Gettysburg College Top Questions

Profs here definitely know your name and are unbelievably helpful and accessible if you come to them for help. The biggest class you'll encounter at Gettysburg will be between 40 and 50 students as an intro science course, but you'll likely run into some smaller classes and seminars with as few as 5 students. In both extremes, students certainly have a voice and are expected to participate. Students strive to do well, but are not cut-throat or competitive towards one another by any means. One of my classes as a freshman, my prof invited all 20 of us to her house for breakfast during our usual 8:30am class timeslot. It was awesome! Requirements-- As a liberal arts institution, Gettysburg gives you a lot of fexlibility in choosing your curriculum in using a goal-based curriculum. It's great because you have a lot of choice with-in the requirements, but at the same time, there are certain requirements that leave you with few choices, such as the Non-Western requirement.

Because the college is rather small, professors and students get to know each other very well. Professors always knew my name and exactly who I was. Class participation is also very common and encouraged because of small class sizes. I was a double major in Biology and Environmental Studies and took many interesting courses in both subjects. I loved the lab trips to the Duke Marine Lab in North Carolina and to the Bahamas.

Most of the professors at Gettysburg are great. All my professors know me by name and I can often just stop by their offices to talk; whether it be asking a question about an assignment or just chatting about life. This is especially true in the chemistry and biology departments. Many of the professors keep long hours and it is not usual to see faculty around at 8 or 9 at night. While Gettysburg College students are competitive, they are not out to get each other. Everyone wants to do well, and while students often share their grades it is not to show off or say "haha I did better than you." I find it great that students in my classes often get together to study and that students at the top of the class are willing to tutor other students not doing so well. The school also has a great Peer Tutoring program, which gives students free tutoring in the subjects they need.

One of the reasons I chose Gettysburg was because on my first visit to the school my mom and I went out to get ice cream and the table next to us was full of college students with sundaes and shakes discussing the Crusades. Sadly, now that I'm on campus, I don't see much of that. The students, for the most part, seem to be there to just get a degree because they were told they needed one, not because they want one. However, once you get past the students, you have a great academic institution. The professors all get to know your name, most even give out home phone numbers. One professor, who happened to be ill, went home sick for the day, but remembered that one of his students had an appointment and came in just for her. Things like that aren't abnormal. I ended up in a history class that I didn't have the necessary background for, so I went to talk to the professor and he offered me quick guides to the subject and we set up weekly appointments for me to ask any questions that arose. All of the professors have long office hours and are always there to help you, especially in the science department. The GC core requirements are rough, particularly the science requirements for the non-science majors, but they're do-able. Look at them early and make a plan to fulfill them, otherwise senior year you will run into some rough spots getting the core requirements you need. I'm a Globalization Studies and Sociology double major with a minor in Peace and Justice. I love it because it lets me take all the classes I wanted to take to begin with and have them count towards something. My Globalization focus is on minority issues, so I've taken two classes on racism and they were both very unique. One had 7 students, the other had 30; one dealt with the law, the other with theories. Next semester I'll continue to look at these things while I study abroad in Copenhagen. Over 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of Gettysburg College students study abroad, including people from all majors. There is very little cost to go abroad since your tuition directly carries over, even covering most of your airfare.

In general, the professors are pretty close to the students. I see my professors walking on campus, and most of them know my name and remember which of their classes I took. In the classroom, the professors consider class participation to be an integral part of your experience in the classroom. This excludes many of the science courses, such as chemistry, biology, and physics. In these classes, your class participation is counted in your laboratory grade. However, these professors will still know your name. They know who comes to class and who doesn't. There was even one instance where I got a call from a professor when I was ill; she wanted to tell me what I had missed in class. I am a chemistry major. The chemistry department is one of the best in the college. The professors are more than qualified to teach, and most can be reached at any time of the day through e-mail or walk-in visits. I have seen many of my chemistry professors in their offices or in their research labs late at night. They are even more accessible during final exam times; they hold review sessions and are in their offices on weekends as well. Most of the laboratory instructors are not as accessible, but they can always be reached through e-mail and are more than qualified to help in a lab setting. In large universities, many chemistry students won't have access to expensive equipement such as NMR, mass spectroscopy, and IR instruments. However, as a sophomore I was permitted to use these instruments. There are also opportunities to become a teaching assistant or to engage in independent or professor-supervised research. In fact, some kind of research is required for a bachelor of science in chemistry, so all chemistry majors will get a research opportunity for one summer or a semester.

