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How I Chose Grove City College

Being the youngest of four, I got to watch all of my siblings decide on which college they would attend. Whenever someone asked me where I wanted to go to school or what major I wanted to pursue, I always said, “I do not know yet…maybe a big school.” In the back of my head, I thought I would go to Penn State University, but little did I realize I wanted to go for the wrong reasons. I wanted to go there not because of the different majors they offered, but because my brother was there and I would be close to him. The one school I never thought to look at was Grove City College because of the reputation it had: being a strict Christian college with challenging academics. My dad was the one who kept bringing up Grove City College, and I finally agreed to tour the campus.

When I toured Grove City College, I kept thinking “too small, too close to home.” My tour was in June of 2019 and the campus was dead with no students there. After my tour, I kept thinking of all the negatives and was not giving the College a chance. That was, until I decided to do an overnight stay in October of 2019. When I stayed overnight, I finally got to “see” the College. I sat in classes as a prospective student and talked to professors and students about their experience. I also got a chance to see events that were going on with fraternities and sororities. My view of Grove City started to change, and I started to consider it a top option. After I got home from my overnight visit, all I could think about was the excitement and fun I had while I was there. I filled my parents in on my trip and after talking to them, I knew I wanted to go to Grove City. The people at Grove City want you to be there, and they want to help you in any way they can, academically or socially.

The funny thing about choosing a college is that you may think you want a big school, but you may actually want a small school and vice versa. I know that Grove City College is not the school for everyone, but to some it feels like home. Ever since I was accepted and came here, I have felt a sense of peace I could not imagine experiencing at another school. The Christian environment and sense of community at Grove City makes you feel like you are at home.

Here are some of my tips when visiting Grove City College:

  1. Sit in different classes to get an idea of college classes
  2. Talk to professors and students in the majors you are interested in
    1. They are honest with you about academics but they also get to know you
  3. Stay overnight, especially in one of the dorms, if you can.
    1. You will get a feel for how college is and can help see if you like the atmosphere and environment at Grove City
  4. Explore the town of Grove City, and see what is around!
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Prioritizing Community Your Freshman Year

College is a new beginning for everyone. It is a time to meet new people, gain autonomy, and discover what you are passionate about. While college is a brilliant time for all of those things, it can also be really isolating at first if you let it. My advice to anyone beginning their freshman year is to prioritize community and friendship.

When I came to Grove City my freshman year in 2017, I was absolutely terrified. I loved living at home, spending time with my boyfriend, seeing my mom every day, and having sleepovers with my twin sister. I was comfortable living at home. The idea of moving to a campus without any of my favorite people was extremely daunting. I have to be honest, my freshman year, community wise, was not a priority for me. I spent more of my time studying in the library than I did with friends or my roommates. My coping mechanism for missing home was to put all of my efforts into school and get good grades. Looking back, I now realize that my freshman year could have looked very differently had someone pulled me aside and told me what really matters.

Academics are critical at Grove City College. School is 95% of why we go to college. Get good grades to get into a great grad school program or start a fantastic career. But the other 5%, however, is arguably more important. That 5% represents the relationships you grow and memories you build with your peers over your four years at Grove City. I completely understand thinking your GPA defines you. And honestly sometimes it feels like it does. But the community you seek and friendships you foster will shape you into the man or woman you will become post-graduation. Who do you want to be when you graduate from Grove City? Do you want to be someone with a 4.0, is involved in every academic club, but has no time for friends? Or do you want to be someone who has a 3.2-3.5 GPA, has phenomenal interpersonal skills, time for those around them, and is whole rounded in every sense: a liberal arts degree, superb communication skills/relationships. I deeply encourage you to find a balance between these things. Make intentional time for your studies. You are paying a lot of money to receive a phenomenal education, do not waste it. But also, make time for relationships. You will grow exponentially if you foster relationships with your peers and care about your academics.

I would have a completely different perspective about Grove City had I not found my now-closest friends sophomore year. It would be a story of loneliness, just getting by, sadness, you get the point. But instead, my story is one of community, growth, faith, and deep love for my friends and the College. Do yourself a favor, and put yourself out there to find friends who will encourage you, challenge you, and stick by you during your time at Grove City College because believe me, they are here for you.

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Three Cold Weather Activities

Have you ever been cooped up inside through a cold winter? Well, the Grove City climate is infamous for cold winters. That is why I want to give you three ideas of what you can do indoors amidst the cold winter weather. I have found my fair share of enjoyable indoor activities that have enabled me to still see friends, stay active, and rest.

