Lewis & Clark College Top Questions

I have experienced two different kinds of schools. I transferred to Lewis & Clark from American University and can say without a doubt that I like Lewis & Clark academics more than AU's. Lewis & Clark is small school (about 2,000 undergrad) which makes the classes very small. In my experience, most professors prefer to be called by their first name. This gives the classroom a more relaxed feeling, and makes student more comfortable engaging in conversations and debates with the professors. In the International Affairs department there are so many students that are extremely engaged in the subject, and do a fair amount of their own researching outside of class. This has made conversations in and out of class illuminating. I am on the steering committee for the International Affairs symposium and this means that I spend some time with the faculty advisor, who happens to be my academic advisor. All of the faculty members are extremely helpful and encourage you to come to their office any time to discuss your interests and topics from the class. This invitation is not intimidating, because the professors make a huge effort to learn your name. You are not just a number on their roster, you are more like a partner in the learning environment. We are encouraged to develop our own opinions and ideas, not just absorb what the professor's is. My favorite class thus far, has been "Studies of Diplomacy". The professor that teaches that class was a diplomat, which made the class even more interesting because he could connect readings to anecdotes from his career. This is how most classes are. The professors are able to connect theory and boring readings, to exciting real work experiences.

I have experienced two different kinds of schools. I transferred to Lewis & Clark from American University and can say without a doubt that I like Lewis & Clark academics more than AU's. Lewis & Clark is small school (about 2,000 undergrad) which makes the classes very small. In my experience, most professors prefer to be called by their first name. This gives the classroom a more relaxed feeling, and makes student more comfortable engaging in conversations and debates with the professors. In the International Affairs department there are so many students that are extremely engaged in the subject, and do a fair amount of their own researching outside of class. This has made conversations in and out of class illuminating. I am on the steering committee for the International Affairs symposium and this means that I spend some time with the faculty advisor, who happens to be my academic advisor. All of the faculty members are extremely helpful and encourage you to come to their office any time to discuss your interests and topics from the class. This invitation is not intimidating, because the professors make a huge effort to learn your name. You are not just a number on their roster, you are more like a partner in the learning environment. We are encouraged to develop our own opinions and ideas, not just absorb what the professor's is. My favorite class thus far, has been "Studies of Diplomacy". The professor that teaches that class was a diplomat, which made the class even more interesting because he could connect readings to anecdotes from his career. This is how most classes are. The professors are able to connect theory and boring readings, to exciting real work experiences.

The academics are awesome. Great teachers, challenging classes, a wonderful 24 hour library on weekdays for studying. The professors are very approachable. There's really not much competitive academics here which is both good and bad. It's good that there isn't any judgement based on GPA but I wish there was more of an academic spirit. It's rare to find people discussing issues they talk about in class at lunch. That's all about who you hang out with though, really. There are A LOT of general education requirements, which might get obnoxious for those who have one thing they do well and don't want to bother with anything else. If you're interested in a Liberal Arts education though, that's what you get; a well rounded worldly education. On that note, one thing Lewis and Clark does better than most schools is they have a really great study abroad program which almost all students take advantage of.

The class sizes are small. With the exception of core science classes, like Chem 101 and Bio 101, the average size is around 20 students. This is excellent for one-on-one participation with the professor, but it's impossible to fly under the radar. The teachers expect a lot out of their students and aren't afraid to be tough with them. The downside to such a small college is the course selection, or lack thereof, of college courses.

Yes, Professors know my name! I live in the Math Department, and I have been to four of my professors' houses. But even if I didn't live in the department, my professors would still know my name because they really make an effort to know everyone in their classes. I can go talk to my professors whenever I need to, whether it be about homework or stress or just for fun! Students study enough to get good grades, but we're not insane about it. Almost everyone is involved in something extracurricular, whether it be the Juggling Club, a cappella, Jewish Student Union, or the Soccer Team. I have never seen students be competitive in a bad way. In pick-up soccer games, of course they are competitive! Students only compete against themselves to get good grades. I spend lots of time with professors outside of class. In fact, one of the math professors (whom I'm never had in class) invited me over to meet his 3 month old grandson once!

