Academics
Since 1852, Westminster College has remained intent crafting a personalized learning process for students, with the aim of turning out well-rounded individuals who 鈥渃an live and affect the world around us in a positive way.鈥 The 鈥渃hallenging鈥 liberal arts curriculum provides a broad foundation for academic study, and the school heavily stresses the application of what鈥檚 learned by pushing students 鈥渢o prepare themselves for the future using real life simulations.鈥 At this 鈥渧ery happy place,鈥 the administration always 鈥渒eeps the interests of the students in mind,鈥 the classes are small, and 鈥渟tudents get the attention they need.鈥 Westminster runs on personal relationships between faculty and students, and 鈥淓ven the janitor knows your name.鈥 The low student/teacher ratio means the 鈥渆xtremely accessible and helpful鈥 professors are devoted to ensuring that every last student understands the material, and 鈥渙ffice doors are always open.鈥 This care extends far beyond the classroom, as professors love to see students involved in interesting activities outside of classes, and they 鈥減retty much beg you to study abroad because they know it will be so beneficial for you as a person.鈥 鈥淚f you see some slacking there is always someone there, whether a classmate or professor, to bring you up,鈥 says one student. A few students do remark on the school鈥檚 rather slow adoption of modern technology (鈥淲e just got wireless Internet this year鈥), but this is more than made up for by the 鈥渧ariety of courses,鈥 鈥渟tudentteacher bonds,鈥 and 鈥渙pportunities to get involved.鈥 鈥淐ontrary to popular belief, Westminster College, not Disneyland, is the happiest place on earth,鈥 says a student.
Student Body
The typical Titan is 鈥渆xtremely friendly鈥 and academically driven; students 鈥渒now how to have fun but also know when to study and hit the books.鈥 Though the majority of Westminster students are white and Christian, 鈥渘o one at Westminster is discriminatory towards other races, genders, religions, or sexual orientations.鈥 The student body is small enough that it can be called 鈥渢ight-knit,鈥 and there鈥檚 a lot of frequent interaction among students, because almost all who go to school here 鈥済et involved with a number of extracurricular activities鈥 or 鈥渃ommunity service and philanthropic events.鈥 This easygoing crowd 鈥済ets along very well,鈥 and 鈥渏ust about everyone fits in to the mix somewhere.鈥 Many students say, 鈥淲estminster is your family,鈥 and 鈥渋t is a quick and easy process to make friends and find a niche.鈥
Campus Life
鈥淭his school has so much going on that it is almost impossible to not be involved,鈥 says one student of the busy hive that is Westminster. There are more than 100 clubs and a wide range of activities offered, including 鈥渃oncerts, competitions, Humans versus Zombies, a Frisbee team, philosophy club, jazz band, flute choir, an equestrian team, an ice skating class, [and] karate class.鈥 The administration plan events all throughout the week (鈥淢ost people stay on campus on the weekends鈥), such as 鈥渕ovies on weekends, concerts on Friday or Saturday nights, sports events at least once a week, [and] special cuisine nights at the [cafeteria].鈥 Located in the heart of Amish country, the dry town and campus 鈥渃reates a great place to focus and learn鈥 with 鈥渟mall-town appeal and charm that鈥檚 irresistible.鈥 Greek life 鈥渋s especially important for socialization,鈥 and many join it in some form or another (whether a social sorority or fraternity, or an honors society). Some students do choose to party off campus, but 鈥渋t鈥檚 far enough off of campus that you don鈥檛 feel pressured to join in if you don鈥檛 want to.鈥 Off-campus malls, restaurants, and cities 鈥渁re not too far away,鈥 but 鈥渟o much is happening on campus during the week and weekends that I do not see much need to go off-campus often.鈥