Student Profile
Anya
- Class: Senior
- Major: Psychology
- Gender: F
- High School: Waynesburg Central High School
- Transfer Student: N
Big Picture
The first thing that attracted me to Colorado College was how nice everyone was. The staff, faculty and students usually have a really pleasant disposition and itÕs just great to be in that kind of atmosphere. I was talking to a friend who goes to a really prestigious school on the east coast and he said he really liked it but it was kind of a sink or swim atmosphere where the administration didnÕt really seem to personally care about their students. I would say is the opposite of CC. If I have an issue I have no problem finding a staff or faculty member I can turn to. I would say the motto IÕve attributed to CC is work hard, play hard. And I donÕt just mean partying in the stereotypical college sense. The people at CC have such a sense of adventure that after three and a half weeks of intense studying on the block plan many people just get off campus for block break and go adventuring. IÕve seen more of Colorado and the surrounding area since IÕve been at CC than growing up in Colorado my entire life. I think part of the reason everyone goes off campus for block breaks though is because living in Colorado Springs can be kind of stifling. And IÕm not really referring to our Ôstrained relationship between the college and the cityÕ but rather the lack of public transportation. Without a car itÕs hard to get off campus and there really isnÕt much to do in Colorado Springs, itÕs kind of the perfect example of a bad urban sprawl. Not very many people know about CC but I think thatÕs quickly changing and when people have heard of CC they always respond in the same way, ÒGood for you.Ó There have been a lot of controversies recently and the administration does a good job of trying to cover it up but I would say that a lot of it has been blown out of proportion. I am not a huge fan of President *** Celeste and his administration because I feel like they are changing part of what makes CC a great place to be. ItÕs hard to put my finger on what that is but I have definitely seen a change in my three years at the school as Celeste is hoping to increase our number in the rankings. ItÕs becoming more like an east coast school and no offense to you east-coasters, but there is a reason I didnÕt go to school out there. There isnÕt a lot of school pride in the traditional sport-related sense (except, of course, when it comes to our superb hockey team) but I think many of the students and faculty just love CC. There have been times IÕve been so fed up with the school but after going abroad to a different university IÕve realized how lucky I am to go to CC and how much I truly do love the school. There is definitely a reason our retention rate is one of the highest in the country.
Academic Life
I have the utmost respect for many of the professors at CC. I think many are challenging but fair and really care about their students. I am constantly in awe of many of the professors but I wouldnÕt say I idealize them because many students are taught to view the professors, other students and texts with a critical eye. I think many professors learn so much from their students and I have also learned a tremendous amount from my fellow students. The reason so many classes are discussion based is because we have smart students going to this school and their opinions should be heard and challenged. Going abroad I was often faced with silent classrooms where students simply didnÕt participate because the either didnÕt do the reading or they felt that since participation didnÕt affect their grade why should they do it. At CC even if participation isnÕt taken as part of your grade oftentimes you still need to wait in line to talk. People donÕt see participation as a way to boost your grade but instead as a way to boost your knowledge. And people often have amazingly deep conversations outside of the classroom I just wish more of them consisted of politics. We donÕt have a very politically active campus but I think this current election is changing things. I once took a Comparative Literature class comparing the movie ÒMean GirlsÓ and high school social hierarchyÕs in general with MachiavelliÕs the Prince. That was pretty cool! IÕm apart of the psychology department and while IÕve had my fair share of difficulties with the department (itÕs a very hard major to get into if you donÕt plan early and in the right way) I do appreciate that they take a natural science approach to Psychology. Sometimes they take themselves too seriously but then again I think most departments do. Taking Neuroscience last year however, was life-changing. The most intense academic experience IÕve ever had and I was on the brink of tears through most of it but itÕs something I know IÕll look back on with nothing but pride and fulfillment. I also made some great friends going through an experience like that and a wonderful example of my peers being some of the greatest teachers IÕve ever had (thatÕs not to say that my professors werenÕt also unprecedented). I really like the academic requirements but I think theyÕre probably pretty standard for a liberal arts school. I had to take the History of Philosophy for a requirement and I thought I would absolutely hate it but it turned out opening the door to one of my favorite fields of study. I also really like the block plan but itÕs important to keep in mind itÕs not for everyone, it suits certain learning styles. I really like being completely immersed in a class. If I like it, itÕs wonderful to have that take over my life for 3 and a half weeks and if I donÕt like it itÕs over in no time at all. I definitely learned stamina at CC. One of my friends from a different school commented when we were traveling on how he didnÕt realize how much you could fit into a day but I think that is the whole principal of CC. Getting the most out of every day. There are a lot of really ambitious people at CC but I donÕt think itÕs just about getting ahead or getting the best job (although there is definitely some of that), itÕs also about people who love to learn.
Student Body
There is definitely no dress code. And there are definitely different social groups but I don't really think there are cliches or a hierarchy. A lot more students are now from the east coast and there is a greater diversity in the types of students but many of them still fall under liberal, not very religious, white, and affluent.
The Best Things
Most people are very nice and interesting and the atmosphere is inspiring
The Worst Things
The lack of diversity and being such a small school in a town that offers very little in the way of fun activities and good public transportation