Professors are wonderful, especially the upper level ones. Favorite classes: in the art history department, with Benjamin David; in the religious studies department with Rob Kugler Students seem to study quite a bit as far as I could tell. You don't do very well at L&C if you don't put your time in. Class participation is fairly common, especially in the upper level classes. Students are competitive, but not excessively. It depends on the department. For example, the PoliSci department is competitive, but the art history department isn't. The most unique class: The Apocalyptic Imagination with Professor Kugler. My major was International Affairs: I had a problem with the departmental politics that went on, however there were a few teachers that I really enjoyed Thee academic requirements seem fair, but they are NOT fair with transfer students. I transferred from a private liberal arts college and the registrar didn't give me many credits which forced me to take summer school for two summers in order to graduate on time. The education is most definitely geared for learning for its own sake. Despite having a career center (which wasn't very helpful) there is not much talk on how to realistically get a job that has anything to do with your major.

L&C has some really great teachers (as well as some really awful ones). I had the most amazing teacher one time who, in a class of over 70, had everyone's name and face memorized by the second class. Once in a while I would take a class that completely changed my world view. The teachers were inspirational and really had an excellent way of presenting their ideas. I don't know how to describe them any better than that, but at the end of the semester (or even each class) I felt like I was a better person. Those few engaging, deep classes are what you'll remember forever. I'm sort of biased and I don't have experience with other college corriculum, but I think that academically, L&C is pretty top notch. I sort of regret going into East Asian Studies as my major. I'm not sure if everyone has this experience, but I got tired of it. Originally I became an EAS major because I already had some of the key classes early on and it seemed fairly simple to complete the major, but the department is interdisciplinary and the staff is divided up between different departments, and each department likes to do things differently. Economics and sociology don't see eye-to-eye. So the department itself felt very divided. So, I would recommend picking a major that has it's own department vs interdisciplinary.

All of my professors, and even teachers I haven't taken classes from know my name. Lots of classes are discussion based. I would definitely consider LC and academic campus, there is lots of discussion outside the classroom.

For the most part classes are wonderful. The class sizes are small enough that teachers get to know not only your name, but you as a person and student. LC brings many department and student organized lecturers to campus; going to the lectures are a great way to expand your knowledge. Many professors are willing to take extra time out of there schedules to help you study, understand the material, or guide you in extracurricular planning.

Professors do know the name of some of the students. Mostly the student that talked a lot in their classes. Sometimes when I would go to a professor's office hours, I felt like they didn't want students to come around, like it was a big bother to them. At the beginning of the semester, my least favorite class was E&D which is basically a freshman composition class. I didn't enjoy the reading and I didn't understand what the teacher wanted from us. But as the semester went on, I really enjoyed some of the readings and enjoyed the in class discussions. I also really like philosophy 101. It was a good class. Students don't seem to study too often. I met a lot of student who crammed the night before the final exam. It's kind of hard not to. Class participation is common in some classes. I had a lot more lecture classes though, but it was okay to ask questions. I didn't hear a lot of intellectual conversations going on outside of classes. I had no problem with the academic requirements at LC. They are pretty standard. Although, I think there are probably fewer options of what you can take at LC because of how small it is. So one should take that into consideration when deciding on schools. You might have more options at a bigger school. The LC education is geared toward learning for its own sake which I liked, but apparently LC has a really low percent of students who get jobs in their field after graduation. So maybe that isn't such a good thing. I've heard horror stories about people who are five years out of LC and still don't have work.

Small classes, great professors, motivated students. The Freshman core class can get old but for the most part it is really helpful.

Class sizes are generally small (in the Humanities especially), and most that I've taken have been discussion-based. My best professors were Chana Cox (life-changing) in my freshman political theory class and Juan Carlos Toledano in Spanish 301 and 321. Professors are generally very willing to meet with you after class, and many check there e-mail very regularly (every few hours or so). Lewis & Clark really seems to stick to the traditional "liberal arts education"; Physical education classes are required for graduation, and every student is required to take humanities, science, and math-based classes to graduate. The focus seems to be on learning for learning's sake, and creativity is usually highly valued.

The academics are the only good thing at Lewis and Clark. Its too bad the requirements are so numerous that they keep students from being able to focus on what they want to study.

