Category: College Search

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Looking Forward to Junior Crimson Day

Calling all High School Juniors!

If you are a junior in high school, Grove City College would love to see you at Junior Crimson Day on April 21! The event will begin at 8 a.m. in the Physical Learning Center and will last until 2:30 in the afternoon. Up to 1,200 students and parents will be in attendance to get their first inside look at Grove City, and they will experience much of what the College has to offer.

After morning registration, optional sessions are provided to learn about financial aid and how to plan for college. Following these sessions, president of Grove City College, Paul J. McNulty (’80), will present a warm welcome to everyone. After listening to and learning from other respectable speakers, those attending will be able to explore the campus with various activities scheduled. Those activities include:

  • Major Interest Fair
    • Learn about the various majors at Grove City
  • Residence Hall Sneak Peek
    • A look inside freshmen halls and dorm rooms
  • Walking Tour
    • Escorted by student tour guides
  • Lunch
    • Provided by Grove City’s dining halls
  • Financial Aid and College Planning 101 Sessions
    • In case you missed the morning sessions!

Personal Experiences

After speaking with two current students about their experiences at Junior Crimson Day, I found that they were both impacted in a positive way. Attending this event helped guide them in their college decision, and it could do the same for you!

“Junior Crimson Day allowed me to see the school in a more realistic sense than I would have on a tour of the campus. I was able to spend two nights with students in their dorm rooms, exposing me to what life is like at Grove City College. The scheduled events gave my parents and I insight to what the College offers and values, along with the logistics of actually attending.”

-Gretchen Basham, Freshman

“Junior Crimson Day was the first time I had visited Grove City. I fell in love with the school by getting to see how the current students volunteered their time to be speakers, and even all the students who were working were helpful and relatable. After coming to Grove City, I decided I wanted to be able to impact incoming students the way I was impacted, so I joined the admissions team and have got to work at two Junior Crimson Days which has been a great experience”

-Victoria Graf, Senior

Registration

If you would like to register for Junior Crimson Day, you can sign up at http://www.gcc.edu/Info/Events-News/Admissions-Events/Open-Houses/Junior-Crimson-Day. The registration link is located at the bottom of the page.

Grove City College welcomes all who are available to come, and we hope to see you on April 21!

 

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Catching Up with Alumni: Joe Hanson ’17, Mechanical Engineering

Grove City College Mechanical Engineering

While your college experience is certainly formative and the environment at a college is definitely a huge factor in choosing the one that is right for you, you also want to know that your degree will be worth something after your four years are over.  I recently caught up with 2017 graduate, Joe Hanson to see how he is using his degree and how his time at Grove City College impacted him.

Q. What is your current position and who is your current employer?  How did you connect with this employer?

A.  I am a mechanical engineer at Karpinski Engineering. Taking the Career Fair seriously was the best decision I made in my four years in college. I was able to talk to many companies and gain valuable insight and experience in talking to professionals in a professional setting. It was much easier than expected; I talked to around 10 companies, and each was engaging and offered unique insight into the working world. I talked to Karpinski for about 10 minutes and received an email with an interview invitation a couple weeks later. I ended up interviewing with three different companies in late September and early October, and all companies were present on campus at either the Career Fair or in a separate campus event.

Q. How did Grove City/your Grove City degree help/hinder you finding employment?

A. A mechanical engineering degree made my job search fairly easy. My opinion, from personal experience as well as seeing others’ experiences, is that someone pursuing a mechanical engineering degree can expect to find great success as long as he/she is active in the job search. The Career Fair is a very easy and accessible opportunity to meet potential employers and allows people to personally connect. Applying to jobs online is much less personal and often made me feel reduced to a number.

Q. What do you miss most about Grove City?

A. I miss the community most. I made great friendships at Grove City, and, while many have continued past college, I miss having everyone all together on one campus.

Q. Would you recommend Grove City to perspective high school students?  Why or why not?

A. Grove City offers a great value of an education. The price is right, and employment opportunities are plentiful. Humanities courses were informative and well-rounded as well, and a few classes forced young Christians to evaluate and challenge their personal beliefs, a very important part of one’s spiritual journey. I would recommend Grove City to anyone wanting a balanced, wholesome education and experience with a job offer at the end of it.

Q. What is your best piece of advice for an incoming Grove City student?

A. Hit the ground running. Talk to professors, get ahead in your classes, get involved in clubs on campus, find ways to meet upperclassmen. Form as many connections as you can upon arrival, before you and your peers are buried in the books.

