Elizabethtown College

Elizabethtown is a very small school. With that comes positives and negatives that may impact how you perceive this school. I'll start with the most important part of any college review, academics.

The academics at E-town in the engineering department is well put together. Will you find a high paying job at the end of these 4 years, of course. Will you not understand some classes and still completely pass? Perhaps. Elizabethtown is the school where you'll find some of your classes to be extremely difficult, and then others to be simple as hell. This is because some professors don't teach but rather give the grade. The course material is all relevant and is very helpful, but some professors can't explain the course AT ALL to the student and as such bump up the grades so no one feels bad. KEEP IN MIND this is NOT all courses. For the courses that don't do this, you WILL learn and you WILL apply your knowledge to help yourself and your group/friends in a variety of problems the engineering department throws at you. With all that said, I want to add that the professors (even the bad ones) are all easily available to contact and projects in the engineering department happen every year so you will quickly rack experience.

Social life here is a bit of a hit or miss. I wish they had more activities, which would encourage people to go out of their comfort zone and meet others as that's the biggest problem I see here. If you're someone that is extremely extroverted and good at making friends, you'll be living a good life. Most people here are nice, though you'll find some nasty ones that will follow you until you make them stop (avoid them at all costs as like I said, small school). Make sure you make friends (especially if you live far away) as having friends is like having ammo against anyone that hates your guts. Having friends also means you will be motivated to do more at the college, decreasing your risk of possible boredom. If you're in the engineering department, you'll be close to all the other engineers as there's no way one engineer cannot be friends with another (I swear, we all share a bond). If you don't have a social life, quickly join a sports team or club as this will grant you the abilities of making friends FAST. If you don't make friends here, you will quickly get lonely, depressed, and want to go back home. I guarantee it. If you do, however, you'll be fine and might even become one of the "popular" (I say this lightly as no one is "popular" in college) kids at school.

Campus security is a hassle to deal with if you drink. Plan appropriately if you plan to go out or you'll get caught. If you're on a sports team, you'll be fine with your crew. Otherwise, they do make the campus feel safe.

The town is really nice. Small and not filled to the brim with everything you want, but has everything you need. If you really want to see good town activity and/or better nightlife you'll need a car, but otherwise, the town is not bad.

As a whole, I would say Elizabethtown's definition is the good ole' "college is what you make of it" saying. If you don't wish to better yourself and strive for more, you'll never find happiness here. If you're willing to take a step and venture closer to the world of men and women working to make a difference, you'll fit right in.Hope this helps!

2nd Year Male -- Class 2019

Faculty Accessibility: A+, Social Life: C+

I went here from 05-09 and it was overall a very positive experience for me. The college department strengths are definitely their sciences, business, OT and education. Most professors get to know you as a person and it's a genuine connection. I am still in touch with some of my professors 4 years later and they still remember who I am. The friendships you forge here will be for life. The entertainment factor here is not for everyone. You have to be willing to make your own fun. There is a wide variety of campus clubs and activities to get involved in and meet people of all walks of life. One of the things I loved about this school was how there wasn't set groups you hung out with. Peer mentors were friends with theatre people who were friends with senate. If you're looking for a school in an area with a never-ending supply of places to go, then go to a city. If you're looking for a school with strong personal relationships that values you as an individual person, come here.

4th Year Female -- Class 2009

Education Quality: A+, Surrounding City: C+

I graduated from the 5 year program for OT at etown. Generally, OT, business, and education are the best majors at etown as far as quality.

Overall, elizabethtown is a good school; granted it is not for everyone.
Benefits include: Very nice library, good food, friendly professors who know your name and are very approachable and willing to help, good small class sizes, nice students, many opportunities for volunteer work or studying abroad, small enough to walk to class easily, and safe.

Drawbacks: Not much going on in the town itself, you need a car so you can go to Harrisburg, Hershey, Lancaster, mt. joy, etc., on the weekends. Also, it doesn't have the "best" reputation academically for programs other than the ones I listed above. That doesn't necessarily mean those programs aren't good, but the reputation just isn't there yet.

They are really trying to bring up the quality of the school. They bring in good guest lectures, they've redone a lot of the dorm areas and other buildings. They have improved the number of activities available for the weekends. Every year the school gets better.

My advice: If you want a small school where you will know almost everyone, have small campus, live on a pretty campus, you're interested in serving the community, and aren't a huge partier...this is a good school.If you're mostly concerned with having a city-like atmosphere with lots to do in the town and on campus, if you want larger classes/more people, or if you're a huge partier who wants to drink and go clubbing all the time, this isn't the school for you.

5th Year Female -- Class 2011

Scholastic Success: A+, Surrounding City: D+