Elon University Top Questions

I'm an engineering major, which many people on campus didn't know existed. Our engineering program is a Dual Degree program where you attend Elon for 3 years usually and then the real engineering school for 2 years. This allows you to circumvent the annoying weed out classes at the big schools and take your calculus, chemistry, physics in small classes and really understand the stuff. I think the general studies requirements are a pain in the arse. After spending countless hours trying to arrange my schedule around those classes, which often are very limited in the amount of students they can take. The career center needs work, especially if you want a legit science/math internship, not a meager comm internship with no pay.

In my experience within the Communications, Spanish and Business departments, you’ll have to work hard but it’ll be meaningful and if you learn to manage your time, you won’t be too overwhelmed. It’s college. Your classes will be challenging. But you’re not going to die. The class sizes are small enough that you know your professors, they know you, they genuinely care, they are willing to help and believe it or not, they want you to succeed. They also hold you accountable and you won’t be able to skip class and hope they don’t notice, or fall asleep in the back of the room. Elon does a really great job providing tools to help you do well. The tutoring center is available for assistance in all subject areas. There’s a writing center for papers. You’ll survive and if you put forth the effort, you’ll thrive. What really makes Elon academically rigorous is the fact that the clubs and activities and extracurricular are so rigorous that the hard part is putting aside enough time and energy for class and homework on top of everything else! And I mean this in a positive way - as many or most of the clubs and activities provide great real world work experience or opportunities for networking within fields of interest. Or they at least ensure that you’re happy – which is just as important. My point is that the average Elon student is very busy and involved with a full course load. And it’s not easy, but it’s manageable and you’ll get a heck of a lot out of it in the end.

If I was a liberal arts major, I'm not entirely sure that I'd go here. But I'm a communications major and I LOVE the department! Business and education are standout programs too. After freshman year, my friends who were communications majors at other schools had taken speech classes. I'd taken a communications history/theory class, media writing, and digital media convergence (a film/photo/design class). I was able to get an internship after my freshman year. And I still haven't had one teacher that I didn't like. They're all friendly, relatable, good at explaining things, and always available to help. The best thing about an Elon education is that you will be well-rounded when you graduate. Take advantage of the opportunities Elon offers and you'll be both prepared for a job and well-rounded in the liberal arts. It's also possible to take easy classes and slide by basically doing nothing, which some kids do, but that's such a waste when Elon offers so much.

I have had a very positive experience with the academics at Elon. I find that all of my professors know me by name and are very willing to help me outside of class. Class participation is very common in classrooms and students are encouraged to engage in discussions during class. I am an accounting major but have found that some of the best classes I have taken have been the classes outside my major. I have found that the requirements for the liberal arts part of the school have helped me discover interests in subjects I never would have thought about. My professors have been great at teaching and making sure that the class gets the concept before they move on. I have had some bad classes, but for the most part, my academic experience has been excellent.

The classes are all very small so it is much more personal. I actually miss my big classes sometimes. Some of the teachers are great and some are awful, just like any school

Elon's classes are all about engaged learning. Professors at Elon really try and make Elon students very well rounded. The classes at Elon have about 30 students in them, so the professors really get to know their students. Elon really encourages studying abroad and internships, and gives students plenty of opportunities to do so.

There is none.

Professors definitely know my name. The classroom sizes are the same as it was in my highschool, and all professors really take the time to get to know their students, which creates a very interactive and comfortable learning environment. Students want to learn and therefore spend a lot of time studying/ in the library. I am a biology major, but so far have only taken chemistry classes, and as those were my hardest classes last year, I definitely spent a lot of time out of class with those professors. For both Chem I and II my professors urged students to reach them at anytime for extra help. and that help that I received definitely caused me to succeed in the course. Because of that experience I might actually even change my major to BioChemistry.

Over the past few years Elon has experienced significant growth in student and faculty populations. As a result there are a fair number of new faculty. However, there are a significant number of excellent and experienced faculty and staff who strive to make the campus and classes as beneficial as possible. Its easy to get to know many of the faculty members and I still stay in regular contact with most of my professors. At Elon the staff learn your name and help you throughout you schooling. The classrooms and buildings are up to date with great teaching technologies.

Essentially Elon is as hard as you make it. If you take easy classes and just slide by, you can pull out a B or C average. For the kids who have a little more ambition Elon is very academically challenging.

