Gettysburg College Top Questions

Professors are helpful and passionate about what they teach. Class participation is key to success. Unless you know other students or live with them, class discussions can be clique-y and exclusive. I greatly enjoyed the Astronomy class and would definitely recommend it. Class sizes are small and professors make sure to pay attention to individual needs.

Gettysburg is very competitive. It never appears that way at first, but when you start to talk to people, you find that they are fighting to get that 98{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} on a paper because they tied a grade with someone who got a 97{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}. Everyone seems to try and out-do everyone else in the classroom.

The big debate over small or large classes - here are the pros and cons. Small Classes - Pros: Teachers know your name, get to know your strengths and weaknesses and are more willing to help boost your grade. Cons: They will know when you aren't there, they probably take attendance and it will be hard to hide from participating. Large Classes - Pros: It's easy to just go with the flow, and get the credit out of the way. Also they are less likely to care when you are there. Cons: They don't remember you unless you make a concious effort to contact them so talk to them sometime if you think you will have trouble in the class, so when they do, they know the face and name and are more likely to be able to hlep. Take something that you don't think you'll be good at - I did that with two classes - One being one that amazed me, the other making me fall flat on my face and say I told you so. Also - I thought I'd love a class and I realized I was horrible at it... don't get discouraged. Take the things you were good at and you did like in the class and build on those to tweak your interests.

The class size at Gettysburg is pretty small, the largest classes containing around 35 students. The professors make an effort to get to know every student and usually learn everyone's name. The staff of the college is, for the most part, very nice and helpful. The professors always want you to do well and are usually willing to help outside of class even if it is outside of their office hours. Some professors even invite you over their homes to eat with them or stay with them over a break if you are not able to make it home! Students spend a decent amount of time studying outside of class, and you can always tell when there is a large exam in a science class because most of the library is filled with students from those classes. Class participation is encouraged, if not a decent percentage of your grade for a course. Most classes, except some science courses and a few others have participation as a decent percentage of your grade (5-15{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} from what I have experienced). Outside of the classroom, students do engage in intellectual conversations quite frequently if it is desired. The students are competitive, but usually just against themselves, constantly striving to be the best that they can be. Outside of the professors, and within your chosen major, you are assigned an academic advisor. This person (or people, depending upon your major(s)) is here to help you when you have a question about academics, to make sure you are getting all of your requirements fulfilled, and making sure that in general you are doing well. My experience with my advisor has been very helpful; he has helped me pick courses to assure that I fit in both my Gettysburg requirements along with requirements for my major, and has made sure to tell me when I should start looking at them. At Gettysburg courses are picked on a first come, first serve basis by grade. Usually, for people who have declared a major, there is a Pre-Registration period for courses within the major for those who need the course first. This is very helpful because this way it ensures that all people who have declared the major are ensured a spot before someone who is not declared within the major.

Academics are tough but manageable. Again, it is a small school and this is reflected here. I had the same two teachers for my 10 German classes. However, I got to know these professors really well, was invited to their houses for class sometimes, and when my family came for graduation they were shocked at how much my professors already knew about them! If you need a lot of attention, you will get it. Usually if you send out an email with a question, you will get a response within minutes unless the teacher is actually teaching class then. As for the amount of work, you definitely need to learn to plan your time well if you want to have free time, and some semesters will be worse than others, but I think this is pretty much true of any college. You can't get a degree without working for it. And again, the small school atmostphere comes in handy--somebody will always know how much work the professor for your new class gives, how much thought they want put into a paper, how lenient or not they are, etc.

I love my major and I feel that, although it's very challenging at times, the class sizes are just right and I get plenty of attention from my professors if I need it. They are always available for a one on one chat if I feel lost, and they often hold review sessions just in case I need to go over something from class but don't need personal attention.

The academics are very strong at gettysburg. the class sizes are small making it easy, and comfortable to approach your teachers, and you get to know your classmates.

