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A Day at Grove City College – Video

What is it really like to be a student at Grove City College? While tours are very informational, they do not give the down-in-the-dorm experience. Overnight visits are great to see what it is like to live on a residence hall, but what if you cannot find the time to do an overnight? Do not fret, for I have recorded my entire day into a short video so you can walk in my shoes for a little while – they are pretty stylish. 😉

My typical day is not super interesting because a lot of it is dedicated to class and studying – how it should be. Thankfully, it is what I do in my free time that makes college such a blast, and I hope when you come to college it will be the same for you. There are so many things to do on campus to make it feel less like you are here just to learn – like working out, picking up an extra curricular activity, or attending alternative chapel like I do in the video. Your day at college is what you make of it, so in 2-3 years when you are here with me, what will your 2 minute video look like?

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Questions You Should Definitely Ask on Your Campus Tour

It is great practice for all campus tours to be uniform and follow a certain pattern so you (the prospective student) can learn everything there is to know about Grove City. But if you are anything like I was when visiting schools, you want to hear the things they do not normally talk about on a tour… unless you ask. So, here are some questions you should definitely ask on any campus tour you take in the future:

WIMG_0426(2)hen in the chapel/place of worship

“Who has been your favorite chapel speaker so far this year?”

This question will prompt the tour guide to talk about what kind of speakers come to campus if she has not already. In regards to Grove City College, we offer a wide range of chapel speakers so students are exposed to something different every time.

 

 

 

IMG_0090(2)When in the science building                   

“Why is the core science requirement important?”

Asking why an entrepreneurship major needs to take Chemistry 101 lets you see what kind of academics the college has to offer. Since Grove City College strives for a well-rounded education, the science requirement is a part of the course load to give students a taste for all fields of study different from the degree they are working for. The answer the tour guide gives will also give you a feel for what the academic expectations are on campus.

 

 

When in a student lounge

“Do you have any great stories from hanging out in a lounge?”

An extremely casual question with the opportunity to hear a comedic, classic college story. For example, I used to tell prospective students about my friends and me making enchiladas in a co-ed kitchen. It always makes the families laugh and it shows that there are cool things to do without breaking the budget.

When in an academic building IMG_3448

“What are the student-professor relationships like?” 

A little different than the “student-to-professor ratio” question. The response will be different because it will not be a number, it will be a story or an opinion. For me, I wanted to know I would be valued as a unique individual, not just one of 100 in a lecture hall. Grove City College professors know my name, know my dog’s name, and genuinely care about my academic success. If I heard that on a tour, I would not have consider any other school. The photo on the left is actually me and my academic adviser (thanks for the filter, Snapchat).

At the end of the tour

“What sold you on Grove City?”

While everyone is different, you may be surprised that your tour guide was looking for the same characteristics in a college you are. Based on his or her answer, you can bounce ideas off of one another for what expectations are fair or a little too unattainable. On top of that, with the tour over and fading in formality, the tour guide will likely answer honestly – mostly because it is a question directed at them and asking for their opinion. I guarantee the answer will be followed by huge amounts of bragging about GCC.

 

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“You Have Greek Life on Campus?!”

I have been a tour guide here at Grove City College for almost a year now, and a common question I receive is “You have Greek life on campus?!” This is often paired with either a face of complete horror or exuberant excitement. Yes, we do have Greek life, but it is not exactly what you think.

The important thing to remember is Grove City College Greek groups are not nationally affiliated. In simpler terms, that means the stereotypical hazing and illegal activity you may see on the news is not what Greek life is like at Grove City. I would best describe it as a group of men or women focused on serving God in a sisterhood or brotherhood that comes with a devotion to others that I honestly cannot put into words. Our groups do not haze, we do not have off-campus housing, and all groups are accepting of all individuals. We strive for politeness, class, and spiritual IMG_3872growth in each group that calls Grove City College home.

I came to campus as a buzzing freshman with absolutely no interest in Greek life. But, here I am, knee deep in Green and White. It is an amazing asset we offer for campus life. The bonds you can create with other members of your group are ones you will carry on for the rest of your life. These relationships are encouraged through spending time with one another working on community projects, living on the same dorm hall, and going to different campus events such as talent shows or chapel.

Another option offered solely for men are housing groups. A housing group is similar to a fraternity in that it has Greek letters and all the guys live together, but it is not as involved as a fraternity. Frats typically have multiple community and on-campus projects throughout the year, but housing groups have fewer obligations. My advice to guys is to look at both fraternities and housing groups and get a feel for how they are different to decide what is right for you – I guarantee you will find great individuals in both groups.

To support my opinion of how fantastic Greek life is, I asked a few different members of several groups what they thought about Greek life:

Jillian Breckinridge, Phi Sigma Chi (my sister in the blue!)

jillian

“I love how no matter what, all of the girls in my sorority have my back. Also I love the community that was formed through various events, meetings and living on the same hall.”

Stephen Weaver, Pan Sophic

PAN

“Greek groups are valuable in the sense that they not only help the community around Grove City but also give students something to do other than study.”

Erin Sixt, Gamma Sigma Phi (left)

erin s

“Grove City Greek groups are different from public university groups because they are all rooted in Christian principles”

Zach Berry, Phi Omega Sigma Housing Group (bottom left)

zach2

“If you know you don’t want to join a fraternity but find yourself in a situation where you have friends you want to live with, joining a housing group can be a great solution. This way you can still find your identity as a follower of Christ and not pledge a fraternity.”