Very possible to get good grades if you just go to class and do the daily homework. Class size is small which creates a great atmosphere in the classroom. You can't be afraid to speak up.

good professors shitty admissions people good counselors

i know ALL of my professors extremely well and legit all of them are willing to help you out with your schoolwork and want to actually watch you succeed. the classes are fairly small but having gone to an all girls boarding high school, i know its for the best. i got to know my classmates really well and because classes were smaller i feel like more was accomplished during each class (meaning we usually left early). i think that education no matter where, is always how you make it. Elon is challenging to me but thats because i take harder classes and actually push myself to do well, so people (like at any school) just ride it out and hope to pass the classes.

The academics are more than I could have ever imagined in college. My professors know my name. I always have a desk in the classroom. Elon is a difficult college, all classes require significant work and study time to be put in the class so you have to be willing to work. Every class I have had at Elon has an attendance policy, for instance you are only allowed to miss 3 classes the entire semester. I, personally am a hardworking student so I would attend class anyways, but for some people they really like this because it forces them to go to class and make sure they understand the material. My most memorable experience was traveling abroad winter term in Europe, I would recommend it to everyone and anyone.

Professors know who you are. Make time available to see you. Studying varies on the student and the major. You find some students in their books all the time and others out and saving everything to the last minute. I guess to some extent you can choose how hard you want to challenge yourself and work. I don't find students competitive at all. In all my classes everyone is willing to help their peers and work together. Depending on the class, I utilize my time with the professor.

The academics at Elon are suprisingly rigorous. Students work several hours a day on work almost every day. The classes are small with no more than thirty students in one class. You get to know your proffesor and they are very friendly and approachable. My favorite class this year was World Religions because in this class, like many of my classes, the teachers are more concerned about intelectual discussion and theory more than memorizing facts and taking tests all the time. My major is Environmental Science and although it is a newer feild of study, Elon has done a fantastic job staying current with environmental issues, technologies, and theories. I enjoy going to class and I feel that it adequately prepares me for a proffessional career after college.

The only bad thing is that some of the teachers from before Elon became a great school still teach there and are bad. The new teachers are great. Students are involved, classes are engaging, and they apply to the real world (it is not just busy work). We do a lot of group work and projects, and the teachers are very involved.

Classes are small around 20 student and professors know your name. They are willing to help you at all times and most of them are really into what they teach. We work in groups in just about every class and presentations are a must. It really prepares you to work in a team environment and to speak in public.

I'm a corporate communications major, and through my classes in just two years I'm already ahead of people from other schools. I have an internship this summer and I fulfilled their projects for me that was suppossed to be over the whole summer in a week. They are constantly updating themselves with new programs and technology that you will always be ahead of the game.

Because Elon is a small institution classes normally don't have more than 30 students. Professors know students on a first-name basis. Elon's tradition of "college coffee" is a time when students and professors chat and joke outside of the classroom and it is not uncommon to see a professor at the coffee shop and join him/her for lunch or dinner. Class participation is very common and students normally continue discussions/debates started in class on their own time outside of the classroom. Students study all the time! There is a never ending flow of homework, papers and projects. For example, for my television production class I was always filming or editing something. The same holds true for my "Writing for Electronic Media" class. I felt like I lived in the edit labs! Every area of study here is challenging and work intensive, but I promise you will graduate with an excellent education.

I give the academics at Elon an A! The class sizes are perfect! Elon is known for its concentration on Engaged Learning, which I have found to be very apparent in my classes. I always know the names of my professors and they always find ways to learn mine too. I have not had a professor that I could not call at their house if I had any problem or issue. The teachers really care about the students and are always looking for constructive critisism to improve their teaching. I have more than one professor that I go and talk to on a regular basis outside of class about politics and world issues and problems that have recently been in the news. My favorite class was the Global Experience, which is a mandatory class for every student to have taken to graduate. Each section is taught by a different professor, which means that every students have a different experience in the class. It was the most unique class I have taken so far. Elon pushes its students to study abroad and get internships, which is one of the reasons why Elon graduates are so well rounded and prepared for getting a job. Although students are definitely looking to get a good job out of college, students enjoy the learning involved throughout the process.

