Academics
Students say getting an education at Coker College is 鈥渁n extremely positive, nurturing experience.鈥 Undergraduates at this small, private school say their professors are 鈥渧ery approachable, and you can tell that they care about your academic career.鈥 On top of that, the academic experience is characterized by 鈥渟mall classes with lots of individual time with teachers outside (and sometimes inside) class.鈥 In fact, Coker distinguishes itself by maintaining a 鈥渞oundtable, interactive learning environment,鈥 in which students are expected to participate in discussion. Needless to say, small and discussion-based classes mean there is more accountability for students, and undergrads warn that 鈥渢he workload is heavy and never slacks off.鈥 Even so, struggling students reassure us that 鈥減rofessors are always more than willing to make appointments, or you can just see them around campus and ask them questions.鈥 More than just a place to get a degree, Coker College employs professors who take a personal interest in their students and help them to 鈥済row and become independent while getting a great education at the same time.鈥 Outside the classroom, faculty and staff truly care about their students, and 鈥淚f you run into your professor[s] outside of school they will talk to you about anything.鈥
Student Body
It鈥檚 easy to feel at home on the Coker campus. By all accounts, 鈥淭he majority of the students here are friendly and outgoing,鈥 and 鈥淪ince it鈥檚 so small . . . people know more people personally, and it keeps things from getting too cliquey.鈥 Politically speaking, the campus is 鈥渕oderate, with a slight lean toward the right,鈥 and many students could also be described as 鈥渧ery Southern.鈥 Some students express concern that 鈥渢here is not enough political and religious diversity on campus,鈥 although they note the administration鈥檚 efforts to attract a more diverse student body in recent years. Despite their common backgrounds, Coker students say, 鈥淓veryone here brings something that is unique鈥 to the campus community. Students are 鈥渧ery accepting [of] new people.鈥
Campus Life
There are a wide variety of extracurricular activities at Coker College, but 鈥淭he majority of students here are either involved in theater or play a sport.鈥 When they aren鈥檛 on stage or on the playing field, students may be hanging out at the on-campus coffeehouse or in each other鈥檚 dorm rooms, studying, and socializing. During the warmer months, students enjoy taking advantage of Coker鈥檚 beautiful campus. The school owns a boathouse at a nearby lake; students say, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a nice place to hang out when it鈥檚 hot.鈥 Come the weekend, students tell us that, 鈥淐oker is not a party school,鈥 although 鈥淭hey do have on-campus parties on Saturdays.鈥 However, most students simply enjoy 鈥渉anging out in the dorm rooms or going out to eat.鈥 In the surrounding community of Hartsville, Coker students take advantage of 鈥渇ree Fridays that allow us to bowl, skate, and eat for free,鈥 and many say they like to 鈥済o to the local coffee shop, catch a movie for $1.50, or hang out in the local Wal-Mart.鈥
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