Denison University Top Questions

All the classes at Denison are around 20-25 students, some less. All the teachers know their students and if someone is struggling they will try to help. Class participation, and attendance, is the norm because it is required. Most teachers will drop your grade if you miss more than 4 classes. No one talks about work outside of class unless it is to bitch about the ungodly amout of work that every teacher assigns. Most kids try to fit their work in when they are not drunk or on some kind of drug. The academic requirements are almost impossible to adhere to if you want to have anykind of socail life, so everyone just tries to get good grades so that they will have it on their resume, the actual learning is replaced with cramming on 50mg of adderall.

Expect to participate. Daily. Professors expect students to participate with thoughtful commentary and critical thinking. This is good for extroverts but sometimes very difficult for introverts and first-years. Professors are generally very approachable and kind, but most are tough. This is good because it encourages students to actively learn and take responsibility. Some professors even invite students to their homes for meals! This is great, and a benefit of attending a small college. Education is geared more toward learning for its own sake. Many students attend because they are looking to get a graduate degree, and perhaps become a lawyer or doctor, or other professional. Other students attend because they are looking for a good education in the arts.

None of the majors at Denison are too intense, which really helps you get the full benefit of a liberal arts education if you so choose. Most of my friends are double or triple majoring, but if you stick with one major then you can take pretty much as many electives as you want. The education can be as laid back or stressful as you want it to be. I think the students generally study and stress out way too much, but you'll get that anywhere you go. The professors, especially outside of the science department, really seem to care about actually teaching their students. It's easy to get help outside of class and the professors are easy to reach. I wouldn't call a lot of what I've been learning necessarily "practical" information, but that's mostly by my own choice. I'm learning what I want to learn, and I'm glad I have that option.

All the professors you have know you by name at Denison and there are no TA's. A lot of the humanities classes are more discussion based so they offer a lot of opportunities to get involved. People strive to do well but the climate is not overly competitive. Average weeks you will spend about two hours on homework per night. Some professors get so close with their students that they will trust them to babysit their kids or, if they are really close, their dogs. Education is geared towards creating an intellectually well rounded student that would be prepared for a variety of jobs. It is a true liberal arts education.

Academics are excellent at Denison. The classes are all small, even the introductory classes and required classes. Professors make a point to learn your name and interact with you, often expecting you to participate and attend every class. As a Creative Writing major, I've come to learn that the English department is very helpful. It contains the Writing Center, a place where students from any department can come and work with an English major on their papers. Professors often meet and spend time with students outside of class. The requirements are easy to fulfill, as you can fulfill them in unique ways. I fulfilled my science requirements with an astronomy class and a fun class the focused on animal communication.

In general most professors are approachable and want you to learn. In addition most professors are easily accessible for questions. One thing to note, if you are looking to major in Math at Denison, you might reconsider. Their Math department is SEVERELY lacking in good faculty. Basically the professor (Dr. Westmoreland) who often teaches Calculus and Differential Equations is incredibly unprepared for class. Basically the amount you learn in his classes over the semester could be easily managed in two good days of class. He also plays favorites so if he likes you, you'll end up with a B+ or higher. If he dislikes you, you are on your own. AVOID HIS CLASSES AT ALL COSTS!!!! He is tenured so the problem isn't going to go away. You'll understand and appreciate my advice if you go there.

i know every professor in the psychology and biology departments, even the ones i haven't had classes with, as well as many other faculty members all across campus. my favorite class so far has been honors biosocial dimensions of behavior, the honors version of the intro to psych class. honors classes are even smaller and more discussion based than traditional classes, and the professor was fantastic at involving us all and bringing the material to life. the library and computer labs are consistently full with students studying on a regular basis. participation varies, but the majority of classes really encourage interactive learning, so being a passive learner isn't really an option. meal times are occasionally a time for intellectual and political discussions and debates, but most people are pretty wiped after focusing our academic attention on our classes so that kind of conversation typically stays in class. students are competitive, but it's mostly against yourself--it's never cutthroat or sinister. between my extracurricular activities, department colloquia, and just hanging around the building, i see my professors (and other faculty!) around all the time. it's really nice to be able to start up a casual conversation with them and benefit from their wisdom and experience about classes, graduate school, and more. as a liberal arts college, you have to take classes in every division. it's nice to have choice in which specific classes you take and it's definitely manageable, but with a major, minor, and concentration you have to do lots of careful planning to fit it all in.

All my professors know my name. They even send me an email if I'm absent from class. That said, it's impossible to "blend in" or be a wallflower in your classes. Students study varying amounts. My friends and I often have intellectual conversations outside of class. If we've learned something interesting or controversial, we often share it with our friends. The academic requirements are rigorous.