Q. Is there anything else that you would like to share about your experience during or after life at Grove City?

A. It was a wonderful experience. There were many difficult semesters (everyone learns that Grove City classes are not a cakewalk), but they were well worth the effort. There are few places you’ll encounter in life that offer a plethora of social and educational opportunities that are generally wholesome throughout.

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10 Reasons I am Grateful to be a Grover

1. I have a new home-away-from-home, and it’s beautiful!

Seriously, have you seen this campus? If you have not, you need to! Here are a few pictures to hold you over until you can come visit us.

2. So many amazing people have been Grovers.

All it takes to be impressed by past Grovers is a quick perusal of the alumni achievement award winners. Find them here: alumni.gcc.edu 

These stories just scratch the surface. Countless entrepreneurs, business executives, authors, lawyers, and engineers have used their Grove City degree to make an impact.

3. So many amazing people ARE Grovers!

Did you catch that subtle difference? Hint: I put it in all caps to help you out. 

I could go on for hours about the phenomenal people I have met here, but I will save some time, and let you find out for yourself.

4. As a Grover, I have the privilege to learn from some of the best professors around.

I couldn’t imagine going to college without these professors. The faculty here is more caring and understanding than I expected college professors to be. They really are here to help their students learn and grow as people. Not only are the profs incredibly intelligent, knowledgeable, and helpful, they are also fun and enthusiastic about their respective areas of expertise. Fun story: I once had a professor jump off of a table because he was so excited about Vivaldi. That is the kind of passion you find at Grove City.

If you want to find out more about our outstanding faculty, check out some of the faculty feature blog posts or this link: Faculty Directory

5. Being a Grover means I am challenged everyday.

Grove City College prides itself on rigorous academics, and there is a reason for that. The nature of the curriculum ensures that you will not be able to get away with sleeping in class. But why would you want to do that anyway? You will learn so much (even in the humanities core) that your tuition dollars will be well worth it.

6. It has taught me what it means to live, learn, and worship in community.

Because Grove City is a relatively small school, students have the opportunity to a much larger proportion of the student body than at a larger college or university. I personally know the majority of people in my major, but I have also had the opportunity to meet people outside of my major through core classes that all students are required to take.

Not only do Grovers live and learn in community, we also worship together, both during weekly chapel services and on Thursday night Warriors services. Warriors is a student-led worship service held in the chapel. If you want to read more about it, check out this student blog:

7. I understand things that only Grovers get.

King McNulty. Shoe in the door. The swim test. The scooter gang.

Hierarchy of people at Grove City:   1. Jesus    2. Ronald Reagan    3. C.S. Lewis    4. President McNulty

These might not make a lot of sense to you right now, but Grovers get it.

8. By the time I graduate, I’ll have spent four years in a community that strives to glorify God in all things.

Yes, even sports.

9. I get to learn from the unique successes and failures of Grovers who have gone before me and come back to campus just because they care.

I can’t count the number of alums who have come back to speak on campus. Their stories are always inspiring, informative, and insightful. The best part is that they come back because they love the College and they care about the students.

10. Most of all (as you may have guessed already), I am grateful to be a Grover because of all the wonderful people here.

Considering five of my points have been about people, this should not be a surprise. These ten points can be summed up as follows: You will not find people like those at Grove City College anywhere else!

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Freshman Profiles: Interview with Thomas Andrews Class of ’21

 

  • So, you’re a freshman here at Grove City College. How’s everything going, is the school living up to your expectations or what other people told you it would be like?

Yes, the school has been really good to me, my hallmates are really great. All my classes are tough but not excessively so.

  • What’s your major and what dorm are you in?

I’m in Hicks dormitory and I’m undeclared. I don’t know what I am doing yet but the school provides lots of counseling and options. I came in not knowing at all what I want to do, but I have narrowed it down to English with maybe a business minor.

  • Could you talk a little about dorm life in Hicks ?

I was pretty skeptical going in because it was a different environment. But everyone on my hall is pretty great. One challenge I  have come across is constantly having people going in and out of my room. It is not as quiet or private as I expected, but I am glad people want to be around me – it is comforting to never be alone!

  • Grove City is known for a lot of things, most notably it’s beautiful campus, awesome cost-value ratio, and its challenging curriculum. What most attracted you to the school?

