.

I think the best thing about Conn College is the individual attention one receives as a student from the faculty and staff. You get to know professors and administrators on a first-name basis and can get help when you need it. I like small schools, so I think that 1,800 undergrads is a very nice size. The large amount of green space on campus is very nice for this size, too; you can always find a quiet place to go and enjoy nature. I get a positive reaction from people when I tell them I go to Conn College. I spend a lot of my time in my room doing homework (I prefer studying in my room to studying in the library), a lot of time outside in the arboretum or on the main green with friends when the weather's nice, and a good amount of time at the athletic center. New London (the nearest city) is about a five minute drive away, and has not been too much of a college town at all in the past but new college student-friendly businesses are starting to move in and I feel like positive progress is being made to strengthen ties between Conn College Students and New London. I think that our administration is great right now. I have had little or no problems in dealing with them. There is a good amount of school pride, but this amount of pride would probably be bolstered significantly if we had more division 1 sports teams (I believe sailing is D.1 at our school). As it is, our pride is based more on our academic achievements and opportunities offered by the college. I'll always remember the semester-long study abroad program that I did through Conn College, which took me to the Andes Mountains and lowland rainforest of Peru. Students often complain about the lack of social life or activities at or near the college, especially on weekends. I think this is true, and it would help if New London began to offer more exciting things to do for college students.

The best thing about Conn is easily the community. It's very friendly and open, and it gives people warm fuzzies. In my opinion, the school is just the right size, because I'm not the most outgoing, though I have heard people complain that it is too small. New London is not a college town, and people rarely go there. I go every week, but I'm the exception rather than the rule. Conn's administration is great. It does some controversial things, but I can't remember any big ones recently. There is NOT a lot of school pride when it comes to things like sports, but in general people show a lot of loyalty.

Conn College is the perfect size for people looking for a small school. The main campus is small and I don't have a long trek in the morning when I have to go to classes. Sometimes I wish Conn College was in a better location because there really is not much to do in New London and the surrounding area. I have had great experiences with teachers and I think we have very qualified professors with great character. There is basically no school pride. Something that I have found here is that a very large proportion of people are either depressed or have ADD, and they take medication for this. I have found this to be a common trend and the few times I tried to go to counseling services for stress, it was all overbooked. I feel like so many people have emotional issues here and are very medicated. And if they aren't on medication, they probably smoke weed.

the best thing would be the class sizes. i would change the fact that there are no off campus housing nearby. i think it would be prefect if it was a little bit larger. People usually say that it's a good school or that i must be smart. i spend most of my time either in my room or my common room. i think a college town would be a town in which has stores and a small community surronding it which is greatly effected in a postive way by the college. i have no comment of Conn's administration. i am not sure what the biggest controversy on campus is. I would not say our school has alot of school pride. I feel as though conn is a school where people go becuase they didnt get into thier first choice and then eventully will reapply there and get it, almost like conn is purgatory. the most frequent complaints have to be that the keg parties, when they do happen, are broken up soo quickly.

If I could change one thing about Conn College I would have better sports. I wish we had college sports similar to those in many D1 schools, particularly a football team. The school is just right in size for me. When I tell people I go to Conn, a lot of people give blank stares and don't know where I am talking about. I spend most of my time on campus in my room or friends' rooms. I would say that there is no sense of a college town. There isn't a ton of school pride, it really depends on the sport but overall I feel like the school pride is a lot less than in high school.

Because I don't like in New England (i.e. right outside of Boston), I saw 'I go to Connecticut College" and they usually give me a dumbfounded look and say "UConn" and I saw "NO!"--It gets obnoxious, but you learn to blow them off.

best thing-environmental ethics change-better food size-a bit too small reaction-oh you go to Uconn? most time-sailing on the thames, in my dorm, out on the green semi-college town good admin-so far been pretty satisfied recent controversy-conn coll confessional school pride-yup! unusual-we are camels one experience-meeting my roomie most frequent complaints-bad food, bunches of work, no heat and mold

The best thing about Conn College is the camel mascot, hands down. And Marc Zimmer. If I could, I would take this school and put it in NYC to remove the "bubble" factor of this campus that removes us from the real world (which is not so appealing as our world is New London, CT). This school is too small, which is probably one reason why most people ask me if I mean I go to UConn when I mention Conn College. No, I know what school I go to, thank you. It may also have to do with New London being in the middle of nowhere and possessing qualities that match its location. Despite this, there is a good amount of school pride. Conn College doesn't feel very much like a "real" college because it's so small that many things run on a more informal level and allows for a lot less bureaucracy than most schools. On the whole, Conn College is a cool place for those resourceful enough to find something to do in this teeny uneventful place.

