Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - November/December 2013 - (Page 44)

students review The Students Review series is intended to aid prospective college students in their search by offering insiders' views of selected colleges and universities, as expressed by current undergraduates or recent graduates who have high academic ability. Note that the number of reviewers is small. Consider their personal perspectives as only one factor as you gather information and impressions from many sources. Our reviewers include 30 students and alumni, who major(ed) in: anthropology (1), biology (3), Chinese language & culture (1), classical civilization (1), economics (2), education (2), English (6), French (1), geology (2), German studies (1), government (5), history (2), international relations (2), math (2), marketing (1), music (1), neuroscience (1), psychology (6), and theater (2). (The number of majors exceeds 30 because several reviewers had double majors.) Reviewers' comments appear within quotation marks. Quality of Academic Instruction for Undergraduates A highly selective state school smaller than some private liberal arts colleges,W&M consistently ranks near the top of U.S. News & World Report's Undergraduate Best Buys because of its combination of quality and cost.All reviewers spoke warmly of the education they received at W&M. quality of instruction here is superb. "The The professors are very easy to get to know, if you make the effort and go to office hours or chat with them after class. W&M uses very few TAs except in labs. The classes here are often small and personal, especially after the required freshman classes. All of my classes this semester have less than 30 students, and one has only 12." "Excellent. The general education requirements (one math course; one biology; one physical science; two social science; one world cultures and history; one literature; one philosophical, religious and social thought; and one creative writing or art) give students an overview of the many interesting classes W&M has to offer and can usually be completed by the end of a student's freshman year." 44 imagine The College of William & Mary time I graduated, I considered five or six professors to be good friends." "Most departments at W&M have no graduate program, so professors' workloads are heavily biased toward undergraduate teaching and student research. Many departments at W&M not only suggest but require directed research by undergraduates. This provided me with critical research skills that ultimately facilitated my acceptance at top-ranked graduate schools; for others, it provided them technical skills they now use in their jobs." Social Life W&M's social life, while on the tame side, was a pleasure to all our reviewers. "Even though W&M is a medium-sized university, it has the atmosphere of a small college. Only in the intro science courses will you find lectures with several hundred people, and even these courses are not designed to weed out weaker students. The professors who teach them understand and sympathize with freshmen who are having difficulty adjusting. As for grading, it's hard to fail, but it is even harder to get an A. Making the Dean's List is quite an achievement." "Most of my professors were very accessible, and I was particularly pleased with the helpfulness and wisdom of my academic advisor. By my junior year, I felt known, appreciated, and encouraged in my major department. Grading is tough. Although I graduated with a 3.6 average, I worried about my grades all the time, and I never took it for granted that I would excel in any course." "Every professor I had was approachable, and quite a few took the time to get to know me outside of the classroom. By the "Williamsburg is a quaint, quiet town. Both on and off campus, historical architecture and lovely landscapes abound. I was perfectly satisfied with my social life, though some might have considered it dull. For those who want to party, there are the frats and a few off-campus bars; but the school is small enough to make these options more than adequate. W&M is home to a lively Greek community (30% of students join), but you don't have to join a fraternity or sorority to have a good time." loved it. There's no big city nightlife, "I but that was just fine for me. The real heart of W&M's social life is the fact that so many students (nearly 80%) live on campus in college housing, which creates a friendly atmosphere. W&M feels much smaller than it is. The atmosphere is relatively accepting and not factionalized at all, due in part to the prevailing studiousness. The school and its environs feel safe." "W&M does not have many of the hangouts commonly associated with a college town. However, there's plenty to do, and the sense of community is strong. You can easily find other students who share your interests by joining one of the fraternities, academic clubs, or organizations. W&M has a very active religious and service community. We also have a large community of Harry Potter Nov/Dec 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - November/December 2013

In My Own Words
Interested in Econ
The World in Numbers
Reckoning with Randomness
Elliptic Curves
A League of Our Own
More Than Math
Developing Your Numbersense
Where Math Meets Imagination
Selected Opportunities & Resources
Dancing in the Footsteps of My Ancestors
Off the Shelf
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options
Planning Ahead for College
Students Review
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Game

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - November/December 2013