Gettysburg College Top Questions

The academics are great at Gettysburg. The proffessors will constantly challenge you but this only helps make you a better student.

My favorite classes are in the environmental studies department- a lot of field trips! I really hated the idea of the liberal arts college- but taking humanities classes is a nice break from science and math and let me explore other interests. Not easy A's necesarilly, but definetely a good break in the schedule. Students are encouraged to go study abroad. Professors and study abroad officers will give you a lot of advice. College is a great time to spend a semester learning a new culture, language, or environment, and Gettysburg College recognizes this. Some students are competitive. Gettysburg College has a solid and often rigorous academic curriculum without the hostility, stress, or feelings of 'self importance' which might be present in universities rated as being more academically challenging.

I love my major. I am a German major and it's a very small department so I know most of the other students in my classes and I have had some of the professors since I was a freshman. My professors in most classes I've taken not only know my name but also know things about me and ask me about what I'm up to. This is one o fthe advantages of being on such a small campus. My professors always hold a German get-together at the end of the year which is really nice, and I have been invited to teachers' houses for coffee, dinner, etc. My relationship with my professors and my major in general are definitely my favorite things about gettysburg.

Professors do know your name. My favorite class included most in the English department and some in the Classics Department. The sciences at Gettysburg are very intensive and very competitve. I feel that Gettysburg prepared me very well going into the "real world."

Most, if not all professors know your name and make the effort to really get to know you. I had a professor in my Historical Methods class who would actually cut out articles from the Gettysburg Times about my cross country team and hand them to me in class with a note of congratulations. That is pretty special. All of my classes were very much participatory, but I think it varies by major. Students are competitive at the high levels of the major, but the entire campus really isn't that geeky.

Academics is Gettysburg's strong point due to its small class sizes, which are comprised of no more than approx. 30 students. In this class setting, professors learn students names and expect them to participate. The professors are also very helpful and friendly outside of class, and I have become friends with many in my department. The only complaint that I have about the professors is one common at many colleges; the tenured professors often no longer have a passion for teaching, and students grades and education suffer as a result. The academic requirements at Gettysburg are appropriate, but I believe that some of the general edu. requirements, such as two science courses or 2 years of language, might occupy too much of the course load and limit students from taking courses that are of more interest to them because there are many unique classes offered. Students study quite a bit and are often found in the library, which has very helpful staff and extended hour access.

Professors often spend the better of 2 class days simply learning students names. I have professors from Freshman year that still say hi to me by name. Believe it or not one of the most popular places on campus to run into people you know is the library. It's open 24 hours during the week. There are a lot of core requirements since it is a liberal arts college. Sometimes you may end up taking a ridiculous course just to fulfill a certain area. I took a women's studies course and ended up hating it but i was fulfilling 2 requirements at the same time so it was worth it. Classes are not easy. Most expect students to review the material every night .

Gettysburg is a tough school with a demanding academic schedule. But by the same token it is rewarding as well because a liberal arts cirriculum allows you to explore other areas of study you may not normally be interested in and find that you truly enjoy them.

I've only had one bad professor so far. The professors are fantastic. I'm on a first-name basis with all of them, no matter how involved or not so involved I am with their class. They are always accessible, whether it be via office hours or by e-mail. Most will also give out their home phone numbers (one of my professors even gave us directions to her house if we ever found ourselves that desperate to find her). The library is open 24-hours a day during the week, and there's always a cluster of people inside -- so you definitely won't be alone if you're still awake and studying at 4 a.m. on a Friday.

Great academics....small classrooms.......participation is not only encouraged, but required for decent grades......experience of college curriculim is better this way.