Academics
Hamline University, a United Methodist-affiliated university, combines 鈥渒nowledgeable professors, a fun environment, great study abroad options, challenging classes, [and] helpful resources鈥 to create an 鈥渋ntelligent, moderate, religious, small鈥 undergraduate program that stresses 鈥減ublic service and rational discussion.鈥 Hamline鈥檚 curriculum promotes a goal-driven and skills-based education through its general education program, called 鈥榯he Hamline Plan,鈥 which requires students to study in 鈥渁 multiplicity of academic fields鈥 in order to 鈥渂ecome critical thinkers during and after [their time at] Hamline.鈥 Though students give the required curriculum mixed reviews, they are much more enthusiastic about the school鈥檚 standout disciplines, which they identify as criminal justice, pre-law (鈥淗amline has one of the best law schools in the Midwest,鈥 one student assures us), anthropology, psychology, sociology, management, and English. Undergrads also love the school鈥檚 resources, reporting that Hamline 鈥渉as a great library and a number of computers.鈥 However, the small campus size has its drawbacks. 鈥淔or many programs you have to go to other schools to take some required classes, which can cause difficulties with credits and scheduling,鈥 reports one student.
Student Body
At Hamline, you鈥檒l 鈥渟ee it all from preppy guys and girls to goths to socially-active students, politically-active students, and jocks. Diversity is what Hamline is mainly about,鈥 says one student. 鈥淚nternational students make up a good chunk of the student body. Students of different ethnicities seem to be well balanced in numbers and students come from diverse financial backgrounds.鈥 All of which helps explain why students were so upset in 2007鈥08, when several racially-charged incidents divided the campus. A number of conservative-leaning students came away from those conflicts feeling that 鈥渟tudents here are quick to criticize and judge more conservative views.鈥 Once you get past the political wrangling, 鈥淢ost students here are your typical Minnesota-nice Midwesterners.鈥
Campus Life
For students who want a small university 鈥渋n close proximity to a big city, Hamline is the perfect place.鈥 Located 鈥渕idway between the St. Paul and Minneapolis centers,鈥 the school never lets on that it鈥檚 鈥渋n a big city,鈥 while 鈥渁t the same time, there鈥檚 a bus right on the edge of campus that can take you anywhere.鈥 There鈥檚 plenty to do right around campus, too, including 鈥渟ome great bars down the street鈥 that feature 鈥済reat live music and pretty cheap drink specials.鈥 There are also 鈥減lenty of delicious ethnic restaurants in the neighborhood, including a Turkish restaurant and a tasty Ethiopian restaurant, both within a five-minute walk.鈥 On campus, Hamline is a 鈥渧ery politically-active campus鈥 with activity 鈥渟kewed to the left.鈥 One student reports that 鈥淎bout half the students are extremely engaged in campus and the other half go home every weekend and do nothing on campus.鈥 That said, 鈥渢here are ample opportunities for all students to get involved, [with something] like over 90 organizations right now.鈥
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