I've been hearing that Gettysburg's goal is to be a safety school for the Ivy League, and it's definitely heading in that direction. You can't expect to come to a school like Gettysburg and NOT study on the weekends, NOT pull a few all-nighters, and NOT spend a significant amount of time in the library. It's not an easy school to get into, and although some kids let themselves go when they get here and don't work quite as hard as others, it's plain to see which students are getting the most out of what Gettysburg has to offer. The day-to-day academics at Gettysburg are not exactly what I was expecting, but it's certainly a much better situation than at a larger school. My biggest class last year was probably around 40 students, and that's only because it fulfilled 3 curriculum requirements. I'm on first-name terms with many of my professors, partly because I'm the kind of kid that sits right in the front row and rarely stops asking questions. I'm an environmental science major and a music minor, and my ES professors are all conducting fascinating research that I have a very good chance of being a part of someday. It's hard to describe ES as a department because the teachers are all so different, but science is actually fun here! One professor made an entire power point presentation and spent 2 days teaching us how to pick blue crabs and shuck mussels, and as soon as the weather became warmer, every single lab for my ES 196 took place outside doing hands-on field work. My music classes, however, are incredibly hard and very frustrating for me, but the people who are really serious about music are in great hands. Even though the actual classes are impossible, I take private voice lessons that are just as rewarding without all the high blood pressure. One of my favorite classes so far was an ancient Greek and Roman literature class that was less about reading and more about learning how to live your life better. I learned more life lessons from Aeschylus and Virgil than I have in all my 19 years, and who cares if it won't help me get a research job someday if I feel like a better human being? That's much of the attitude at Gettysburg; do what you love to do, study what you love to study, and you might not be a millionaire but you'll be happy and fulfilled. Even the Academic Advising office will tell you to have some fun!

I think that academics is a strong point at Gettysburg. My classes are usually small- the smallest being language classes (about 8 students) and the largest my psychology and science classes (maybe around 35 students). As far as I remember every professor made an effort to remember our names. My favorite classes are always my Italian classes because they are small and interactive. My least favorite are the sciences which are difficult and lectures can be tough to pay attention to when the classes are larger. Students study a lot and the library is spacious and a great place to study. During finals or midterms you're lucky if you can find a spot in the library though-that is when the students REALLY get serious. It depends on the individual-some are competitive, some aren't. But I think that students who don't study most definitely flunk out. The most unique class I've taken was probably Music 101. In class we hummed or clapped rhythms, made up titles to songs, and even danced the waltz once. For homework I got to do my favorite hobby-listening to music. I really looked forward to going to that class. My major is psychology. I think we have a great department of professors but I haven't gotten the chance to get to know them on a personal level. I am also in the honor society for psychology but never get any information on it, which is kind of unfortunate I like to attend the psychology seminars and see guest speakers when I can because they are interesting. As psych majors we also help each other out with participating in experiments. My minor is Italian and unlike Psychology I have gotten to know each one of my professors on a personal level (perhaps because of the small class sizes). For example, a professor that I had was willing to help me with scheduling and give me advice even when she wasn't my professor any more. She wrote me a recommendation for the program in Florence and when I met with her to chat about my experience (and also noticed that she hung the postcard I sent her from Italy in her office ;). For the Italian professor I had last semester, who said the most outrageous and funny things in class, I made up a list of his quotes and gave them to him at the end of the semester. I thought he was going to cry he was so appreciative. Throughout the semester we emailed each other back and forth jokes. He also gave me suggestions and advice on career options for Italian and grad schools. I could go on and on, but these are just some examples of how great these professors can really be.

Gettysburg is very strong academically, and is getting stronger every year. I absolutely love the faculty here. Because class sizes are small and the different departments aren't huge, you really get to know your professors and they get to know you. They are always willing to help you out with almost anything, and are often in their offices above and beyond their official "office hours," willing to help or just chat. They are really interesting, nice people, who care about their students. There are no grad students around to take up their time, and while they do a lot of research and writing of their own, students come first. And of course all classes are taught by professors, not grad students.

The academics are great at Gettysburg. The proffessors will constantly challenge you but this only helps make you a better student.

My favorite classes are in the environmental studies department- a lot of field trips! I really hated the idea of the liberal arts college- but taking humanities classes is a nice break from science and math and let me explore other interests. Not easy A's necesarilly, but definetely a good break in the schedule. Students are encouraged to go study abroad. Professors and study abroad officers will give you a lot of advice. College is a great time to spend a semester learning a new culture, language, or environment, and Gettysburg College recognizes this. Some students are competitive. Gettysburg College has a solid and often rigorous academic curriculum without the hostility, stress, or feelings of 'self importance' which might be present in universities rated as being more academically challenging.

