<p>Okayy. Anybody with comments about the positive and negative things that stick out to them about Gettysburg? </p>
<p>I'm considering going there. Like, how are the academics, food, dorms, social life, etc?</p>
<p>lrnprcll:</p>
<p>I see you are interested in both Penn State and Gettysburg; I assume you have been accepted to Penn State but are still waiting to hear from Gettysburg? Have you visited both campuses when classes are in session?</p>
<p>My D has been accepted to PSU but hasn't yet heard from Gettysburg. She loves PSU and we've sent her deposit in (because of the housing shortage) but she also loves Gettysburg.</p>
<p>There are some BIG differences between the two. Academically, they are pretty much opposites, but about the same in prestige. Gettysburg, being a smaller institution, has fewer academic offerings, but the classes can be way smaller. Dorms are about the same, but Gettysburg guarantees housing all four years (almost nobody lives in off-campus apartments) while Penn State only guarantees housing the first year. As for food, Gettysburg's offerings are smaller, as with any smaller institution there's only one dining hall while Penn State has multiple dining options (and more variety as a result). Socially, the greek scene dominates at Gettysburg and there are few off-campus bars; there is an on-campus night club, though. At PSU, the greeks scene doesn't dominate quite so much; there are multiple options as to off-campus clubs and they are even proposing an underage night club in town. Also PSU offers late night Penn State for those who don't drink; I believe there's not much comparable to that at G-burg.</p>
<p>Overall, I think they are some basic similarities (i.e. both are in small rather isolated towns with no close city nearby and have a large greek presence) but I think it depends on what you're looking for. Do you want a large variety of crowded social events where you get to meet new people every day? Or would you rather have a quieter campus where you basically know most of the students?</p>
<p>BTW I am an alum of Gettysburg. Let me know if you have any other questions; I'll try to answer.</p>
<p>I'm looking for more of a quiter and close-knit campus. That's why I'm thinking PSU wouldn't be that of a great fit. I'm considering Gettysburg & PSU (although I honestly can't see myself landing @ PSU) along with Lehigh, Scranton, Villanova, Muhlenberg, and Bucknell. I'm visiting all of them in the spring...except I'm not sure about Gettysburg & PSU yet? That's why I was hoping for more information on them. </p>
<p>Do you happen to know anything if Gettysburg has a strong pre-med program? I'm also looking to major in neuroscience. So is there really a ''community feel'' at Gburg? How is their campus---I heard it was beautiful && it looks nice on the website--but those sometimes can be deceiving? How do you think the professors are? (I'm looking for somewhere where professors are generally warm and passionate about their subject- instead of generally apathetic. I know there are always exceptions anywhere you go... but as a whole, I'm just wondering...)</p>
<p>Thanks for the great reply. I'm probably going to visit Gburg in the spring now--- It sounds like a great school :)</p>
<p>If you're looking for a quieter and close-knit campus, I think you may want to rule out PSU (although it is a fun place to visit!) PSU is HUGE and you can walk across campus and not see any familiar faces. If you don't like crowds (not really my thing), and if you want to walk across campus and see people you actually recognize, then Gettysburg or one of the other smaller schools may be a better choice.</p>
<p>Gettysburg has no "pre-med" program per se; many "pre-meds" major in biology and I hear the neuroscience major is also a great option. The biology program has always been very strong; it was my major when I first started.</p>
<p>Gettysburg's campus is gorgeous. The battlefield abuts the campus, and you see gorgeous views to the north, east and west with the town on the south side. My most recent visit was in the fall and it was prettier than I remembered; although still miss the not seeing the battlefield tower which was torn down a few years ago. The freshmen quad is great, it has a great central location and just about all the freshmen live there which means you're all in the same boat. It felt great to be part of that as a freshman, and I never really lost that feeling in four years at Gettysburg.</p>
<p>Your other choices are also great ones: I don't know as much about the rest of them, but Lehigh, Scranton, Villanova, Muhlenberg, and Bucknell are also worth a visit. I just happen to work about a mile from Villanova, and it and Scranton probably have a slightly different feel from the rest (being a Catholic). but they're all worth a visit. Lehigh and Bucknell are also heavily greek and Scranton has no greek system at all. Muhlenberg is very small; I believe it is smaller than Gettysburg. Are you limiting yourself to just PA schools?</p>
<p>Yeah, Penn State really wouldn't be a good match for me at all... I've realized that now. It just would be TOO big for me (especially after coming from a HS with less than 400 students in it total to going to a place with about 40,000 students or whatever) </p>
<p>I'm probably limiting myself mostly to PA schools. I wouldn't like to be too far from home. The only other colleges that I'm even considering would be Colgate U. My mind changes every day on that one. haha. I just don't know if 3.5 hours away is too far for me && if it might just make me feel really homesick. My mind keeps swaying about that one. I think I should just visit though, so I can see what the ''college feel'' of that place is to me. </p>
<p>But, if anything in particular jumped out for me about an out of state college, I would consider it. However, all of those colleges I can see myself happy with and well-prepared for med school (hopefully) in the future</p>
<p>:-) Seriously, Springfieldmom, you've been such a great help for me about Gettysburg. I'm actually going to seriously look into visiting that school now this spring or summer.</p>
<p>Hi,
I am a young Gettysburg Alum (I just graduated in Spring of '06) and am willing to answer any questions you may have about Gettysburg. So let me know if there are any questions I can answer!</p>
<p>I'm a first year student at Gettysburg and I'll throw in a few perspectives.