Academics are one of the best things about L&C. But like everything else, they're not for everyone. The classes are small enough that the Teachers know your name, but aren't too hands on. The classes, depending on the nature of the class, are uaully hands on, but the teachers like you to take things upon yourself. After all people, you are going to College for a reason. The work is challenging, but teachers are always wanting students to come into office hours. Many students find themselves at their professor's house towards the end of the semester for a class dinner or party. The Freshman seminar class, called Exploration and Discovery (E&D) is not the most thrilling, but it's not the worst class I've been in my life. What's interesting, is no matter how boring the class, the topic many times finds itself into the conversations at dinner or Maggie's, the campus coffee shop/mini store. The general education requirements can get a bit annoying, but in the end it makes you a well rounded student, and it is a liberal arts school. And as for the purpose of a Lewis & Clark education, it's definitely more geared toward learning for the sake of learning about the world in order to hopefully make it a better place for everyone. Professors, no matter the sibject, are always finding ways to connect what you're learning to the real world.

I am so close with my professors, and I am in love the with intellectual but not hoity-toity conversations I have with my advisers, peers, and audiences?

I like the class sizes. I knew before going to college that knowing my professors would be a huge requirement for where I went because I succeed when I am comfortable around the professor/teacher. My favorite class this first year was Intro to Cultural Anthropology, and I did not enjoy Exploration & Discovery, though Curtis Johsnon was an amazing professor for my second semester of the course. Class participation varies depending on the course- the majority of my classes were engaging and full or participation, but some stick to lectures day in and out. I found it way harder to focus in my lecture course, and felt it was more self-taught. The Johnsons invite their students over for a barbecue every semester and I think that kind of professor-student relationship is wonderful. I know I am receiving a great education at this school and am proud of it.

LC offers a wide variety of fields of study, many of which I have (unfortunately) never interacted with. I know the I.A. faculty more than any other, and I'll limit my commentary to them: Pluses: 1. Experienced and diverse faculty: In addition to PhDs from prestigious institutions, the professors of International Affairs (with whom I studied) are highly experienced professionals who came from a wide array of different backgrounds/past lives: CIA intel analysts, State Department employees, human rights activists, avid travellers, hardcore scholars, and most exciting of all: an exiled diplomat/advisor from an overthrown dictatorship. 2. Personal characteristics of the faculty: In short, every member of the IA faculty has a unique personality and appearance. Their individual flaws make it very easy for us to make fun of them (mostly behind their backs of course), but that's also exactly what make them lovable and charismatic to an extent.

The best thing about L&C is the relationship between students and professors. Every professor makes him or herself very available. They are friendly, learn everyone's name, and genuinely care about whether the student learns the material. Every year, we have a Teacher of the Year competition and I find it difficult to choose who to nominate because there are so many outstanding educators.

The student to teacher ratio is very good. The professors are exceptional, but their are exceptions. I have had professors who were unqualified to teach their classes. I've taken a class where the instructor showed up for only half the class. There are great inconsistancies. The Registrars office is uncooperative and disrespectful. They don't want to help students and it is obvious they have more important priorities than students.

All professors will get to know you, although in large lecture classes there are some times when they don't always get it right. My favorite class this year was probably International Affairs, it just opens your eyes up to the world and it feels like you're talking about things that actually matter every day. Students are all pretty laid back and will work together well, there is no cutthroat competition really. I am on the pre-med track, however, I will say that this school, like any liberal arts school really is not the best for pre-med as there are a lot of requirements outside of your major you have to fulfill. If you are good at planning however you can do it fine. I spend a lot of time going to office hours and my teachers are very very helpful, and I always come out feeling much more confident about what I'm doing. Nobody likes the freshmen year requirement, Exploration and Discovery. It is tolerable but I'm fairly certain if given the choice no one would take it for fun. The education here is much more about learning and becoming a well rounded individual than getting a good job to make money.

All of my professors know my name and that is not true of many of my friends who attend other colleges. The academics are fairly rigorous, and you have to do the work to be able to keep up with the pace of the classes. Any class that I have needed extra explanation in has been gladly given by the teacher. There are very few TA's within the school and no class will be taught by a TA. If there is a TA it is their job to help with one on one help in classes where the teacher cannot help every student all of the time. In computer science, or lab classes they are very common.

