Westminster College (PA) (WC)

Since 1852, Westminster College has remained intent crafting a personalized learning process for students, with the aim of turning out well-rounded individuals who ���can live and affect the world around us in a positive way.��� The ���challenging��� liberal arts curriculum provides a broad foundation for academic study, and the school heavily stresses the application of what���s learned by pushing students ���to prepare themselves for the future using real life simulations.��� At this ���very happy place,��� the administration always ���keeps the interests of the students in mind,��� the classes are small, and ���students get the attention they need.��� Westminster runs on personal relationships between faculty and students, and ���Even the janitor knows your name.��� The low student/teacher ratio means the ���extremely accessible and helpful��� professors are devoted to ensuring that every last student understands the material, and ���office doors are always open.��� This care extends far beyond the classroom, as professors love to see students involved in interesting activities outside of classes, and they ���pretty much beg you to study abroad because they know it will be so beneficial for you as a person.��� ���If you see some slacking there is always someone there, whether a classmate or professor, to bring you up,��� says one student. A few students do remark on the school���s rather slow adoption of modern technology (���We just got wireless Internet this year���), but this is more than made up for by the ���variety of courses,��� ���studentteacher bonds,��� and ���opportunities to get involved.��� ���Contrary to popular belief, Westminster College, not Disneyland, is the happiest place on earth,��� says a student.

The typical Titan is ���extremely friendly��� and academically driven; students ���know how to have fun but also know when to study and hit the books.��� Though the majority of Westminster students are white and Christian, ���no one at Westminster is discriminatory towards other races, genders, religions, or sexual orientations.��� The student body is small enough that it can be called ���tight-knit,��� and there���s a lot of frequent interaction among students, because almost all who go to school here ���get involved with a number of extracurricular activities��� or ���community service and philanthropic events.��� This easygoing crowd ���gets along very well,��� and ���just about everyone fits in to the mix somewhere.��� Many students say, ���Westminster is your family,��� and ���it is a quick and easy process to make friends and find a niche.���

���This school has so much going on that it is almost impossible to not be involved,��� says one student of the busy hive that is Westminster. There are more than 100 clubs and a wide range of activities offered, including ���concerts, competitions, Humans versus Zombies, a Frisbee team, philosophy club, jazz band, flute choir, an equestrian team, an ice skating class, [and] karate class.��� The administration plan events all throughout the week (���Most people stay on campus on the weekends���), such as ���movies on weekends, concerts on Friday or Saturday nights, sports events at least once a week, [and] special cuisine nights at the [cafeteria].��� Located in the heart of Amish country, the dry town and campus ���creates a great place to focus and learn��� with ���small-town appeal and charm that���s irresistible.��� Greek life ���is especially important for socialization,��� and many join it in some form or another (whether a social sorority or fraternity, or an honors society). Some students do choose to party off campus, but ���it���s far enough off of campus that you don���t feel pressured to join in if you don���t want to.��� Off-campus malls, restaurants, and cities ���are not too far away,��� but ���so much is happening on campus during the week and weekends that I do not see much need to go off-campus often.���