I love my major. I am a German major and it's a very small department so I know most of the other students in my classes and I have had some of the professors since I was a freshman. My professors in most classes I've taken not only know my name but also know things about me and ask me about what I'm up to. This is one o fthe advantages of being on such a small campus. My professors always hold a German get-together at the end of the year which is really nice, and I have been invited to teachers' houses for coffee, dinner, etc. My relationship with my professors and my major in general are definitely my favorite things about gettysburg.

Professors do know your name. My favorite class included most in the English department and some in the Classics Department. The sciences at Gettysburg are very intensive and very competitve. I feel that Gettysburg prepared me very well going into the "real world."

Most, if not all professors know your name and make the effort to really get to know you. I had a professor in my Historical Methods class who would actually cut out articles from the Gettysburg Times about my cross country team and hand them to me in class with a note of congratulations. That is pretty special. All of my classes were very much participatory, but I think it varies by major. Students are competitive at the high levels of the major, but the entire campus really isn't that geeky.

Academics is Gettysburg's strong point due to its small class sizes, which are comprised of no more than approx. 30 students. In this class setting, professors learn students names and expect them to participate. The professors are also very helpful and friendly outside of class, and I have become friends with many in my department. The only complaint that I have about the professors is one common at many colleges; the tenured professors often no longer have a passion for teaching, and students grades and education suffer as a result. The academic requirements at Gettysburg are appropriate, but I believe that some of the general edu. requirements, such as two science courses or 2 years of language, might occupy too much of the course load and limit students from taking courses that are of more interest to them because there are many unique classes offered. Students study quite a bit and are often found in the library, which has very helpful staff and extended hour access.

Professors often spend the better of 2 class days simply learning students names. I have professors from Freshman year that still say hi to me by name. Believe it or not one of the most popular places on campus to run into people you know is the library. It's open 24 hours during the week. There are a lot of core requirements since it is a liberal arts college. Sometimes you may end up taking a ridiculous course just to fulfill a certain area. I took a women's studies course and ended up hating it but i was fulfilling 2 requirements at the same time so it was worth it. Classes are not easy. Most expect students to review the material every night .

Gettysburg is a tough school with a demanding academic schedule. But by the same token it is rewarding as well because a liberal arts cirriculum allows you to explore other areas of study you may not normally be interested in and find that you truly enjoy them.

I've only had one bad professor so far. The professors are fantastic. I'm on a first-name basis with all of them, no matter how involved or not so involved I am with their class. They are always accessible, whether it be via office hours or by e-mail. Most will also give out their home phone numbers (one of my professors even gave us directions to her house if we ever found ourselves that desperate to find her). The library is open 24-hours a day during the week, and there's always a cluster of people inside -- so you definitely won't be alone if you're still awake and studying at 4 a.m. on a Friday.

Great academics....small classrooms.......participation is not only encouraged, but required for decent grades......experience of college curriculim is better this way.

With class sizes relatively small, close professor-student relationships are possible, if you wish to pursue them. I've been close with several of my professors, and near all of them are always available for help and advice, in and out of class. In higher level classes, discussion on average is interesting, but in lower level classes, many students are just trying to get by easily as possible. In the right crowds, discussions continue outside of class, it can be a cerebral environment, if you want it to be. There are unique classes available, from seminars that specialize in specific areas to broader courses. Much of the learning at Gettysburg is directed at mind expansion, and not necessarily work orientated, which to me, is more interesting.

profs know who you are within a couple of classes at teh beginning of the semester. some gburg students have intellectual convos outside class, and some don't. It depends on what you're interested in. a lot of the classes cover a broad range of topics and really exemplify the liberal arts ideal of interdisciplinary knowledge. a lot of businesses look for liberal arts degrees so it helps you get jobs as well as learn for learning's sake. the music department is its own entity. things are changing rapidly in the department--its growing a lot and there are more opportunities available. but some of the change is uneven and for those of us who've been here these last few years (when it switched from a music departmnet to the Sunderman Conservatory of Music), it's been a little more turbulent than we would like. but there is a wide range of staff members and interesting talents and interests within the department. the english department is also goign through changes hiring new professors, as many have retired. whereas people hang out in the music building, the english department isn't quite the same bonding experience, though some people hang out with profs after class.

