Gettysburg College

Established in 1832, Pennsylvania's Gettysburg College is a selective college of the liberal arts and sciences that focuses on interdisciplinary study and advanced scholarship. One such example is the school's Eisenhower Institute, which is dedicated to civic engagement and leadership. To "support intellectual curiosity" for the school's 2,200 students,

Gettysburg also provides an individualized major option; for instance, the CrossDisciplinary Science Institute prepares students to answer big questions across subjects. Faculty mentors are also at the ready, and they collaborate with hundreds of students on projects each year. "There are a lot of research opportunities for us even though we are undergraduate students," says one. There are also tons of chances "to present research, field trips, hands-on learning experiences, [and] immersion trips."

Small class sizes-there's a 10:1 student-faculty ratio-provide students with further opportunities to "form close relationships with professors, which makes the education experience personalized and thorough." Professors also take point in encouraging "leadership and involvement in academics through research and presentations," and utilize "discussion-based classes [to] foster a greater sense of investment." In turn, the inquisitive minds at Gettysburg "feel comfortable sharing their perspectives and opinions, which makes classes and discussions on campus much more interesting and eye-opening." Experiential learning also keeps things fresh and active, like "community service, going to see movies pertinent to a course's topic, field trips" or, for example, a German class that "used the rock wall in our gym as a trust exercise and to practice giving commands in German." Whatever the situation, professors "are always willing to help and make time to meet outside of class."

Students describe their "very interconnected" community as "unmatched," thanks largely to the smaller size and high levels of sociability. "Everybody knows most of the other students from a class taken together, or a club they both attend, or maybe they just go to the gym at the same time." Diversity is important to both students and the school, and there's a lot of appreciation voiced for how the community is "open to different opinions" and "able to have healthy conversations about hard topics." Perhaps that's because students are all "eager to learn about the world beyond their academic area" or because they're "diligent with work and extracurriculars." Whatever the case, "we all click very well."

The work week is, in fact, a work week here. "Almost everyone is studying or doing work at their favorite study space," says one student. But while there's a lot of agreement that "Mondays to Fridays are rigorous," there's also consensus that "then the weekend rolls around." With 95 percent of the student body living on campus, there are lots of ways to stay active, "whether it be in a Greek organization, clubs, athletics, or working on-campus." Sports and Greek life may "dominate the social scene," but there are plenty of other entertainment outlets, like "cool reenactment options." Gettysburg also boasts "all the advantages other more rural schools have, like plenty of space to run, bike, and walk, and a quaint town too."

The school’s Center for Career Engagement provides the digital platforms Handshake and connectGettysburg, which offer access to networks of companies and alumni, respectively. As one enrollee explains, “Many of the alumni have fabulous jobs and want to help [new] graduates get amazing jobs.” The school also helps students plan for the future through a series of Career Exploration programs, including job shadowing, internships and externships, and three-day career immersion trips. Taking place during winter break or after May exams, these trips include site visits, case study presentations, and alumni networking receptions. Assessed together, more than eight thousand opportunities are available because of these programs. To ensure a wide variety of opportunities are available, the school has numerous employer-partners across a wide range of industries. These partners provide panels and information sessions, meet-and-greets, and on-campus interview sessions. Additionally, professors are readily available to discuss career options with students, and they “also write recommendations for students seeking outside opportunities.” Upon graduation, Gettysburg students reported a median starting salary of $68,900 to Payscale.com, with 50 percent finding meaning in their chosen professions.