火爆社区

鈥淜eeping education in its purest form alive and well in the heart of the Northwest,鈥� The Evergreen State College offers 鈥渁 unique approach鈥� to academics. The school provides an 鈥渋nteractive environment鈥攚ith a diverse, enriching learning method,鈥� which allows students 鈥渢o focus on [their] passions and explore them in detail.鈥� Everyone creates their own educational paths and directs the pace of their own learning. As a few students say admiringly, 鈥淚 feel a sense of freedom with the academics at Evergreen.鈥� 鈥淚 have more power as a student.鈥� Greatly appreciated is the flexibility found within the curriculum. 鈥淚 was excited about building my own major.鈥� 鈥淣o self-motivated student will leave Evergreen unsatisfied.鈥� Students work collaboratively here and support one another in their endeavors. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not about grades or competition; it鈥檚 about self-improvement and personal fulfillment.鈥� Evaluations are used to view student progress, with 鈥渋nterdisciplinary education over declared majors鈥� being the focus. 鈥淵our classes are all interconnected, so it鈥檚 easy to link what you鈥檙e doing into a defined path.鈥� 鈥淢y transcript says more about me than A鈥檚, B鈥檚, and C鈥檚 possibly could.鈥� 鈥淭he philosophy...definitely lowers the stress I experience around academics.鈥� Professors assist students in innumerable ways and are 鈥渧ery intimately involved in the education of their students.鈥� 鈥淎t Evergreen, in order to have a great experience, you need to be able to talk to your professors and engage with them.鈥� 鈥淚 have not met a professor yet who was not willing to rework their mode of teaching to better serve the class.鈥� The educational atmosphere is highly interactive. Almost every student 鈥渁ctively engages the material with field work, undergraduate research, and extended trips.鈥� 鈥淐lass time is spent doing workshops, seminars, or a led discussion where everyone participates.鈥� 鈥淓ven the science programs involve large portions of discussion and peer collaboration.鈥� As one undergraduate describes slyly, 鈥淢y professors have been A++, if Evergreen assigned grades.鈥�

The 鈥渒indness and awareness of the community鈥� is frequently said by students to be one of the most valued aspects of their experience here. 鈥淎rticulate鈥� and 鈥渋nquisitive鈥� undergraduates are evident in large numbers. 鈥淪tudents tend to be very politically aware and active with very liberal points of view鈥� and are 鈥渕ostly peaceful relaxed people鈥� amidst an 鈥渙penminded social environment.鈥� The dorms are divided into different themes, and 鈥渢he residential staff is professional and keeps the housing community functioning and safe.鈥� 鈥淭he campus police are pretty awesome people,鈥� as well. Evergreen is respected by students throughout the college for its 鈥渇orward-thinking鈥� administration and faculty, with a 鈥渄edication to sustainability鈥� being clearly evident around the campus.

Evergreen has a 鈥渂ooming extracurricular life鈥�; students enjoy the 鈥渢hriving local art and music scene, very hip and fresh,鈥� in Olympia as well as easily accessible Seattle or Portland. 鈥淭he Flaming Eggplant, the student-run cafe, is simply the cheapest and most delicious place on the planet,鈥� as well as a very popular hangout. The Student Activities office has no shortage of options for undergraduates here, with 鈥渕ore than 50 different clubs and student groups.鈥� Physical activity is popular, and the recreational center has racquetball, a pool, a rock-climbing wall, and various places to exercise. There is 鈥渘o shortage of local hiking, backpacking, and biking opportunities.鈥� 鈥淗ikes in the woods, down to the beach, or up to the bluff are very common as well as late-night stargazing.鈥� The physical surroundings are viewed with much admiration at Evergreen. 鈥淥ur campus is set back in this magical forest with these winding paths down to the beach. There are tree forts, giant sculptures, dream catchers in the trees, hidden drum circles, and music everywhere.鈥� As one student describes fondly, 鈥淭o me, it is reminiscent of Thoreau鈥檚 solitude in nature.鈥