The academics at Gettysburg College are tough, but rewarding and also extend outside the classroom. There are two different kinds of learning at Gettysburg – the academic side and the experience side. This will ultimately depend on your personal motive, but there are some students here that live and breathe academics; the ones that will go to the library and bring pillows and blankets with them because they know they will be there all day and all night. I was never a strict academic person so I branched out and learned a great deal through my on campus experiences whether it’d be through jobs, fraternity, etc. Students are pretty outspoken and compete heavily, but even though it may seem like a challenge it can only strengthen your development as a person. Professors are very welcoming and offer their help whenever you need it. You may even become close enough to go out and have a drink with them on occasion.

The classes are definitely challenging and keep you working. Most of the professors are great and really involved with their students. Gettysburg's great at making connections for the future and for the present. Class sizes are small...the largest is around 50 students, so there are no huge lectures. If you want to be hidden and uninvolved, Gettysburg isn't for you.

The professors at Gettysburg, for the most part, are both very personable and extremely intelligent. Within the first week of classes, all of your professors will know your name and something about you. The difference here at Gettysburg is that it is small, and the professors care about each and every one of their students, unlike the teachers of some huge lecture hall at a large university. You have the advantage at Gettysburg, in that you can go to your professors at pretty much any time and ask questions, get quick and insightful responses, and really get to know your professor. My favorite class so far has to be Spanish 301. I'm biased though, because I love the language. But the professor really knew how to teach. He was the epitome of college professor. He was kind, intelligent, insightful, empathetic and funny. He even brought the class to his house to have dinner and meet his wife, the whole wile speaking Spanish. That is a pretty regular occurrence here. Professors really want to know about you, what you're interested in, where you've been. It's great! The academic requirements aren't too strenuous here. You have time, usually, to take both required classes, as well as electives you have an interest in. That is not always true, as it is dependent on your major. I know I have a lot of time to take interesting courses, being a Spanish major, but my Bio and Chem friends have it pretty tough. Learning here both sets you up for jobs in the real world, as well as for learning for learning's sake. This is a liberal arts school in the true sense. You come here to explore the possibilities, not just to focus yourself in one area. I have many friends from Europe who came here to escape the system of going to school only to train yourself in one subject. If you want an engineering degree, or something to that affect, this is not the place for you and you'd better apply to Drexel, or Carnegie Mellon or someplace like that. But if you want to train for the workforce while also exploring what this world is about, Gettysburg is just what you need.

The classes are small and the professors will know your name and sometimes about your social life on campus. Some students study a lot and some a little but putting in effort usually results in an average grade. Not difficult to maintain a B average if students balance studying and social life. The difficult majors are the bio/chem health sciences area and the easier ones are management and political science. Most professors go to the sports events on campus and some even go to the fraternity events, not the fraternity parties. The school has a bunch of requirements to fill and if you have AP credit that takes care of them then you can either take meaningless classes or go for a double major. Students are not that competitive when it comes to classes and intellectual conversations outside of class are few and far between.

I absolutely love my major and minor. (soc and secondary ed) I worked my rear off in those classes but in the end I loved it! Profs challenged me, supported me, and enabled me to make the most of what I was learning. I was able to apply learning from one subject to another and further develop my understandings. I know that my positive experience was the product of my own committment and that of my professors toward academic success.

The professors at Gettysburg are absolutely wonderful. Each professor I've had seems to teach at a small school for a reason; even my larger lecture classes were open to participation and discussion. Professors are available whenever you need their assistance, and they really care that students take as much away from their classes as possible. Students are not as involved, unfortunately, as the faculty. There are a lot of kids who seem to be in college only because it's the next logical step before taking over daddy's business or backdooring their way into a graduate program. Not that most students aren't smart, there just isn't a lot of academic motivation.

