<p>Basically Dickinson is a school that is high on my list and I'd like some honest information from students or alumni. I don't really see the point in visiting until school gets back in session, but I was wondering what people concidered to be the best and worst things about Dickinson. What is the political climate like? What are the kids like? Any information would be much appreciated!!!</p>
<p>Also very interested in hearing these perspectives for the same reason!</p>
<p>Hey ya'll, I'm a current d'son student, so I'll attempt to answer some of your questions. </p>
<p>I think that both the best and worst thing about Dickinson is its size (around 2300 students). I personally love the size because it doesn't feel too big and it doesn't feel too small-although you get to know a ton of people on campus because it's smaller, there are still people in my year who I've never even heard of. Class sizes are kept low, which allows you to get to know your profs better, get more attention from them, and get more involved in discussions/the material itself. There were like 60 or so people in my Bio 101 lecture (and 20 or so in my lab section), which is about as big as classes will get. Some of my friends who took the same general bio course at the big state schools/ivies had upwards of 200 people in their lecture, which makes a huge difference in your classroom experience. Overall, the small size allows for a more personal interaction with profs and peers, which I personally love. At the end of each semester several of my profs invited my classes over to their houses for a meal and get together, and it's just little things like that make me love the small size so much. When I was visiting schools my senior year, D'son was the only school where I got to meet the president and talk with him. Smaller school=more personal attention and greater sense of community.</p>
<p>At the same time, because D'son is a smaller school, there is not as much "choice" as at other schools, whether it be through course offerings, places to eat on campus, clubs, etc. For instance, we only have one cafeteria on campus and it can get super crowded (I know, I know...kind of a petty complaint), and certain classes are only offered one semester/year (like Calc 1), which can be annoying when you want to take that class but it's not offered the semester you want to take it.</p>
<p>Other things that I LOVE about D'son...okay, the campus is absolutely gorgeous! Our library is huge (and also gorgeous). We have amazing study abroad programs and there's a huge international focus on campus. Our profs really care about the students and are really enthusiastic about teaching. I'm a science major, and the science programs at D'son are part of the reason I came here-let me know if you want to hear more about that! Oh yeah, and the whole liberal arts education thing is also a pretty sweet experience :)</p>
<p>Carlisle is not exactly the most exciting place to live, but it definitely grows on you and the college is involved in a lot of projects to bring more of what the students want to the town.</p>
<p>As for politics, I'd say there's a good mix of everyone here, from liberals to conservatives. Generally, I've found that most students are pretty open minded and moderate. Another reason why I chose D'son over some of the other liberal arts colleges I looked at was because of the student body here-a lot more diverse, less stuck-up, and friendlier than at...uh other schools <em>coughbucknellcough</em>. True, the minority enrollment isn't really really high, but in terms of life experiences, interests, and socio-economic positions there is a lot of diversity here in the student body.</p>
<p>I hope this answered some of your questions! Definitely come visit if you are at all interested! Go on a campus tour (our tour guides are some of the friendliest, most interesting people!), do an overnight, sit in on some classes, and walk into town and get a feel for it. Dickinson is not for everyone, but that's kind of the point of visiting schools-to find the best fit for you. Good luck in your college search!</p>
<p>MY S is a Dickinson student (or, as they are sometimes called, Dickinsonians). He loves it there and can't wait to go back. Although he loves cities, he is actaully quite fond of Carlisle and likes the fact that the town is within walking distance of the campus. There are some neat little restaurants, and rumor had it that there are more on the way. He has liked his classes for the most part and has made some terrific friends. Although there are many students from the New England and Midatlantic areas, he has also met people from all over the US and a few from other parts of the world. He is planning on taking advantage of the study abroad options. He is not a science major, but if you are interested in the sciences, you should ask about the new science center that is being built. The school recently acquired a farm and will have upcoming projects on campus dealing with sustainability. The campus (and library) are beautiful!!</p>
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<p>How do you rate Dickinson's Natural science and MAths</p>
<p>How is the math department and the computer science department</p>
<p>Is the physics department the best one of science departments?</p>
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<p>I'm going to take my daughter who is a Jr. tomorrow for the tour and info. session. How do you think it is for the liberal arts ? Are there things to do on campus during the weekends that don' t involve drinking ? What schools do you see as similar to Dickinson.</p>
<p>If you go to the college website <a href="http://www.dickinson.edu%5B/url%5D">www.dickinson.edu</a> and click on the link for the Compass you can see listings of campus events. There are a lot of activities both on campus and in the town.</p>
<p>Just to update we had a great visit. My D is very interested. Could anyone suggest similar schools ?</p>
