<p>Thanks librarymom123. That was really nice of you. Its really helpful when people paint a different picture of the college, specially when colleges market themselves upon false crap! But, going through all the reviews, I feel quite unsure. I mean, is the college really "that" good?</p>
<p>I truly hope this semester my daughter finds her way and decides to stay. She wants that too. Even with everything that has happened, I think the college has a lot to offer. Her major is one of the best on campus and now that she's into the 200 level courses, I think she'll have a wonderful academic experience. That said, she has to follow her heart. I let her make the decision to attend Gettysburg, and if a transfer is in her future, that will be her decision, too. She's not miserable, but she's not as happy as she could be.</p>
<p>Good luck. If after everything you have read, you decide to go to Gettysburg, you will probably be happy. I said before, no college is perfect, but the key to a good decision is finding one with flaws you can live with.</p>
<p>Wow..This thread is amazing...In one day this has given me more information than what I could collect over the past several months. Thank you! I am an international student too. I have studied at a school where people find themselves belonging into different groups. I am an aspiring writer and the single most important thing that I am looking for in a college is great academics. To be honest, the English literature programs in my country are not up to the mark, and being able to study English at a college with good professors in itself is a big thing for me. I am also very interested in physics. So, I request you to provide information about English/Creative Writing and physics programs at Gettysburg. It would be of immense help. </p>
<p>As for the social scene, I am the kind of person who can socialize rigorously, but, if need be, can be reclusive as well. In fact, I often find myself totally detached from my surroundings, especially when I write short stories etc. And I also prefer having a close but small circle of friends. But I believe I have an open-mind and adjust to varying circumstances rather quickly. I am from a low-income family, but I have always had friends who were richer than I, because most kids at my secondary school were rich. So, I feel I will be able to fit into Gettysburg if I am accepted. </p>
<p>Any information regarding the fields of study I have mentioned will be very very helpful!</p>
<p>Dear talha_adnan, since you described yourself as an international, I was wondering how much knowledge you have about Greek life on American campuses. Most LACs have some Greek life and then others are dominated by Greek life. I think that most people would agree that the Greek life at G-burg is very strong, what with half of the males and females belonging to a frat or sorority. That means that if you don't join, you are part of he other half. With such a strong dominance on the G-burg campus, you might want to consider how much you want to be involved with either joining or partying independently within the Greek program. I have visited the campus when my brother was thinking about going there to play football. My father told him that he should keep looking, because after a stay over night there, he and my dad bother greed that he would either flunk out from the athletics or the partying. Everyone wants to have fun at school, but lets face it, we will be paying big bucks to go to G-burg and what a waste of money if your grades are sub-par or you flunk out. Lastly, you need to keep reading CC to get the inside story on other colleges as well. It would be terrible if you came from another country and were stuck in a school where you were miserable. Best of luck, and remember, colleges are selling themselves, so you have to take off the rose colored glasses, wherever you look.</p>
<p>I've got a couple of friends in U.S. colleges, and I agree. Adjusting in such an environment is tough. I've been here at CC for over a month now. Going though forums. Its been really helpful. I'll make sure I get a complete picture of the place I decide to go in fall!</p>
<p>as a recent alum with a little perspective, I wanted to post about my gettysburg experience. </p>
<p>first off, my freshman year was rocky to say the least - i wasnt sure gettysburg was the right place for me, and i considered transferring. however, with hindsight, i realize that it was more the transition to college in general that i had a hard time with. and it just so happened that some of the "luck" factors did fall the right way for me and just made it a little harder - e.g. an impossibly crazy calc prof, a "basement" level doom and a roommate i just didnt click with. these experiences could have colored my first-year experience ANYWHERE - they are a fact of freshman yeah college life. </p>
<p>that said, i went on to have an amazing experience at gettysburg. my professors were (and are!) wonderful people who cared about me as if i was their own kid - i am still in touch with a few and am grateful for their guidance and support. </p>
<p>i also started out being very overwhelmed by the greek scene - dont fool yourself, because it is out there in force, but dont let the stereotypes deceive you either. of course as a freshman and sophomore the whole sorority/fraternity thing seems like the be all and end all...but once you're in it you realize that it is "just another activity" to many members. I did join a sorority, and was very happy to do so, but many of my other campus activities were much more important to me. </p>