All of your professors will know your name, and probably not forget it for all four years, if not longer. There is always an intimate setting for classes, since most classes do not stretch even close to over 20. My favorite class was Ancient Comedy (CLA 266). The reason this was my favorite class was because it was taught by my favorite teacher and adviser, Leslie Cahoon. Also, it was part of my major, meaning i was very interested to begin with. Lastly it was my favorite because as a culmination of the course we put on a performance of an Ancient Comedy called Truculentus, written by Plautus. Class participation is not really that common, especially in the 100 level classes. Although I am just a freshman, my experience has led me to believe that not many students are very interested in class participation. This may change though in the higher level classes as it gets more and more concentrated around people's majors. My major is in the Classics department, which is small enough that I will essentially have to take every class offered, and still probably have to take some extra classes that also count towards my major. I really the requirements that Gettysburg has, since it causes me to take at least an entire semester worth of classes that I have no interest at all in taking. This includes a math class, two sciences, an interdisciplinary class (definition), and some others. Since I have a primary interest in theater, as well as Classics and writing, I will not have time to have a Classical Studies major and a Writing minor while still having to take two science classes and a math class. These requirements are much easier to make when you are not simply a humanities person as I am. The education is definitely geared toward getting an education, as opposed to getting a job.

Not only do my professors know my name, they know about my latest performance at a recent track meet, my love for UConn basketball, and my favorite food. Classes are small and participation is expected. This semester I had a class in which 2 days a week were entirely dedicated to group discussion. Contribution was mandatory. For the most part students do a lot of work. You can choose not to, but your grades will suffer. I had semesters that were harder than others, but I did dedicate a lot of time to my studies. The Health Sciences department is wonderful!!!! The professors are warm, friendly, and some of the best people I know. The unique major allows students to look at the human body from a variety of viewpoints. Most graduates go on to become physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, and exercise physiologists. There are academic requirements at Gettysburg, but they're pretty easy to fulfill. For example you need to take one "humanities" course while at Gettysburg. This can be any Engligh, History, or Religion course, just to name a few.

Gettysburg is a great school for people who don't know what they want to do with their lives yet. Unlike a big university, you're not immediately forced to pick a major and go down that career path; you get 2 years to choose a major. Also, class sizes are really small and you have a great opportunity to make personal relationships with professors, which is the best part about the school because there are some really great professors there who are very interested in helping the students do their best work. In most of the classes, if you're willing to work hard, you do well. If you slack off, you won't do well, especially because the professors will definitely notice.

From my first semester at Gettysburg I have felt that the faculty members are incredibly accsessible. Even as an intro student I was given extra time from faculty members in departments outside my major. Academics are rigorous. In my first year I wrote a 25 page research paper. I didn't think I could do something like that at 19 but it was really satisfying afterward and made the rest of my years of paper writing a lot less daunting. The most important thing you learn at Gettysburg is how to learn. It is truly a liberal arts education so it really doesn't matter if you're a classics major or a management major you could end up in a MBA program later on either way. Gettysburg teaches you how to research, to communicate orally, to write well, to think critically and to collobarate with others. It may take liberal arts graduates a little longer to establish themselves in the career of their dreams but when we do I believe there is greater job satisfaction.

I had two majors- Psychology, which is one of the largest departments, and Japanese Studies, which only recently became official. Everyone in the JS department knew each other, but there were a lot of strangers in Psychology. Despite this, the professors were great in both areas-- they all made the effort to really get to know their students and make themselves available if you needed help. Some of the profs might seem intimidating at first, but that's just because they expect a lot out of you. They don't want you to just show up to class and absorb information. Because they're passionate about their field, they want you to appreciate it, too! It makes it difficult to slack, but if you came to college to learn, that's not a big deal. A lot of the professors are hilariously geeky-- if you pay attention, you can catch some really great jokes. Some of the psych profs will invite you over to their house for wine-tasting (like McCall for his Sensation and Perception lab), but most of them I never really got to know outside of class. Japanese was completely different-- we had parties at least once a year with all the students and faculty! The students were all invited to a faculty member's house, where we sat together and ate authentic Japanese food (it's delicious when it's home-made!). Our professors were definitely more than just teachers for us. They became our friends and mentors, and their support has been priceless.

You are definitely a face at Gettysburg and not just a number. Class sizes are relatively small and you have many occasions to get to know professors- you can chat with them after class, arrange to meet one on one with any questions, or you may have the opportunity to do some research with them. It is quite common to participate in classes although some of the basic introductory courses tend to be more typical lectures. You are required to fulfill various requirements toward your liberal arts experience so you will take a variety of courses in many different fields. Get ready to take foreign language classes too, you have to reach the 202 level but you can take a placement test if you have a solid foundation from high school. The nice thing about most programs at Gettysburg is that it is fairly easy to study abroad for at least a semester and still graduate within 4 years.