I feel Lewis and Clark has a relaxed academic environment, yet there are still people interested in learning. People here have a lot more intelligent opinions than I would have thought just by looking at them. Their viewpoints are mostly liberal, but they're very informed and up to date on news. International affairs is a common topic of discussion outside of class. The professors are very accommodating and supportive. I had one professor who crammed seven of us into her 5 passenger car to see a movie. It's nice having small classes, but you should be expected to participate in a lot of class discussions. Class participation is very common since the majority of classes are small. Students are not competitive at all, it's very relaxed. I'm a psych major and I've heard the psych dept is very good. A lot of people come here for the international affairs dept. The academic requirements are mostly reasonable, with the exception of Exploration and Discovery, the core class freshman are required to take. There is a focus on analyzing literature, writing essays, oral presentations, and research papers. I feel like I already had a good foundation from highschool in these areas, especially with taking AP Lit. I think a lot of people already have these skills and it is redundant to take this class. Much of the literature were books I had covered in highschool.

The classes at LC are very small for the most part. I think IA classes and Intro science classes are the biggest classes, hitting almost 100 students. Yet the rest of the classes are between 20 and 35 students. The teachers know the names of all the students and a lot of classes are discussion classes where participation is important and counts as part of your grade.

The classroom is about the only place Lewis and Clark students seem to take competition seriously. Students are always trying to out do each other, which gets frustrating, especially in small class settings. The good thing about small class sizes is that professors most often know you by name, and many times, Professors prefer to be on a first-name basis with their students. As a freshman, you're required to take an intro class, they call it "Exploration and Discovery," which is basically an English 101 class, and is for many students, unnecessary. They have good intentions, though. Also, because it is a liberal arts college, there are general educations requirements in the sciences, math, Art and humanities (2 years of a language or the equivalent). Personally, I don't like the requirements, but the major programs for many of the areas of study are not as rigorous as they could be because they factor in the general ed. classes.

All of my professors so far have asked me to call them by their first name. They are super nice, obviously care that I am learning something, and know my name too, even when I didn't think they would. People talk in class. It isn't the usual three or four people talk every class, but instead everyone participates. I wouldn't say it's the most difficult school. I consider most of my classes to be at medium difficulty, but then again, I went to a college prep high school. That being said, students here study a lot. In fact, study parties are quite popular: we gather and bring treats or make treats while we study. I wish that LC had fewer requirements, but I've gotten most of them done already. LC really aims at teaching students things they want to know, and wants students to do what THEY want to do. It's focused on right NOW.

Lots of work, but lots of fun. Its not brutally hard, but don't expect to breeze through your classes.

The Professors definitely know you by name and make an effort to learn them very quickly. I think there's a great relationship between students and professors, and many professors invite their students to their homes for end of the year parties. Lewis and Clark's general education requirements are fairly easy to reach, leaving most students a lot of freedom and flexibility in figuring out their majors. Class participation depends on the class, though most of the discussion-based classes feature a lot of participation from the students. Exploration & Discovery (the required freshman seminar) definitely teaches students how to feel comfortable speaking and discussing in class, in addition to teaching students how to write. In my experience, LC students aren't very competitive, and tend to be more laidback. Most students respect each other for getting into the school (with the academic criteria), and don't focus on individual grades in classes.

During my Exploration and Discovery class, a core course that all students are required to take, my professor told us that the express purpose of a liberal arts education is to take everything we think that we know, rip it to shreds, and force us to rebuild ourselves. She said that by the end of it we should be able to find a way to relate Aristotle to an electrical outlet. Classes are mandatory and small, attendance is a must, and professors know all of their students, always. Courses tend to be discussion-based and the worthwhile discussions tend to spill out of the classroom and take hold of your conversations for the rest of the day. So long as you are engaged in your studies, you will be well-rounded and well-educated when you graduate.

Profs are awesome. The math dept is like my family. Classes are challenging, but fun. But, like everything, it's not for everyone.

