火爆社区

Taking pride in its status as a "small, Christian, classical liberal arts college," Hillsdale College "challenges its students to become confident and independent individuals." Students can earn a bachelor's degree in the arts or sciences while studying a core curriculum focused on "literature, philosophy, theology, history, the fine arts, and the natural sciences" that establishes "a common baseline for all." This sense of community drives "non-sectarian" classrooms where "open-minded and respectful discourse is promoted and encouraged." This applies equally to teachers who "are not only scholarly and professional, but also people that care about their students" and who "participate in the discussions as well, without stamping down our ideas. They have a heart to grow our minds and independence." Teaching is "an opportunity for mentorship and not just as a requirement for a research grant." Classes are "very discussion-focused and rooted in the large amounts of reading [we do]." One Museum Studies student loved the chance to "collaborate with other classmates to design and curate museum displays, work with the college archivist, and get to be hands-on with original artifacts." Overall, there's an appreciation for how academics lead to opportunities to "become more virtuous and faithful."

Students at Hillsdale are 鈥渇riendly and welcoming; you can have an engaging conversation with someone you鈥檝e never met before in the cafeteria without feeling nervous to do so.鈥� It鈥檚 a 鈥渧ery politically conservative school鈥� where 鈥渕ost students on campus go to church weekly and participate in Bible studies. Students deeply value discussion and debate, finding that 鈥渄isagreement...is a reason to improve a friendship, not to disintegrate it.鈥� This makes for a supportive, familiar group of peers who say, 鈥淚 feel challenged to think deeply and aspire to ever improve myself in order to reach my fullest potential, but I also feel supported and encouraged when I fall short.鈥� As one student explains it: 鈥淚 can鈥檛 go anywhere on campus without seeing someone I know, whether they鈥檙e from my dorm, a class or club we鈥檙e both in, or we just met in the cafeteria one day through a mutual friend. And no matter how I met them or how long I鈥檝e known them, we鈥檒l probably chat and be invested in each other鈥檚 lives.鈥� In short, 鈥淗illsdale students are dedicated to their schoolwork, but also constantly seeking to balance their spiritual, physical, and social lives.鈥�

The average Hillsdalian is likely to 鈥渟pend their mornings and afternoons going to and from classes and studying in between, as well as getting hours in their on-campus jobs.鈥� Outside of class, 鈥渢hrifting and antique shopping around campus [are] popular鈥s well as going to local coffee shops and watching basketball and baseball games on campus.鈥� Students enjoy spending 鈥渁 lot of time in the Student Union, playing ping pong, pool, and talking with each other,鈥� which carries over to the dining hall, a major location for socializing. 鈥淪tudents are very conscious of keeping their mealtime free to see their friends, and there is a vibrant culture of scheduling conversations and catch-up time over a meal in the dining hall.鈥� Other noted activities include various clubor intramural sports; a series of rotating, weekly events; clubs ranging from 鈥渟wing dancing and sword fighting鈥� to 鈥渞eligious associations and reading鈥�; and Greek life, which includes a music-focused fraternity. Students say there鈥檚 space both for those who enjoy solitude to 鈥渇ocus on my classes鈥� and those happy that 鈥渢here鈥檚 always something to do or people to serve.鈥