Colorado College | Student Reviews | Best College

Student Profile

Blair

Class: Senior
Major: Anthropology
Gender: F

High School: New Trier High School
Transfer Student: N

Big Picture

The best thing about CC is the block plan. Many professors tell us that we work harder than most undergraduate programs, but we don't know the difference. We are all capable of writing a 10 page paper and reading 100 pages for the next day. Thats life here and everyone gets used to it. Because generally, even if you have that much work to do, you'll still go out that night, go nuts, get your work done, and probably end up with an A in the class. Thats entirely possible. Another awesome thing about the block plan is that lots of classes travel because that professor owns you for the block. I've been to Santa Fe twice, Alaska once, Chile once, and to several different places in CO numerous times. My friends have done better: one went to Italy, London, one to Greece, many to Chile and Argentina, and so many students go to Taiwan, Somolia, and Spain. Those aren't abroad programs, those are BLOCKS! We're the only school that does that much traveling, and simply because we can. I'm from a huge high school, about 4,000 students. CC is close to 1900 students. And this school has never felt too small for me. People react in different ways when I tell them I go to CC. Some people think I'm naming some community college, and that sucks. But for people who know the name, they're impressed. Colorado Springs isn't much of a college town, but we have good areas. This is also the Air Force town and a HUGE Christian town. Areas here are great for us, but most of the time the area is too conservative for CC students.

Academic Life

Yes, professors ALWAYS know your name. And students always refer to their professors by their first name. Your more colleagues than student/teacher relationship. My favorite class at CC... how many can I put? I loved bioarchaeology, human osteology, and human evolution with Christina Torres-Rouff. She's amazing! Class participation is huge and important. Classes are usually around 15 students, so if you don't participate, it really stands out. CC students are always having intellectual conversations outside of the classroom. I'm not saying we're dorks, but we care and are smart. I also know people who love to debate controversial subjects while drunk. So you get both worlds. Every class is unique. I've taken a class that uses German film and novels to see the German side and experience of the Holocaust. It was taught by a German professor who narrowly escaped being in the Nazi youth. I also took a class called "religion and wilderness". We were in Talkeetna, Alaska at the base of Denali. We read various religious literature (from many different religions) in the outdoors. We also were helicoptered into the wilderness, lived in the woods for 2.5 weeks, hiked on a glacier at the base of Denali, rafted out of the woods, and hiked back into a separate national park and did a two-day solo trip confined to 10 ft. spaces. It was truly an amazing and life-altering experience. I'm an anthropology major and when I graduate I will begin working for the department as a paraprofessional while I apply to grad schools. I obviously love my field and I owe that to my advisor. She has allowed me to join her on two separate professional research projects and is letting me spearhead a separate project. I love her and the department. I'm joining her this summer in Chile for research and I've had dinner at her house twice. Professors generally invite their students to eat at their homes. Its common at CC to be close with faculty (not in a gross way).

Student Body

Students interact with everyone. There aren't clear lines. Its not like high school. I'm not a hippie but I have some friends that are. You don't have to be super politically active to be here, but there are some students who are. Generally, we're a hodge-podge of students with different views and we all get a long. Nothing like that has ever been a problem. CC students are from all over the country, various ethnic, religious, and social backgrounds. Many students are on financial aide, but money isn't really discussed.