  1. Movie night with friends.

You do not need a projector or big TV to have a successful movie night with your friends. When it is cold outside, all I want to do is get cozy and hang with friends. It can get lonely after awhile of staying inside away from the cold. That is why using your laptop for a movie night with friends is the perfect idea! You do not have to leave your dorm to enjoy time with friends. The cold weather does not have to keep you from making popcorn and enjoying a chill night.

  1. At home workout in your room.

Although this may not seem like an ideal way to spend time out of the cold, it is a sure way to keep your body moving. When winter hits Grove City, it is easy to want to stay in your room and avoid going to the gym because that would involve going outside. But, for your physical and mental health, you need to stay active even in your dorm. In today’s world, there are thousands of free at home workouts, via YouTube, available to you that only require your bodyweight. Working out in your dorm room will not only keep you healthy physically but also mentally. We tend to downward spiral when we are cooped up with nothing to do, nowhere to go, or anyone to see. If you move your body for even 20 minutes a day, your mental health will improve as well.

  1. Turn on the “Fireplace” special on Netflix, make a hot drink, and read a book.

During Grove City’s cold winters, you need to make time to see friends and stay active for your mental sanity. But you also need to practice self-care. Do not neglect your personal health. Find things that bring you true rest and ease of mind and body. For me, it is turning on the Netflix special “Fireplace,” making a cup of chai tea, and reading a book. I want nothing more on a cold day then to sit by a fire, in dorms the closest thing I get is the Netflix special, and cozy up with a good book. That is my version of rest and self-care. What is yours?

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Ring by Spring: Content or Not?

From day one of freshman orientation, Grove City makes the light-hearted joke of “look to your left, look to your right, you may be sitting next to your husband or wife.” This is a statement made to lighten the mood and break the ice. But there is social pressure regarding getting engaged your second semester senior year. Said pressure is completely derived from the student body. Does this sound silly? Yes, absolutely. But I can personally attest as a second semester senior in a long-term relationship the pressure to get engaged is present.

Disclaimer, I do not think getting engaged your spring semester senior year is bad. Not at all. Heck, I would like to be! I just want to empathize with the future Grove City student who is in the same boat as I am. You are in a serious relationship with no ring yet – which is perfectly fine. And you are so happy in your relationship. Yet seemingly everyone around you is getting engaged and you cannot help but wish you were too. All of your peers will not stop asking you when you are getting engaged. Therefore, you become slightly discontent with the current phase of life you are in.

I am writing this to simply encourage you to be content with the specific relational season you are in. Being single is a beautiful time to develop your own sense of self and evaluate what you want in a partner. Dating is so fun because you get to experience the joy of doing life with somebody without the responsibilities of real life yet. Engagement is wonderful because you are planning your big day together, awaiting the day you no longer have to be apart. And marriage is the end zone where you finally get to spend everyday with the one your soul loves. The point is, there is beauty, growth, hardships, and really good things in all seasons of relationships. Do not allow what is going on around you to steal from the joy you do have right now in whatever relational phase you are in. If you are looking for what is next or what everyone else is doing, you will always be discontent. Focus on you, your relational phase, and you will prosper, be joyful, and content.

There is no right way to be in a relationship when you are about to graduate college. All of that to say, of course Grove City is a wonderful place to potentially find a loved one and grow in your relations with those at the College. All I am saying is that there is a time and a season for everything. You are in the season of life you are in because God has you there for a reason. Lean into that and not the pressure of being somewhere you are not yet.

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Grove City College Mechanical Engineering Student Spotlight: Josh Eibeck

Video Interview: https://youtu.be/XKTWP2RlcOs

Grove City College offers its students a wide variety of majors to choose from. One of the College’s most reputable majors here is Mechanical Engineering, also known by the acronym MECE. Grove City College ranked 55th nationally for the program and has been listed as a top 100 school in the country for undergraduate engineering programs for several years now. Mechanical Engineering students are driven, dedicated, and challenged by a unique way of thinking and problem solving with hands-on experience through real world application. Grove City College MECE students are passionate about what they do and enjoy the opportunity to “think outside the box” when tasked with assignments and projects. This major is challenging because it consists of mainly math and physics, but completing the work makes for a strong sense of achievement.

Josh Eibeck, a senior Mechanical Engineering major here at Grove City College, sat down and shared some his thoughts and reflections on his decision to study MECE. Josh has found his time at Grove City to be challenging, yet extremely rewarding, as he has been able to put his math science and skills to use on assignments and projects. The aspect of the Mechanical Engineering major that excites Josh the most is doing something different everyday! He enjoys working on new projects and problems daily that allow him to expand his knowledge and teach him lessons that can applied far beyond the classroom.

