<p>I heard that sciences are very rigorous at Earlham, but I haven't heard the same of English, philosophy, etc., which would be more in my arena. Not that I want to be killed by my course load, but I certainly want to be challenged, and the only department I heard name-dropped for being super challenging outside the sciences is Comparative Literature & Linguistics, which I would definitely consider majoring in, but I want my options open.
Any thoughts from Earlham students or parents?</p>
<p>Edit: I should maybe mention I've had 3 years conservatory training in literature/creative writing, which will give me a leg up my first semester for sure. Diversity in course offerings in humanities is also pretty important.</p>
<p>My daughter is an English major at Earlham and very happy with the program. The classes are small and she has good relationships with faculty who encourage her to follow her own interests and provide her with the criticism (not just the back pats!) she craves. </p>
<p>Having been an English major myself many years ago at a similar small liberal arts college, I think you will find that excellent, demanding teachers are just a part of the equation. Much of the challenge will be yours to create and for that, you will need professors who have the time and genuine interest to support your quest. And that is where Earlham excels, in my opinion. I enjoy seeing the relationships my daughter has with her professors her mentors and colleagues flourish and that is not always the case at larger schools or with undergraduates.</p>
<p>By the way, I applaud your interest in the humanities. The New York Times had a recent article titled The Decline and Fall of The English Major that lamented the drop in English majors. Google it!</p>
<p>Thanks for the response! I’ll make sure to look up the article you mentioned. I definitely agree with you about the importance of good teachers in English; that’s been my experience in high school. When it comes to these less ““famous”” schools my final decision may well have to do with trying to learn as much as I can about the humanities professors.</p>
<p>My knowledge is a little dated, but they have had exceptional departments in the past (Philosophy, Religion, English, History). It sounds like you are flexible enough that you will find one or two departments provides the atmosphere you want. One thing in a school like Earlham is that they stretch a student based on their ability. If you find faculty who you respect, they will spend time and effort with you to develop your abilities. As the other responder mentioned, you will have individual attention.</p>