It is like an Ivy League in regards to quality education, but it is affordable. With that, I really appreciated the fact that the College considers itself “conservative”. I knew I would feel right at home.

  • How many other Colleges did you look at? And did you want a small school, a Christian school or anything specific, like your college decision being based off your specific major?

I applied to five other colleges. They were all different ranges but I primarily wanted a small school like Grove City College. The fact that professors would know me personally and I could engage in class discussion was appealing to me when college shopping.

  • Out of all the colleges you looked at, what made you choose Grove City; did Grove City have something to offer more than other colleges that you wanted or was it simply where you felt the most called?

I liked the location because it was very far from home. I like cold weather and want to see some snow. The size, like I said before, was also a huge deciding factor. I wanted my professors to know me on a personal level.

  • Alright, we’ve talked extensively about the Grove, now let’s jump into some more general questions. What is the biggest difference for you from high school and living at home, do living in a different state in a dorm?

I feel myself being more independent than when I was at home. I have a lot more freedom to make my own schedule and decide when I want to go out for an afternoon or stay on campus. I really like it!

  • What is the most enjoyable thing about college life?

I enjoy the friends I have made,being on the hall, and the people I have met.

 

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Parents’ Perspective: Grove City College and an Ivy League University

I am part of a loving, wonderful family of four. Three out of the four of our family members are Grovers. In typical Grove City College fashion, my parents met at the College, graduated in ’86, and were married later that year.

On a daily basis, I navigate the challenges and joys that come along with being a senior in college. However, I am not the only one in my family who is a senior this year. My twin brother, Joe, attends an Ivy League university where he studies as a pre-med student.

Compared to other parents of college-age students, my parents possess a unique prospective. They have seen Joe and I tackle each year in our higher education experience. They have witnessed how we responded to new and exciting changes, amazing opportunities, and difficult struggles at our respective schools. Additionally, they have constantly supported my brother and I throughout our college endeavors and trials. Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down and questioning my parents about their experience as parents with kids attending two very different schools.

Overall, please describe your opinions of each college.

We think that both colleges have a high level of academic quality in their programs. We believe both colleges have the right fit for certain students. Not everyone can successfully navigate Grove City College or [the Ivy League university]. We like that Grove City College promotes strong Christian values. On the other hand, we like that [the Ivy League university] has a wide diversity in both its student body and academic staff. We have a high opinions of each college, but for different reasons. We would recommend both schools depending on the prospective student. It seems to us that growth is emphasized at Grove City College while multi- cultural inclusion is emphasized at [the Ivy League university].

What stands out to you about each child’s college experience?

Both of our children have matured and gained not only book knowledge but also practical life skills during their college experiences. [The Ivy League university] has provided raw exposure to many new and diverse opportunities, limited only by the choices made. Grove City College always reflects a Christian worldview lens.

How has each college supported your child?

Both of our children have had positive interactions with their advisors. With student volunteer EMS squad and a variety of research opportunities in practically every field, our son was able to pursue his interests and be active in exploring new activities. With so much “noise” out there, Grove City College has supported our daughter by consistently lifting Christian values and making Jesus bigger than anything in the world.

What can be said about the value of each college? (Price)

[The Ivy League university] meets the financial need of a family; we found that the financial aid package offered to us put an Ivy League school within reach (with sacrifice and loans, but there was a way to do it). Grove City College has more limited financial aid and does not participate in federal financial aid programs. For our family situation, it turned out to be relatively costly (again, sacrifice and loans). We found that our love for a special school (we are alumni) and belief that a Christian college is providing more than simply just an opportunity for academics factored in. We feel good about the value of both schools.

What is your favorite thing about each college?

We love the beauty and size of the Grove City College campus as well as the commitment to be Christian to the core. [The Ivy League university] has strong academics, reflecting a place of learning and hard thinking as well as the varied choices of study.

What advice would you give parents who currently have a child selecting a college?

Do not look exclusively at their programs. Make sure that the colleges being considered are a good fit with the child. Additionally, understand your child. What does he/she need in an environment? What does he/she need in terms of programs and activities? What does he/she need in terms of academics and studies? We think it is a matter of helping your child select a school that matches most naturally with what he/she needs to transition into adulthood.

 

 

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Freshman Profiles: Interview with Josh Padgett, Class of ’21

  • So, you’re a freshman here at Grove City College. How’s everything going, is the school living up to your expectations or what other people told you it would be like?