Elon has some really unique classes and teaching styles. The school is really into "experiential learning," which means that they want students to learn by doing. I took a class called Local Government Simulation over Winter Term in which we were each given a role to play in an imaginary city government. We spent 1 week and 1/2 just playing out this simulation and it gave us real insight to what a local government is actually like. Also, for my International Relations class, we participated in the Model UN Crisis Simulation, which was similar, except that we were split up into different countries' governments and tried to act in character. Its focus was on the Middle East, and my country was Iran. We had a great time causing trouble for everyone else. The thing was that we actually learned a lot from it - we got to see that there really is something to all the theory mumbo jumbo that we learn in class.

My favorite classes here so far have been Intro to Psychology and Digital Media Convergence. Both of these classes have sparked my academic interest, leading me to pursue a second major in psychology, as well as to be more involved in areas requiring digital media skills. Elon students do have intellectual conversations outside of school, and some classes (especially the freshman required class The Global Experience) require that students attend on-campus cultural events like speakers or performers. Elon definitely encourages students and professors to build good relationships. Elon professors are given coupons to take a few students out to lunch on campus each semester, which allows them to get to know students better outside of the classroom. Also for Elon 101 many students are required to interview a professor, which is a great way of getting to know a professor better (I know the professor I interviewed has gone on to write me multiple recommendations for different things I've applied for--- it has been a great contact to make!). As a corporate communications and psychology double major, I've really loved the classes I've taken in my major fields so far. There are definitely some classes that require a lot more work than others, and certain teachers that will make or break certain required classes. But I like that Elon makes it easy for students to not only pursue a wide variety of majors, but there are tons of minors here, and they don't require that many hours, so pretty much every student has a chance to at least add a minor (or two!) onto their major. Plus, certain minors, such as Leadership, can be applicable to almost any major, so its a good way to expand your background (and your resume). In my experience, students here are highly academically motivated. I live in a learning community with a bunch of fellows, so obviously the school sees them as the most active students, but in general, I think that people here care a lot about their grades. Living in a learning community has also been one of the highlights of my experience here. I live in the communications learning community, and most students on this floor are really motivated with communications-related projects. Some boys on my floor even recently started up their own TV show that will run on Elon's TV station, ESTV, next semester. Another perk of living here is the availability of resources in other students. Older students can tell the pros and cons of certain teachers, as well as lend advice on projects and homework assignments.

The professors are generally very nice. There have been some terrible ones, of course, but most know me by name and say "hello" when I see them. I know many people that hang out with one or more professors, to get advice, celebrate achievments, or just to chat. There is a high amount of grade inflation on campus, but there are some professors who have sworn to curb the problem.

Classes here are pretty small which is very nice. I have never had a professor who didn't know me by name which is very convienient. The Profs are always there if you need extra help. I have even gone to lunch with my professors just so we can all get to know each other better. There are a ton of very interesting classes you can take, for example , I am a journalism major but I am taking a religion class right now which is incredibly interesting. You can alsways catch bits of interesting coversation around campus about any given topic that is a big issue or the subject of a unique course. When you leave Elon, you will certainly be very well prepared for whatever you want to do with your life but you will also come out with a vast bank of knowledge that just makes you a well informed, intelligent person.

The staff and the faculty here are amazing- they really care about the students and the entire university community not just their own research (though they do that too!). Students at Elon have the opportunity to really create mentor-student relationships with faculty through research, class projects, and community outreach.

Freshman year is extremely easy. However as you become enrolled in your major classes it becomes much more difficult. Students at Elon spend Sundays in the library and cram at exam times. Elon students are extremely involved in clubs and exracuricular activities so academics are not the only focus of a student's life.

My favorite class at Elon is World Religions with LD Russell. He is an amazing teacher and everyone should take at least one of his classes while you attend school here.

Most professors know my name; professor/student relationships are one of the best things about Elon. Student studying varies. Most students can get an A or B and still go out most nights of the week. The most intellectual conversation I've heard recently is a parsing of "The Hills". Intellectual conversation usually stays in the classroom.

Most professors know my name; professor/student relationships are one of the best things about Elon. Student studying varies. Most students can get an A or B and still go out most nights of the week. The most intellectual conversation I've heard recently is a parsing of "The Hills". Intellectual conversation usually stays in the classroom.

I have never had a professor who doesn't know my name. I love all of my teachers, they are all always open to meeting with you and helping you if you need it. I have found that I tend to like all of my classes that have teachers that are interesting. I like elon professors because they really try to bring real life experiences into class everyday so the class seems usefull. Students are competitive, but in a good way. You can always ask another student for help. I do talk to my teachers a lot outside of class because it helps make sure you stay on track. Education at elon is geared towards getting a job, but enjoying learning and becoming more interested in your field of study.