Academics are pretty standard. You have to work to pass- but you don't have to spend every waking moment in the lib to get by. There are good professors and bad professors. You will find some classes (mainly required classes) where participation isnt that high- but then there are some courses (for your major or what have you) where everyone feels very passionately about the subject. The classes really are great though- and the Professors are very happy to help, most of the time. I had a professor my freshman year that since then has taken me in like a "daughterish" figure. I go to her house for dinner all the time- hang out- have coffee. Its just great how some professors are open enough to even let you into their lives.

Gburg students are very studious and hard working individuals. While partying probably remains the number one priority, students make sure to complete their work and do their best so that they can party. It's definitely beneficial to have an idea of what major you'd like to pursue before your first semester since there's not much time to test out other classes, and so that a stronger relationship could be built with your professors early on. Professors definitely know your names because it's a small school. The classes are extremely focused on the "liberal arts education," but they don't necessarily prepare you for an actual job.

One of the best things of Gettysburg is its academics. Gettysburg students have the benefit of being taught by a highly trained, friendly, and knowledgable faculty. However I must say that I've run into more Gettysburg alums in the faculty than I haven't (which begs the question: Has Gettysburg's curriculum changed from how those alums were taught when they attended Gettysburg, or are they mainly just teaching the way they were taught, thus continuing a Gettysburg education tradition from their professors?). However despite this, I have seen that the majority of students at Gettysburg do not take advantage of these knowledgable professors as much as they could. While professors do hold office hours, they often have to remind the class that they have them, since very few students use them. I also haven't witness many intellectual conversations outside of the classroom. In fact most of the conversations outside of the classroom if anything are degenerative. Students study, but mostly procastinate and wait until the last minute to do anything about homework and projects, spending many all-nighters in the library (which thankfully is open 24 hours during the week). Half of Gettysburg academic requirements seem to be hoops that are designed for students to jump through. While I understand the importance of the benefits of a liberal arts education, the many requirements which Gettysburg requires a student to fufill, almost pushes the limits of whether they can be fit into four academic years of study.

The academics at Gettysburg College are very challenging and push you to give your best in everything. The best part about the academics is that the professors always know your name and always wants to help. A specific example of this is freshman year when I was beginning my Biology degree I was having some troubles with my first college chemistry class. My professor, Dr. Parker, was constantly available for me and did whatever it took to help me understand the topics. To say that he was available every once in awhile is an understatement. He always was willing to take time to teach me and my improved grades was the result. He did not only help me, but after I was finished with his course, the next year I over heard multiple students saying the same thing. Dr. Parker and many other faculty members have their doors open constantly and reply back to emails on a regular basis whenever their students need them.

Classes can be really small depending on type of class and major, but even the biggest classes I've been at would be considered small at a larger university. I think my biggest class at Gettysburg had about 30 students. My smallest had 5. Everything really differs based on majors and minors and I work with smaller departments (music, religion, German) but my experience has been really great. I've learned loads, and faculty are really accomodating and try to help you do whatever it is you want to do. Many students collaborate on research and publications with professors, or are able to do individualized research projects. In my case, the music conservatory faculty have worked with me individually on compositions and have helped me to get compositions performed at larger venues, it's been really exciting. The academic requirements are reasonable yet well-rounded - I learned from the general requirements unrelated to my majors, but was not overwhelmed by classes I was not interested in.

Gettysburg is a liberal-arts school that is centered on learning holistically. The curriculum involves diversity studies, multiple inquiries, interdisciplinary studies, lab sciences, the arts and four semester of foreign language. You will graduate knowing how to write well. The professors are across the board terrific and will always be at the student's disposal for extra help and guidance. It is not unusual to eat meals with a professor or be given their home phone number. Students study a lot: the school recommends 2-3 hours of study for every 1 hour of lecture. Intellectual conversations outside of class vary by department. Philosophy students and political science students (I'm a poli sci and music double major) often have lengthy debates, while Economics students have a simulated stock market. Students are competitive, but mostly self-competitive. Everyone wants to do their best. However, you will find students to be more competitive in classes that are curved.