Yes. Everything is pretty good, classes are tough, but I’m learning a lot and the community is accepting and warm. All the students I have met thus far are really nice.

  • What’s your major and what dorm are you in?

I am a mechanical engineer and I am in Hicks dormitory (the one attached to the dining hall).

  • Could you talk a little about dorm life in Hicks?

Its chaotic, energetic, and very entertaining. People are always in your room to talk or play video games. I love how it is common for people to invite themselves over whenever – as long as no one is napping, the door is open!

  • Grove City is known for a lot of things, most notably it’s beautiful campus, awesome cost-value ratio, and its challenging curriculum. What most attracted you to the school?

The location: the seclusion and the weather are cool. But you’re not to far from the big city Pittsburgh. It is only 45 minutes so freshmen can always get rides from upperclassmen if they need a taste of the outside world for an afternoon. On top of that, it was also awesome for me to have the opportunity to play lacrosse on a brand new team. This past spring Grove City added men’s lacrosse to their varsity roster and I am beyond excited to be able to play with them soon.

  • How many other colleges did you look at? And did you want a small school, a Christian school or anything specific? 

The smaller class size was good and the price was cheaper than some of the other colleges I looked at. Those were the main aspects. I knew I needed to be more than just a face in the crowd to my professors and Grove City certainly offers that. I am not in any large classes so my professors know me by name and they show effort in getting to know my personality to better serve my academic talents. The tuition, like I said before, was a huge fact as well. If you do your research when looking at schools, you will get a feel for the differences in cost and quality. Grove City was both for me.

  • Out of all the colleges you looked at, what made you choose Grove City; did Grove City have something to offer more than other colleges that you wanted or was it simply where you felt the most called?

More personalized education, and a safer community were important to me and I felt Grove City offered that more than the other schools I looked at.

  • Alright, we’ve talked extensively about the Grove, now lets jump into some more general questions. What is the biggest difference for you from high school and living at home, to living in a different state in a dorm?

More responsibility; you are busier but you also have more free time. This free time has to be spent wisely. It is incredibly tempting to hang out with friends or watch Netflix instead of studying; however, with freedom comes consequences for poor decisions. Not studying = lower academic performance. I have come to learn how to balance work with play while away at school. I hope my mom is proud.

  • What is the most enjoyable thing about college life?

Constant interaction and there is so much variety in terms of what people are doing and what you can get involved in. The Student Union is always covered in posters for different clubs, campus events, mission trips, and classes to participate in. There is never a dull day on Grove City’s campus.

  • If you could go back to your freshman year and offer one piece of advice to your senior high school self and to all the other high school seniors out there, what would it be?

Don’t worry so much about college, because it is not as scary as you think it is. There is a huge support system here that I have no idea why I was so worried in the first place! Between my Resident Assistants, professors, and Orientation Board members I have a lot of people to turn to with my small and big problems.

 

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Reel Life at Grove City College: Sportsmanship

Grove City College excels in sportsmanship. Even though I do not play sports myself, when I was a high-schooler looking at different colleges, the sportsmanship I saw and heard about at Grove City amazed me. I knew I wanted to spend my college years at a place with respect, faith-mindedness, determination, and talent. To my delight, when I went to my first Grove City College sports game, I saw all of those qualities shine out in the players on the field. It was wonderful to know that the College’s values came out even in a sports game. Looking back on it now though, it makes a lot of sense. How people behave on the field is a huge indicator of how they behave off of it.

I wanted to show you the wonder of a Grove City College sports match in a real, tangible way. So, when I was at an Ultimate Frisbee game the other night, I started filming. My friend on the team was nice enough to let me stand right next to the front lines the entire game so I could get some good shots. Like always, it was a wonderful experience. As I was watching, I considered, “What is it that I really love about being at a GCC sporting event?” I narrowed the phenomenon down to my top five favorite things I see at matches.

  1. Talent
  2. Excitement
  3. (Awesome) People
  4. Sportsmanship (or, Respect)
  5. Faith-mindedness

So, in this video, I have focused on showing you those five things.

I hope you enjoy this episode of Reel Life. Most of all though, I hope from watching it, you get a better idea of how uniquely special sports at Grove City College are.