Most professors make a strong effort to know who you are. Classes are small and you will see professors walking around campus all the time. Most departments are difficult although management is notoriously easy and the sciences are notoriously difficult. If you do all your work and show the effort, it is not hard to pass a class. The academic requirements are worthwhile and everything you should expect from a Liberal Arts college. If you would like to get credit for a required class, don't bother...it's impossible.

classes are great - small and the professors get to know each and every student - there is alot of individual attention which makes classes much more enjoyable

The academics at Gettysburg are fantastic, however the multitude of requirements are a little bit ridiculous, and at times hard to fulfill.

Classes are small which means you learn a lot more. Your professors actually know your name, and you can create real relationships with them, which is a big help when applying for internships and grad school. Your workload here is much larger than at a normal university, even though a full course load is 4 courses. The way graduation requirements work is a bit absurd if you want to transfer in, and registrar is a very messy office. Getting your graduation requirements out of the way is more of a pain than anything else.

Academics are strong. Professors are reputable, and it's easy to get to know them.

Classes are generally very small and the relationships with professors are much closer than say at a big state university. A lot of my professors know me by name, especially the ones in my major department. Class participation is common in classes, and even required in many. I think students have intellectual conversations outside of class. I do sometimes. I suppose there are some competitive students on class, but not everyone is nearly that hardcore. The most unique class I've taken was my First Year Seminar, which was The Mysterious World of Fungi. It counted as a lab science and we had a special fungi dinner at the end of the semester. It was awesome. I'm a Japanese Studies major, and the Asian Studies department is small, but surprisingly good. There are 3 main Japanese professors and 1 or 2 Chinese professors. Since the department is so small, you get to know everyone in your major VERY quickly. I've spent some time with professors outside of class. My freshman year we had a party at once of the professor's houses. It was a lot of fun. As for requirements, I think they're good for the most part. It helps you to broaden your knowledge outside of just your major. I don't really know about the education being geared toward getting a job or just learning for the sake of learning. I suppose that all depends on your major and your own future plans.

The academics are very challenging at Gettysburg. There are small learning environments where faculty do get to know the students personally. The more dedicated professors are the ones who get to know their students on a personal level. Students here are very competitive in their classwork but also many are helpful with eachother.

Most classes are quite small, so professors quickley learn names. There are some professors i like so much that I've taken over 4 courses with them. They always have office hours and give you their home number and email, just in case you have a question. People participate in most classes and many hours are spent together studying outside of class. The most interesting calss I've taken was a class on Buddhist spiritual biographies. We read a whole bunch of biographies of all different kinds of Buddhists. It was so interesting and we even got to meditate. I feel like a lot of people are uncomfortable with the requirements, especially if they come here with an interest in mind already. I think they are good requirements. This is a liberal arts education, so they make sense. I feel like Gettysburg realizeds that people learn the most outside of the classroom, but their ultimate goal is to get you into a job.

Because of the size of Gettysburg, I feel that it's easier to get closer with my professors. With larger schools, it's harder to get in touch with teachers because everyone else and their mother is trying to reach them. My teachers from last year's classes still know my name. I'm not a number at this school. I'm actually a human being with a name. I've even gone in to talk to my advisor about things not related to my classes. And once you form that foundation with your teachers and advisor, it's easier to approach them when you have problems in class. And if you won't, they definitely will. The teachers here want you to do well, and want to see you succeed. I doubt professors will be as forward with you at larger colleges and universities.

the liberal arts education here pushes students to far out of their comfort zone with some of the mandatory requirements.

-professors very close to you, all know you name, its like highschool in that regard -students sometimes talk outside of class -its very competitive -language requirement is bullshit

Academics are great, but could use a little more career focus.

Academics are very good, definitely the best part of my Gettysburg experience. I study a lot, but there are plenty of students who get by doing very minimal work. The Philosophy department is amazing and I have a great connection with several professors there and do spend time with them outside of class. The education is geared toward learning for its own sake, not for getting a job.

