Gonzaga University Top Questions

I love that professors want to get to know you and help you out in anyway they can. They learn your name and really care about you sucess in their class.

The professor's genuinely care about your education. If you ever need help, just drop your professor a line or drop by his/her office; they'll help you out. Even if you can't get ahold of them, there are plenty of places to go, including a math lab and a writing lab. You are required to take religious courses, but I've found them to be both enlightening and entertaining. Also, the philosophy courses are engaing and class participation is always encouraged. You can always find a place to study, even if the dorms are too noisy for you. The upstairs of the Foley Library is a zero-noise tolerated, so you're guranteed to find peace and quiet. Regarding my major, computer science is fairly hard. If something isn't explained correctly to you, it's easy to get lost. The math requirements are challenging and require at least one hour a day per credit for study. You'll find plenty of people to get help with a program and I was encouraged to seek out other classmates to get help on assignments, just so long as we gave credit when credit was due. Out of all my classes so far, I think I enjoyed Intro to Philosophy the most. Learning about fallacies and the structure of arguments was enjoyable and interesting. It was made more so by my professor, whom I've opted to take Phil 201 with, even though the class I'm in runs from 6-9PM. One thing you will hear about constantly is having a class with a Jesuit priest as your professor. I haven't had such a class yet, but I fully intend to when I get the chance. I've had numerous conversations with some of them and I can say that I'm extremely curious as to how it will be to take a class from one of them.

Academics are VERY important at Gonzaga and the professors take it very seriously. Some of the professors are amazing, such as the philosophy professor Mr. Bowman and the Biology/Chemistry teacher Dr. Chan. The professors have regular office hours and love to see their students come in, and they all usually know you by name. If you can't make it by that time, they will come in early or stay late to help. Basically, they want to see you succeed. Not all the professors are that great. I would suggest using ratemyprofessor.com to avoid some boring and well..."interesting" ones. But really, all colleges have some not so good professors.

One aspect of the gonzaga academic experience that has satisfied me is the liberal arts education. I really enjoyed having classes that were outside of my major curiculum. Because of my intense major it was a chance to relax and actually think creatively. I have learned alot about myself and what I want to achieve with my life through gonzaga's core classes.

The best teacher I've ever had is my adviser and broadcasting instructor, Dan Garrity. He's made class a blast, and he really connects with his students and is genuinely concerned with how they're doing in their other courses. However, I have had some terrible professors, but I don't think there's a college out there that has flawless profs across the board. Since I'm not religious, I was worried about the required 9 religion credits that GU makes its students take. So far, though, I've plowed through 6 of them without any issues. GU doesn't really force religion upon you, you just have to learn a little about it. Having to put up with a couple hours of religion class for a couple semester has been more than worth it.

Gonzaga has a pretty good academic reputation. The reason for this eludes me. Classes are unbearably simple. In the first few semesters, expect a lot of core classes that do no good, like philosophy 101: Critical Thinking. For some reason, I expected them to filter out the people who didn't already know how to think in the admissions process. Attendance is required in most classes because otherwise no one would have a need to show up. Many of the "professors" do not have advanced degrees but still think their class is the most important thing in your life.

Classes at Gonzaga are relatively small, they are about the same size as the classes that I had in high school. This is nice because then you get to know your classmates and its somewhat easier to make friends as well as being able to take a class and know at least one or two people in it. From my experience some of the students are competitive but not in a grueling manner. Everyone is pretty fair and seems completely open minded which is nice. The professor's seem to welcome diversity not just among their students but in ideas and activities and/or assignments. Participation is something that is very common, at first it was a little nerve racking for me because the classes are so small but I got used to it and realized that my fellow students aren't there to judge me but to learn from me and each other not to mention that they probably have the same questions as I do and don't want to say anything. My marketing classes are the most unique classes that I have taken so far. They seem to take teaching to another level and help to blend the worlds within the classroom and the business world. It really brings learning to a new dimension and enables both students and professors to exercise all of their creativeness in wonderful ways.

Academics are mediocre at Gonzaga. I have yet to take a class out of my major that I have found worthwhile to my education. The professors are, for the most part, welcoming and qualified. However, the classes and overall structure do little to advance one's education and 'total self.'