Love the small classes- I've never had a class with more than 25 people. I also love that the professors really get to know their students.

The academics at Elon are painfully easy. It is so easy to get an A in every class, although it may not seem like it. Kids no studying at all, and skip class, and then wonder why they're grades aren't good. All of my professors have been very helpful, but sometimes you have to ask for it, they won't just hold your hand. The academic requirements seem like a lot, but when it really comes down to, theyre not so bad. Students at Elon are so uncompetitive I sometimes wonder why they're attending college. I can't speak for other fields, but the business major is definitely geared toward getting a job.

My professors know my name, I know their names, and I often know their wives and children on a personal level as well. I've been to some of their houses. Most are friends and mentors as well as teachers, although I am mainly referring to my music teachers. The music department is very small and so everyone gets to know one another very well. Class participation is common and expected, especially because class sizes are often very small. I usually see that students are prepared for class every day. Most of the students I work with are competitive because they get satisfaction from success. The most unique class I have taken was Psychology and the Law, in which we studied aspects of psychology and their application in the court room (memory, suspect identification, et cetera). I spend time with some of my music teachers outside of class, because we often have rehearsals and events to attend together. We even eat lunch together sometimes. I feel that the academic requirements are stringent (especially for some majors rather than others) but that this is appropriate because you want to get as much as possible out of your collegiate academic experience. The education at Elon, at least within my department, is geared toward getting a job and also towards learning for its own sake. We get very well prepared for teaching, but we also get to take a lot of general education classes, so we learn interesting things that don't apply to our careers.

EVERY professor you have at Elon makes it a point from the first day of class to learn your name as quickly as possible. Students study frequently, the library is often full most nights. Class participation is very common and usually required in most classes because it counts towards your grade. Students are somewhat competitive but are moreso willing to help peers instead of outshine them. I think Elon's academic requirements are good...not too high or low. Education at Elon is geared towards a balanced combination of getting a good job and learning for its own sake.

Not only do professors know my name at Elon, they know my phone number and I've had dinner at their house. Class participation is huge at Elon. There tends to be a lot of group work and presentations. The learning is very hands on. There are some really unique classes at Elon including a class on Harry Potter and even one on the Religion of NASCAR. The Psychology department continues to grow. Most of the professors have their Ph.Ds and are really engaged in what they are teaching. As with most universities, the library at Elon is more heavily populated during mid-terms and finals, but students here know how to get their work done when the time comes.

Academics are strong at Elon but not too overwhelming as long as you attend class and get work done on time. Kinda annoying attendance policy, most colleges do not have one. Usually can only miss 2 or 3 classes per semester without penalty for each course. Great programs for Business or Communications/ Journalism majors. Professors are pretty cool and get to know students well. Elon always has great guest speakers come, just had Bill Clinton.

The classes are great! The most students you will ever have in your class is 33. All of the professors know your name and really care how you're doing. They are usually pretty accessible- I even have some of my professors home or cell phone numbers! We have a winter term, which has unique courses like Harry Potter Literature or Business of NASCAR. The communications program is amazing! We have two fully furnished TV studios and plenty of TV shows. The thing that I really love about the communications program is that you can be very hands on from the very beginning. As a freshman, I am already the Assistant Director of our game show, Win Stuff.

It ranges from easy to hard depending solely on the teachers. Too focused on group projects, but the class size is great. The smaller, the better. I have learned so much that I didn't expect

Academics at Elon are amazing. I have really loved most of my classes. Because it is a liberal arts school, education at Elon is geared more towards learning for the sake of learning, although we develop skills that are very useful in any career. Class time is often more of a discussion than a lecture - the professors often encourage student participation, as engaged learning is stressed at Elon. There is a healthy competitiveness and drive to learn in the classroom. The most unique class that I have taken in the year I have been at Elon is a service learning class during "winter term" called "Volunteerism, Social Justice, and Civic Engagement in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina". In this course, our class studied at Elon for a week about the socioeconomic factors that surrounded Hurricane Katrina. Then, we went to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana for a week to do Hurricane Katrina relief. Later, we came back to Elon and spend the last week of winter term preparing presentations to spread the word about how much relief work still needed to be done even two years after the storm. It was very rewarding to combine education with service by going on Elon's 13th trip down to Mississippi since the storm hit.