<p>Depends. What are your key "variables?" Geography, size, curricula, student body, major strengths, etc.? Off the cuff but not necessarily ... F&M, Gettysburg, Wooster, Denison, Centre, Rhoades, Furman, High Point, Allegheny, Ohio Weslyan, DePauw, Albion.</p>
<p>My D is a sophomore at Dickinson, and she has loved it from the first day! Next year, she plans to take advantage of the phenomenal study-abroad program and travel to Greece for an archeological dig. Many schools have good study abroad programs, but Dickinson's is truly one of the best. She has loved ALL of her professors, who truly care about the students and are available and willing to help whenever it is needed. She has made great friends in many of the extracurricular activities that she has enjoyed, including choir, dance theater group, and her sorority. As for Carlisle...my husband and I have lived for many years in NYC, but we've rarely eaten in better restaurants than some of the ones we've found in Carlisile! Check out Mount Fuji, Piatto's, Amy's Thai, Casa Mani, California Cafe, and the brand new Indian restaurant...all within walking distance of her dorm. BTW, I agree with Whistle Pig's list of similar colleges. There are some good ones on the list that we considered also. Good luck with your search!</p>
<p>That is really nice to hear . My daughter was really excited after our visit and is thinking about it as her first choice so far. What kind of student was your daughter in HS ? We also are near NYC so the area is of concern to us. All of the EC 's you mentioned are of interest to my D as well. Where alse did your d consider ?Thanks again.</p>
<p>Have you considered Lafayette in Easton, PA, just over the Delaware from NJ, right off Rte 22? It's a small LAC, about 2500 students. In addition to Lib arts, they also have engineering.</p>
<p>Heididoe,
Got to agree with you about the restaurants - Javid's is probably the best Indian restaurant we have ever found. We've eaten there 3 times already! The town of Carlisle has much more than initially meets the eye! It's really grown since my daughter started at Dickinson 3 years ago.</p>
<p>My D is a first-year Dickinson student. Her two other top choice schools were Connecticut College and Brandeis, not extremely similar, but each offering tempting advantages, and it was a hard decision for her. She is very happy at Dickinson and is glad she made that choice.</p>
<p>Hi...I'm also a prospective Dickinson student. I'm definitely considering Dickinson as a college of choice, but I have a major question I'd like answered.
When I visited Carlisle this summer there were a few confederate flags flying in the town. Is it usually that way, and if so, is there a definitive pro-white group of people in the town? I'm also white, but I'm so immersed in other cultures that I don't know if I'd be able to handle having white supremists or anything around.</p>
<p>I too had a similar concern based on a former students comments to my husband. I was hoping that was a thing of the past but I'm curious to hear how diversity is appreciated on campus.</p>
<p>Motherof2girls-</p>
<p>If your D likes Dickinson, I would suggest that she also visit Franklin & Marshall. My S is a freshman at F&M, so I can share some current observations. F&M is a liberal arts college in the best sense of that term. There is an incredible amount of individual attention paid to each student. </p>
<p>For example, my S has a particular interest in music. He is not the most extraverted person in the world, and it usually takes him a while to make friends and join groups. However, at F&M, with encouragement from the college, he has already joined three music groups. The other kids in these groups, most of whom are upperclassmen, have really reached out to him. He already has a base of friends on campus who share his interest. Moreover, in assigning him to a freshman seminar, the college make sure to focus on his interest in music, by putting him into a music-oriented writing seminar taught by the professor who conducts two of my son's music groups. In short, the college has focused on him as an individual and tried bring his outside interest into his classroom experience.</p>
<p>We recently attended family weekend. We visited three of my son's professors without my son. Each immediately knew who my son is, what his interests are and commented on his personality and his involvement in their classes. Again, lots of individual attention and focus.</p>
<p>In addition, F&M has a beautiful campus with a lot going on. The college is in the middle of restructuring its dorms into college houses to create a greater sense of community on campus. They recently built new upperclass housing adjacent to the campus also to foster a greater sense of community. The facilities are absolutely first rate with a brand new life sciences building (philosophy, psychology and biology) and state of the art music and performance arts buildings.</p>
<p>I'm sure diversity on campus is front and center, one of if not THE major theme of the moment, as on most LAC's. Carlisle is not a redneck town, but I'm confident there are plenty of rednecks. Let's hope. Makes it more, dare I say it, diverse. It's not Swarthmore or Haverford, but less diverse institutions would be difficult to find. Dickinson has its limitations in this regard, like nearly all. There simply aren't enuff people available and willing, who'd lend diversity to Dickinson and all its many competitors. There simply is not sufficient "diversity" in Dickinson vs. F&M vs. Rhodes vs. Gettysburg vs. .... you get the pic. There are hundreds of very similar institutions that because of their similarities wrestle with similar issue, diversification being the most frequently noted one of this era. It'll shift but for now, each LAC that is essentially lilly white, waspy and upscale is working like mad to persuade their prospects that it's anything but. Is what they is.</p>
<p>With great respect, this strikes me as PC question. </p>
<p>Define diversity, please.</p>