GU was awesome for broadcasting! All of my professors knew my name, but it wasn't small enough to feel like high school. You can be your own person, but also have a great mentor to help you along the way if you get lost! Our Broadcasting department was heavily geared towards helping me become a better reporter, and I accepted a Sports/News Reporting job before I graduated. I owe it to my professors and my amazing experience at GU!

Academics are good. Gonzaga does a really good job for a small school of offering majors in lots of different areas. The professors are also very eager to offer outside help to students, something you're not apt to find at a larger University.

Gonzaga (esp. the sciences) does not believe in grade inflation. The average biology student graduates with a C average in science. In most biology classes, getting B's will require a considerable effort. The good thing is that grad programs and medical schools know that, and take it into consideration when reviewing applicants from Gonzaga.

Professors at this school know your name. They know your major, and they're interested in your success and always willing to help you. Studying is a priority here.

I am majoring in Special Edcation, and I LOVE IT! The Professors do an incredible job of getting you in the schools so that no time will be wasted. You are given the opporunity to become comfortable in the classroom, and you learn so much more by having you own personal (hands on) experience. This also allows you to truly see if education is the right feild for you, and if it is you know it right away. And you are willing work so hard, because you KNOW that's what you want to do!

Good relationships with professors, I have been to numerous professors houses for dinner, classes are small so lots of class participation. Students have intellectual conversations outside of class but students are not to competitive. Gonzaga is definitely geared to learning for its own sake and not toward getting you a job. I liked learning for learning sake but it would have been nice to have some more guidance when it came to finding a job. Biology department is small so there are not many research opportunities.

Classes are easy but because classes are small teachers grade a lot on if they like you or not. Making it feel like high school.

Professors are absolutely incredible. They really make an effort to get to know you on a personal level and take an active interest in your progress, both in and out of the classroom. They are challenging both intellectually and philosophically. I did GU's honors program, so a bunch of my core classes were discussion-oriented, which was awesome. Students are smart. They challenge each other and allow each other to grow through varied and intelligent conversations both in class and at home. I felt challenged at Gonzaga, and thought that I could reach my full potential.

Much like its athletic success and slight preoccupation, Gonzaga also has an incredible history in its dedication and refinement to academic study. As a small school Gonzaga offers very small class sizes, which range anywhere from 6-40 students in a class. I have excellent experiences in the classroom, including one class that I was one of 6 students with a compassionate professor who wanted nothing else but to help us really understand the material. Although, like at any school some classes are better than others as professors and subjects vary in style and intrigue, but I must say that overall I believe the professors to be knowledgeable, challenging, and kind. It is not uncommon for a professor to invite students to his/her home, and many actually build life long relationships. In the classroom, interest and participation definitely varies. Typically in the freshman and sophomore core classes there is not much participation because due to their required nature few really want to be there. But as Junior and Senior year approach, students have focused in on their preferred area of study and interest and participation increases while class size decreases. There is a wide diversity in class curriculum and class choices within each major, however, probably not near as much as a bigger school would be able to offer. That would probably be my only complaint about the academic program at Gonzaga because I sometimes was frustrated that there wasn't a broader selection of classes in the Arts Dept. In the end, I think I have benefitted tremendously from Gonzaga's academic program. I have enjoyed its laid back yet perfectly challenging style and manageable size. If you really want to get into a specific trade though I think a larger school would be more appropriate as Gonzaga is certainly more of a "learning for its own sake" kind of school.

Challenging, but the teachers adjust depending on the student's capabilities and the effort put forth.

The academics at GU are amazing! The classes are small enought that the teachers know you name, how your doing, and in most cases genuinly care about your progress--that is of course if you care. No one is going to babysit you or help you if you don't want it. Much of my time with friends is spent either playing sports, or having an academic conversation over a good cup of coffee. I love to learn and see that trait in many others at GU. Students are competitive in all they do and yet helpful to others. The environment is not cutthroat by any means! The most unique class I have taken is called Survey of International Relations~ it was an incredible, hands one course that was both the hardest and most rewarding class I have ever taken! I love GU's academic requirements as culminated in their desire to produce well-rounded graduates. The professors are the best and are willing to help with both academics as well as life-advice. It seems that doors are rarely closed, and if they are its for a good reason. A Gonzaga education is geared toward future employment, but also toward loving what you do and becoming a life long learner.

