Academics
Bethany College in West Virginia is 鈥渁 very small liberal arts school鈥 with 鈥渁 rich history full of tradition鈥 and a 鈥渃lose-knit community of students, administrators, and faculty.鈥 鈥淏ethany is a wonderful college if you鈥檙e looking for small classes.鈥 The administration and faculty 鈥渂ecome part of your college family.鈥 The top brass is 鈥渁lways willing to help.鈥 鈥淭here is very little red tape to speak of when it comes to anything.鈥 Overall, professors are 鈥済ood at what they do,鈥 鈥減assionate about teaching,鈥 and 鈥渟erious鈥 about 鈥渃hallenging students.鈥 The curriculum is 鈥渨ell-rounded.鈥 鈥淭here are a lot of classes that I probably would not have taken if I did not have to, and now I am happy that I did,鈥 muses one senior. Also, all graduates 鈥渕ust complete a senior project and take comprehensive exams鈥 in their majors. It鈥檚 not easy, but in the end 鈥淵ou feel confident that you know about your major and can get a real job.鈥 There are 鈥渧ery good academic programs in education, chemistry and psychology.鈥 Students also say that Bethany has 鈥渁 good reputation for biology.鈥 The equestrian program 鈥渋s known up and down the East Coast.鈥 The one big academic complaint is that 鈥渟ome of the science facilities and computer labs are due for an upgrade.鈥
Student Body
Most students are 鈥淲hite鈥 and 鈥渇rom the local tristate area鈥 of 鈥淧ennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio.鈥 A typical student here is 鈥渨ell balanced academically, athletically, and socially.鈥 鈥淭here aren鈥檛 very many atypical students, but they fit in fine.鈥 鈥淲e all have to fit in because we are such a small school,鈥 adds a chemistry major. 鈥淚t is nice to be able to recognize and say hi to about 85 percent of the people you pass on the way to class,鈥 says one student. 鈥淓ven if you do not know the person, you still say hello.鈥 鈥淭he student population could very well be split into Greek and independent students, or into athletes and nonathletes.鈥 However, 鈥淭here aren鈥檛 really uncrossable borders,鈥 observes a religious studies major. Students 鈥渋ntermingle and get along well.鈥
Campus Life
Bethany鈥檚 鈥渂eautiful,鈥 鈥渟ecluded鈥 campus in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains is 鈥渋solated from everything.鈥 Students describe life here as 鈥渇riendly and inviting鈥 and 鈥渟omewhat like high school.鈥 鈥淢ost kids here play at least one鈥 intercollegiate sport. 鈥淧eople play intramural sports a lot鈥 as well. Bethany 鈥渂rings in entertainment and offers things to do,鈥 but mostly, 鈥淪tudents are forced to create their own fun.鈥 鈥淒rinking plays a big role,鈥 鈥渂ut students who choose not to participate are not harassed.鈥 鈥淎 lot of people participate in Greek Life on campus,鈥 and frat parties are very common. Otherwise, 鈥淭o have fun, many people go to the only bar in the small, small town of Bethany.鈥 鈥淲e usually just dance, hang out, and have a good time,鈥 explains one student. Complaints about campus life include the food, which 鈥渢astes terrible.鈥 鈥淗ealthier meal options, such as chicken that isn鈥檛 more fat than meat鈥 would be an improvement. 鈥淭he hills on campus make it hard to gain the 鈥榝reshman 15,鈥欌 but 鈥淎t night, it鈥檚 too dark to see and in the winter, too icy.鈥 鈥淚t鈥檚 not the kind of place where you worry about getting mugged walking at 11:00 p.m., but you do worry about twisting your ankle.鈥 When students need a taste of city life, Pittsburgh is about 40 miles awa
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