Academics
Westmont College is a small 鈥淐hrist-centered鈥 bastion of the liberal arts in sunny Southern California that 鈥減rovides a phenomenal education鈥 and 鈥渁 spiritually nurturing environment.鈥 Highlights include small classes, more than 80 majors and pre-professional programs, and a 鈥淢ayterm鈥 that affords opportunities to study around the world. There is 鈥渁 lot of homework,鈥 and 鈥渘o matter what the class, the professors involve God in some way.鈥 鈥淭he administration gets the job done,鈥 and while bad teachers 鈥渄o exist鈥 here, the 鈥渧ery personable鈥 faculty members 鈥渢ake a genuine interest not only in the academic well-being of their students, but also their personal, relational, and spiritual lives.鈥 Professors are 鈥渇un to hang out with,鈥 too. 鈥淎 group of us regularly watches cheesy old movies at one prof鈥檚 house over homemade dinner,鈥 reports a senior. 鈥淲estmont feels very sheltered from some of the harsh realities of the outside world. It has an unrealistic cozy feeling to it,鈥 admits a junior. 鈥淗owever, it is also an environment which is especially proficient at fostering educational growth.鈥
Student Body
Westmont students are 鈥淐hristians who want to help the world be a better place.鈥 Most grew up 鈥渟urrounded by church and church members for the majority of their lives.鈥 Not everyone is 鈥渢he sold-out Christian who is seeking God in everything鈥 but just about everyone is 鈥渋nterested in a personal relationship with God.鈥 鈥淭here is a remarkable sense of community here.鈥 鈥淭he weirdest of us all have people who truly care about them,鈥 asserts one student. Westmonters are 鈥渦sually healthy-looking鈥 and 鈥済enuinely nice.鈥 They are 鈥渟erving, caring,鈥 and 鈥渃reative.鈥 鈥淢ost are fairly wealthy.鈥 For whatever reason, a whole lot of guys play the guitar. Politically, 鈥渢he largest on-campus political group is conservative鈥 but there are 鈥渆nough lefties and righties to keep hot topics hot.鈥 鈥淢issionary kids who have grown up all over the world鈥 add some variety, but many students lament an overall lack of ethnic diversity.
Campus Life
This 鈥渂eautiful and peaceful鈥 campus boasts 鈥渂reathtaking views of the mountains and the ocean.鈥 鈥淒orm life is very communal鈥 and the campus is generally buzzing with intramural sports, theater productions, concerts, and activities galore. 鈥淧eople take advantage of the gorgeous Santa Barbara weather,鈥 too. 鈥淏onfires at the beach鈥 are commonplace and Westmont could well be the Christian surfer capital of the world. Fun is often 鈥渧ery G-rated.鈥 鈥淒rinking happens鈥 but it鈥檚 鈥渁n underground thing鈥 that occurs off campus, mostly when students 鈥渉it up clubs on State Street.鈥 Rules concerning alcohol and much else here are 鈥渁 little strict.鈥 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 have the door closed鈥 when a person of a different gender is in your room, just for example. Many students call Westmont鈥檚 mandatory 鈥渢ri-weekly chapel鈥 鈥渁 blessing.鈥 Others call it 鈥渘ap time.鈥 Also, 鈥渙nly juniors and seniors can have cars鈥 and Westmont鈥檚 grub could improve. 鈥淭he food is perhaps some of the worst that I have ever eaten (except when I try to cook for myself),鈥 says a freshman.
Save School
