St. John's College--Annapolis or Santa Fe?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm planning to go to St. John's College this coming fall but am still not sure which campus I should go to. I'm looking for any Johnnies/people familiar with both campuses who can explain their perceptions of the differences between campuses. </p>

<p>I've heard that Santa Fe has more older students (I'll be starting as a 20 year old freshman) and that Santa Fe has more laid back students. Someone posted that students in Annapolis dress up a bit for class and I didn't get that vibe in Santa Fe when I visited. I know that Santa Fe has one 15 page paper each term while Annapolis has one 30 pager at the end of each school year, though that's a minor difference. </p>

<p>I have some serious learning disabilities that can be worked around with accommodations. Santa Fe was very receptive to the accommodations I need, provided I have documentation, but Annapolis far less open to accommodations. If anyone has personal experience with learning disabilities/accommodations at either campus please post about that as well!</p>

<p>Lastly, I'm nervous about the music requirement. I've never been able to sing and have never had a good feel for rhythm. I'd imagine many incoming students struggle with this as well, but I'm wondering how this usually comes into play as one gets their toes wet in this particular subject as it pertains to the modus operandi of St. John's.</p>

<p>I know I'm asking for a lot of information but St. John's is definitely the school I want to go to. The great books curriculum is truly ambrosiac.</p>

2

<p>Can’t say I have experience with either one but it sounds like you have lots of reasons to go to Santa Fe. Is there a reason why you don’t want to go there or really want to go to Annapolis?</p>

3

<p>I have medical conditions that require continuous treatment and Annapolis is much closer to home.</p>

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<p>I’m a Junior at St. John’s College, and I went to Annapolis for two years before transferring to the Santa Fe campus. I’m planning to stay in Santa Fe for my Senior year. </p>

<p>Minor corrections first: I wrote a 10 page paper for my first semester, and will be writing another paper, slightly longer, for the end of year paper. In Annapolis, my friends are writing twenty page papers. How strict the paper requirements are depends very much on individual tutors.</p>

<p>You’re right about what you hear/ have experienced of Fe; it’s much less tense in the classroom, especially in tutorials, and especially in the Fall, people are much more social and calm. There are always blue skies here! Annapolis is very intense, and very stressful. There is always pressure to be good in class, as well as to have an active social life. Here, people are more willing to contribute according to their ability, and social life is far less stressful. There isn’t so much of a community social life here, especially if you drink (you’ve probably heard that Annapolis is the drinking campus). In Annapolis there are room/ house parties as well as the Wednesday night party on the quad. Here, there isn’t a quad equivalent, and people drink at semi-private parties or with friends. Even drinking is more relaxed in Fe - in Annapolis, it’s always more of trying to have fun and deal with stress, or get wasted. All this is partly because of how the campus is spread out, but also partly because of the air on the campus. The number of older people here certainly helps.</p>

<p>One thing, though - the music program in Annapolis is far better than Fe’s. Freshman chorus is a wonderful experience in Annapolis. We crowd into the great hall on Wednesday mornings and a tutor leads us in singing from a music book, we sing Bach, old Gregorian chants, wonderful, soul-lifting music. My friends and I would leave chorus and continue singing outside, with whoever else willing to join in. It’s a lovely community in Annapolis, especially in Freshman year, because the campus’ centripetal force makes it so easy for people to meet and know one another. But personally, I feel Santa Fe working for me much more. The calmness of Santa Fe (and the, oddly enough, “relaxed intensity”) makes it much easier for me to focus on the program. It helps that I love the city of Santa Fe; Annapolis is so claustrophobic in contrast. </p>

<p>Do ask more questions if I haven’t addressed your main issues. I don’t know how disabilities are treated on either campus, I think both campuses should be good with them, my friends who take pills largely don’t complain? But I don’t know your particular situation. </p>

<p>Also, St. John’s is as incredible as it seems. I’m glad you’re coming.</p>