The best class I have taken if German 121. It was taught by the best professor I have had in any class for any reason. He knew what it took to make us able to speak, read, write, and understand basic German, which most college students are too afraid to take. Most students think they are taking an easy way out by sticking to what they took in high school, but very likely in high school they only learned to either read/write or speak their language, but not both. After 2 semesters of German with Dr. Windham, I could speak German better than most of my friends in upper level spanish could speak spanish, because i got to learn with the good methods from day one.

I am a political science major so my experience is fairly limited, but we have a amazing department. I just finished writing a 100 page research paper (voluntary). The faculty are really leaders in the field and love talking to students in their office or out of class. It is not uncommon that by senior year you will be on a first name basis. Can't explain how much they help getting you ready for grad school or work. I got a job at the Pentagon thanks to their effort. I owe they alot, but I also put alot of effot into their classes. You will have to work, but you will definately come out with a first class education that can rival almost any other school. And class sizes...at least for political science are about 15-8.

All of my professors have known my name. My favorite class was a history course on the U.S. Early National Period. My professor was extremely well informed and got everyone excited about the topic. I also did some research with him outside of class and feel that I would not have gotten that opportunity anywhere but Elon. Class participation is common because the class sizes are small. Professors are great about listening to students' wants and needs and often will tailor the nature of the class to student feedback. Elon offers lots of unique classes, especially over Winter Term. Many students choose to study abroad during the 3-week January semester, but there are lots of interesting classes offered on campus, as well. Harry Potter, NASCAR, Disney, and The Beatles are just a few of the topics. I'm an education major and Elon has the best program. Right off the bat I was spending time in the classroom gaining experience in the field. I have heard alum come back and say that Elon prepared them extremely well for their first year of teaching. A lot of the education at Elon is geared towards getting a job, but I think that depends on your major. I feel that Elon's academic requirements allow students to get a broad, liberal college education as well as an in-depth focus within a major before graduation. I feel as though my classes have been fairly easy in my time here, but I know that there are more challenging classes offered for those who have time and want to make the effort.

Classes are small and wonderful- the professors truly do know our names and want to help. My favorite class so far has been a special topics class, French Social Criticism Thru Humor. We learn about different types of humor and how important social issues are expressed through laughter. Also, the freshmen required seminar, The Global Experience, it a wonderful class. Students are exposed to "the big picture" and how to be a global citizen in the Elon environment. Learning for learning's sake is a huge part of academics, especially in social sciences, like anthropology or religion.

Most classes are capped at 33 (or less) so your professors are almost certainly going to know your name. The work load can really build up at times with tons of papers and projects, but I feel like its manageable with extremely good time management skills. I would highly suggest the Poli Sci department here, we have a lot of rare opportunities including working the Elon Poll, tons of internships, and the ability to go to the Democratic/Republican National Convention.

As always, depending upon the student's major, acadmics could be very different from student to student. Elon emphasizes faculty and student interaction, which in most cases, is definitely a positive factor. Professors know everyone by name and are extremely accessible, whether during their office hours, scheduling personal appointments, communicating by email, or even calling them on their cell phones. A great way to form a relationship with a professor is by studying abroad during winter term, where students usually get close to two faculty members during their 3-4 week adventure. In many, if not all, schools at Elon, there are strict attendence policies. Most classes allow only 2 absences, unlike large universities. Students would agree that while this seems like a downfall at times, you really do feel like you missed something by not attending class and the faculty definitely takes notice when you're not there. Most classes also require participation, alotting several points of a student's grade for class participation. Once again, it depends on the class, but most Elon students are very eager to speak their opinions during class. Most Elon students hit the books quite often. Belk Library is a great resource, offering students the option of using the Writing Center and Tutoring Center. Academics don't consume an Elon student, but obviously play a big role in the student's life. The current trend is that students are becoming more and more competitive each year as it becomes more difficult to be accepted into Elon. Elon could definitely modify their academic requirements, however many of their liberal arts requirements have forced me to take a class way outside of my major and actually enjoy it. As a student progresses into senior year, most classes are definitely geared toward one's major. Most, if not all majors, have a Senior Seminar class, which is an entire semester devoted to one's major and how it applies to the real world. This is known as a "CAP" or "Culminative Project" for every senior.

professors generally know your name. some students always study others never study it depends on major and how good you want to do in school. the soc department is awesome, very politically/intellectually aware/active. i do not spend time with professors outside of class.