<p>I keep reading about the community atmosphere at Goucher but is it really? Also, I know it's located in Baltimore but is the campus itself very diverse or GLBT friendly? Just some random questions. . .</p>
<p>We visited and the college felt like a very tight community. It's not really in Baltimore but what I would guess is the 'burbs. Towson State is just a few blocks away, and while Goucher is certainly not as diverse as the public schools here in Los Angeles, it was much more so than other LACs we visited. Can't answer about the GLBT question.</p>
<p>I've posted a rating on the College Visit site, but would be happy to answer other questions you may have. Son really liked it.</p>
<p>Hello! I am a sophomore at Goucher college, I just transferred here this fall. There is definitely a great sense of community on campus. Due to its size (about 1450) you get to know everyone's face after only a few months, and people will smile at you or say hi as they pass no matter where you are on campus. Most people spread out their interests and include themselves in plenty of various activities, so you end up knowing people from every corner of campus.
As far as diversity, Goucher does pretty well physically. There is no defined type of person that comes here (such as white, preppy, upper class, etc.), so you get a good mix of so many different types of people. The GLBT community is VERY active, we have a club called PRISM specifically for GLBT and straight allies. Goucher and the surrounding colleges work together a lot of the time to make even more opportunities for everyone to get involved. For example, a few weeks ago I attended a Coming Out Dance on Coming Out Day at John's Hopkins University that was hosted by Prism, as well as a few other schools' GLBT groups. Overall, everyone is accepted here, and anyone can find his or her niche as long as you're willing to put yourself out there!!!</p>
<p>The Goucher web site provides data on the ethnic/racial breakdown for undergraduates as of the Fall of 2007. It was:</p>
<p>African-American 72 4.9% </p>
<p>Native American 6 0.4% </p>
<p>Asian 42 2.8% </p>
<p>Hispanic 52 3.5% </p>
<p>White 1052 71.3% </p>
<p>Foreign 7 0.5% </p>
<p>Unknown/Other 244 16.5% </p>
<p>As far as Goucher's being GLBT-friendly what I have heard from kids who have gone there and their parents pretty much is confirmed by ncgoucher11.</p>
<p>Goucher is located along the Baltimore Beltway in the City of Towson. The Inner Harbor and downtown museums and galleries are a quick trip by public transit. Towson University is a mile or two south of Goucher, and a large mall (Towson Towne Center) is roughly halfway between the college and university.</p>
<p>Goucher is one of those hidden jewels. My daughter is a first year student in the International Scholars program, and loves it. She's been VERY happy with the academics, has found everyone involved and motivated without being interpersonally competitive. Has an individual (30min) conference with her English Composition teacher after each paper she turns in. It was the students who sold her on Goucher--just loved the relaxed, open, unpretentious atmosphere. She's found the faculty to be accessable and interested. Don"t know about the GLBT community, but acceptance seems to be the rule.</p>
<p>Everything I have read sounds great so I plan on going out to Goucher before the end of the year, but I am kind of annoyed because I e-mailed different people there with questions and the one professor I e-mailed got back at me in a very timely fashion but a student who admissions put me in contact with has not gotten back to me yet! It has been at least three weeks! All I asked about was the Towson and the Baltimore areas. Can anyone speak on that? When I visit is there any places I should check out?</p>
<p>Hello again!
There are SO many places to go in Towson and Baltimore. If anyone has visited Goucher, the first thing you'll notice is the huge Macy's sign down Dulaney Valley Road where the mall is. I'm not a big shopper but I LOVE this mall!! It has literally every store you could ever need. Even closer to campus, there's a bookstore, Smoothie King, grocery store, and a few other useful places. </p>
<p>Everytime I've walked around Towson I've noticed something new... There are many little shops all on roads that branch out from the traffic circle right up the street from Goucher. My favorite's at the moment are the Plaza, an art supply store, and right next door is The Car Pile Up, a type of vintage clothing/stuff store. There are SO many different dining options all over that place too. Most things within Towson are within walking distance, but there is a Collegetown Shuttle that stops at the circle, and then down at Towson University.</p>
<p>As far as Baltimore goes, the list of things to do would go on forever. There are major places such as the Aquarium and Baltimore Museum and Art, but then there are plenty of clubs, smaller art venues, performances, and various other things to do. Little Italy is adorable and has GREAT food, and I'm looking to going ice skating this weekend there as well. The Collegetown Shuttle also goes straight into the Inner Harbor, so it's very easy to get to Baltimore even you don't have a car. </p>
<p>One of the students' favorite places to eat if Pasta Mista, right across the street near the SuperFresh- I definitely recommend it when you visit! If you have time, I would also suggest just walking through Towson a bit. (If it's not too cold, of course!) I think that's the best way to experience it. </p>
<p>Not all students are reliable with email, but MOST of them are. It is the main form of communication on campus between students and faculty. I imagine the particular student you contacted was just busy or lost your email in a mass of other ones... It certainly does not reflect on the student body as a whole though! If you have more questions and would like to email a student directly again, I would recommend getting a new name from admissions! Most students are more than happy to talk to prospective families!
Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!</p>
<p>How are the sciences at Goucher?</p>
<p>I heard their pre-med and engineering programs are really strong. I am heading out to B-More on Wednesday to interview, I'll be sure to fill out one of the campus visit reports here on CC. I am really scared that like the campus is going to be filled with only one type of student. I really want a nice diverse campus.</p>
<p>The science department at Goucher is great! You can find out all about it on Goucher's website- Goucher.edu. I absolutely recommend emailing a professor in the specific field that you're interested in to learn more. The admissions office can put you in contact with students who are majoring in biology, psychology, etc. as well. </p>
<p>I wrote about diversity at Goucher a few posts above if you'd like to read back. Basically, I am very pleased with how diverse this school is. Disregarding numbers of white students, Jewish students, etc.- absolutely everyone is unique and has something different to contribute.
Good luck with your interview! If you're not already signed up for a tour, I recommend taking one, or else take a few minutes to walk yourself around campus. Hopefully, you'll like what you see! Also, the best way to get to know Goucher students is to talk to them. Most students would be happy to talk to you if you just walk up to them and start asking questions on Van Meter Highway (the main walkway on campus).</p>
<p>Enjoy your visit!</p>
<p>NcGoucher, thanks so much for replying! I really appreciate your input. I am looking forward to flying out tomorrow and can't wait to see Goucher.</p>
<p>Dress for rain & wind (but relatively mild temps). Have fun and let us know how it goes.</p>
<p>How is Goucher's english/writing program? I realize that english is one of it's most popular majors, but when I went to the open house, they barely said anything about it. I know that an english major is fairly straightforward, but if it's one of the most popular majors, I would expect them to say -something- about it, you know?</p>
<p>Got back this week and LOVED the campus! It was raining horribly but I loved the students I met and the interview was with a former student who was so nice and funny. I loved how the campus was enclosed and felt like a real community. I am about to put up a campus visit on CC. Gah, I just don't understand why more people wouldn't want to study there? Oh well, it's more special that way I guess.</p>
<p>What are opinions on Goucher, generally, both around Baltimore and out, from students and others? I've heard mixed reviews, from being a "slacker" college to a hidden jewel.</p>
<p>Hello, I am a sophomore at Goucher and I would like to respond to 3 of the more recent posts...</p>
<p>To thetimewarp:</p>
<p>I am a transfer sophomore at Goucher, so this semester I am taking English 105, and I took English 104 last semester. Both of my professors have been excellent, and I enjoyed last semester's class very much. The professors are engaging and very helpful. I am considering becoming an English major myself. I don't know why they didn't mention it during your open house, but I highly recommend contacting the head of the department to get the most accurate information. The website for the major is: Goucher</a> College: The English Major & Concentrations and the head of the department I believe is Michelle Tokarczyk, and according to Goucher's site her email is <a href="mailto:mtokarcz@goucher.edu">mtokarcz@goucher.edu</a>. She can point you in the direction of more information and other people to contact. There is a concentration in literature and a concentration in writing, so if you choose to email Michelle, specify the one you are interested in, (if you know... it's fine if you don't). </p>
<p>To ConnerChivone:
I'm SO glad you had such a great experience! One of my favorite parts of Goucher is that it is closed in- I did not want to be in a city, but I enjoy the convenience of it. Goucher keeps you out of the hustlebustle of Towson and Baltimore, but it's still extremely easy to get anywhere.</p>
<p>To Skullduggery:
I would absolutely consider Goucher a hidden jewel over a slacker college. Some students may leave work to the last minute, but almost everyone I've met here is serious about their work. I am always impressed by the number of independent thinkers on campus. To me, a person is smart if they can question the information they have and learn more from it that way, as opposed to just reading a book and taking a test. In all of my classes, there are constant discussions about the current topic, and everyone's input is respected, appreciated, and used by the other students and professors. The students are able to think and learn beyond what they are given, and certainly don't reflect a "slacker" atmosphere. I feel priveleged to be among such interesting and knowledgeable people everyday.</p>
<p>I think the "slacker" reputation, though undeserved, is the result of Goucher being a very supportive environment for broad range of students. Goucher is a great school, but as it struggles towards gender parity, it has admitted a lot male applicants with weak academic profiles, lingering immaturity and other issues - - in short, students whom many would dismiss as slackers.</p>
<p>I am a junior considering many schools, among them several on the West coast, two in Canada, and even one in Scotland (St. Andrews), so my search for LAC’s has been extensive! And of all the schools I have considered, I have not found too more similar schools than Goucher College and Clark University (judging by comments about and descriptions of each). However, I haven’t visited either one of them, so could someone with more knowledge of Goucher and Clark please fill me in on the major differences between them? </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>In what ways are the two schools similar? Goucher is a LAC, Clark is a uni. Clark, with a 60:40 male-to-female ratio is far closer to the current coed norm (55:45) than is Goucher (70% female). Clark has a tiny campus in the middle of Worcester, MA; Goucher has a beautiful, sprawling campus in suburban MD. While Clark has only a few academic requirements, I can’t think of a school that has as many academic requirements as Goucher (eleven different categories!!).</p>
<p>They are both great schools, I just don’t see the similarities.</p>
<p>NCGOUCHER,
What have you heard about the business courses at Goucher?
11 different categories of requirements seems like quite a few; is it burdensome?
What sort of activites are there on campus on the weekends for kids who are not drinkers or smokers?
thanks</p>