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Grove City College Mechanical Engineering Student Spotlight: Nate Carver

Video Interview: https://youtu.be/khyt7RiVGl0

Grove City College offers its students a wide variety of majors to choose from. One of the College’s most reputable majors here is Mechanical Engineering, also known by the acronym MECE. Grove City College ranked 55th nationally for the program and has been listed as a top 100 school in the country for undergraduate engineering programs for several years now. Mechanical Engineering students are driven, dedicated, and challenged by a unique way of thinking and problem solving with hands-on experience through real world application. Grove City College MECE students are passionate about what they do and enjoy the opportunity to “think outside the box” when tasked with assignments and projects. This major is challenging because it consists of mainly math and physics, but completing the work makes for a strong sense of achievement.

Nate Carver, senior Mechanical Engineering major here at Grove City College, sat down and talked about the highlights, struggles, and advice for upcoming freshmen based on the experience that he has had with choosing to be a MECE student. Nate loves the college path he has chosen and looks forward to graduation so that he can put the concepts and skills that he has learned to use in the real world.

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Are You Ready to “Adult”?

Laundry, cooking, cleaning, credit cards, savings accounts, student loans, bills, rent, car payments, insurance…it is all coming for you! For the past 20ish years, your parents have probably handled most of that for you. College will likely be the first time you are “on your own” and you will have to figure out things like laundry, cleaning a bathroom, and managing your time – but that is just step one. After you graduate, things are really going to change because you will officially have to “adult.” It can be overwhelming, but over time things become easier to figure out. It is important that you utilize the time you have at college to learn the most you can about how to be on your own. Trust me, graduation comes more quickly than you think! The important thing is that you are prepared to graduate and know life’s basics.

There is a course at Grove City College, taught by Dr. Wayne Biddle and Dr. Scott Powell, called “Seminar in Life Management.” Every college student who wants to learn how to “adult” once they are out of college should take this course. The course covers everything from saving, to investing, to paying off loans, to buying or renting a house. I had no idea how insurance (auto, homeowners, health, etc.) worked until I learned about it in class. In addition, I had no clue what a 401K was or when/how to save for retirement. With time, all of my questions were answered! Every day you learn something new that you will be useful once you are out on your own. “Seminar in Life Management” is only one credit, so if you have not met your elective quota, I highly recommend it. It is a great way to utilize your electives and your time. Grove City College excels at preparing students for post-graduation life. Thanks to the College and this course, I feel prepared to enter the “real world” in May.

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Grove City College: A Parent’s Perspective

grove city college logo

Parents play a big role in where their children are going to attend college. Even if the parent allows the child to choose a college on his own, usually, parents still have a lot of influence on the child’s decision. If given the option between Grove City College and a big party school, most parents would feel more comfortable with their child attending GCC. I recently talked with my mom about what her initial thought of Grove City College were, and how they have changed from the time I was an incoming student to a senior.

Grove City College provides quality, Christian, education at a low cost. Right away, all three of those qualities appeal to many parents, including my own mom. My mom said that “I always heard that the reputation of Grove City was top-notch. It is one of those schools that people know is high-quality and also a great value. It is important, as a Christian, to attend a Christian college so that you do not go off the wrong track during your college years. The more I began to research about Grove City College, the more confident I was that it was somewhere that would provide a wonderful education, while also being safe, conservative, and faith-based.”

My mom recalled that as soon as we toured Grove City College, she knew that she would feel comfortable sending me here. She said that “The campus was beautiful, small, and safe. I knew that I would not have to worry about you there.”

Lastly, I asked my mom for some last thoughts about Grove City College, now that I am a senior. She said that “Grove City College has provided a top-notch, quality, and outstanding education. Not only that, but the values of the college are clear and demonstrated inside and outside of the classroom. Especially since the coronavirus pandemic began, I am more and more confident in the quality and dedication of the school. It is extremely impressive that the college was able to go to such great lengths to ensure safety for students during this terrible time. The college does not settle. I am so happy that you chose to attend a small school in the middle of nowhere, because there is no better place to be during a pandemic! The college was blessed this semester with a low number of coronavirus cases, and I know that is because of the hard work and dedication of the college to continue to stay open for the students. Overall, as a parent, there is no other college that I would have wanted you to attend!”

