Susannah Cafardi, '04

B.A. in Psychology, B.A. in Christian Thought

How did the affordability of Grove City College play into your college decision-making process? 
Price was one of the factors that I looked at when doing comparisons of all of the schools where I was admitted. While Grove City College was the cheapest option, I chose it because I also thought it would give me the best opportunities and set me up to succeed. The other schools I considered had better name recognition, but Grove City was the best fit, and it prepared me well for graduate school.  

How has your faith been strengthened or challenged during your time here? 
I had gone to a Christian elementary school and a Catholic high school, but it was really only at Grove City College that I was able to learn to listen to the perspectives of others and allow myself to be really be challenged about what I believed and why. It really helped to prepare me for my career. I felt like I had so many opportunities to grow, to encourage, and to be encouraged just in day to day life at Grove City College! Most of the activities I was involved in didn’t tend to be explicitly focused on faith, but I learned so much from serving and playing next to people from various backgrounds with great perspectives and hearts for service.

How would you describe the level of academics you experienced? 
Overall, I think that the academics at Grove City College were challenging, but I definitely felt set up to succeed by the teachers and my classmates. I think that it is important to recognize that the time in college is a unique time and a great opportunity to really figure out what you believe and what you want to do. The foundational education provided at Grove City College creates space to do this.

What drew you to choose psychology and Christian thought as your majors? 
I wanted to enjoy what I was learning but also be prepared to make a difference.  I pursued social work and public health in graduate school, and the combination of psychology and Christian thought set me up well for this.

What is the relationship like between the students and the professors? 
It is clear that the faculty members at Grove City are there because they want to be there.  Professors teach in a way that is engaging and helps the students to know both the information they are trying to convey but also to understand the rationale for needing to know the information. 

What is your favorite aspect of Grove City College? 
The people. Hands down. 

Describe your experience with residence life, particularly freshman year. 
Going away to college was a big adjustment for me. I found the community that rallied around me freshman year to be invaluable as there always seemed to be people available to help ease the transition to college.

How active are students in campus activities such as intramurals, Greek life, sports, clubs, musical productions, etc.? 
Everyone I knew at Grove City College was involved in numerous activities, and many of my friends had extremely diverse interests. It was a great environment for getting involved, cultivating leadership skills, and attending performances. As a four-year starter on the women’s varsity soccer team, I loved having the opportunity to be a part of a team of athletes that were not only great athletes but were also solid people of faith. 

What do you find to be the most unique aspect of Grove City College? 
Somehow Grove City has managed to excel in categories (faith, academics, and price) that are usually mutually exclusive.

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