Chestnut Hill College

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School Says - General Information
A College of Distinction, Chestnut Hill College is a four-year Catholic, coed, liberal arts college located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1924 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, it is situated on a 75-acre campus overlooking Wissahickon Creek. Since opportunities for leadership and self-expression are frequent, the Chestnut Hill graduate can enter a competitive world well prepared for success. Students come from 15 states, 16 countries, and every imaginable background. In addition to its undergraduate degrees, Chestnut Hill awards the M.Ed., M.A., and M.S. in five fields, including education, clinical and counseling psychology, the administration of human services, holistic spirituality, and instructional technology.

When it comes to student activities, students enthusiastically engage in the many clubs and organizations available and participate in everything from aerobics and horseback riding to golf and archery. The College is NCAA Division II Provisional and competes in lacrosse, softball, volleyball, baseball, MW golf, MW cross country, MW soccer, MW tennis, and MW basketball. A swimming pool, gymnasium, soccer/lacrosse field, outdoor volleyball and basketball courts and six tennis courts provide excellent athletic facilities for Chestnut Hill's students.

School Says - Student Body
Students are encouraged to think creatively and independently at Chestnut Hill. CHC encourages students to take leadership roles in the community and students are involved in the administration of student affairs. For example, students, faculty, and administration serve jointly on the Curriculum Committee and the College Council. In addition, the Student Government Association has Academic, Social-Cultural, and Student Affairs committees, which seek to represent student interests and meet student academic and social needs. Activities, Clubs and Organizations African-American Awareness Society (AAAS) Aurelian Campus Ministry Chestnut Hill Singers Chestnut Hill Activities Team (CHAT) Community Service Computer and Technology Club Ecology Club The Fourth Estate Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) Griffin Club Hispanics in Action (HIA) History Club Instrumental Ensemble Mask and Foil Drama Club Mosaic of Cultures Club (MOCC) Phi Beta Lambda Production Club Students for Peace and Justice Student Government Association (SGA)

School Says - Academics
Chestnut Hill College's Core Curriculum is designed to provide students with a meaningful education that is rooted in Chestnut Hill College's Mission. Steeped in the liberal arts, the curriculum recognizes the impact of the information-age revolution, and addresses career demands of the twenty-first century. The Core Curriculum consists of fundamental requirements, Ways of Knowing perspectives, proficiencies, and free electives. In addition, students fulfill all of the requirements specified in a major program of study.

Focused on six perspectives (Historical, Literary, Artistic, Scientific, Behavioral, and Problem-Solving and Analysis), the Ways of Knowing component of the Core Curriculum is designed to introduce students to different learning methodologies and strategies for interpreting and understanding the world in which we live.
Students may be approved to pursue a degree two major fields. Students who wish to double major must discuss their proposed course of study with the chair of each department and submit a proposal to the dean of the College. To earn a dual degree, students must satisfy the individual requirements of both department programs.

Select students have the opportunity to participate in CHC's challenging Interdisciplinary Honors Program (IHP). The courses in IHP consist of seminars co-taught by two faculty members from different disciplines. In these reading- and writing-intensive seminars, which have approximately twelve students, learning is achieved through active discussion involving students and professors alike. Each is interdisciplinary to promote the integration of knowledge. An atmosphere of cooperation replaces competition for grades, fostering in students their own unique potential and enthusiasm for learning.

Chestnut Hill's faculty is accomplished in research, publication, and travel, but are first and foremost teachers. There are 109 faculty members, 57 of whom are full-time; over 75 percent of faculty members hold doctoral or terminal degrees in their subject area. Chestnut Hill instructors take teaching seriously, and with an excellent student/faculty ratio of 12:1, students have ample opportunity to work individually with professors. Chestnut Hill's distinguished instructors have earned degrees from such premiere institutions as the University of Oxford in England, the University of Paris, the University of Budapest, Catholic University of America, Middlebury College, Bryn Mawr College, Columbia University, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Pennsylvania, Duke University, New York University, the New School for Social Research, Purdue University, Temple University, and the University of Minnesota.

School Says - Admissions
CHC seeks accomplished students prepared to benefit from a challenging undergraduate curriculum. Admissions Representatives review all applications and evaluate students on their intellectual ability and academic achievement, taking into consideration the student's performance in high school, SAT I or ACT scores, essay/personal statements, and letters of recommendation.

Prospective transfer students are required to submit an official transcript of all college or university work.

Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. To set up an interview or request more information about academics or admissions, students may contact:

Director of Admissions
Chestnut Hill College
9601 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19118
Telephone: 215-248-7001
800-248-0052 (toll free)
E-mail: chcapply@chc.edu
Website: www.chc.edu

School Says - Campus Life
Located in an historic area of Philadelphia, Chestnut Hill's beautiful campus is bordered by Fairmount Park, yet is a quick train or car ride away from bustling downtown Philadelphia. One of New England's premiere cities, Philadelphia offers a wide variety of restaurants, sports, and cultural and recreational activities. In particular, Philadelphia is home to a number of world-class museums, including the Art Museum, the Rodin Museum, the Living History Museum, and the Franklin Institute. An historic city, the atmosphere and architecture around Independence Hall, Society Hill, and Penn's Landing are gems of colonial architecture and atmosphere. In addition to the city's cultural resources, Philadelphia is home to 25 colleges and universities, creating a vibrant collegiate environment for study and social life.

While students at Chestnut Hill have access to cosmopolitan Philadelphia, CHC is set in a lovely suburban neighborhood in the northwest corner of the city. The charming colonial area of Chestnut Hill is just a mile from campus. Well known in and beyond Philadelphia, Chestnut Hill gives students easy access to shopping and cultural events, as well as convenient transportation downtown.

Chestnut Hill College is a member of a national 8-college consortium founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph. As a member of the consortium, Chestnut Hill students can enroll at any other of the 8 member colleges for a semester or a year. Therefore Chestnut Hill students have the option of studying in locations across the nation without losing their status as a Chestnut Hill student.

Upper-class students who maintain an average of B or better and obtain the approval of the academic dean may choose to study abroad. To receive academic credit, the student's major department has to pre-approve the curriculum. Through this program, Chestnut Hill College students have studied in prominent European cities, including London, Rome, Madrid, Vienna, and Salzburg.

In recent years, many departments have developed internship programs in response to students' growing interest in acquiring real-world experience while in college. Through these programs, students can earn course credit for pursuing professional internships in a field related to their major. In addition, Chestnut Hill has an office of cooperative education, which assists students seeking salaried jobs in line with their interests and academic preparation. Cooperative education students alternately work and attend classes; they earn course credit for their job experience.

Students Say - Academics
Based on the "principles of the Sisters of St. Joseph," who founded the school, the purpose of attending Chestnut Hill College is "receiving a 'holistic education.'" That is, students are expected to "to grow in knowledge and in spirituality" during their tenure here. To that end, students are exposed to a wide range of subjects through a core curriculum. Students have mixed feelings about these core classes. Whereas some students believe that the core classes really make them "well rounded individuals," others complain that that roundedness comes at a cost: "In core classes/general education courses, the teachers are less knowledgeable than other professors and are often first-year teachers and stumble on their own words." Still, overall, students feel "the full-time profs here are excellent." "They actually remember your name and genuinely care about you. To them you are their student and not just a name on the roster sheet." However, "Sometimes the adjuncts aren't too good." Concerning how hard they are expected to work, students feel that "It's not a competitive school, but the academics are challenging." As far as the administration goes, students don't offer very many kind words. Some say that "The registrar is sometimes not quite on the ball," and others "wish financial aid was run more efficiently." Other students offer more generalized critiques: The "administration is inept, unaccountable, and seem to be blind-folded half the time;" "They basically give you a run around."

Students Say - Campus Life
Chestnut Hill College is located on the border of Philadelphia, so there is plenty to do when you step off campus. You can catch "either the Chestnut Hill west or east train into Center City. From there, you can get any- where. You can also catch the R5 in Ambler (5 miles away) and go up towards Doylestown. You have this safe country, old time feel with the Chestnut Hill area, but you are minutes from anything you could ever want for entertainment." Within the Chestnut Hill area itself students go "down Germantown Ave. for fun. There are a lot of great shops and places to eat on the avenue." "There is also a mall and a movie theater nearby and many campus organizations hold events on campus." The social crossroads of campus is the piazza, where students are almost always hanging out "regardless of how cold it is, and joking around." Because of the school's strict alcohol policies, students also "go off campus to parties whether at a different college or someone's house." The general vibe amongst undergraduates is that there is a time for work and a time for play: "On weeknights, we have heavy workloads, but on Thursday to Sunday we have fun." Students' biggest complaint about living conditions at Chestnut Hill concerns the on-campus fare. Simply put, "the caf food is horrible."

Students Say - Student Body
The typical student at Chestnut Hill is "between the ages of 18â€"23," "middle-class," and from the East Coast, most probably from "from the Tri-State area." He or she is "goal-oriented" and "focused," but also "very outgoing, friendly and willing to help just about anybody." This person is "involved in campus affairs" and "does a lot of volunteer work" but "could be of any ethnicity." Because of the small size of the school, "everyone knows everyone." In general, the school has a "laid back atmosphere; you can wear sweatpants and a hoodie and not worry" that you will be judged for your sartorial slovenliness. "There are a few atypical students but there does not seem to be any prejudice or discrimination towards them."

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