Because of our small size, your professors get to know you well which is great when it comes to letters of recommendation. Our bio department is awesome, a lot of work, but they are great professors. If you plan on coming in to do Bio, Chem, etc. be prepared. The first year is easy. The second year is hard as hell. A lot of people drop their major sophomore year. One of my favorite classes here was "Death and the Meaning of Life" as a freshman seminar. It was a different but very interesting class. I loved it. Overall, Gettysburg is a really really great school and I couldn't see myself anywhere else. It becomes a home not just a school.

because it is a small school, professors always know you name. they are great! i really haven't had a bad class here. the hardest classes are biology. my favorite class was abnormal psychology. i think by your second year you start to really have a lot of academic conversations, and you really start to appreciate your experiences. I am a philosophy major, and i think it is the greatest department. the professors are funny, great people that i have a very strong bond with. we meet outside of class, talk about our personal lives and i really think that my professors have become huge mentors for me.

Even though Gettysburg is a small liberal arts college, you can still get through it without ever knowing a professor. However, if you take the time, a student can get to know one or two professors fairly well. Class participation is a must in almost every class at Gettysburg, though these academic discussions are usually limited to the classroom. I very rarely over-hear a stimulating conversation on this campus other than gossip or the news on which fraternity is open that night. Similarly, the academic requirements are downright silly and take up a very large chunk of a students time here. The school attempts to downplay its large numbers of required classes by sending home fliers promoting the connections between these classes, but in my experience there is very little connection. The academics here are geared for neither learning for its own sake or for getting a job after graduation. Instead, academics are geared towards getting into graduate school. Most majors at Gettysburg College have a "Methods" class which is required, and is meant to teach students the methodology of their major. This is a boring, and downright silly way to present the methodology of each discipline, when it could be done much better in individual classes that the student is actually interested in. In my personal experience, "Historical Methods" was created for students to go on to graduate work in History, which I have no interest in doing.

The music department faculty is always willing to work with students outside of classes. However, I often notice tension between faculty members. I am not very happy with Gettysburg's requirements. As a transfer student to Gettysburg, it has been a complete nightmare trying to figure out how I can even graduate. As a matter of fact, I cannot even graduate with the degree I would prefer (BS in Music Education) because I need to student teach a ninth semester. In order to receive a BS in Music Education, I would have to enroll as a full time student my ninth semester, and I simply cannot afford it. Now I must graduate with a BA in Music and request to be certified to teach music.

The academics here are top notch. You will never be just a number. All of the professors not know your name, but they know your goals and will do anything to help. They have regular office hours and many will give you their home and cell phone numbers. Classes are pretty small, about 18 people, except for intro level science courses and are very interactive. It's rare to have a professor who spends the entire class just lecturing. The most unique class I've taken is my first year seminar. All first-year students pick one of 20-30 seminars in almost every department and the people who are in your seminar are also the people that you live with in your residence hall. Mine was a Hands On Approach to Legal History, where we ended the semester by competing in a mock trial.

The academics on campus are great. I presonally love the political science department. Most of the professors are amazing. They really know what they are talking about, and they try to get their students excited about what they are teaching. Some even invite their classes to their homes for dinner. They try to get to know their students. This is true for several other deparments on campus as well.

with class sizes small, students are urged to participate. it is also less intimidating and students are more likely to do this free willing. my favorite class was philosophy 101. there was a lot of discussion an interesting topics that were open to anyone to provide personal answers. students study quite often. the library is always lively. the education is geared towards learning and developing well rounded people.

The academics at Gettysburg are challenging in that the professors expect a lot from each student. The classes are small enough that every professor knows your name, your strengths and weaknesses, as well as how often you attend class or not. Needless to say, everyone attends class almost all of the time! Students are generally conscious of their schoolwork and work hard to get it done correctly. Professors are made available to students through office hours and students are often seen in the library in study groups. Gettysburg's liberal arts curriculum is well-rounded and requires students to get a complete education through taking a variety of courses.

Dr. Shirley Anne Warshaw, is one of the most respected Presidential scholars in the country and she teaches Political Science at Gettysburg College. She is an amazing professor and knows more than most in here field. Gettysburg is a very intellectual campus, and classes are filled everyday with debates and class discussions. This past weekend, our professor invited myself and another girl to attend a conference in Chicago with her, the college paid for everything and we had the best time! its those type of undergrad experiences that most people do not get the chance to be apart of.

the academics here are very personal. i don't think there is one professor i have taken throughout my four years how does not know my name, even within my out-of-major classes. they make an honest effort to getting to know you and both a student and a person. they are interested in the campus new and gossip as well as the athletic activities.

