Hope College Top Questions

I believe that Hope College has exposed me not only to an excellent education, but to real life experiences that have taught me more than I could ever learn in a classroom setting. I am so thankful for having such a wonderful college, which exposed to me to so many different field placements. Hope College is a place that strives to help you learn beyond the classroom. I did many different field placements from working in a hospital to working at a camp for adults with disabilities to teaching third graders the consequences of doing drugs. At each one of these places, I learned a little bit more about myself as I was challenged beyond my comfort zone. Hope College is a liberal arts college and strives to be a place that exposes you to a variety of different areas. Graduating from Hope College I feel like I am a well-rounded individual, who has been challenged to think in ways I never did before.

In short, my experience at Hope has shaped me into a better leader. Because the campus ministries here are not compulsory or overtly involved in every aspect of life at Hope, this has encouraged me to undertake ministry opportunities on my own. The "Christian character" of Hope is not enforced but certainly encouraged, meaning students can believe whatever they want to believe. The space that this policy leaves for spiritual growth has motivated me to pursue deep relationships with others, start a Bible study, pray for the student body, and take my academic pursuits seriously as belonging to the spiritual life. The mixed atmosphere of Christian and secular culture has been a challenge at times, but I believe it has helped shape me into someone that evaluates her beliefs with wisdom. I have not become a lazy Christian for lack of a challenge but instead learned to love others that are different from me and to articulate exactly what I believe. Articulation and love are two signs of the leader into which life at Hope College has shaped me.

My college experience has been fufilling and worthwhile. Everything i have gained has expanded my knowledge and put me on the right path to starting my career. I have also developed many helpful work ethic skills that would be useful when I am in the field. They are : attendance, character, teamwork, apperance, attitude, productivity, organizational skills, communication, cooperation and respect. With these skills i believe I will be ready and prepared for any employer's needs. I also have experienced diversity and meeting new people that I probably would'nt have met outside of going to college. It makes me appreciate different cultures and ways that are different from mine. I believe college also helps you develop yourself as an individual. Going to college is important for me because I want to better myself and be able to help others in developing themselves. Becoming an elementary school teacher is my most important goal and I am willing to do anything to accomplish this goal.

Hope College provides me with the tools necessary to expand my horizons and be completely confident and grounded in my faith. Since Hope has created such a positive atmosphere and enviromnent, I believe this has been crucial to my academic studies and discovering my own self identity. Hope College prides itself in allowing students to have experiences that most would not have had if they were not in this community. The faculty not only focuses on challenging their students academically but they also have an interest in the lives of their students and strive to create a learning environment for everyone to thrive in. In this time of economic uncertainty, it is crucial to have a college dedicated to creating an environment where intense study thrives. Through the use of internships and classes designed specifically for each field, students are equipped with knowledge of challenges and experience to base their own ideas on. Many fields at Hope have high placement rates after graduation which allows students to network and become the best that they can while in an innovative and affectionate environment. I look forward to the future where I can use what I learned at Hope and become successful.

Attending community college has thus far allowed me to earn college credit while still in high school, achieve 45 credit hours while still living at home, and save incredible amounts of money. My life and social experiences have greatly benefited from being in a mixed environment where I can experience a wide variety of people, including students and teachers who have already given me useful connections. I have been able to work while still at school, gaining both work experience and a nice savings account. I have learned how to be a conscious, valuable member of society who can offer my talents for the greater good. Finally, after taking a variety of classes, I have been able to hone my interests and talents in such a way that I have confidently chosen my career path and am currently working towards it.

Hope was the perfect college for me as it allowed for a quality education in an open dialoged environment. It was easy to approach professors and administration at any time necessary in this small college Christian atmosphere. I improved my social and job searching skills and in the process gained lifelong friends (I hope). I felt it was important to attend such a college to attain a bachelors degree so I may achieve my goals in the work force.

While I have not been in college for very long, I have already made several amazing friendships and learned so much about life. My college experience, so far, has challenged me to think about topics and issues more in depth and taught me valuable skills that I know I will use for the rest of my life. Normally, I am a very quiet person and prefer to listen to, rather than engage in discussion; college has been extreamely valuable for me because I can no longer let my parents do all of the talking. For me, college has been about improving my communication skills with others and learning to take responsibility for forming my own opinions and communicating them to others in a respectful and concise manner. In addition, I have discovered that I love Biology! The real-world application of biology can benefit so many people, so I hope to blend my passion for helping others with a degree in Biology into my plans for the future. College has been such an amazing experience; I am learning so much and I look forward to being able to help others with the knowledge and skills I am learning.

College helped me grow as a person and mature within myself. I was pushed to become independent and deal with responsibility on my own. I had always relied on my parents with decisions, but now it was time for me to trust myself and show the world who I was as an individual. I was my own controller. I decided when I needed to study, what classes I attended, what activities I wanted to be involved and simply what type of person I wanted people to see. I discovered what was important to me and what topics I was interested, which lead me to see what career field I was interested. Not only did college help me to find myself and what my vocation was, I also look back and see how valuable the relationships were that I developed along the way. I came out of college with genuine friends who will always be there for me. I learned how to work as a team and cooperate with a group. If I had not attended college, I would not be the person that I am today, which is the best person I can be. All because of going to college.

Having only completed my freshman year at Hope College, my experiences are not equal to those who have completeld multiple years or ever their degree, however; within just one year I have be challenged both personally and academically. Living within the dorms on campus the people I have met and formed relationships with have greatly influenced my growth as a person. I have learned how to manage myself but also how to relax and enjoy the people around me. While Hope is challenging academically, the extra effort I have had to give to my studies has taught me to be a devoted students and has improved my time managment skills. My college experience has been unique and different, personally crafted to fit my personality and needs. It has provided so many lessons, both in life and academics. I have been placed in challenging situations that I would not have been faced with at home, and so for that I am grateful and truly see the value in a college education on campus.

i have gotten so much out of my college experience. i feel that i have really begun to take school so much more seriously than i did while back in highschool. i realized that this is this what i need to do in oreder to have a good job. and plus the friends that i have met there is no way i could ever replace them.