<p>I'm not sure if anyone is here to answer questions, but I'll try anyway. :) I don't know much about this college, except that it is considerd one of the top public LACs. How are the academics-are they strong, do students work hard? Are the academics significantly hindered by state budget cuts? I've heard that the college is very isolated-what do people do for fun? anything else would be much appreciated.Thanks!</p>
<p>sailing and getting drunk (or so I've heard lol) :)</p>
<p>^ That's not true.
Sailing is true, but that's one of the many things you can do for fun dude. There's all kind of things you can do at smc. I will be going there this fall. Go Seahawks.</p>
<p>My neighbor goes there. He really loves it. I hear what is cool and unique about it is it's not very clique-y. He's kind of a nerd and came home with a really hot girlfriend, soooo...</p>
<p>Anyways, a lot of kids around here look at it as an alternative to UMCP because they dislike College Park's slightly industrial feel (what you get with a gigantic research university, I guess). It's smaller, and a lot prettier (beautiful, I think). Sorry, don't know much about the academics though. I'm under the impression (and I just say this being from Maryland, and knowing kids who go to both schools) that it is slightly less academically challenging than UMCP in the humanities, and the science programs (especially engineering) can't really measure up. If that means anything to you...</p>
<p>Hi, I go to St. Mary's. </p>
<p>Most of what's been said is pretty accurate. It's pretty isolated, so yeah there's a fair amount of drinking on the weekends. Also, because of the location, outdoors stuff is big, and not just sailing. Of course, there's also all the usual collegey stuff to do: sports, clubs, etc...</p>
<p>The school administration makes academics the highest priority so the budget cuts don't really effect academics (with the notable exception of professor shortages in some depts.). The problem is everything else. For example, the health office is woefully understaffed and no decent bands ever come to the campus, and stuff like that. </p>
<p>Academics are a mixed bag. Biology is the strongest department and is, at least in my opinion, better than UMD's. The other sciences are not so good. I am a humanities major myself and have a very high opinion of every department I've taken classes in. Classes are all small, and professors are usually excellent. The main gripe people have is a sub par course selection. Students are a mix. I've met some absolutely brilliant people here. Pretty much everyone (with the exception of athletes) is fairly intellectual. However, there is a significant undercurrent of apathy present as well; there's a good number of very smart people that are lazy and just skate by. </p>
<p>So yeah...hope this helped!</p>
<p>Thanks everyone!!! This has all been helpful!</p>
<p>Samonite: so athletes are not intellectuals at st. mary's? Thank you very much for the compliment. I got in w/ a scholarship thanks to my 4.0 gpa, not because I am play sport.<br>
Is that what everybody thinks of athletes at St. Mary's?</p>
<p>I also have read that the Biology Department at SMC is very good.</p>