1) Food? The food here is awesome. It's in the top five for best campus food. Seriously.
2) Academics: The profs. are amazing. I've been over their homes for dinner and this summer I"m going to Spain with my professor to a conference. And I"m a first year student. The classes are mostly good: I've had a few great ones that sounded weird and a few that were not so great. But profs are terrific.
3) Social life: You have to be prepared to find fun rather than let it find you. The frats are usually fun, if not there's usually some sort of event going on earlier in the night. There is a movie theater and a concert place in town.</p>
<p>I just did a quick check of your other post and see that you are hoping to transfer out of G'burg to Tulane.....Are you not happy at G'burg???? Just curious as G'burg is one of my DD top choices. ( But with all all of her top picks I have reservations, namely lack of activities for those without a car..no trips/shuttles to malls, etc, overpriced shuttle to amtrak, poor graduation in 4 year rate etc...)</p>
<p>I probably won't transfer, but I am keeping my options open: the great thing about Gettysburg is the academics. The bad thing about gettysburg is the environment. I"m a city girl. There's not all that much to do here, it's true. But if you're into sports and fraternities, you'll never lack for amusement. Tulane is the only other school I applied to for transfer: I'm also upset by the Gettysburg tuition and how much it goes up every year! Good luck to your D</p>
<p>As for tuition, don't be fooled. EVERY school hikes it each year...Gettysburg has a great rep, but it is pretty isolated from any big city. HOWEVER, half an hour from there, just over the state line, there is a beautiful liberal arts college called McDaniel in Westminster, MD. They are known for their nurturing environment, closeness with profs, and they send more kids on to med school than many of the bigger name schools do. Check them out in Loren Pope's book, Colleges That Change Lives. Website is <a href="http://www.ctcl.com%5B/url%5D">www.ctcl.com</a>. Certainly a far better choice, I would think, than Albright.</p>
<p>DD is interested in a career in international development/relief work and wants a Northeast LAC, so Gettysburg, with African Studies, Globalization Studies, International Affairs, and Peace Studies programs seems like a natural. But she struck it from her list because so many college guidebooks characterize it as politically conservative. Take this as a grain of truth or with a grain of salt?</p>
<p>:D</p>
<p>(Sorry, I just got visions of dozens of frat boys wearing bow ties and horn-rimmed glasses and sorority girls wearing pearls and knee-length dresses walking across campus...)</p>
<p>Can't imagine it being farther from the truth when I was there in the mid '70s. Sorry, I can't help you with the political atmosphere now. Anyone???</p>
<p>Gettysburg has a premier public service program (see the link on the school web site). The school offers service learning courses, including freshman seminars. The staff and students together make service trips in the US and beyond. The school has a fall convocation dedicated to honoring public service. Service is a core value and they walk the walk.</p>
<p>It's true that there are many students who appear to be more "conservative" but there are many who are not. The administration and faculty cannot be pigeon-holed. The justice, peace and African Studies programs are programs which are worth seriously considering.</p>
<p>DC is about an hour away. The school has a building there that it is renovating and plans to open as an annex for students to have an option to spend more time in an urban area, probably mostly for political science.</p>
<p>babar, Thanks for your detailed and really helpful answer!</p>
<p>I'm a liberal-minded student at gettysburg. the campus might be more conservative than most LACs, but it's not crazy right-wing god bless the president. It's a fairly moderate campus I think.</p>