Gonzaga is a great school academically. There are great professors that will bend over backwards to help you succeed, both in and out of the classroom. Gonzaga students are generally very highly motivated and strive for success in the classroom. Gonzaga's philosophy is educating the whole person. The requirements include religion and philosophy which have been some of my favorite classes. I am a finance and economics major and have found the business school to be great.

The Academics here are amazing. Professors actually know there students names and care about there progress. For the most part professors try to make the work easy and understandable. Fairly easy to get a B in almost every class. Religious requirement is a bummer though but thats what you have to expect out of a Jesuit school.

CORE CLASSES SUCK BALLS and are boring as hell Get involved in the Comprehensive Leadership Program Study Abroad

The thing I like most about Gonzaga's academics is how much I feel I am being challenged on a daily basis. In addition, the professors TRULY care. The professors definitely know your name and that makes academics here a much more personal thing. They hold you accountable for your attendance, and I feel as though that is important, too. Some students hate the fact that some professors here at Gonzaga take attendance, but I honestly feel like it's a huge motivator for students to go to class. I can't possibly name my favorite class here because I can find great things about virtually every class I have taken. My least favorite class, however, was Introduction to Speech Communication. I think it was a combination of the subject matter AND the teacher that made the class difficult to tolerate. I feel as though I may have a biased opinion, being a Biology major (which requires A TON of studying), but I feel as though students study A LOT. I am surrounded by students who really want to be successful here, and commit themselves to studying a lot. We obviously know how to have fun too, but during the week, we are very busy studying and doing schoolwork. Class participation is not only common, but it is often required. Most of the professors here believe that the best way to learn material is to be actively engaged in class. This requires participating on many levels. Some include participation in class as part of your grade, whereas others do not, but it is highly encouraged by all. I hear so many intellectual conversations around campus, it's kind of insane. I can tell that things that students learn in their classes carries on into our everyday lives, because I hear it all the time. The academics at Gonzaga focus on ways of tying the material learned in class to outside world experiences. This makes the material much more interesting and applicable. I find myself encountering many of the things I learn in class in my everyday life, simply through the ways the professors taught the material and encouraged us to look for applications of our learning outside the classroom. Depending on the major, but I guess I could say overall, students are fairly competitive. In high school, I was used to being one of the top students in my class, so I didn't always feel a sense of competitiveness. The stakes were definitely raised when I came to Gonzaga, as I realized that all of the students here were at the same caliber as me, if not a higher one. This made everything much more competitive for me. But this competitiveness is not a bad thing, most of the time, as it causes our students to work harder and more dedicatedly for the things they really want. The Biology department here at Gonzaga is very challenging but fun. Again, I believe myself to be biased, considering my major is Biology, but I think our program is a very good one. I have had many unique experiences in class/lab, and I find that the way the science classes at Gonzaga are facilitated maximizes our experiences so that we have a wide breadth of knowledge to use when we go out into graduate school/the working world. In terms of the Pre-Medical program (which I am a part of), Gonzaga prepares their students so well for medical school that a great majority of students from Gonzaga that apply get in even their first time. I do spend time with professors outside of class. Overall, professors at Gonzaga are great at keeping office hours, and are very approachable if you need help. But even on a personal level, the professors here really do care about your progress, and just how you are doing as a person. Many of them are professional and casual at the same time. I have babysat for one of my professors before, and I think the reason that I can have these types of unique experiences with my professors is because the classes are smaller, so the instructors really get to know you on a personal level as well as an academic one. Gonzaga's academic requirements are controversial. Some students here are not fans of our "core" requirements (i.e. 3 religion classes, 4 philosophy classes, etc.), because they would much rather take more classes within their major. I, however, feel that our "core" academic requirements are great ways of getting a well-rounded education. I know that the majority of the students at Gonzaga are very successful in being hired soon after graduating, and I would say this is mostly because Gonzaga DOES gear their education toward getting a job. Although learning is fun and important, it's important also to know that we have a future ahead of us that we need to be prepared for.

Academics are a priority at GU. Everyone is there, yes, and it's fun, yes, but the whole point is to get an A (which is frequently not impossible unless you're taking physics). All the profs absolutely know your name and frequently your major. I've had two profs hold me after class and give me career advice (ie: I'm going to be a physical therapist. One told me to be a teacher on the college level and the other told me to be a congressional lawyer). Some of the more interesting things I've learned, though, have been outside of class talking with my poli sci friends during a movie night. It is vital that you approach academics from all sides possible.

