<p>For those of you attending Colby, what are the pros and cons of your experience?</p>
<p>As an ancient (class of '76) grad, i can tell you what i thought were the salient pro’s and con’s. More recent grads/students can comment on what, if anything, has changed.</p>
<p>Pro’s: Academic excellence, without a doubt. (Majored in Biology and Spanish. No kidding.)
Beautiful campus. </p>
<p>Con’s: The weather was basically horrible. I’m still thawing out (even after going to grad school in Phoenix.). It was too, too small (suggest doing Jr. yr abroad someplace warm to compensate for both of these cons.). Waterville is just nowhere in terms of everything, including culture, food, fun and geographic isolation. Lots of churches, though.</p>
<p>Definitely not a good choice for those seeking a warm-weather experience. For those who enjoy skiing and other winter sports it can be fine. Winter is beautiful in Maine if you like winter at all, but long and cold. Lots of snow, but often lots of sun too, so the campus can look like a winter wonderland. Maine is beautiful in any season and for those who enjoy outdoor activities there are many ways to enjoy them. </p>
<p>Colby is too small for some but just right for others. Small enough that many kids can find their niche by joining a varsity team, an a capella group or some other organization and make a real contribution in a way that just wouldn’t happen at a large university. I have a son at a large university and one at Colby–the one at the large school feels much lonelier socially even though he probably has a more outgoing personality. There are more people but it isn’t always easy to meet them and it’s easy to feel alienated in such a large place.</p>
<p>Waterville itself offers little but college social life revolves around the campus and most people seem to have a really good time. Most also do study abroad. Even if they don’t go for a year or even a semester, many leave campus during Jan Plan–a particularly good idea for those who hate winter, but those people probably shouldn’t be at Colby at all. Not sure if the place seems too small and isolated to those who return from abroad for their senior year–that’s certainly possible. The students I’ve spoken to still seem to love Colby in their senior year, though. They all seem to feel they’ve had an excellent academic experience and that their fellow students were warm, friendly and fun. I’m sure they’re ready to move on after four years there but with warm memories and a real fondness for the place.</p>