Professors here know your name, unless they think they're better than everyone else. Then they feel that they don't have to. Whether they remember your name once you aren't in their classes is another story. Best class here is New Testament and Early Christian Literature. No Joke. Don't take ethics unless you really know what you're in for. People tend to study most right before finals, otherwise, I think they don't feel the pressure. Class participation varies depending on the size of the class and the subject. If its something like history, its mostly lecture, but if its psychology or any kind of lab science, participation is in some cases the biggest part of class. I continue to be surprised by the strange things we all talk about outside of class, we're always able to bring in something we learned that day and relate it to whatever we're talking about. Students here don't seem to be very competitive. Most unique class I've taken was probably Cross Cultural Psychology (That doesn't mean it was very good). As a psych major, I think the psych department is pretty diverse and that the professors are all very good at their specific fields and generally enjoy them as well. I don't spend much time with professors outside of class, though I do run into a professor from the philosophy department at the weirdest times...The academic requirements here are pretty standard: You need to know some math, you should speak another language, you have to do some chemistry or biology, etc. Also, we have a core class known as Exploration and Discovery, which is sort of English heavy and teaches you how to write. Different sections of this class are taught by professors in different departments, so the level of interestingness depends on that. LC is all about liberal arts, so it is geared towards learning a broad range of things that you can build on later. In other words, it is not as geared towards job life after college as some schools might be.

Lewis and Clark is no walk in the park. Classes are tough and challenging, yet engaging and informative. Most classes work on a 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} discussion, 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} lecture basis, but every professor has their own style. I have found a few professors who I wish I could take every class from, and a few that I would rather not interact with ever again. One of the great things about LC, is the lack of competition. At most private schools, it seems that everyone is striving to do better than everyone else, but I honestly do not get that feeling here. I the best class, that I recommend to every single student, regardless of your major, is Buddhism with Alan Cole. I took it as a freshman and was scared out of my mind when he tore apart my first paper with a red pen. But he always gives you a second chance to fix mistakes, and to learn from them. Rather than just being upset with my paper, I was able to develop my writing skills to a level that I never thought I could achieve. Professors are approachable and helpful.

For all of the disadvantages a small school creates in the social scene, it more than makes up for it on the academic side of campus. All of my professors know their students' names and are willing to meet and help with the material anytime. Professors at LC are very accessible and are concerned about their students and passionate about what they teach. There is very little incentive to skip class because of the small class size, and most people I know don't skip because they want to get their money's worth! I actually do have intellectual conversations with my friends all the time outside of class, which is amazing because I don't have that with my friends at home. My friends here are educated, intelligent, and want to learn but also love to have a good time. There is a good balance between partying and getting schoolwork done.

Professors are legit as fuck. Gotten drunk with my freshman core teacher, talked about smuggling marijuana with my philosphy teacher. They are really down, and being in such a secluded enviroment they almost take up a parent role. My core class teacher checks in on my every now and then just to see how i'm doing, what other classes im interested in. I would show up to alot less classes if my teachers didnt all know my name and call me out on not being there if i don't show up. Students are not at all competitive. We are here to learn and expand our minds, and help each other better understand the world. Everyone is incredible animated about learning and expanding there minds and teaching each other new concepts and ideas outside of class. REally stimulating conversations. number of courses needed for a major are not as large as at other schools which allows for a more liberal arts education with more electives, so i'm allowed to take alot of music classes and philosophy classes just because i want to learn more about subject, even though they are outside of my major.

Professors know all of their students because class size is very very small!! Because classes are so small, we are able to spend time with professors outside of class. Professors invite their students to dinner at their homes or even at local hang out places. Students are very competitive because they were all the top students of their school that are all pooled into one place.

Overall, classes at Lewis and Clark are top notch. All are challenging, and all are interesting. All professors learn your name and are usually pretty interested in how you fare in there class. Students tend to have an internal drive that compells them to do well, but are generally supportive of their classmates, not competative. That is not to say that other students do not play a part in raising the academic bar. The intellectual conversations that occur both inside and outside of class with both professors and students are what the LC education is all about. LC promotes learning for learning's sake. The goal is for all students to be prepared for success and happiness in all aspects of their lives.