The professors are great. You can usually go and visit with any of them, and they always seem interested and invested in your academic and personal acheivement. Even professors I have never taken know my name, and I am not that involved. My favorite class has to have been my Romantic Age class. People having heated arguments about Jane Austen was highly entertaining and interesting. In most classes, participation accounts for a large percentage of the grade. Entertainment level of class discussion always depends on the professor as well as the students taking the class though. The English department is amazing, but mainly focused on scholarly Lit. Criticism and analysis (we do not have a writing Major, but I think they are trying to get a minor), and the department is not huge. My Beowulf prof got our class free tickets to the movie becuase it came out at the same time! and my English 101 professor had us watch an X Files movie and then write a summery of it for our final paper! One of the English profs also holds a yearly Christmas party at his house, and he and his wife cook all of the food and provide drinks too. It is a really fun atmosphere, especially if you talk with the professors and let them get to know you as a person and not just as a student. I think that it varies with every college, but in the Arts and Sciences, the education is definately more directed towards learning for its own sake, as opposed to getting a job. Although it is a Catholic and Jesuit college, the professors and students seem open minded and accepting of diverse student religiousity, and people discuss religion and politics pretty openly, since the atmosphere is that of scholarly questioning, and everyone is forced to take four years of philosophy, so we can think about these things abstractly.

Academics are amazing here, the school is small enought the biggest class i have had consists of approx 30 students and that is a bigger class required by all fresman to take. This makes it very personable. The professors know your names and are very willing to help.

I believe that Gonzaga's programs serve to train students both for career advancement and learning for it's own sake. The instructors are great- last semester I had some family problems that were interfering with study time, I told the instructor and he gave me some extra time to complete the assignments. My favorite class so far has been Servant Leadership, my least favorite was Ethics (because it is such a complicated issue). I did have one class that had a coffee lounge component and it was great-it gave all of us online students to "hang out" and get to know one another better.

The education here at Gonzaga heavily focuses on educating the whole person and service. Students are often required to take service learning courses as well as a social justice class. There are schools that help you to focus more on your career, but they bring in a lot of the global learning that you have gained in so many of your other classes. Professors at fairly good at knowing your name and say hi to as you see them around campus. It is really nice because the classes here are small so you are able to get that one on one time if needed. Class participation is common in seminar classes as well as most English classes, but it mostly depends on how the professor runs the course. Students study on a daily basis and most often spend a majority of their time in the library because the courses here are challenging. But students also find the time to go out and have fun as well. Students here are good at balancing study time with fun time.

All classes are small. You will have plenty of individual attention from the professors. In my experience they have all been happy to go out of their way to help me. Nobody at Gonzaga wants to see you fail.

All of my professors know me by name, and same with most other students. I've had classes ranging from 8 to 40 people. There are some interesting classes and more options are coming, I just wish that I had some fo those when I came in. Some of my most interesting and socially and academically challengin classes were Advanced Genetics: Race and Racism (Bio Majors Only!), Women in Comaprative Societies (an awesome, well-rounded look at how societies run in general), and Women in Contemporary Church (just a really good perspective on the Catholic Church). Gonzaga classes are really meant to get you to think about your place in society and think about what you really want to do and who you really want to be. Some are crappy too, but the majority really have value. They are all also as challenging as you make them...some challenging no matter what.

Because of the small class sizes, no one can get lost in the crowd. There's participation in almost every class and the professor will make sure you talk at least once. Also because the classes are small, by the second week the professor knows everyone's name and says hi if you pass by them in the halls. Office hours aren't necessarily for talking about the class; I've talked to a few professors about non-school related things during office hours. The professors are very approachable as well. I reminded a religion teacher that not everyone at the school has read the Bible and he truly wanted to know my feelings about things we were studying in class. As a French major I've spent a lot of time in the Modern Languages Department and since there are only a few French teachers, I've gotten to know them very well. I plan on keeping in touch with my French professors, and many past students still call them. Gonzaga students are competative, but we enjoy ourselves as well. There are always people in the library and even in the Student Center. Most students are here for an education, but it's also important to us to take classes that we want to take, so a lot of people take an extra semester. There are many class requirements, some of which the school chooses for us (which bothers me) so it can be difficult to change majors. What bothers me is not the requirements, it give us a well-rounded education, but rather that we don't have many choices of which classes to take. For the philosophy requirement, we are placed in Phil 101, 201, and then can choose which 300 and 400 levels to take. But even then there aren't many choices in the 300 level.

