<p>Earlham is at the top of my list along with 2 other colleges. Honestly, the two other colleges (Oberlin and Macalester) have many more options to study and have a great academic reputation. They also have Chinese which I am seriously considering studying. After saying that is may seem like I like those colleges better, but the reason Earlham is near the top is that I feel the most comfortable with the students there than Oberlin or Macalester. (That's not to say I hate the student body at Mac and Oberlin)</p>
<p>So anyway, if Earlham had Chinese it would probably gain a big edge over Mac and Oberlin. However it doesn't. So I need to know two things about Earlham. </p>
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<li><p>I can't study Chinese at Earlham, so I may study music, English, or history, but Chinese is really at the top of my "what I want to study" list. So now what? If I go to Earlham, how could I make my academic pursuits work?</p></li>
<li><p>The professors and academic quality in general. I've heard great things about Earlham professors, and the professors I talked to seemed cool, but I've also heard a little bit more about bad apples at Earlham than at Oberlin and Macalester. Are the chances high that I will get stuck with at least one boring/bad professor every semester, or just once or twice in all of my years there. So what are your thoughts on academics at Earlham compared to, let's say, a higher ranking college such as Oberlin or Macalester?</p></li>
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<p>Please don't think I'm skeptical about Earlham. I just need more confidence behind what ever decision I make.</p>
<p>Earlham professors by enlarge are awesome people, they may not be the best professors, but they are indeed awesome people. You will get some so so or just flat out bad professors sometimes, but that is rare. As for your questions about music, if music is your interest, avoid Earlham like the plague. Our music department has not building of their own, instead they are forced to employ small bits of three other buildings, one of which is actually a condemned building. Earlham has a very poor music department, and I would advise you to tread with caution if you are interested in music. If you are worried about academics I would advise you to seriously consider your desire to come to Earlham. Academics here are not intense, they are quite the opposite. If academic rigor and challenge are what you want, you will not find them here. you will find professors who try to teach you to think critically, which is arguably more important than academic rigor, but if you want that rigor consider Oberlin. If you have more questions about academics at Earlham, please ask.</p>
<p>I am also a prospective Earlham student, and I was also accepted at Macalester and Oberlin. Right now, I’m leaning toward Earlham. The student body and teachers–among dozens of other things–seem wonderful. I’m still worried, however, about the academic rigor and the alcohol issues some people have been discussing. I visited and stayed in a dorm last fall (and plan on flying in for an admitted students day in a few weeks) and saw no sign of alcohol, and most of the students I talked to said that sure, there is drinking and drug use, but it’s easy to stay away from it if you’re not interested. When I visited Oberlin, it seemed like weed was wafting through every hallway I walked through. </p>
<p>I also sat in on three classes, all of which were wonderful. Now, of course, I’m sure the Admissions Office sends you to the best classes. Still, though, I was enthralled by the students and their interest and participation in every class, and while there were always one or two people lagging behind in each class, it was certainly a vast minority.</p>
<p>Regarding music–I am a very avid musician (my parents are both professional musicians, too), and have been worried about the music at Earlham, too. While I am definitely aware that Earlham will not give me a music education as good as Oberlin will, for example, it seems like opportunities are there for people who want them. EarlhamTransfer/others: how easy is it to take private lessons?</p>
<p>Private lessons are very easy to take at Earlham. If you want them they are available to you. As I have afore stated though, the quality of the facilities is lacking, but the students who I know who take lessons find them to be rewarding. </p>
<p>Classes here are a mix bunch, some will be amazing and others will be less then rewarding. I have had some great classes, my Philosophy of Good and Evil class in particular.(if you do go to Earlham take a class with Kevin Miles, he is amazing) You will find many students who work hard, and do well, but there are also plenty of students who just get by. The academic nature of the campus, outside of class, is very relaxed. Most of the academic thinking outside of class is spent on the liberal perspective on political issues. This is not a problem for the most part, but it does get old only hearing one perspective on an issue. Also, Earlham students have a tendency to be unwelcoming to conservatives, but I digress. If either of you have any more specific questions about academics I would be happy to field them.</p>