Connecticut College Top Questions

Conn is great as far as academics go. It's a small school, so it is usually very easy to seek out professors for extra help and schedule one-on-one meetings. Many students also have end-of-semester dinners at their professors' houses (I went to 4 last year). Study abroad is also a big part of the Connecticut College education for many students, and it is easy to find a program that provides easy credit-transfers back to the college. Overall, Conn is geared toward providing a well-rounded education, which is coupled with an AMAZING career office, CELS (Career Enhancing Life Skills), which allows students to do in-depth searches and be successful in finding careers and internships that match their interests.

It is almost impossible to slip through the cracks at Conn College. In addition to having an academic adviser and a student adviser, the student to teacher ratio is such that professors will know who you are. If you only attend 100 person lectures, than it will be difficult. But most students are in class sizes that range from 10 to 30 people at the most. There is a lot of individual attention and also a lot of individual help available if one wishes to receive it. I've taken classes that are extremely diverse within the English department. I've taken classes that ask questions about race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, time and space as well as the basic things that one always investigates in the topics of literature: structure, character, plot, motif, etc. The academic requirements are tough to swallow at first. But, once you've finished them, you do feel a great sense of pride in what you've done to diversify your curriculum. And sometimes you even take a class that you wouldn't normally take and it actually gets you to take another class in that department or with that professor - solely due to the general education requirements.

Like any school, academics can be as hard or as easy as you want it to be. I think the same goes for relationships with professors-- you can remain unknown in large introductory courses, or end up talking to your professor every day after class. Professors are warm people who strive to make this a good learning experience.

The academics at Conn are pretty good! If you make an effort, you can develop really great relationships with your professors and the deans. Granted, not ALL students are serious about their academics, but if you look you will find a bunch of people who are extremely intellectually motivated and hard workers. Classes vary in difficulty, as do majors. Science and math classes are much more difficult than English or Art classes, which is why many science and math majors have lower GPAs. For the most part, work will come in waves- one week you have no work at all, and then the next week you're swamped. The General Education requirements are easy to fulfill and can usually tie in with your desired major or minor. Conn is NOT a technical school, so don't expect too much preparation for specific jobs- it's more learning to broaden the scope of your thinking.

Class sizes are small and professors do know student names. I really enjoy my economics major and finance courses. I wish we had an accounting course though. Great support in the job department.

I have had great experiences in terms of my academics at Connecicut College. Most classes are small, and I find professor's usually know my name. I have gotten to know my academic advisors well and they are able to offer useful advice. The faculty student relationship within the dance department is exceptionally unique. Dancers and students are on firts name bases, professors have students over for dinner and babysit their kids. many of these relationships continue beyond Conn Coll. Professors are great resources for finding job contacts and are generally willing to help students.

I double majored in International Relations and French, and by the time that I graduated I would say that the majority of professors in those departments knew me, and my fellow senior majors, by name. I decided to become an International Relations major after taking Gov 113: International Relations, with Professor Borer. She was unbelievable, kinda intimidating, and an awesome professor. Fast forward to senior year and I had not had a class with her since Gov 113; however, as I sat down in the classroom she addressed me by name and even remembered things about me being in that class four years before. The students at Conn are not overly competitive, and there is more of a "work together" attitude about work. Group study sessions are extremely popular, and there are many intellectual discussion happening outside of the classroom.

many students feel like school is a free ride to party and skip class and cheat even with the honor code. The honor code is a joke.

If you want to forge a relationship with a professor, then YOU have to talk to them outside of class. I have only had one class with more than 30 students and the professor always teaches the classes. There is very little grade competition. It is a very laid back atmoshere. Intellectual conversations outside of class are lacking, but again YOU have to take the initiative. The department parties are awesome and I have been to some professor's houses. The education is geared towards becoming an intellectual (it is a liberal arts college after all), but CELS is great about getting you a job. They pay you $3000 to get an internship summer after junior year and are great about building your resume and getting a job after college.

There are plenty of classes for students to take at Conn, however they are difficult to get into. For two semesters now I have tried to get into an art or film studies course only to find that they just filled up. Right now my favorite class has to be Writing the Short Story, but I'm really looking forward to taking Screenwriting next year. Some teachers can be unhelpful while others will guide you all your years as a student. It's a strange adjustment coming from a school where you were on top, maybe even valedictorian, only to come to Conn and find yourself surrounded by similar peers.