Best thing: multi-grade dorms Thing I'd change: location, New London is pretty boring and actually kind of hard to access from campus I'd say the school is too small, I feel like I see the same people everywhere Most people have never heard of Conn College but those who have have an impression of it being a pretty snobby place I spend most of my time in my dorm; my house is a really social one so my social life pretty much comes to me There are a coupld of cute places around, but it sucks because they aren't an easy walking distance away Not very much school pride; most people think it's cute that we're the "Camels" but no one really goes to any sporting events Conn is unusual because so much of our social life revolves around "kegs" being thrown in common rooms; i haven't heard of any other school that has kegs sponsored in common rooms Students usually complain that the social life is kind of repetitive or that the student body is really homogeneous

Little too small can feel suffocating

Conn is a great place to go to school. All student resources are very close to your dorms. Classes are small and professors are approachable. People get wild when its partytime, but work hard when its not. Most students walk between 2-5 minutes to get to class. Its a bit of a struggle to get off campus, but so many students have cars its really not a problem.

The best thing about Conn is that I honestly feel like I do have a voice here. Something I'd change is a.) make the freakin' AC closer and b.) have people generally have a greater respect for other people (and their property) - that includes respecting the school and the people who work here. I think this school could be a bit bigger- but not much. When I tell people I go to Conn they either go "Oh, great basketball" (meaning they think I go to UConn, or "Oh, great school - what's your major?" I spend most of my time in my dorm room or the dorm rooms of others. I don't think NewLo is the typical "college town" but I think there is definitely an interesting dynamic between the "city" and the college. I think the administration- especially Pres. Higdon- is doing a great job. Honestly. CONN COLLEGE CONFESSIONAL- aka a lot of small minded people venting about people, places and things that they don't fully understand. I don't think there is a lot of school pride - at least not as much as there should be. I think we're at a really great place and if people opened their eyes, put a little effort into it, and stopped their bitching they'd see what a great deal they have! One experience I'll always remember is...well I think there's a lot. Maybe my favorite are the little chats with Leo Higdon in the dining hall. I mean really, how many presidents really get to know their students? The most frequent complaints have to be the food- which honestly could be SO much worse.

The best thing about the college is the campus: it is compact, close-knit, and small enough to be easily and quickly traversable. The dorms, however, rarely form close communities, and it is alarmingly easy to feel like an island in a sea of people. People generally react with puzzlement or confusion at the mention of Conn College (UConn being the classic object of confusion), or with no particular impression: Conn, when it is known at all, is not known for anything at all, either positive or negative. I spend most of my time on campus hanging out in either my or my friends' dorms (there aren't any meaningful campus-wide common areas or places for students to hang out, with the questionable exception of the library, I suppose). New London ostensibly has ties to Conn, but those ties mostly consist of 1) propagandistic bullshit from the administration trying to make New London sound like something better than a never-quite-started revival, 2) local restaurants catering or sponsoring meals on campus, or 3) occasional visits to town eateries/drinkeries. While there are a few shining stars (one or two, tops, that I've met) in the Conn administration, and I haven't, admittedly, dealt with them enough to really comment, my general impression is lukewarm to negative, from hearsay. The biggest controversy I can remember on campus recently was the debut of the Conn College Confessional website (anonymous posting of anything that's on your mind), and I suspect that will be the only controversy I experience here, because this campus is so obnoxiously and unfailingly politically correct. School pride varies a lot - some people are proud to have gotten into what is ostensibly a top tier liberal arts college, others are disappointed by its obscurity, some think Conn is great, others are less enthusiastic. There definitely isn't a tidal wave of school spirit, as a general rule (unless it's an excuse for copious drinking!). In many ways, the most remarkable thing about Conn is how totally unremarkable it is: there's a lot of drinking, but no more or less than any other college; there're smart people and dumb people (mostly the latter), geeks and jocks; there's a campus and a town but neither enough connection nor enough isolation to set us apart. I have yet to have an experience at Conn that I wil always remember that I wouldn't have had at any other college, or at a job, or sitting around living with my parents instead of either a career or an education. The most frequent student complaints I hear here will probably be best addressed in the next section, so without further ado....

Location is great. It's really small but I like it that way. People who have heard of the school know it's a great school. It's not a college town, but there's enough stuff going on on campus that it's not a big deal.

Conn has a really great Career center - CELS. New London is nice, hard to get to, but an ok town to hang out in. Biggest controversy is ConnCollConfessional. I would say that reading it IS NOT a good representation of the Conn experience, and I like how the student body is handeling it. Complaints are usually that they have a hard time branching out - but then again, on "mix it up day" not many peopl esit with someone new.

