Chestnut Hill College Top Questions

The academic side of things at Chestnut Hill is a great experience in my opinion. The student to teacher ratio is extremely small allowing a ton of individualized attention to all students. Also, the Professors are always accessible which is great when extra help is needed.

The student to teacher ratio is only 11:1 so unlike most state schools you should expect small class sizes and and one-on-one attention with your professors. The downfall- your professors will know when your not in class. The benefit- teachers are always willing to help with anything regardless of if its for their class, another class, or something not even school related. They will also get to know you on a more personal level, which helps makes letters of recommendation more personal for any type of grad school you may think about applying to later on. Also, if you decide to come to CHC don't be surprised if you end up eating lunch with a professor in the dining hall or arrive at a meeting and find an assortment of teas and snacks has been laid out for you to enjoy.

Since I go to a smaller school, all of the professors know all of their students names. The average student to professor ratio is 11:1. My biggest class size has been 22 students and the smallest class size has been 6. This is great because this gives the professors a chance to really get to know their students and figure out how they learn best, when to push them, when they may need a little break. Professors are also all required to hold office hours where if you have a question on a paper you can go and talk to them about it and get help. I went to my philosophy professor one time with a question and we ended up having a 2 hour discussion about life. It was great, My favorite class so far has been my social inequalities class which was a hybrid course meaning we met only once a week instead of twice and the other half of the class was work we did that was submitted online. Class participation is extremely common especially since the class sizes are relatively small. Students are students though and so procrastination does occur when trying to study. The most unique class I've taken has been Emergence of the Hero which was a part of the Honors Program. It was a 2 hour seminar that mixed philosophy and religion with science. We would read things from Plato to Quantum Mechanics to Harry Potter and apply all of the concepts we learned to each reading. My major is Human Services and it's in the same department as Sociology, Psychology, and Criminal Justice. I wanted to major in Human Services so I'd be able to work with the elderly when I graduate.This is a liberal arts college so we believe in well-rounded students. Therefore no matter your major you will need to take a science, or a math, or a writing course and other general requirements. I would say the education at this school is geared towards both getting a job and learning for its own sake. The professors do a great job of bringing in guest speakers that students could use as contacts in the field that they want to go into and helping their students find internships. And the school, like I said wants students to have a holistic learning experience as well.

At CHC we have small, personable classes. All of the professors get to know their students by their first name. I still have professors coming up to me, who I haven't had since my first semester here, calling me by my first name, and asking me how I'm doing. Professors take a genuine interest in their students, both academically and personally. On the academic side, they make sure you get any assistance that you need in order to do well in their class. I've had professors hold late night study sessions in open classrooms, reccomend the writing and math centers, and offer to tutor students themselves. On the personal side the professors make sure their students are doing well adjusting to school (if they're freshmen), and they always check in with their students progressively. Their office doors are always open for academic and personal advice and talks. I really do enjoy the classes and the professors alike.

But not too challenging where school is the only thing you have time for. The professors really care about you and want to see you succeed. My major is accounting and as a sophmore there have been 2 job fairs already and it is only october. There are so many connections to be made and Chestnut Hill really helps you to make them and sets you up for after college.

Like I mentioned, CHC is a very small school with small class sizes. As second semester freshman, I had one class with only 5 people in it. I love the small classes the best - they are the place where I feel noticed and appreciated each time I participate. Because of these small classes, I think most students who attend Chestnut Hill College enjoy discussion, participation, and interaction in the classroom. I am a Communications major, and I love every minute of it! So far, I have taken classes such as Advertising, Public Relations, and Mass Media & Society. Being excited about my major and feeling like a made a great decision about my career path is only amplified by the great professors and personalized attention I get from them. I also am getting an Art minor, which allows me the opportunity to take at least one art class each semester. I think my favorite class that I am taking, though, would have to be my Chinese class. I know, it's crazy to try to learn Chinese, but it's actually fascinating and truly rewarding to be part of a class where I can speak Chinese for a full hour twice a week. I love my professor - she is kind and supportive, and really works hard to help us understand Chinese vocabulary and dialogue.

Being at such a small school the professors definitely know your name. This is a good thing, trust me! They care about you not onyl as a student, but as a person. You can make connections with your professors and alumni that can help you get jobs and internships once you leave this campus. Even outside of class I find that many people bring what they learn and have intellectual conversations on their own time. As a liberal arts college, we have a very well-rounded core ciriculum.