<p>My daughter has been accepted at a number of LACs, many of which appear to be more highly ranked/regarded than Holy Cross. She is considering HC, however, based on the reputation of the school in the field of Classics, which is her intended major.</p>
<p>Is anyone familiar with HC's Classics program? Is it really as strong as she has been led to believe?</p>
<p>HC has the largest classics department of any LAC, it also gives out two full rides and a couple of partial ones every year for students who major in the classics.</p>
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Not quite true…Bryn Mawr’s is larger. Haverford’s department basically is as well, for that matter, since the two programs are virtually inseparable. Add cross-registration at Swarthmore and Penn, and you have the best classics offerings among LACs. Of course, Bryn Mawr has graduate students in classics, whereas Holy Cross does not. </p>
<p>As for the quality of the classics program, I haven’t heard of any of the scholars on faculty except Blaise Nagy (the Nagy brothers are extremely impressive scholars), but size is on its side – Holy Cross seems to offers multiple years of Greek and Latin as well as a good smattering of civilization courses. It would certainly be a very good option for someone serious about classics, especially someone who already has a background in Greek and/or Latin. </p>
<p>As for whether she should pick it over her other options, well, that depends on finances and which colleges they are. There are certainly several other LACs with strong classics programs (Wesleyan, Franklin & Marshall, Wellesley, Colgate, Reed, Barnard, etc.).</p>
<p>FWIW…in the end, she decided to go with Colgate, based in large part on an e-mail exchange and follow-up conversation she had with the Classics Dept. Chair there. </p>
<p>She found her to be very impressive and exteremely enthusiastic.</p>