Goucher College

Date: Oct 31 2012
Major: English (This Major's Salary over time)
Goucher is, in my opinion, how the world should be. The student body is so open and friendly and accepting, the teachers seem to genuinely care about their students, and the campus itself is physically beautiful. It's not for everybody, but if you think you might fit in at Goucher, it's definitely worth a thought! Let's break it down into sections:

Academics:

I've been here for less than a year, so I might not be the best guy to ask about this, but from what I've experienced so far, Goucher has a wonderful academic program. Besides some introductory classes, the class sizes are super small! The typical class has about 15 to 20 people in it, and they shrink in size as the classes get more specific to your major. You probably won't be taught by anyone world-renowned or anything, but you also won't have to deal with TA's or professors that don't even know your name.

Athletics:

A lack of school spirit at Goucher seems to be a common complaint amongst students. Goucher does have NCAA Division 3 lacrosse, basketball soccer, tennis, hockey, and equestrian programs, but attendance at events is usually pretty low. Goucher's social scene is very far from clique-y, but the athletes tend to stick together, which is understandable.

Food:

The food at Goucher, as far as college dining hall food is concerned is pretty wonderful. The biggest dining hall is Stimson, which serves the traditional college fare: burgers, pizza, a salad bar, and some deli meats. Then there is Heubeck, which is Goucher's answer to a healthier alternative. A lot of my vegetarian/vegan friends seem to love eating there, although I can't speak too much about to the food there as I've only eaten there a couple times. Then there's Pearlstone, which serves burritos and quesadillas. There are other things on the menu at Pearlstone, but for reasons that have not quite been explained to me, they never serve anything else. There is also some prepackaged sushi and sandwiches at the front of pearlstone which are quite good and especially convenient if you're in a rush.

Dorms:

Dorms on campus vary. Stimson is the biggest dorm, and a lot of Freshman seem to get placed there. Stimson is also the oldest and worst smelling dorm. However, people who live in Stimson value it for it's sense of community. Everyone over there keeps their doors open and it's a very welcoming environment and a good place to make new friends. Most of Goucher's on-campus party scene takes place in Stimson. If partying is not your thing, however, have no fear, because Sondheim, the substance free dorm, is also a really nice place to live. Students their enjoy their own restroom facilities and the spacious suites they are placed in. Heubeck is also a nice dorm where many Freshman reside. It is also one of the few dorms with AC, which is definitely nothing to sneeze at in the early months of the school year, when temperatures can be quite hot.

The Social Scene:

Ah yes, Goucher's mulch-faceted, diverse social scene Let's see if I can tackle this without writing too much.

Look, if you want to live out an Animal House fantasy, this is probably not the place for you. There are no fraternities at Goucher, and most of the wild partying happens off campus, at nearby Towson or JHU. "Parties" on campus are usually limited to a group of 10-15 people drinking in their dorms. That said, there is A LOT of drinking that goes on on campus. True, Goucher may not be party central, but people who are into drinking will not be dissapointed. It is actually quite funny to walk around campus on a saturday night and watch all of the drunk people stumble around and laugh.

People who don't drink aren't pressured to try alcohol, though most of them probably will at some point, because, after all, this is college. And that's okay. Like I said, there is a sizeable substance-free community here, and those who don't party won't be alienated at all.

Likewise, though, drugs on campus are a presence, to say the least. It is not uncommon for parts of campus to constantly reek of pot. Other drugs present on campus (though less so than marijuana): acid, shrooms, ketamine, and heroin. I don't mean to give the impression Goucher is some sort of druggie-school: it's not. But drugs are around, just as they are in the real world.

I know the girl:guy ratio here at Goucher is a topic of interest to some people, and I will say this: the guys love it and the girls don't as much. But because of this ratio (at least I think), hook-up culture is more prevalent, as it probably is in most school. There are a lot of couples on campus, but there are also a lot of one-night stands. Honestly though, it doesn't feel that overwhelming, the ration I mean. This school has come a long ways since it's women's-only days, and there are quite a lot of men on campus.

There is also a HUGE LGBT community here at Goucher. This is mostly due to the fact that Goucher students are extremely open-minded and accepting. We're dealing with some students who walk around in hot-dog costumes and leopard prints from head to toe. Homosexuality is nothing out of the ordinary here, and there is very little to no judgement of LGBT people here on campus.

I feel like I should say this, although I don't want to scare people off, 90% of the student body is probably: white, liberal, Jewish, and from an upper-class family. Goucher promotes diversity, but it is a small-liberal arts school with an even smaller endowment, and all of that creates a somewhat homogenous culture. Don't get me wrong: it seems to be getting better. The Freshman class is definitely seems to be the most diverse at Goucher currently, so that's a sign of things headed in the right direction. Still, it's something to consider.

Bottom line about Goucher's social scene is this: Goucher is an AMAZING opportunity for kids who had a rough time of it socially in High School. I can't stress that enough. We are as close to judgement-free and open-minded as it gets, and the close knit community here provides a lot of students with the fresh start they were looking for. This might be, in part, why Goucher gets a "socially awkward" wrap, but that's not true at all. We're just very open and non-judgemental, and I think that can freak a lot of outsiders out.

Hope this was helpful for prospective students!