All of my professors know my name. My favorite class is 2 Dimensional Design Foundations because I really like to chill out and do art. Students study a lot in addition to procrastinating a lot. Participation is common but it also depends on the class and what is being discussed. Students don't seem to be competitive at all. I'm a psych major and the department seems great so far. I wish that they had more class options and that people got into classes more frequently than they got waitlisted. I do spend time out of class with professors talking about papers and advising. LC is definitely about learning more than getting a job.

The classes are tiny and amazing. I came from a wonderful school in central new jersey. So I was used to a dedicated staff and small classes. However, I was still so impressed with the faculty here. Students have so many intellectual conversations outside of class. Being smart is definitely admired and "cool" here. The general ed. requirements are very easy. The only kicker is you have to have a language proficiency (test out or 3 semesters of a language).

All my professors know my name and i have been over to their houses before which is nice. My fave class was BIO 100, the prof was amazingly interesting. Least fave is macro econ. it kills my brain. I study all the time but i don't know about other kids. Class participlation in IA courses is pretty common. LC intellectual converstations are often just empty liberal rhetoric. They don't seem to be able to actually black up their thoughts or really have any of their own when it comes to those kinds of issues. Students seem competative but nothing over the top. Arthurian Romance Lit was the most unique course i took. The IA department is pretty cool. All the profs are really on top of their stuff and i like talking with them. Where else is one of the Shaw of Iran's former advisors a professor? I usually don't spend a lot of time with them outside of class but when i do it is interesting. The PE requirement is stupid but i feel like they are trying to get us ready for a job.

If you do not want to participate in class, then you should not go to LC. The biggest class I ever had was around 50 students, and most of my classes in my major had only about 20 students. I think this is great because you develop relationships with your professors and it is just easier to learn when you have more of a chance to interact. I honestly think the learning environment at LC is quite laid back. We are not competing with each other for grad school entry or jobs, so everyone feels free to help each other out as study groups are really common. It is liberal arts, so the classes aren't really geared at specifically acquiring a job right out of school, but if you are entering college having no idea what you want to do then that is not necessarily a bad thing. But students should know what they are getting into when they decide to go to LC, it isn't right for everyone.

Academics are very strong at LC and I find myself spending the majority of my free time doing homework and very rarely have time to watch TV or a movie. This is especially true when I am in season and on top of taking a full load of classes have 5 hours of practice a day. Professors do take the time to really get to know their students and love to have people drop by their office hours even if it's just for a little chat. My biggest complaint as far as academics go at LC is that the Career Advising help is not very useful and many seniors find themselves not knowing what they are going to do after graduation.

all of my professors know my name

Some professors make an attempt to learn your name soon and others tned to learn it if you talk to them enough. My favorite class was my first history class, which led me to major in history. My least favorite class was a religious studies class, the professor was great but he expected everyone to be at the same level as him, and he would not help you to that level. Students study in their dorm rooms or in the library by themselves or in groups. Class participation is expected and encouraged, however some professors expect the student to regurgitate what they say in class. Students have intellectual conversations outside of class, long conversations happen in the Bon (the cafeteria) about politics, history, current affairs, and classes. Students are very competitive in certain areas of the college, some majors are hard to get into and students can get very competitive about getting into certain classes. The most unique class I have ever taken was about Vampires, it was an amazing class and I still use the information I learned in that class today. I love the history department. The professors really care about you and always are there to help you. It was the area I found the most support and encouragement and that sealed the deal for my major. There were other areas I was interested in but history classes and the professors challenged me while supporting me. Some of the academic requirements are ridiculous, but some of them make you step out of your comfort zone and learn something exciting and new.

The professors here are amazing. They try really hard to get to know you if you want to be involved in class.

All of my professors know my name and most can recognize me outside of class. My favorite class right now is probably international organizations (211) because it is so hands-on. We do simulations and break up into groups frequently making the material much less boring than it actually is. My least favorite class is statistics of economics because I don't really like the teacher's teaching methods and am not very good at math. Students study quite often here, its pretty academic. Class participation is common as it is usually a percentage of your grade. Most Lewis and Clark students partake in sorts of intellectual conversations outside of class. The students really don't strike me as competitive, only as competitive as they're personalites make them. The most unique class I took was Javanese Gamelon and it was amazing. I am an international affairs major and although it is definitely a challenging subject, I enjoy learning about it. I have only spent time with professors outside of class on an academic basis, like during office hours and such. I think that the academic requirements are challenging without being too impossible to fulfill. I feel like Lewis and Clark is trying to shift its college education towards getting a job but definitely has more value in learning for its own sake.

