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Hamline University, a United Methodist-affiliated university, combines 鈥渒nowledgeable professors, a fun environment, great study abroad options, challenging classes, [and] helpful resources鈥� to create an 鈥渋ntelligent, moderate, religious, small鈥� undergraduate program that stresses 鈥減ublic service and rational discussion.鈥� Hamline鈥檚 curriculum promotes a goal-driven and skills-based education through its general education program, called 鈥榯he Hamline Plan,鈥� which requires students to study in 鈥渁 multiplicity of academic fields鈥� in order to 鈥渂ecome critical thinkers during and after [their time at] Hamline.鈥� Though students give the required curriculum mixed reviews, they are much more enthusiastic about the school鈥檚 standout disciplines, which they identify as criminal justice, pre-law (鈥淗amline has one of the best law schools in the Midwest,鈥� one student assures us), anthropology, psychology, sociology, management, and English. Undergrads also love the school鈥檚 resources, reporting that Hamline 鈥渉as a great library and a number of computers.鈥� However, the small campus size has its drawbacks. 鈥淔or many programs you have to go to other schools to take some required classes, which can cause difficulties with credits and scheduling,鈥� reports one student.

At Hamline, you鈥檒l 鈥渟ee it all from preppy guys and girls to goths to socially-active students, politically-active students, and jocks. Diversity is what Hamline is mainly about,鈥� says one student. 鈥淚nternational students make up a good chunk of the student body. Students of different ethnicities seem to be well balanced in numbers and students come from diverse financial backgrounds.鈥� All of which helps explain why students were so upset in 2007鈥�08, when several racially-charged incidents divided the campus. A number of conservative-leaning students came away from those conflicts feeling that 鈥渟tudents here are quick to criticize and judge more conservative views.鈥� Once you get past the political wrangling, 鈥淢ost students here are your typical Minnesota-nice Midwesterners.鈥�

For students who want a small university 鈥渋n close proximity to a big city, Hamline is the perfect place.鈥� Located 鈥渕idway between the St. Paul and Minneapolis centers,鈥� the school never lets on that it鈥檚 鈥渋n a big city,鈥� while 鈥渁t the same time, there鈥檚 a bus right on the edge of campus that can take you anywhere.鈥� There鈥檚 plenty to do right around campus, too, including 鈥渟ome great bars down the street鈥� that feature 鈥済reat live music and pretty cheap drink specials.鈥� There are also 鈥減lenty of delicious ethnic restaurants in the neighborhood, including a Turkish restaurant and a tasty Ethiopian restaurant, both within a five-minute walk.鈥� On campus, Hamline is a 鈥渧ery politically-active campus鈥� with activity 鈥渟kewed to the left.鈥� One student reports that 鈥淎bout half the students are extremely engaged in campus and the other half go home every weekend and do nothing on campus.鈥� That said, 鈥渢here are ample opportunities for all students to get involved, [with something] like over 90 organizations right now.鈥