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Internship Life at Grove City College

This past summer I was very fortunate enough to keep my internship at a marketing firm called Become Known in downtown Cleveland. I have worked at Become Known for the past two summers doing digital marketing, search engine optimization, and general marketing for new products about to hit the market. I would say getting an internship is an excellent idea, especially for any business major. Not only does it help you gain experience in the work force, but it also helps you focus on what you may what to do in your career. Another great reason for getting an internship while here at Grove City College is that you are able to earn college credit! You may earn up to six credits, which helps with graduation requirements and is definitely worth the time and money.

To have your internship validated by the school you will first find a company where you would like to intern. Next, you will apply to your major’s department. This consists of listing the company name, your job description, the number of hours you anticipate working, and how many academic credits you would like to receive–60 hours of work is the equivalent to one credit. Then finally, you will need to find a professor in your department willing to be your advisor!

Most business majors try for internships in the summer after their sophomore and junior years. At this point, students have some experience and an idea of what they are doing. This way, companies can start training them during an internship so that when they graduate, they are an easy hire at the company because they already have an idea of how things are done.

Business majors are not the only ones that are able to earn college credit while doing an internship. Other majors, such as Mechanical Engineering and Exercise Science, are given opportunities as well through the our on-campus career fair. Both have the option to earn credit by doing a typical internship during the summer, but these majors also have a great opportunity to do a co-op. A co-op is when a student works for a company during a semester for credit, instead of going to school. Both internships and co-ops are great options to earn academic credit, as well as getting a head start on figuring out what you want to do in the work force and gaining experience.

While you should consider an internship, they are not for everyone. Many people here on campus have not had internships and do not feel any pressure at all to get one. Not getting an internship does not make you “behind in life” or “behind on credits.” A validated internship is an optional program that Grove City College offers students to help them get additional credits while they gain experience in the work force and focus in on what they want to do post-graduation.

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Hang-out Hot Spots of Grove City College

Grove City College is a much smaller school than most, and with a small campus comes a tight-knit community. As an incoming freshman, you will be practically bombarded with new friends–but once all the fun Orientation Board events die down, where can you go to spend time with your newfound friends? Here is a rundown of some of the best hangout spots on campus.

Several of the dorm buildings on campus also have lounges in them. Some of my fondest memories from here on campus are from movie nights in the lounges of Memorial Hall. Memorial is the freshman-only men’s dorm where I began my Grove City journey. On each of its three floors are lounges equipped with a TV and some comfy couches. While the second and third floor lounges are reserved for the building’s residents, the first floor lounge is fair game for anyone on campus and is a cozy spot for a movie night.

Any list of hangouts on campus would be incomplete without mentioning the Breen Student Union, which is commonly referred to as the SAC (Student Activity Center). The first floor is home to both our mailroom and the Gedunk café. The second floor has a lounge for commuter students and a multipurpose room called the Great Room, both excellent spots for game nights with friends. With plenty of tables and places to sit throughout, the SAC is home to many late-night study sessions. 

Our next spot lands itself among my personal favorites: MAP South basement. Belonging to the women’s dorm called “Mary Anderson Pew South,” this basement (also called South Rec) is one of the coolest spots on campus. It has everything: a ping-pong table, a TV, a full kitchen, several tables and couches, and a fully functioning jukebox. If you want a cool retro atmosphere for your game or movie night, South Rec is the place to be. The kitchen is also fully equipped with pans and an oven if you want to do some baking while you are at the Grove. On weeknights it is usually a quiet spot to study, but on weekends you might be out of luck. 

So far everywhere I have mentioned has been inside, but sometimes you might want to get outside and have some fun in the sun. This brings us to the Quad. The Quad is a large section of lawn situated between the chapel and Crawford Hall. A line of trees creates shade along the edges which makes for great picnic or study spots. Whether you need a spot to relax in the shade or just need some space to play frisbee with your friends, the quad is for you.

Last but certainly not least, is the biggest recreational room on campus: Ketler recreational room. Belonging to the men’s dorm Ketler, it is known by most students as KetRec. KetRec has two ping-pong tables, two foosball tables, three pool tables, a games cabinet, and two TVs, in addition to an adjoining kitchen that can be reserved for student use. KetRec is one of the only rec rooms on campus that is open to all students 24/7. On top of its many fun features, it also has several good spots to read to or do homework in peace.

These are some of the best and most popular spots on campus, but this is by no means a comprehensive list. There are many other spots for you and your friends to explore. Each student has their own personal favorite spots. I will leave it to you to find your own favorite during your time at Grove City. I hope you have as much fun exploring campus as I did, and I wish you well on your college journey!