Academics are great. I don't know if you can put a price on education (Gonzaga is pretty dang expensive), but you will definitely get a wicked good education. Class sizes are small, teachers always get to know you. It is not uncommon to develop great friendships with professors. Gonzaga is a very competitive school. Kids that come here are very bright.

Very good academics. Its tough but you feel good when you do well

Gonzaga does a good job with education. As a student we are exposed to a variety of different courses - the core classes include philosophy, english, history and religion. They are many classes I would not have normally taken, but I am very glad I did. All of the classes do a good job at connecting what you are learning with how to use it practically in the real world. Gonzaga also has a ton of smaller, academic and leadership programs that students can apply for to tailor their education to them. The Hogan program, honors program, Comprehensive leadership program are just a few. Class sizes are small (between 20-30 people) and professors know your name and are easily approachable outside of class.

All of the classes are great, and i almost always find them truly engaging. I feel like there should be some way to test out of speech and some of the other classes that are core that some people could benefit from, but most do not actually need to take. Class participation can vary depending on subject and time. For instance: My new testament class is a great class, really interesting stuff to me at least, but because it starts at 9 am, no one really is full awake or alive. so it can also vary day to day, what we are talking about, and that kind of thing.

The academics at GU are challenging. They make you think outside the box and outside of yourself. However, every teacher on campus is willing to help you.

Academics at Gonzaga are phenomenal. Class sizes are typically 25 or so. Science and business classes might get as large as 35 or 40, but NEVER any larger than that. This ensures that the professor knows each of the students in the class, and also allows for more individual, personalized attention from the professor. All Professors are required to keep office hours in which they are specifically in their office, available for any student to drop by and ask a question. Because classes are smaller, it is harder to hide in the back of the class unnoticed, and so class participation does tend to be higher. Also, there is an attendance policy, so habitual ditching of class will get you into trouble. Again, because there are a small number of students in each class, the teachers notice when you are not there. The education at GU is very liberal arts based. It requires four semesters of Philosophy, 3 of Religion, 3 of English, in addition to various social science courses. Because there is a focus on well-roundedness, however, students are required to take one lab science, one math, and an additional class in either science or math. It is an intense core, but the idea is that you leave Gonzaga a well-rounded, intelligent individual, capable of engaging in conversations outside of just your major. I am majoring in English and Religious Studies, and doing the Secondary Education Teacher Certification program. I really enjoy all of these programs/departments. Religious Studies classes focus more on historical and critical analysis of Christianity, and once you get into upper-division courses you get to learn more about non-Christian religions. The program does not, in any way, try to indoctrinate people. Rather, it seeks to inform the students of the religious beliefs and backgrounds of a majority of the world's population. The Education program is also amazing. The teachers are all very supportive and knowledgeable, and I feel as though it is great preparation for my future teaching goals.

All the professor are here to teach students and they center their lives around that. They usually work one-on-one with students during out-of-classtime sessions and try to explain problems and ways to achieve better grades.

Class participation is most common in English classes, as far as I can tell. Some philosophy classes have good participation, but it has a lot to do with the kids in the class and the professor's teaching style. There are some intellectual conversations outside of class, but Gonzaga is not known for its super-geniuses. Most of the kids at Gonzaga are here as a means to an end--a job. We have a huge number of business majors at this school. As far as I can tell, a lot of the business majors are not particularly "academic" in their overall interests. There are of course, sects of students who are very academic and intellectual--who like to have fun as well as have intellectual conversations--and often at the same time. It's easy to get to know your professors, but people don't often spend time with their profs outside of class. However, I do know my profs well enough to get good letters of recommendation from them for grad school. I would go so far as to say we are on friendly terms. We talk when we see each other in passing, brief though it may be.

The academics are challenging but well worth the time and effort. All of the professors are very helpful and know you name and spend as much time as you need when you visit their office hours or schedule an appointment with them. Students study a good amount daily but not so much that you completely miss out on the college experience. The professors meet you for lunch and really want to help you succeed. They want you to gain the experience and learn in all aspects and be well rounded but strong enough to be a person and an individual who can make a difference in the world.

