Juniata College

Statistics

Students Say - Academics
Juniata College has catapulted from regional to national status in the past decade on the strength of its great natural science programs, housed in the 88,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Von Liebig Center for Science (VLCS). Students tell us while Juniata "is centered around a very tough but rewarding science program," science is hardly the only game in town. The "business, theatre, and education departments are strong, too." Another student explains, "Other departments are beginning to receive support from trustees and alumni now that VLCS is complete. Several buildings will be undergoing renovations to allow for the expansion of the humanities and social sciences." Business, in particular, seems likely to receive a lot of attention as it is among the school's most popular disciplines. Undergrads tout JC's "great entrepreneurial program...where all students are encouraged to start their own businesses and some are given start-up cash." Education is also popular. Students appreciate they are "given a practicum their first semester freshman year," meaning "if they don't like being in the classroom, they can change their major right away." "At most other schools, you have to wait until your junior year to get some classroom experience, [in your major]" says a student. Other perks of a Juniata education include the prominence of the study-abroad program and the (Program of Emphasis) where, "students are afforded the option to create their own major which allows us to explore many possibilities that would otherwise be restricted by a designated major."

Students Say - Campus Life
Juniata "is located in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, which is a tiny town in the middle of nowhere, 30 minutes south of State," so "needless to say, there is not a lot to do off campus." Fortunately, "the Juniata Activities Board (JAB) brings numerous acts to campus including comedians, musicians, hypnotists, [and] magicians." The campus also hosts "various weekend parties, but they normally don't happen until Saturday nights because a large population of the student body is active in athletics with games either Friday night or Saturday afternoon." Since Juniata "doesn't have any Greek societies," students compensate by being "active in many clubs, including the Agriculture Club, Health Occupations Students of America, student government, the Equine club, and the Student Alumni Association." Otherwise, quiet fun ("video games and movie watching are very popular") dominates. One student explains, "The people who are dissatisfied with Juniata were definitely expecting something else, usually something more along the lines of Penn State."

Students Say - Student Body
Juniata "is notoriously middle-class and Caucasian" with "very few minority students." Diversity arrives in the form of "a vast number of international students, both in semester and year-long exchange programs. The international presence at Juniata does a lot for class debate, and often opens the eyes of otherwise typically American students to the perspectives of those from other nations." Undergrads here "work hard for their grades. They want to excel. Basically, they're motivated and determined to succeed in the real world," to the point they often "choose to do homework and study above most other activities." Ultimately, "a typical student is really studious and really cares about their education. Everyone is able to find their own clique in which they fit into and feel comfortable."

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