<p>also, as you go through rush, it all seems very competitive between organizations, but again, once on the other side you realize that everyone gets along - no matter their affiliation or lack thereof. as i said, i was greek, but my very best friend from gettysburg was not - and there was never a problem. the greek experience is great for those who want it, but truly does not look down on anyone who chooses to be independent. my best friend was closer to some of my sorority sisters than i was! i should note however, that this is also a product of the general maturing process in college - by the time people are juniors and seniors no one really cares anymore what letters are on your shirt!</p>
<p>i do also want to stick up for the campus activities board (CAB - which is comprised almost completely of student who volunteer their time) - i think they do great work, and the Attic definitely has worthwhile programing as an alretnative to frat-life. it is true though that the activities are WHAT THE STUDENTS MAKE OF THEM. the administration (who i think is great) at gburg is not there to provide activities and groups - they are there to provide guidance, support and funding to students who make the groups what they are. You are interested in water polo? great, heres how we can help you get started....but you cant go there looking for the type of group facilitation that was there in high school. Im not saying this to attack anyone at all, but this is the reality of clubs/activities at the college level. </p>
<p>Sorry this is so long....id be happy to answer any questions about gburg.</p>
<p>GO BULLETS!</p>
<p>Thanks for your input gobullets! :) </p>
<p>I would like you to elaborate more on the academics at Gettysburg. How rigorous and flexible is the Gettysburg curriculum? I've read that a large population of the student body at Gburg double majors. As a potential double major myself, I want to know more about the cohesiveness among different departments. </p>
<p>Also, I've read much about the "work" hard and "play" hard policy at different schools. Is that true of Gburg too? </p>
<p>Thanks again.</p>
<p>Hi BB - no problem!</p>
<p>Its fairly easy to double major at gburg, and there is a significant portion of the students who do. If they don't do a double major, a major/minor combination is also very popular. There are also a couple majors, like Education, that REQUIRE a double major - the school wants you to have a well rounded experience, and so the Education major gets paired with something more substantive - for students planning to teach high school they usually double major in whatever subject they want to teach (math, history etc) and for those planning to go into elementary ed a common pairing is with Psychology but the choice is totally up to the student.</p>
<p>Its also really common to do a Managament major with an Econ minor because it only takes a couple additional classes to the major to make this happen. </p>
<p>I personally didnt double major (or have a minor) which is something I regret a little, but at the same time it allowed me huge flexibility in when i chose to study abroad and it gave me a chance to sample a ton of the LA curriculum - which is what gburg is all about!</p>
<p>One thing to note, unless its changed, is that you CANT minor in either management or psychology - they only offer those as majors because the minors would be way too popular.</p>
<p>As for adademics in general, Gburg is not a "walk in the park" by any means, and requires a definite work ethic to do well. That said, i'm sure you can pick classes around hearing who the 'easy' profs are, etc. but that would be the exception, not the rule. There is definitely no grade inflation at gburg. However, like you said - work hard, play hard is a good mantra for the school...students frequent bars and frats almost every night of the week (except monday - usually!). Also, the first floor of the library is pretty much like social hour 24/7.</p>
<p>One plug for the library though - its amazing and the people who work there are great. i definitely underestimated the importance of a library open 24 hours a day - which is not super common at colleges - its great when you are still typing away on a paper at 4am - especially when they wheel out the free hot chocolate/coffee cart!!</p>
<p>Also - I dont know if you all have noticed the annoucement of the new president - Janet Riggs. She is an alum and was a psychology professor at the college for many years - there is A LOT of excitement about her appointment.</p>
<p>I can't wait to set my foot at Gburg (if I am accepted). Yes, I've heard about the appointment of President Riggs. I've also read about the enthusiasm and optimism sorrounding the event. It seems just the right time to join Gettysburg. :D</p>
<p>I have been accepted to Gettysburg as an international student through ED for fall 2009. I just received an email citing that I will receive a phone call on Sunday from a current G-burg international student to welcome me to G-burg and answer my queries. So if anyone has some good questions, do forward them to me. Maybe I can have a good crack at the caller :)</p>
<p>Hi, theGame, Congrats!!!!!!!!! Hope you will enjoy life there.
By the way,where do you come from?</p>
<p>Thanks dude. I'd better advice you not to ask personal questions in a post. Msg me if you need any help.</p>
<p>Sorry! theGame, I'm just too excited,as there are not many international students in GBurge. My bro's been there already.</p>
<p>Yeah - only 2% of the student boy is international. Has your brother graduated? Does he like the place? I'd love to hear his inside opinion on the G-burg experience, if possible.</p>