Goshen College

Date: Mar 14 2009
Major: Social Work (This Major's Salary over time)
One thing people should know about Goshen is that it's not for everyone. Academically speaking, there's a lot of busywork and memorization. I've had several classes where professors just read off the powerpoint which is copied from the book and expect students to memorize the information for the test without any further instruction or explanation or practical application of the material. Some classes are a bit better, but most teachers are still not very good at relaying information. There are some cool students here but many are very close-minded and don't like things that are different from themselves. They pride (and man are they arrogant) themselves on being globally aware and accepting of everyone, but if they actually experience anything different (which doesn't happen often since every experience off campus takes place in a very sheltered, structured, non-natural form) from what they believe they don't like it. Students are very much stunted in their maturity due to their own self-interest and the faculty's failure to believe students have any need to experience anything outside of the Goshen "Journey." Campus is kept up nicely, but it's almost too nice and reminiscent of Stepford from the Stepford Wives. People have perpetual smiles plastered on plastic faces and are so concerned with their outward impression that any growth and learning happens very sporadically. Also, the financial department will charge you for anything and everything and Meal Plans are mathematically a bad financial choice but there's nothing you can do about it because you are required to have one if you live on campus, which you have to do until you are 23. You have to attend 14 chapels each semester and Mennonites hold some cool beliefs and seem pretty hip but be warned - their history of oppression makes them very grouped off and unwelcoming. Basically it's a bad place. The amazing admissions department is really cool, but don't let them fool you. All in all coming here was one of the worst decisions I ever made. There are some cool people here, obviously, professors and students both. However the general atmosphere is downright depressing.