The best thing about Conn is that this place is one big community: no matter where I am going and with whom, people are always saying "Hey, what's up?" or "How's it going?" It's easy to feel welcomed here. -- If I were to change something about this place I would put the dorms closer together. Sometimes, especially in South campus, it becomes easy to feel isolated. -- The number of students here is just perfect for me, but everyone is different; I know people who want there to be more students here and others who get lost in the 1,800 students that we have. -- When I say "I go to Conn College," the most frequent reactions are either "I've never heard of it," or "Oh, U Conn, really?" -- I spend a lot of time either in my dorm or in Cro, the student center. But each day is different. Sometimes I am all over the place, or just in the library, or in a friend's dorm. -- We are definitely separated from New London a lot more than anyone would like tell you. However, OVCS (Office of Volunteers for Community Service) helps transport students into New London for community service jobs, and we have the Camel Van which makes stops at major locations in the city. -- There are good things and bad things about our administration. For the most part, everyone is really helpful. However, there are a few people who aren't informed about the college as much as they should be (when standing in the Knowlton common room, President Higdon once asked which part of campus he was on), and there are some people who try to be more powerful than they actually are. -- Recently, there was a huge controversy about Conn getting RA's (essentially) and much of the problems came from Dean Briddell who thought that she could overstep her bounds as a Dean and usurp the power that SGA has in controlling certain aspects of campus life. The situation was resolved with some sort of compromise. -- For the most part, there is quite a lot of school pride. I mean, who doesn't like kicking Williams' or Bowdoin's asses in sporting events? -- Something unusual about Conn is that we have an Honor Code that gives us, as students and as residents, a lot of freedom. However, we have a lot of responsibility that balances out the freedom that we were given through the Honor Code. -- I will never forget my first play here: I was in a student run production in the first semester of my freshman year (2007-2008); I made some really great friends who I'll never forget. -- I think the most frequent complaint that I hear is "There is NOTHING to eat tonight," or "This meal was really gross..."

I think something about Conn College that stands out to me is the way that people here are genuinely nice for the most part. I really do believe that this school does not attract any snobby types, and that there are a good amount of people here who really love the school. I spend a lot of my time on campus in my room with friends, and sitting around at the library, doing work or just talking to other people there. For me, Conn has been an experience filled with wonderful friends, and each semester I meet and befriend new people whom I get to know and love. Since Conn is not exactly a very "impressive" name in the college world, I feel as though it is a school that attracts people for reasons other than status and name power. Something great about this school is the way that dorms are mixed with all grades, because it really fosters friendships that span class years. Freshman year, I became friends with a senior who really became my life and Conn guru, and I never would have crossed paths with him if we hadn't lived on the same floor. I also think that the respected dance department here adds a great, creative vibe to campus, and dance is something that so many people partake in, whether by taking Experimental or going to performances. The creative addition that dance provides our campus with distinguishes it from other schools.

The best thing about Conn is the environment. You are located on a pristine, beautiful campus, with nature all around you. Not only that, but you are in close contact with your professors, since there is such a high teacher to student ratio. These factors, combined with a relatively consciencious student body and a supportive administration, make Conn a place where you can really grow, learn, and explore your interests. You will be exposed to lots of motivated people, and you will be in contact with lots of interesting professors. That being said, not every Conn student is motivated, interesting, and consciencous. There are plenty of people who are arrogant, petty, and insensitive; but those people are everywhere. One of the hardest part about being at conn is how small it is. You have limited social options, and parties are usually not as big as they would be at larger schools. You have a smaller group of people from which to pick your friends, and often the social politics can be catty and very much like high school. People are more concerned about their image on the campus, because if you do something, everyone finds out. On the other hand, being in a small student body is great, in that you form lasting friendships with people, and you can know everyone at a party, rather than just your own little group. You have to choose what's more important to you, and what kind of social scene you feel you need at college. Plenty of freshman arrive expecting big parties; finding fewer than they had hoped, many of these freshman transfer.

Food's not good Weekend life revolves around drinking and partying More prone to random hook-ups (Conn is not conducive to relationships)

I've been extremely happy here at Connecticut College. The size is just right-- my professors know me and I have a great group of people that support me on campus, and this nurturing atmosphere has really helped me grow. On the other hand, it's not too small either-- I can still walk into the snack shop and not know anybody sitting at the tables. I spend most of my time in the residence halls, hanging out with my friends, or going out to dinner or a coffee in New London. New London has struggled economically over the years, but it's going through a real renaissance these days, with a fair trade coffee house, good sushi, a Mexican restaurant that was in the New York Times, and some really cool music and art festivals. Back on campus, I hang out in Coffee Grounds, or in Cro, the student center, where there are student performances as well as Friday Nights Live with musicians passing through on their way to New Haven, Providence, Boston, and New York. What's unusual, and special, about Conn, I think, is our honor code, because it informs every part of life on campus, not just academics. Because of the honor code, I can leave my jacket and purse on my chair at the dance on Saturday night, and not have to worry about it being stolen. Of course, there are always aberrations, but it leads to a social atmosphere of respect and awareness-- people tend to look out for each other, and at college, that's a really nice change.