Colby College Top Questions

From an educational standpoint, Colby is an excellent school. Small classes force student participation and make professors easily accessible. Most professors really strive for their students to succeed, though they are demanding. The vast majority of classes at Colby are very rigorous and you need to work consistently everyday to excel. Despite what they say, students here are extremely competitive. I have a 3.0 and my class ranking is in the bottom 50 out of 500 students. Though Colby's small size is an asset for its academics, I really wish there was a larger student body. The population is very homogeneous despite recent pushes for diversity. Missing class is seen as a mortal sin by some professors which can be irritating at times and is magnified by small class sizes. I think a larger student body would be extremely beneficial for the school's social scene - both parties and school-sanctioned activities would be much better if you didn't see the same small group of people all the time. As far as the administration is concerned,there is not widespread support among Colby students. There have historically been issues between students and overbearing security officers, and recently the administration has failed terribly in addressing a disciplinary issue that has the entire campus outraged. The administration is trying to create scapegoats to save face while neglecting to address the larger issue at hand directly.

The administration is largely unfriendly. They don't seem to know what's going on at other schools. The campus is pretty balkanized, a bit clichy. I realized within 10 minutes of arriving here that i had made a horrible mistake. Its just the right size to be a great prep schol, too small to be a college.

Colby is ever changing, and mostly for the better. In the coming years, three new major buildings will be constructed, and three have been built already in the past few years. Colby's becoming more and more selective in admissions and is reorganizing its curriculum. Colby is a good size, but it can feel small. Sometimes you have to search for the students you have never seen before. I love the administration and think that they are incredibly receptive to what students have to offer. The new Director of Campus life was the Dean of Campus life at MIT prior to this position and is AMAZING. Our Career Center offers a 4-year curriculum and is the only one to do so in the country.

No school is perfect, even though every administration likes to think their school is more perfect than the rest. Colby was the perfect place for me though. I met lifelong friends and had the perfect mix of tough academics and socializing. I think people underestimate how much colby students love their alama mater. The student spirit seems to be growing every year and the reunion this year set attendance records. Sure there are people who are unhappy with the school but I think that has more to do with their personality rather than the school itself. If you understand what colby is and accept that then you will love your time there. If you come here thinking the school is a liberal hotbed like Brown or Vassar then you are not going to be happy. The admin is wonderful and caters to all of the students needs. Simply put the majority of Colby students are very intelligent, outgoing, athletic, outdoorsy, and respectful.

colby is a small school that is full of cheerful, friendly kids looking to mature intellectually and drink until they pass out. it is easy to see why alumni rave about their experiences at this school, and the community certainly lives up to its close-knit reputation. however, if you fall on the more stereotypically "artsy", cynical, or even multi-cultural side of the spectrum, you might find yourself in a very small minority. that is not to say that colby does not open its arms wide to difference - in fact, it is absolutely BEGGING for diversity, something that shows up blatantly in its admissions statistics - but it is to say that if you are not what has long been considered a typical colby student, prepare yourself for the fact that you will not enjoy the luxury of totally fitting in.

great size, fun locale, i wish town-gown relations were better

The elitist/snobbish atmosphere that exists at Colby. I think the size is just right. I think that Colby's administration is pretty poor and is often seen sucking up to the rich and wealthy regardless to their contribution to society. No I don't think there is much of school pride - everyone is looking out for number one including the professors and admins. I think the one thing I will remember the most is all the hardwork that the support staff such as the janitors, dinning hall staff, custodians have put in on campus and go unappreciated. During my time at Colby these were the nicest people and the ones I learnt the most from rather than from the classroom.

The school is too small and confining. I have never been so unhappy in my life as to when i came to colby. Administration is unfriendly, student population is extremely homogeneous and unfriendly. There is nothing to do except sleep at colby. Academics can be challenging; it depends on what you make of it. I wish i had never come here.

Size is just right - all the better to really get to know your peers AND your professors. If I could change one thing - I'd move Colby to CA or LA (minus the hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.) No, seriously, Waterville could use a facelift - start up some sort of cafe culture, have more host families from within the community (who have no direct connection to Colby), etc. I spend most of my time in either of my academic major buildings - Diamond Lab or the Mudd seminar room! Colby's administration can be a bit hasty with decisions, but you can't blame them for not trying. On the whole, quite supportive and willing to incorporate students' opinions. Can aim for better transparency, particularly regarding budget allocation and spending which affects clubs and on-campus programming. On the downside, majority of students don't have a lot of faith in the admin and criticism is rampant. Must work on image and perception. School pride - depends on the athletic season and/or how Bowdoin and Bates are faring! Unusual - oh yes! People are very friendly. And if you look carefully enough and take the time to get to know everyone, this is an EXTREMELY diverse population, and not just for the no. of nationalities represented.

Colby is the perfect size. Most of its students are slightly socially awkward, with a superiority complex. Waterville is known for being "sketchy" and the school has a struggling relationship with the town. Colby is in a "bubble" on the Hill. The administration tends to be overly strict, with lots of restrictions on student events.