All my classes are small and the teachers make an effort to know my name and something about me. They are all very kind and willing to help me out when ever i have a problem. They truly hope that i succeed in class and will do whatever they can to help me along the way.

My favorite class I took was Disabilities Studies with Cindy Wright. It was amazing to learn about all the different disabilities out there and what those people struggle with. We had lots of guest speakers that really opened my eyes. I also loved the books we had to read for that class. The best part was teaching swimming once a week to a special education class from a local middle school.

Classes at Gettysburg are very small and the professors are very helpful. It's not uncommon for a professor to invite their class to dinner at their house. I've had professor's come to my athletic matches before. at Gettysburg professor's truly care about their student's success. Overall students here are very intelligent and take their academics very seriously, but not obsessively as learning outside the classroom is just as important as learning inside the classroom.

It depends on the area of study, however I have never had a class with more than 30-35 people. The professors are very personable. They make themselves available as resources to students outside of the classroom and it would not be unusual to receive a professor's home phone number on a syllabus. There are always going to be a select few that are harder to get along with, but in my experience the large majority are very accomodating.

Challenging, but the professors are very helpful and sincerely concerned about you. Most of the professors prefer that you call them by their first name and they make you feel very comfortable around them.

The professors are amazing. For the most part, they really take an interest in what you have to say and will not hesitate to help if you approach them (or they come to you). It is not unusual to see students and faculty interacting with eachother across campus. Also, all professors are generally highly experienced in their field and remain active in pursuing research (often collaborating with students). Depending on what courses you take (I'm not going to lie, but the sciences are generally more time consuming in terms of classroom time and involve more requirements than most humanties departments. That being said, many people double major in humanties, and adopting a double major in the sciences is relatively easy because basic courses tend to overlap), work load in terms of reading and writing tends to pretty heavy, but usually not overburdening if you manage your time correctly and depending on what extent you are involved in extracurriculars. Field experience is definetly encouraged, and most departments have methods courses. Some majors are more difficult than others, but I think it mostly depends on how much you want to get out of your education depends on how much you put into, regardless of your field of study.

Many of my friends at other schools think I have an easy workload because I only take 4 classes a semester. Unfortunately, I work my butt off and don't have it as easy as they think. Students have to work hard here to get good grades. We have many more tests than bigger schools so there is always work to be done. Although the workload is heavy, I feel as though I learn a lot each semester and the information stays with me. Every class I have taken here so far has left a lasting impression on me. One of the benefits of attending a small liberal arts school is the chance to become a more well rounded person. Although my major is in the sciences, I have gained valuable knowledge from other departments. Not only do students learn from professors, but students learn from each other. Your roommate might have different major than you and encourage you to branch out into a different department you might have never considered. There are so many students attending Gettysburg from all over the country with many different backgrounds.

yes, they do. my favorite class so far has been chesapeake ES because the professor is exceptionaly nice. least favorite is sociology 209, because the professor is not very nice. students study on a need-be basis, but i think a good amount. class participation depends entirely on the class. yes they do?!, we're normal after all. students are competitive based on their personalities not as a general behavior. most unique class was my freshman seminar, it was awful. my major is sociology and i don't know alot about the department, but i have not really enjoyed the professors i have had so far. i have made an effort when i think it's necessary. i think gettysburg's requirements are a little dumb, it's easy to get around some and some should not exist. i think it is geared to both, which is how it should be.

The academics at Gettysburg are very good. The class size is small enough that the teachers (usually) know your name and make themselves available to help students. I really enjoyed my developmental psychology class and english classes, but not the math and science classes that I am forced to take because of the liberal arts requirements. Most people on campus are pretty serious about their academics, even when they seem like they are not.

Professors know my name and come support me at my games! They get very involved in their students extra curricular activities.