Gettysburg prides itself on its high academic standards and for the most part, its students are highly motivated to succeed. Professors know your name and work to build personal relationships with students. I have been to dinner at multiple professors' homes, and have also been taken out for drinks by professors as a celebration for a job well done in a class over the course of the semester. There are many opportunities to do research, and since there are no grad students, professors look to their top undergrads when searching for researchers. I have had friends able to present their own original research at conferences as far away as Los Angeles, CA. The education at Gettysburg leaves students prepared to face a multitude of challenges, and prepares them very well for whatever their next endeavor may be.

The professors will all know your name and a few will make an effort to really get to know you as well. Most of the time, however, you have to make an effort to participate in class and go to office hours if you really want to establish a relationship. Students study hard but still have plenty of time to have a life. The only really hard- core times are the week leading up to finals and finals itself, midterms, and Sundays. The library is packed 24/7 these times. Class participation is big at Gettysburg and many professors actually count this as part of your grade. It can be a bit annoying but in the long run, the point is to keep the students engaged without doling out heaps of quizzes to make sure people do the reading. Students are somewhat competitive, however, in all the cases I'm familiar with, they are just really self-motivated and set high standards for themselves. There isn't a whole lot of competition among/ between students, though. I feel like our professors strive to create a more collaborative environment. There are many intellectual conversations held outside of class, however, this depends greatly on the niche you place yourself in. In my experience, these conversations are not centered around academics but religion, philosophy, relationships, the purpose of life, etc. The academic requirements are solid. Required classes can be a pain, but in the long run, I feel that they contribute to a well-rounded education. I have found that some of the classes I hated in high school have been very enjoyable at Gettysburg. Most professors don't spend time with us outside of class and office hours, however, usually they will take the class out to lunch or have a little party once or twice a semeter. The Gburg curriculum os geared less towards getting a job and more towards learning for the sake of learning.

Class participation is common. There is a lot of work but the professors are very friendly and helpful.

its very personal. the majority of courses i have taken, in every depeartment have been more open conversations with the professor and students than pure lectures by egotistic academics. i've grown so much since being here and have gotten so confident due to the way my professors treat me. the make me feel valued and have always gone the extra mile for me.

The classes and the professors are mostly good with a few exceptions. One professor I had was on a power trip and extremly arrogant and made sure to rub his knowledge in our noses. The requirememnts are extremly bogus as well. For some reason AP credit for the regular AP courses like Biology, Math, and Economics are not recognizerd at Gettysburg. Even though I received a 5 on my AP Bio test and am majoring in Management (nothing to do with science) I have to take Bio 101 over again. I went to the registar and had a very heated argument and gained no ground so I am now stuck in science classes even though I took them in high school.

The academics are very good at Gettysburg. We are highly selective, and for good reason. The courses are fairly difficult and definitely intensive. But the classes are small (rarely more than 25 students) and the professors do know your name. Many departments are close-knit, in that the students may hang out in the offices. (The Civil War Studies department is a prime example.) Gettysburg is very much about the liberal arts education. For being a small school there are a wide variety of courses offered. Also, Gettysburg has an amazing study abroad program. Nearly half of the student body study abroad, and at an affordable cost. There are many affiliated programs to which your regular financial aid applies.

Small class sizes, receive a lot of attention from teachers and they know you by name.

Class participation is not really an option for students in most classes. In most classes, participation is a percentage of your grade. For other classes, I have been required to meet with professors to discuss projects, etc. Students here study, but not to the excess, which relates to the college's motto, "Work hard, play smart."

Academics at Gettysburg are of high impoirtance. Professors set high goals and expectations, but also provide the support needed to succeed. Professors get to know who you are both as a students and as a person. They are committed to you and your success and goals. Many invite students over for dinner and many students are on a first name basis with their professors. The quality of your education is of the upmost importance to administrators and faculty. The environment is competitive, but not so much that students feel pressure to push themselves too far. The class sizes range from 3 or 4 students to about 40. Even intro level lecture courses are never about 40 or 45 students. The student to prrofessor ration is excellent, and the majority of the professors hold PhDs or higher. Also, Gettysburg intends on helping students even after they graduate. The college helps students find jobs, internships, and prepares students for the "real world".

All of my professors know my name and how I am doing in their class. My favorite class this semester was Biology 112; the professor was amazing, and there was a lot of class participation, with questions being asked all the time. Some professors try to include the classes a lot more than others. Gettysburg students do tend to be competetive and have intellectual converstations outside of class, and there is really not much cheating: people tend to stick to the Honor Code. I am a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major, and the professors are always available to help.