What drew you to choose chemistry as a major?
When I was first considering Grove City College as a junior in high school, I was intending on pursing an electrical engineering degree. I had heard that Grove City College turns out great engineers and lots of them. After senior year of high school though, I decided to go into chemistry. I honestly was uncertain what I wanted to go into, and I chose chemistry simply because I enjoyed it in high school, and I also did not want to be “undecided.” Since then I have discovered that the chemistry program at Grove City College is a great one.
What is the relationship like between the students and the professors?
The relationships between students and professors mostly depends on the student. Most professors are very friendly and helpful and are willing to talk about more than simply class material during their office hours. Also, many professors host students at their homes for events like Christmas parties. Some even participate in performances with students, one of the student body’s favorites being “Faculty Follies.” The professors also respect the students' contributions and questions in class and are willing to slow down if necessary.
How big of a role did the affordability of Grove City College play in your college decision making process?
This question honestly did not cross my mind during the application process, and I owe that to a few things. For one, my parents played a huge role in sorting out all the financial issues and helped pay for my tuition. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, after my tour of Grove City College, I knew that I could feel quite at home here, and I did. Reflecting on the affordability now, I do not worry about paying off loans since Grove City College’s employment record is excellent.
How is faith incorporated into the classroom?
Incorporation of faith can be divided into two categories: explicit and implicit. For the explicit, lectures and discussion in many required humanities such as Biblical Revelation, Western Civilization, and Studies in Science Faith and Technology focus on God’s word or faith in the context of history and science. Additionally, some professors will pray before exam or classes. On the other hand, the implicit category is what I see in most of my classes as a STEM major. I cannot remember the last time God was the catalyst in a chemical reaction. It is nonsensical to say that God causes A to turn into B; furthermore, such an answer would result in a poor grade. However, since God is the source of all knowledge, no matter what we are learning, we can learn more about God’s character if we remain alert. Having professors of faith frees the student to point out these connections openly if he or she so desires without being ridiculed.
What do you find to be the most unique aspect of Grove City College?
At Grove City College, it is common to spot someone’s belongings that are unattended in academic buildings. Also, most people that I know do not lock their dorm doors. Additionally, the standard way to reserve a seat in the cafeteria is to throw a wallet at the seat that you want. Though people often bust about these Grove City College “cultural practices,” they reveal a deep trust between the students. Members of the College's community truly respect others and their belongings, and that is an uncommon thing in many colleges and universities.
Describe your experience with residence life at Grove City College, particularly freshman year.
Residence life during freshman year far exceeded my expectations. Through the help of our fabulous RA, a group of 20 guys who knew nothing about each other truly turned into a brotherhood. Even the football players, who had their own group at the beginning of freshman year, opened up to us after their season was over. Besides living together, we often traveled as a group to meals and events. Our RA also held a weekly Bible study and a weekly prayer meeting in his room. These times brought us closer spiritually. Beyond freshman year, dorm life doesn’t seem as “exciting” as people join housing or Greek groups and part ways. On the bright side, the quieter environment is conducive to more serious studying. Of course, the important thing is whether or not the living spaces are pleasant, and they are. The buildings are all maintained well and most rooms are a reasonable