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Reel Life at Grove City College: A Chat with Ben

Ben is a junior computer science major who is involved in a ton on campus. He is the head of the robotics club, the director of media for and a dedicated player on Grove City College’s Ultimate Frisbee team, and a member of the Alpha Sigma housing group. He is also a devoted student. Ben is a classic “Grove-er achiever,” as we say here at Grove City College.

I wanted to get this interview of Ben out to you, because I think Ben is a great example of how to strike a balance between extracurricular and academic life. He also has a unique attentiveness to and memory of funny class stories. Besides that though, Ben is a great guy and friend to many. He is fully integrated here at Grove City College, to say the least. Before he got here though, he had to make the choice between The Grove and Penn State. I ask him a bit about that decision in this video, so you can understand the reasoning that ultimately led him to decide on Grove City College.

If you are on the fence in your college search, I hope this video will give you some added insight into what campus life can be like here. I also want it to show you a look into the type of student you could be here if you want to. Ben is taking full advantage of his college years, and it is certainly worth listening to his perspective. Enjoy, and if you are interested, feel free to check out other episodes of Reel Life for videos similar to this.

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Reel Life at Grove City College: Best Campus Study Spots (Part 2)

For this episode of Reel Life, I wanted to finish off the conversation I started about my favorite Grove City College study spots. As I said in Part 1 of this series, beautiful study spaces have always been important to me. When I was a high school junior and senior looking for colleges I could potentially call home, I wondered about their capacities to have pleasant, quiet spaces to study in. It was hard to get a firm read on this aspect of a campus, though. Most college tours or overnights happened too quickly to allow for detailed conversations on ‘hidden gem study spots’ or ‘best places to study’—at least not in as much depth as I would have liked.

If you are interested in Grove City College, you probably care a lot about academics. You are probably dedicated to your classes and to the studying they require. You might, like me, feel strongly that having a good place to study matters. All of that is part of the reason I wanted to get this topic—”Best Campus Study Spots”—on video for you. But more than that, I wanted to make it a two-part series for a few reasons. Firstly, we all study differently. Some people like to have friends and people around them while they study, whereas some like any quiet, accessible room, whereas others need complete silence and isolation. I covered six study spots in the last video, and I cover six more in this one, because I wanted to give as full a look as possible at the variety of spaces Grove City has to offer. I hope watching gives you a better idea of whether Grove City College can meet your specific needs when it comes to study spots.

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How An Overnight Trip to Grove City College Shaped Me

The beautiful Hall of Arts and Letters at night.
The beautiful Hall of Arts and Letters at night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the time I figured out I was truly interested in Grove City College, I already felt overdue to have an overnight visit there. At that time though, it was already nearly April of my senior year. Who would take me in under such short notice? And how could the experience be anything but stressful?

To my delight, all my fears and doubts were squashed in a few short days.

My mom and I reached out to Grove City, and they connected me with some girls here who lived in a suite together. They offered to take me in for a night, and in no time, we had a date planned on the calendar for the visit. As if that was not enough, Grove City also organized multiple classes for me to sit in on during my trip. They even opened up doors for me to talk to specific professors in the major I was considering.

Instead of being scared, I was now excited. For the first time in my college search, I felt like things were actually falling into place.

I live about eight hours away from the college. On the morning of the day I would do my overnight, my mom and I drove all the way there in one trip. When I arrived on campus for the first time, the girls I connected with met me in the parking lot with smiles and hugs. They were so kind. Throughout the day, I had all my class and professor meetings. I felt like a superstar – every professor made sure to get my name right and remember it. Even the students I met during my class visits seemed to go out of their way to make me feel at home.

As the day went on, the girls took me to a worship service, campus Zumba, and watched a movie with me. That night, one of the girls I was staying with—Kimberly—gave me her bed to sleep in while she slept on the floor in a sleeping bag. I protested, but she insisted. The next morning, the girls ate breakfast with me at Mary Anderson Pew Cafeteria and we all had a good talk about life before I had to go back home.

I often think back to that first, 24-hour experience I had at Grove City. The trip there felt uncertain and scary. The trip back felt calm. My overnight was a definite turning point for me for so many reasons. I was able to experience the College’s beautiful campus, its top-notch classes, and some of the flourishing clubs and activities it offered students. Most of all though, I was blessed by the goodness of the people I met during that time.

If you can find the time during your college search, I encourage you to reach out to your top schools and try to organize an overnight with them. I was amazed by how much I learned about my school and my hopes for my college experience during my short overnight. It turned out to be one of the most important trips I could have taken at that point in my life.