Academics
Lutheran-affiliated Carthage College is 鈥渁 small, friendly school where you can get a more personalized education than you would get at a large university.鈥 Scholarships are generous, 鈥渃lasses are small,鈥 and a broad set of general education requirements ensures that students here receive 鈥渁 well-rounded liberal arts education.鈥 There鈥檚 a January term that allows students to study abroad or focus on one unique course on campus (anything from contemporary Spanish film to how to build a robot). Also, virtually all students graduate in four years. Student opinion concerning the faculty is mixed. There are plenty of 鈥渒nowledgeable and effective teachers鈥 who 鈥渓ove what they鈥檙e doing鈥 and are 鈥渁lways willing to help outside of class.鈥 Other professors aren鈥檛 as impressive. 鈥淚鈥檝e stumbled upon a few professors who are probably related in some way to Mrs. Donavan, Charlie Brown鈥檚 teacher,鈥 relates a classics major. The administration does a decent job. 鈥淚t seems like everyone is on your side and is willing to do anything for you to accomplish what you want,鈥 notes one happy biology major. However, 鈥渁 lot of business office-related things get messed up.鈥
Student Body
Student at Carthage frequently hail 鈥渇rom the suburbs surrounding Chicago鈥 and Milwaukee and they 鈥渢end to be fairly affluent.鈥 As you would expect, 鈥淪ome students are underachievers; others are overachievers,鈥 however 鈥淢ost are religious.鈥 This is a very athletic campus and many of the undergrads here are 鈥渋nvolved in some sort of sport at some point during their four years.鈥 Not everyone is an athlete, though. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 get the idea that Carthage is teeming with jocks,鈥 says a freshman. 鈥淢usic and theater is just as big a deal as sports.鈥 Some students tell us that it鈥檚 okay to be odd here. 鈥淭he student body is very nonjudgmental,鈥 they insist. Others assert that 鈥渁typical students stand out.鈥 鈥淧eople who live a more alternative lifestyle have a hard time loving Carthage,鈥 cautions a junior. Whatever the case, most everyone seems able to find a niche. 鈥淚f you find a decent group to explore your college experience with, this school can be a good time,鈥 promises one student.
Campus Life
The 鈥渓ovely鈥 and 鈥渧ery windy鈥 campus of Carthage College is located 鈥渙n the coast of Lake Michigan.鈥 Students here like the fact that 鈥測ou can walk to class in five minutes.鈥 They don鈥檛 like the fact that 鈥渢he dorms aren鈥檛 in the best condition.鈥 Social life generally takes place on campus. There are several clubs and student organizations 鈥渢hat cater to the many diverse interests that Carthage students have.鈥 鈥淭here are movie nights, concerts, mini festivals, dances, and dinners鈥 as well. Music, theater, and intercollegiate sports are also popular. 鈥淢any people leave each weekend鈥 either to go home or to visit friends at other schools in the area. Others take advantage of Carthage鈥檚 location roughly halfway between Milwaukee and Chicago. 鈥淲e go on frequent trips to the cities,鈥 says a junior. For students who stick around on the weekends, 鈥渉anging out in someone鈥檚 room and watching a movie or playing video games is very common鈥 but 鈥渇inding a party is never much of an issue.鈥 Students wryly note that Carthage is possibly 鈥渢he wettest dry campus.鈥 Further afield, Kenosha is 鈥渧ery spread out鈥 and, other than a few 鈥渉ole-in-the-wall restaurants,鈥 鈥渢here鈥檚 not a whole lot to do.鈥 鈥淚t鈥檚 not the best college town,鈥 admits a sophomore.
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