I am currently a sophmore commuter from a nearby city in Ohio. I've just recently changed from and English major to a Broadcasting Communications major. I've categorized this review as me being an English major since most of my experiences have been from that department.Let me start off by saying that in every and any instituiton you hear of, there are the few English professors who seem to have a vendetta against the world. Why this is so is up to speculation--- I theorize crankiness at people not worshipping the ground they walk on for gracing us with their literary advice, but who knows? Anway, most of the staff is fairly friendly and helpful and this goes for the instructors as well. I did have a run in with a smug exception who called me out DURING class about how I should pay more attention when I asked him to repeat a question (which I still don't get how it was a big deal). After class, I informed him that I HAD been paying attention but the pain medication I was taking for the heart surgery I had a few months prior conflicted with my concentration and that I clinically was DIAGNOSED with ADHD. He said he would consider that next time, but did not apologize. I dropped his class because of this, his overall demeanor, and I didn't feel I was benefiting from it much.
There are, however, a few very GOOD English professors who not only cover interesting material, but provide an environment where it is actually FUN to learn--- something I definately did not expect to encounter in college courses. The departments themselves though...eh...
The art department isn't very extensive, but it seems the reason they send students to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh for a year is actually because they don't have the materials and what not to teach you all you need to know about media art. I had originally came to the college in hopes of declaring a media art major (which to me meant I would be prepared to be an animator). However, I came to find out that they did NOT support the program I wanted despite the disleading description.
So... I declared an English major and an art minor. The art instructors are all ok, but the department itself is lacking (what they call an art gallery is a small hallway occasionally decorated with senior projects). The English department is an entirely different monster...
If you think you are interested in being an English major... REALLY THINK ABOUT IT! What this major actually entails is A LOT of reading and A LOT of long, annotated essays about literature and how other people use different types of criticism to... well, criticize it. The major is NOT hands on. It's essentially meant to be taken in addition to a teaching major. If you want to be an english teacher, go for it! Even I did at one point. If you want to write for a paper, be an editor, write for TV, or do almost any other job other than be an english teacher, you won't get much out of this program and you'd probably be better off going into Communications or Broadcast Communications and declaring a Writing Minor.
I've met briefly with some professors from the Broadcasting department and despite how much of a competetive field broadcasting is, they actually seem more down to earth and helpful than some of the English instructors.
As for the college itself--- campus life, food, etc... The food is in fact very good, but it is a bit pricey. It doesn't seem like the college has "over 100 organizations" like it says on some college review sites. If you don't live on campus, it is VERY hard to get involved in activites and you feel sort of like an outsider most of the time. If you live on campus, it's a bit easier to find things to do and make friends.
There isn't much of a variety between clubs. There additional required courses you have to take because this is a liberal arts college. You have to take a religion/philosophy course and fulfill other random stipulations like swimming tests. I kid you not--- if you don't pass a swimming test, you don't graduate. Some of it is absolute bogus and a waste of time. The only thing "Inquiry" (Westminster's version of an intro course to college) taught me (or tried to) was just how great it was that I was going to a liberal arts school. There is also a christain undertone into a lot of things on campus and you'll run into those really nutty religious fanatics once in a great while. I was raised catholic, but I'm very open and after a while I just got really sick of all of it. The campus is also mostly white kids of upper or upper middle class families. There are the occasional kids who manage to get in on full scholarship, but they're mostly found in the library trying to keep it. Don't get me wrong, there are some average joes here, but once you get into a click, you're stuck. The small size of the student body leads to a very "highschool part 2" kind of feel.Overall, if you're planning on coming here, stay on campus. It might be a little scary at first, but I'm sure it'll be worth it. Take it from a commuter, the school is not very commuter friendly and is clicky. I suggest getting involved in some kind of group. Though there is no pressure from the college or other students to join a club, you pretty much have to if you want to make friends. Otherwise, be prepared to be lonely and lead a very monotonous lifestyle.
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