It's inevitable that every professor at Gettysburg thinks you're only taking one class - theirs. And they assign work appropriately. This is why on any given day, if you happen to take a trip to the library, you will see at least 25 different people that you know. Sorority girls love to hang out in the library, but everyone knows all they do there is socialize. So if you REALLY want to get work done, you need to find your own favorite spot in an academic building -- most are open 24 hours a day anyway. Once a student finds their own personal study-spot, they'll pretty much defend it with their lives. Never knowingly take another student's study-spot. Trust me. Most professors take the time to really get to know their students. They usually announce at the first day of class that their favorite part of the job is talking with students outside of class, so you should be sure to stop in often. Most of them mean this. There are some, however, who are either very concerned with their own reasearch, or just have bad people skills. I can think of one professor in the Biology department in particular who is extremely intelligent, and always subtly lets you know just how stupid you really are. I don't ask him for help anymore -- I'd rather fail on my own than be talked down to and still fail. (His class is absurdly hard, by the way.) Fortunately, this is much more the exception rather than the rule. The well-rounded curriculum is completely infuriating. Although it's completely valid that every student who attends a liberal arts school should leave with knowledge of just more than their particular subject area, that doesn't make me any less bitter about being a science major and having to take non-science courses. I mean, my major has about as many requirements as the school allows, and I don't know how I'm expected to schedule other classes on top of that. I thought college was a time where you were allowed to discover what you're good at and stick to it. There's a reason I'm not a history major, so just let me take my sciences and leave me alone. That said, as bitter as I may be about the graduation requirements, I do feel they're important and necessary. I'm still allowed to be upset about them, though.

YES! Professors know your name! How could they not when your biggest class consists of about 20 kids at most? I took a class one semester that only had 5 students in it including myself. My favorite class, by far, was my senior seminar with English professor Suzanne Flynn. She was terrific! I had taken 3 different classes with her. She was extremely knowledgeable in her field, friendly, outgoing, and took genuine interest in her students. She even invited my seminar to her house at the end of the year to celebrate finals being over!

All of my professors have known me by name. I have been invited over for dinner at a professors house twice for the German department, and once with my freshman calc professor. I simply could never pick a favorite class, as it is prone to change daily. I have found class participation to be ample among other students to create lively debate, but certainly not 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}. It is also dependent on the level of the class. My Upper Level German seminars with 7 people have universal class participation, but my introduction to international relations balanced at around 20{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} participation. I have not found students to be overly competitive with one another, mostly just trying to accomplish their own goals. The curriculum at Gettysburg is terribly confusing at times, and often it seems that most advisers don't understand it either, however, it can be said that the curriculum is geared entirely towards a rounded liberal arts education. It irks me that i will have to take two science courses, but at the same time, if they did not make me, I never would, and that would be the real tragedy. The most unique class I have taken was my freshman seminar "The Zen of Improvisation: Permission to Play in Class." The class focused around learning improvisational theater, with the occasional awkward discussion about how it relates to Zen philosophy. However, most of class time was spent improving, and as a second-term vice-president of the Improv club, I would be lying if I said that that course hadn't affected the course of my life in college.

I have another anecdote for this one. I decided in high school that I was going to study psychology in college, but for years I've had a passion for theatre as well. It was never my intention to do theatre in college - it was just a high school extracurricular. But I signed up for a First-Year Seminar in musical theatre, just for fun. The seminar program is another one of the fantastic things about this school. I won't go into detail, because that's what the website is for. The theatre on campus is called Brua Hall and used to be a chapel. There have been additions to the building, but the Kline stage was built in what I assume was the main part of the chapel, and though I know nothing about architecture, it has more of that picturesque charm. I took one class in the theatre department and have more or less been in that building every day since - I auditioned for plays and got cast in shows, and got to perform in several productions in my first semester of college, and many more since then. One of the great things about a small school is that there are opportunities to dive into programs right away. Now, I have a job in the theatre and am the secretary of the student musical theatre club and have taken several more classes. I've declared a Theatre Minor and am considering upgrading to a major. I'm going to study abroad in Bath, England next semester and take courses on Shakespeare and British dramatic literature. The faculty of the department, as well as the students who were already involved, made that building a second home for me, and turned a passive hobby into an active passion. That, in my opinion, is one of the most important things an education can do for you. We don't sit in lectures and memorize facts, we get on our feet and do or discuss. The goal is not to become walking textbooks, but to grow as people. I absolutely adore that.

