火爆社区

Tucked away in beautiful, bucolic Massachusetts, Gordon College is a liberal-arts institution that鈥檚 built on 鈥淐hristian values without being unnecessarily strict.鈥� Here, students receive a 鈥渨ell-rounded education鈥� that encourages them 鈥渢o make interdisciplinary connections.鈥� There鈥檚 also an appreciated 鈥渆mphasis on servant leadership through opportunities like the outdoor education requirement.鈥� And while there鈥檚 no denying that 鈥渢he school is academically rigorous,鈥� students note that 鈥渢here鈥檚 so much here for support, so it鈥檚 hard to do poorly in a course.鈥� The faculty is described both as 鈥渁ccomplished鈥� and 鈥渆xtremely passionate about the subjects that they teach.鈥� and the majority are 鈥渧ery involved and want to know you personally.鈥� Students are proud to share their own relationships: 鈥淚鈥檓 actually friends with my English professor and I鈥檝e only been in class with him for a semester so far.鈥� Another divulges, 鈥淚 was struggling financially and had professors email me over the summer to help me find a way to get back.鈥� This isn鈥檛 just an 鈥渆njoyable [academic] environment鈥� either; there鈥檚 a sense that 鈥渨hen people leave here, they are prepared to get a job and do well.鈥�

When asked about their peers, many individuals at Gordon gush that their classmates are 鈥済enuine and kind people鈥� who really 鈥渃are about how you are doing socially, academically, and spiritually.鈥� According to one undergrad, 鈥淚 could pull aside any random person, tell them I鈥檓 having a bad day, and they would listen to me and care about me.鈥� Students also value that many of their peers 鈥渉ave a real, lived-out relationship with God.鈥� And though it frequently feels as though most students come from 鈥淢assachusetts or New England鈥� and are 鈥渕ajority white, majority Christian,鈥� you鈥檒l also discover that 鈥渢here are many countries and nationalities represented鈥� among the student body as well. And while there鈥檚 鈥渘ot a lot of middle ground鈥� between the very liberal and conservative points of view on campus, students take pride in everyone鈥檚 ability to 鈥渆nter into a curious and respectful conversation鈥� when encountering someone who disagrees with them. Perhaps that鈥檚 because at the end of the day, students find unity in being 鈥渃ommitted to their education and goals鈥� and gladly help 鈥渙ne another achieve academic success.鈥�

Gordon is a school that鈥檚 always humming with some sort of activity, especially on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, where 鈥測ou can find a good portion of [the] student body in chapel.鈥� Outside of that, the college sponsors numerous events like 鈥渨affle nights, student hosted dinners, coffeehouses, parties [and] game nights,鈥� and 鈥渟ports are pretty popular on campus.鈥� (We鈥檝e been told that 鈥渢he quad is great for playing spikeball.鈥�) There鈥檚 also a music department that 鈥渋s very strong and holds a lot of performances,鈥� though it鈥檚 not uncommon to stumble upon unofficial 鈥渃hill house concerts or jam sessions.鈥� Of course, New England weather plays a fairly big role in dictating the activity schedule. 鈥淲hen it鈥檚 warm everyone hammocks [and] when it snows everyone has snowball fights and builds snowmen.鈥� When the opportunity presents itself, undergrads enjoy exploring the 鈥渜uaint New England coastal towns鈥� that surround the campus, whether that鈥檚 鈥渢o hike or spend a day at the beach,鈥� and of course nearby Boston makes for a good weekend getaway for those seeking out things like 鈥渕useums or concerts.鈥� Overall, though, students note that campus life is 鈥減retty tame鈥�: there are 鈥渟ome off-campus parties,鈥� but people 鈥渨ho drink [and] do drugs...are the exception and are in the minority.鈥�

Gordon College students find that faculty, staff, and alumni are fully invested in their futures. 鈥淭he academic, personal, and professional development you receive at Gordon is unparalleled,鈥� notes one student, adding that Gordon鈥檚 small size improves the level of attention and opportunities available to its undergraduates. Professors combine 鈥渆xtremely helpful advice鈥� for the future with an effort to 鈥渋nvolve them in real-world study and research,鈥� while the Career and Connection Institute (CCI) offers students 鈥済reat community and strong networking opportunities鈥� to prepare them for the next step. Students meet recruiters at career fairs and develop their professional skills with Launch: A Professional Seminar and the Calling and Career Conference. The CCI also offers resources on graduate fellowships, entrepreneurship ventures, and job postings through the Handshake portal. Graduates of Gordon look forward to 鈥渉igh rates of job placement,鈥� a starting median salary of $59,700 according to PayScale.com, with 57 percent of students reporting that they felt their jobs are making a meaningful impact.