Classes are small, about the size of high school- like 15-25 students in a room. Professors know your name within two weeks, if not earlier. They're way accessible- you can often just walk into up to a professor's office and find him/her there, ready to chat with you. The required freshman course kind of blows- it's just a watered down, discussion-based course with too much emphasis on reading than comprehension or anything that will matter in ten years. Other than that, how good the class is depends on how good the professor is. I have had one ridiculously amazing, brilliant professor each semester, two good professors, and one bad. The bad professor is usually a visiting professor, filling in for a faculty member who is temporarily gone for some reason. Something really different here is that people aren't as ruthlessly competitive as they were in high school. They strive to do well for themselves if they feel like it, but not necessarily beat the academic shit out of everyone else. It's a good feeling. I'm an International Affairs major with a minor in Economics, and I have no clue what the hell I'm going to do with it when I get into the "real world," but I love what I'm learning, and that's what matters right now.

Academics are hard, but not impossible. Intro classes are kind of big, but once you're done with the intros, the upper level courses are pretty small, which means that if you haven't done your reading, the professor will be able to tell. Classes are mostly discussion-based, but teaching styles vary by professor. Some professors prefer to lecture and sit everyone in front of a powerpoint, while other professors prefer to present the class with a series of questions and let students more or less control the ensuing discussion.

Professors know my name and because of the smaller school size, it allows students to get to know their professors on a personal level and socialize with them outside of the class room. Class participation is very common and students definitely have intellectual conversations out of class. The music department is amazing- you get to know everyone that walks around the building. The education is a combination of learning for learnings sake and geared towards getting a job in the future.

I love the professors I have had. Classes can be difficult, but not unmanageable by any means. However, getting into classes can be difficult, many only have one section, and some are rarely offered despite what the course catalog says. That can be incredibly frustrating and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that there are many 5th year seniors. Your academic experience depends greatly on your chosen major.

Professors definitely know their students names here. Usually my classes run from about 10-25 students. I have my biggest class this semester, which is Bio 100, and it's about 50 students. Last semester my British Lit before WWI class with Rishona Zimring was particularly enjoyable. I liked what we read and the really great discussions we had in class. So far Math 055 is my least favorite class but that is just because I don't like math. There are students sleeping over in the library, reading in the Bon while they eat, sitting on the grass when it's sunny studying, and alone in their rooms working 24 hours a day. As an English major, I read a lot more than I "study," but that of course takes a lot of time, too. Some people participate in class, and some don't. It's easier to participate sometimes in smaller classes, but a lot of times it just depends on the dynamic of the class, the professor, etc. Rishona facilitates good discussion, Travis Feldman is enthusiastic but people don't know how to react to him yet because this is only his 2nd semester, Kurt Fosso makes for pretty good discussion too. It just depends. There are definitely intellectual conversations held outside of class. Personally, I like talking about books and film with my friends but people also are always talking about politics, the environment, etc. There is not a lot of competition here in classes and I like that. People are accepted at their own pace. Some people definitely vie for the attention of the professor and the class by speaking up a lot in class. Usually though, grades are not really compared, except among your closest friends who probably aren't even in that same classes as you are. I love the English department here. The professors I've had so far are all really knowledgeable and enthusiastic. They are challenging but not usually so as to create too much unnecessary stress. The department has really good events outside of class, like poetry readings and symposiums usually. Megan Cahn, the dept's assistant, is really helpful and provides a lot of great opportunities and information to the English majors here. I am applying to a writing program in France because of an e-mail she forwarded me and I also got this internship with ByStudents because of information she passed out. Sometimes it feels like the education here is more for learning for its own sake but more and more that is becoming okay because a lot of professions these days require, or prefer, master's degrees anyway. English could certainly be considered one of these majors but it all depends on what you do with it. In my life, my job oriented activities include things I do on campus, but not necessarily in the classroom.