The Evergreen State College Top Questions

I believe the worst, and sometimes best, thing about TESC is that you get out of this school exactly what you put in. There is little help in terms of finding a career path, or academic advising, unless you directly search it out, or otherwise know exactly what you want to do. A little more guidance for choosing courses to match up with a career field would be helpful.

Little to no diversity in the students.

Very abstract and theoretical course material in many cases with not enough practical applications for future opportunities.

I dont think Evergreen always lives up to its "status" as a small personal school. Also I think it's really easy to get lost at Evergreen, sometimes you just feel like your not doing anything and that you have no purpose.

heavy drug-use culture

Nothing.

The inconsistent workload between classes of the same class credit value is sometimes a bit frustrating.

Our school doesn't have very good funding and it's hard to get into the art classes. I struggle with the system they use for getting into classes because it is not a traditional school.

Not focused enough on careers. Liberal arts degrees don't mean much these days. Make sure you know what you want when you come in.

People are too relaxed. The Students obviously are often lazy and unattentive but I also find many of my faculty are this way as well.

Evergreen doesn't have the best selection I would hope for when it comes to program choices. The programs become more focused in the later years (junior, senior) but for freshman it was difficult to find a program I was truly interested in. However, Evergreen does offer 2 or 4 credit classes that are more specific, so that solves the problem of wanting to take subjects that don't relate.

The program system is a good idea, but sometimes one can get stuck in a program that is not ideal for what one is interested in. It is important to know the professors.

The food services on campus, although there is one good place. Also, the amount of drama between students and staff.

The lack of "real world" skills, no technical education (too heavy on theory in certain programs), SEEMS CUT OFF FROM REALITY. The media department just spent a lot of money on a new media center, but they're still giving outdated workshops on HD cameras. My PHONE has an HD camera! They loan their few HD cameras out with much suspcision and care, as if they're RED cameras. They're proud of their new center and their "famous" media program, but it's laughable. You have to be a self-motivated to learn anything.

The ability of students to be uncommited to activites around campus

The worst thing about Evergreen is sometimes people think they are so open minded and progressive, that they close their minds to common beliefs and ideas.

See the above and add academic counseling to the list.

The worst part about Evergreen is the cafeteria. Not a deep analysis, but in all practicality it is the thing I feel needs to be said. Prospective students, please heed my words: get an apartment with a stove; invest in a microwave; buy as few block meals as possible; anything to avoid making the trek over to the Greenery for mediocre foodstuffs. Not that a meal with friends can?t be tasty and fun, it?s just that the last thing you want is to be stuck with only block meals at a time when no meals are being served.

The one thing I have a complaint on with my school is the parking. I wish there were more spaces available and more information on car pooling.

Some students may require more structure and external discipline to succeed academically. For them, the inherent flexibility and autonomy of an Evergreen education may prove difficult.