Sarah Markley, '17

B.A. in History, B.A. in French, Minor in International Studies

Do you feel like you made any concessions to come to a school that is reasonably priced?
I was impressed by the number of opportunities available to me at Grove City College, and the reasonable price allows me to have fewer worries about debt coming out of college. I believe I had a better college experience than I would have had at a bigger school because of the personal connection with faculty and administration that opened up many networking options and the close community of students where I found lifelong friends.

How was your faith strengthened and perhaps even challenged during your time here?
It was strengthened through the amazing friends I have made at Grove City College, and I was greatly challenged by the commitment to Christ that I saw in the students around me! The College helped me grow in my faith by connecting me with so many other believers and also by giving me many chances to be involved in Bible studies and worship opportunities. My faith was also strengthened in classes as I learned how to defend my beliefs and learned from the perspectives of Christian professors.

How would you describe the level of academics you experienced at Grove City College?
The level of academics at the College is very challenging, but I also found it very rewarding! I learned how to schedule my time so that I could spend time working for each class, and the professors were very encouraging and helpful. My professors were supportive and made time to talk to me when I needed help or had questions.

What is the relationship like between the students and the professors?
There are a lot of opportunities for class discussion, and I have always found the professors interested to hear students’ thoughts and opinions! They also make time to meet with students in office hours, and they are very welcoming and willing to help. The students respect the professors and enjoy learning from their knowledge and experience, and the professors are encouraging to students and really want to see them succeed!

What led you to choose history as your major?
I always loved studying history in school, and I was excited to choose it as my major because the College has many different classes about specific time periods and areas of the world that I had not been able to study in-depth before. After starting to study history at Grove City College, I discovered my love for traveling and now I am more passionate about history because it helps me to understand the past of different countries and the factors which have shaped cultures and international relations today.

What was your favorite aspect of Grove City College?
It was definitely the feeling of community on campus. Over the course of four years, the students grow very close with each other and really enjoy spending time together. There are many special traditions and events on campus which the students love, and that makes it feel like home because everyone loves to get together and participate in them. The students, faculty, staff and administration also have great relationships with each other, and as a student you definitely feel like part of a close community with people who truly want you to succeed and also grow as a person and a Christian.

How would you describe the relationship that the students have with each other on campus?
There are many opportunities to get involved with smaller groups such as Greek life, Christian ministries, sports teams, musical ensembles and academic societies on campus, so there is truly something for every student to get involved in. This gives students a close circle of friends, but these groups are also great about interacting with each other and there are many events for everyone to participate in, which makes the student body as a whole really feel like a family.

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