<p>Read the threads on Roanoke and they’re very helpful as my son is considering this school and Salisbury, among others Has anyone visited or considered Salisbury? We are visiting this summer and heard the decent things but wondering how it compares to Roanoke. But what about its reputation? Thanks for any insights.</p>
<p>Hello! I am currently a sophomore at Roanoke College, and I just wanted to share my experience so far. While RC was not exactly what I had expected, I am still glad I came. that being said, I wouldn’t be here without the fantastic financial aid package. I worked very hard in high school, practiced answering interview questions, and received a full tuition scholarship. I earned other outside scholarships and I wait tables on the holidays and work as a chemistry tutor to help pay the rest. You can expect to receive some scholarship money, but don’t expect much if you did not work hard for it.
Social life:
It is honestly all about finding your niche. While only 25% of the campus is Greek, they play a large role in social life. Frats hold the majority of parties on the weekends. Girls usually don’t have a problem getting in, but for the most part, only affiliated and pledging/interested guys are allowed. Greek/athletic team parties are essentially the only entertainment on the weekends, with the exception of Campus Activity Board events, which are somewhat lame but sometimes good (like Bingo! - I’m not kidding, it’s awesome). I have several friends in Greek life and they have had good experiences so far.
Athletic teams also have a somewhat large presence on campus, but the lacrosse men are the most notorious for being wild. As an athlete myself (I played soccer freshman year but I’m playing lacrosse this year), the athletic teams are a wonderful way to meet new people and have a great team bond, but they are not exclusive. Some of my teammates are in sororites, service groups, etc. I, myself, have friends on the lax team and love the girls, but my best friends are non-athletes.
Other activities include Outdoor Adventures, which provides day and overnight hiking trips, whitewater rafting, skiing, rock climbing/bouldering, etc. The scenery and hiking is BEAUTIFUL so definitely take advantage of it. There is a Christian worship group, a Harry Potter club, service organizations, academic groups, musical groups such as a cappella, theatre, choir, club sports, intramurals…there is honestly something for everyone.
Student Body:
To be completely honest, I am less than impressed with many of the students here. A good majority come from a lot of money and have been handed things their whole lives, and there is quite a separation between the students who work to be here and the ones who just take their parents’ money. A lot of it has to do with attitude. The motto here seems to be drink a lot, barely study, and when students receive less-than-ideal grades, they blame the professors for being too difficult. There is quite a bit of conformity here as well. The girls look like clones (think black leggings as pants with boots, or Lilly dresses), and I have never seen so much pastel on one guy before. No one seems to try to be the exception, however, no one will think less of you if you are. Even the administrators are hesitant to allow anything that might be too “controversial.” But that is changing.
Academics:
I cannot emphasize enough how wonderful the academics are. All of my professors have been engaging, caring, and have an open-door policy. I have several of their phone numbers, and I am even friends with a few on Facebook. Currently I am a Bio major and chem minor with a neuroscience concentration, so the college definitely makes cross-discipline study accessible. The classes are challenging, but if you are willing to put in the work, use office hours, and truly apply yourself, receiving As or high Bs is definitely achievable. Unfortunately, many students do not understand this concept, which results in poor grades and a lot of blank stares in class. My personal favorite overheard question: “What is that measurement called? A millicentimeter or something?” Many students have been taught to simply regurgitate information, which serves them poorly in class. Most of my classes involve taking many different concepts and weaving them together to provide explanations for various scientific occurrences, which is something I value. So be prepared. I am also involved in the Honors Program, for those who are interested. Most of my best friends are involved in honors, which I believe started because we have similar levels of ambition and a respect for a diverse range of interests. The program has provided a truly unique experience to my education. It requires students to participate in outside events such as formal lectures, discussions, coffee shop debates, plays, concerts, etc., all designed to broaden our worldview. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested.
Research:
There are numerous research opportunities in every discipline across campus. It is not uncommon for a student to get his or her research published along with his faculty advisor. Research can be done without pay, or through the URAP program, in which students are paid a stipend of $2000/year to engage in intricate research with a faculty member. I am currently part of this program (studying visual perception/suppression in the Psychology dept), and it has been a highlight of my last year. I have presented our work at several conferences, and I was even able to attend the Society for Neuroscience conference with my advisor this past November! I work very hard, but research has taught me a whole new world of thinking and problem-solving. Plus it looks great for graduate school. Other notable research projects my peers are involved in include archaeological digging, the development of zebrafish, the synthesis of new organic compounds, the influence of law clerks, and much more.
Dorms:
Most of the dorms are pretty decent, and some will be undergoing remodeling soon. The Market Street Complex is by far the nicest dorm for freshman (I lived there last year), however, the rooms are small. Crawford has the rep for being the “party dorm” and isn’t the nicest, but the rooms are large and everyone seems to know everyone. Marion is decently nice, with suite-style rooms, and a nice community atmosphere. Bartlett and Smith are probably the least nice, but it seems like the residents are pretty close-knit. I currently live in Allegheny in a single room which is small, but nice. I live on the Honors floor, and we can be found studying together in the common area. I love themed housing for its emphasis on hall bonding.</p>
<p>Overall, RC is a great school. It definitely has its downfalls that I wish I had known about, but I found my niche (which happens to be all over the place haha) and I love it. Let me know if I can answer any questions!</p>
<p>Referring back to the question on juggling sports and academics, I will be honest and say that it is hard. As a science major, I have several labs to fit into my schedule as well, however, the coaches understand that academics come first. It is common for team member to miss a practice/week for a class or lab, and that’s okay. The key thing is time management. I do pull some late nights, but I am also involved in many other things on campus that take time (work, research, honors, a capella group), and that does not include personal free time and exercise. You can do as much as you want to here, as long as you use your time wisely. This may mean doing work during lunch, staying in on some weekends, and early morning study sessions, but it is all worth it to me because I am able to do what I love. But I also make time to have fun, hang out with friends, and just relax. Because when you look back on college, you will remember the fun times, not necessarily all the studying. It’s all about checks and balances.</p>
<p>My daughter is Jewish, we are not at all observant but from everything I’m reading here, I think it would not be a good fit for her…Any thoughts?</p>
<p>3girlsmd, there is a wonderful thread here in the Parents Forum on schools for Jewish students.</p>