Calvin College

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Students Say - Academics
Calvin College, a small, liberal arts school affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church, is "not just a college with a Christian label, it is a Christian community that challenges academically as well as spiritually." Indeed, while Calvin "integrates faith with learning" throughout its curriculum, students are adamant that they are not simply being spoon fed dogma here; on the contrary, they "are encouraged to have open discussions about the hard issues. One cannot come to Calvin and not be challenged." The result is "serious academics from a Christian perspective" capable of "training students to engage thoughtfully with the world around them and examine what it means to be a reformed Christian living in a secular world." Despite the school's relatively small size, "the resources available to students at Calvin are phenomenal. We have spectacular research facilities as well as a career development office that is very willing to engage with students." Biotech labs feature "many types of instrumentation that even bigger schools lack." Study-abroad opportunities are "'sweet' and accessible," as are internships. Best of all, Calvin students receive all these perks without forfeiting the personal attention students understandably expect at a small private school. "Professors actually care about their students and want them to learn" and "are so willing to give help outside the classroom. They are very approachable." No wonder one student sums up: "I think many students come to Calvin with only moderate excitement about the school, but almost everyone leaves the school a proud Knight."

Students Say - Campus Life
The Calvin community "is incredibly strong. There are always people studying together and living life together. Support is easy to find from dorm leadership or just the people on your floor. It's easy to get involved in a club or within the dorm." Students "are very focused on faith, so many of them go to church, LOFT (evening worship on Sundays), and many of the weekday chapel breaks." In addition, "many of the students are extremely involved in sports," and "evening lectures are well attended. Student-run talent showcases like Dance Guild, Airband, and Rangeela performances are extremely popular. The Improv and Calvin Theater Company are top-notch. Hockey games attract hundreds of students. And, the library is always full." In short, "If you think college should be more than drinking and partying, come here. If that idea scares you, then avoid this place at all cost." That's not to say a party scene doesn't exist; however, "Nearly all parties are 5 to 10 minutes away (where most off-campus students live)." One student points out that "there is a lot to do at Calvin, but most of it requires a drive off campus." "Restaurants are either on several major streets 5 minutes away or downtown (10 to 15 minutes)." Downtown Grand Rapids provides "a number of things to do," including ice skating, shopping, and eating at restaurants."

Students Say - Student Body
Many of the students here are from a Christian Reformed Church background, and many are Dutch, but "there are exceptions. The atypical students fit in well." "Tall, blond, and blue-eyed" is the standard look here; "moderate to conservative" is the mainstream political perspective. "It is a strange dynamic to be at a college where the professors are more liberal than the student body as a whole," one student explains. However, the times are changing here, as one student reports: "The typical Calvin student is not the typical Calvin student from 20 years ago." The student body is "becoming increasingly diverse." Students "represent many faith backgrounds and ethnicities," and they are very open to people of differing backgrounds and beliefs.

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