Academics are really close and personal here; almost every professor will learn your names, and only the lazy ones won't. Class participation is common, even somewhat in the science-type lectures. Students aren't really that competitive academically. Some students will have intelligent conversations of their own accord, but again, there are a ton of stupid people (but you'd find that anywhere). Some people spend time with their professors outside of class; personally, I'll say hi to mine and even chat with them a bit, but I'm not really looking for quality time. A lot of the academics seem to be geared to learning for its own sake rather than getting a job, but most of that is in your choice of major. If you choose a major that will make you wonder what you'll do with your life after graduation, then you've been here for the learning. Still, everyone seems to do well for themselves. Gettysburg has a lot of weird academic requirements. There's the art requirement, for which you can take intro to theater, drawing, creative writing, various art histories, etc... but as a more science-y person, I hate this requirement. There's also the Science, Technology, and Society requirement, which I still haven't fulfilled cause I don't even know how. There's a lab science requirement, which History majors complain bitterly about. There's a lot of requirements, and you get them done, but you end up hating a bunch of classes in the process. The Psychology department as of right now is fairly understaffed; the required Experimental Methods course for graduation was completely full up this semester before any sophomores could take the class, and they couldn't open up a second section because they didn't have enough staff. I know they're interviewing, but it's been frustrating to take all the classes necessary for graduation. The Spanish department (my second major) is more laid back, but it's more literature focused and less popular, but is really a great department. They do a lot of stuff with the local migrant population, so it's great here if you're into volunteering or social work, etc.

Academics at Gettysburg are challenging but not to the point where they consume your life. Most of my classes are pretty small with no more than 20 students or so. Most of the professors are amiable enough. I wouldn't say that they go out of their way to reach out to the students but if you go to them with a question or a problem then they will help you. I am a Management major which is pretty popular among students. It is kind of seen as one of the easier majors but the department has recently made changes to the curriculum that are making it tougher. For instance, any student that does not get at least a C in the statistics course may not continue in the major.

The most unique class I've taken so far was my FYS in Cryptography. My professor was amazing and so great and I really enjoyed the class. It was a great way to ease into the transition at Gettysburg. As far as the academic requirements I find them to be partially helpful but also fairly restrictive; I know very clearly what I would like to major and minor in, but having to fill core requirements sets me back in those goals. On the other hand, you might end up taking an interesting class you never would have otherwise. However, the lab science requirement has to go - I did enough of that in high school and it won't help me write th next great American novel, trust me!

classes are small and attendance is definiteley taken and mandatory which is kind of annoying but gets you to class. smart kids here, starting to get branier and brainier. not too many intellectual convos outside of class but whatver. students can be competitive but no one really notices. As a liberal arts school your major doesn't really matter that much so do whatevrr interest you and then get a job in whatver field you want after

Class sizes are dependent on the course, but for the most part they are small and personal. All of my professors know my name. They are more likely to get to know you in your small classes, but if you are in a larger class (such as Intro to Bio), it is not hard to approach the professor after class. All of mine have been friendly, and seem to care a lot about the success of their students. Education at Gettysburg is very focused on developing your own personal learning along the guidelines of the liberal arts. We are not trained for jobs, but taught to think for our own.

for the most part they know my name favorite: econ (understand the material)worst: philosophy (boring/load of b/s) study time: depends on the schedule, at least a few hours spent on hw each day class participation is held very high at gburg some intellectual convos are had every once in a while students are competitive in sports, look to help each other in classes cryptography, my freshman seminar major: econ/management double major, a lot less intense than science or math majors, but still requires a lot of variety in classes dont spend time with professors outside of class unless i need help slightly confusing, dont know what each category means its a good combination of the two

Classes are small, and (most) professors want to get to know you on an individual basis. Classes are about learning and applying what you're learning, but post-college plans are not the center of attention. Professors know their field well and really care about them. They are always willing to meet with students to discuss class or anything else. The requirements are a bit annoying and specific, but with good planning they won't take up all of your time.

Professors know your name in pretty much every class - the class sizes are small which is very beneficial to what you get out of the class. My favorite class so far has been my biology class. My professor is very animated and even though it is a lecture students are wide awake. My least favorite has been spanish - there is a rather large language requirement (have to get up to the 200 level) Students talk about academics outside of class but it is not the only topic of convo , social life is also important to many if not all gettysburg students (Where it be through greek life or sports, or clubs) My major is health science or biology and im minoring in art. the art program is not spetacular but they have the basics and i have enjoyed both my 2d class so far and phtography. I would stay GEttysburg is geared toward learning for its own sake. as a liberal arts school students are interested in a wide variety of subjects and the requirements make it so that you take a little bit of every subject. Students enjoy there classes and want to do the work they are assigned. The biggest change iv had from highschool to college is a desire to do the work. The classes are more interesting and i want to learn about the subjects. Yes there is always that annoying paper class that you dont love but for the most part i enjoy doing it more.