Can any parents or kids share their more recent experiences at Carroll College? We recently visited and loved it. Particularly interested in learning more about support for frosh (tutoring, advising, etc), grading, social life, dorms.
My son just started as a freshman at Carroll this week. We visited last summer in late August and loved it. He visited other schools, too, but Carroll’s science/pre-med strengths and the overall comfort he felt on the campus and sitting in on classes helped it win out.
Our orientation experience was UNBELIEVABLE! When parents and their incoming freshman drive into the dorm parking lot (yes, there’s only one main freshman dorm because it’s a small school), you are greeted by a group of upperclassmen who swarm your car, grab everything you’ve spent hours loading, and whisk it away to your son/daughter’s dorm room, saving you MANY trips up and down the stairs. It was great!! Such a fun, energetic atmosphere. The dorm rooms in the freshman hall are large and carpeted. The furniture can be moved around, so kids can personalize their space. There’s also a sink area in each dorm room. There are other dorms and student apartments on campus and more being built.
The orientation sessions for parents stressed the strong academics at the college and high stats of the freshman class, but the head of the student support office thoroughly explained the extensive tutoring services available. The class sizes are small and the faculty is totally dedicated to their undergrad students because that’s all that Carroll has. The impression is very strong that academic support is there to help your son/daughter excel and grow. Our son is only in day 2 of classes, so I can’t say too much about the tutoring other than it sounds like it’ll be there if/when he needs it. Hopefully grading will be fair and consistent. That remains to be seen, I guess, but I have confidence in the integrity and caring nature of the staff based on the two staff speakers at the big welcome ceremony for families and new students.
The advising experience we’ve had so far has been positive. My son had to switch math classes once AP scores were released, but after emailing with his advisor and the head of the math department, he was cleared to take the math class he wanted and was helped to make the other schedule changes that resulted.
Regarding social life, their website has a Student Life page that allows students and family members to see what all is going on with the college sponsored activities. Looks like a lot of fun!! Obviously, a larger school may have other options, but my son has already attended a club meeting and gotten together with guys from his dorm floor to play basketball, so life is all good for him. They have an active Outdoor Center (CAMP–Carroll Adventure and Mountaineering Program) and Campus Ministry (headed by Fr. Mark who is about the most energetic young priest you could ever hope to meet!) with retreats, camping, backpacking, etc. scheduled. We also heard a lot about fly fishing, mountain biking, skiing, etc. A small shopping center with a movie theater and restaurants is across the road that would be another social option. The club fair is later this week, so our son will learn more about those opportunities then.
Again, we are less than a week into the whole Carroll College experience, but have had a nephew and other students (I am a teacher) who have gone there and LOVED it!! We are hopeful that our experience will be the same, and so far we’ve been impressed.