Academics
Students come to Hiram College seeking 鈥渁 very community-based environ颅ment鈥 that provides 鈥渘ot only a feeling of immediate comfort but also the appeal of being in close relationship with my professors,鈥 and few leave disappointed. Undergrads here 鈥渓ove how involved all of the professors are into guiding the students through not just classes and majors, but future plans and career paths鈥 and praise the 鈥渂ig-school opportunities in a small-school environment.鈥 As one student points out, 鈥淯ndergrads can work in research with professors here, which is an invaluable skill and great for r茅sum茅s.鈥 Students tell us Hiram boasts 鈥渁 great biology program that does well getting its students into veterinary and medical school,鈥 a 鈥済reat education program,鈥 and strong offerings in environ颅mental science. Throughout the school 鈥渟mall classes of no more than thirty students and the intimate nature of the learning [environment] keep us from feel颅ing lost in a sea of students.鈥 A 鈥渦nique semester system splits terms into a twelve-week main session followed by a three-week intensive class. It gives you fewer classes to have to take all at once, and the three-week is a great opportu颅nity for electives or study abroad trips that I couldn鈥檛 do for a whole semester for financial reasons or because I can鈥檛 spare that time away from my major.鈥
Student Body
Hiram is 鈥渁 gentle mix of athletes, artists, and scientists, and鈥veryone gets along and respects what the others are capable of doing.鈥 The school 鈥済ets the rap of having 鈥榳eird鈥 kids,鈥 which most here wear as a badge of honor. As one puts it, 鈥淭he jocks can be philosophy majors, and the band geeks can be the people to hang out with on a Friday night鈥his place doesn鈥檛 respect stereotypes.鈥 Though proud 鈥渆ach individual brings something unique and interesting to the community here,鈥 students are also quick to point out their commonalities. 鈥淎ll students do have a dedication to serving others, in varying degrees and鈥ttempt to include themselves in the community in a variety of different ways (social groups, athletics, community service or social activism groups, student govern颅ment, etc.).鈥
Campus Life
Most students concede that Hiram is 鈥渋n the middle of nowhere,鈥 but not all see this as an insurmountable negative. On the contrary, many appreciate how the location 鈥渁llows for us to meet together and create our own fun, make new friends, and enjoy the simplest pleasures in life. Hiram is especially fun in the winter, as we get tons of snow and have so many hills you [can] sled off. Everyone goes out at night and sleds together.鈥 Others 鈥渇ind unique things to do鈥攕targaz颅ing, making our own apple cider, going to local square dances鈥e learn lots of cool things.鈥 Furthermore, 鈥淭he school is excellent for providing the students with gatherings multiple times a week. Each club on campus is required to spon颅sor a campus-wide event each semester, and the student-run club, KCPB, is devoted to organizing as many on-campus and off-campus events as possible. Examples include movie nights in town, Destressfests before midterms and finals,鈥 Bowler First Fridays, talent shows, and game shows. While 鈥渄rinking is prohibited in rooms where the resident is not twenty-one, and [the rule] is enforced,鈥 those looking to party usually can find the opportunity. Undergrads report 鈥渇or the most part everyone is respectful. The students usually regulate each other and take care of issues when someone gets out of control.鈥
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