Easy as long as you put some work into it.

academics are very astute and are known in the northwestern region. My favorite class was about education in the high school which is another program I am in. I enjoy it because it is taught by people who definatly know what they are talking about and it isnt just about a grade but rather knowing something that we can use later. students, themselves, are very smart and talk with a professionalism that is beyond what most colleges have. I am proud to say that I am a Bulldog because I know that everyday in my classes I am being challenged far beyond what I ever thought I could do.

The Jesuit education is a different experience, really small intimate class sizes mean a lot more heated discussion. All of my professors know me by name. My favorite class so far at GU has been my English 102 class - which is a core requirement. Even for the basic stuff you still get really intelligent quality Professors. The professors here are always really willing to meet with you during office hours for extra discussion, every professor I've had so far has been extremely accessible. Education at Gonzaga is geared a lot towards a successful job after you graduate, but we have a lot of varied core requirements so that each student gets a well rounded "Jesuit" education.

Professors know my name usually. My favorite class would have to of been actually either my religion classes surprisingly or my computer classes. Least favorite class would be philosophy or business law. Students are constantly studying here. Class participation is usual you get a few of the big mouth out-spoken kids that have an opinion about everything but usually class participation is forced. Gonzaga students do have intellectual conversations outside of class which is refreshing. Students aren't very competitive I don't think. For the most part the students are very focused and do a good job in class which motivates you to want to do a good job. My major is changing from accounting because accounting is just ridiculous here....and the teachers are usually unavailable outside of class, you usually need to schedule an appointment a day ahead of time at least....it's a job to get ahold of them. I feel like the academic requirements are strict and slightly high but I also think that is what give Gonzaga the good name that I think it has. I think the education that I have might be geared toward getting a job but I'm not sure....

The academics at Gonzaga are amazing. The teachers are always intersted in how the students are performing and are willing to spend large amounts of time working with students who are having problems. Lots of students have class related dicussions outside of class. My friends and I have built a working trebuchet because we learned about truss systems and loads in a Statics class. I am an Engineering major in my freshman year, my favorite class so far is Statics. The class is a course for my major and I actually enjoy working for it. I do not however, like my non-engineering classes like philosophy and literature, I just can't enjoy english classes, even though I do enjoy reading in my spare time.

The core requirements at Gonzaga are a little heavy (4 semesters of philosophy, 3 of religion, 3 of math and science, 3 english...etc.) but most kids I know end up learning a lot more in fields they would have never thought to experience. It's for this reason that a lot of my friends have decided to minor in philosophy. The average class size is around 17, and you leave most semesters feeling that professors really took the chance to get to know you. Some professors don't have Phd's, however those have been some of my better experiences because they have been younger and have connected with the students better. There are no teaching assistants-ever! Because the school is Jesuit, it is really focused on learning what you want and bettering yourself. The students that go here are of the highest caliber, and I'll often find my friends and me talking about politics or an idea in philosophy while we drink beer and get ready to go out on Friday nights.

I love the school of ed- everyone is great. Most professors are willing to help you outside of class.... out of the 12 teachers ive had, 10 knew me by name. School is busy- you have to manage your time well.

My professors know my name by at least midterms. The biggest class I have is 30 students. The academic requirements are kind of cumbersome though. We have a lot of them, including three semesters of religion and four semesters of philosophy. They just become a pain!

Coming into Gonzaga, I was really scared by the fact that I HAD to take religious classes (I come from a public school), but they have actually been really interesting to me. I've learned a lot about different religions and different aspects of faith in general; the selection of classes to take is very diverse. My most favorite classes are my science classes. Our science department is very selective and very rigorous as to who "survives" them. They really prepare you for your future in med-school, vet-school, nursing, dentistry, etc. I think the best part of Gonzaga (out of everything here) is that the teachers, staff, and personel are so involved. They know you by name, they encourage you to come talk to them, they are willing to answer any questions, etc. They realize that most of us are here by ourselves; they become our second family.

Academics at Gonzaga are exactly what I imagined them to be. I went to a private Catholic high school, so I was fully prepared for the academic load that Gonzaga provides. If you aren't being challenged enough, I am positive that Gonzaga offers upper division courses that will do so. Also, for student-athletes, there are personal tutors available (I have definitely taken advantage of this) to meet with you at least once a week for an hour.