火爆社区

Founded in 1842, Roanoke College is a private Lutheran school that wants students to leverage all of the academic, cultural, and practical resources the school has to offer. Real-world experiences such as 鈥渇ield trips, service components, [and interacting with guest] speakers鈥� are encouraged, and there are also study abroad opportunities available in 50 different countries. Students value the flexibility and range of the Intellectual Inquiry curriculum, as well as a three-week Intensive Learning Program in which students focus on a single topic through a variety of activities. These help students 鈥渇ind their purpose on campus and explore several different fields of interest at once.鈥� On the whole, 鈥渕any classes are discussion-based,鈥� and professors strive to engage their students and focus on critical thinking. 鈥淪ome [professors] even encourage respectful arguments to show different views to get students thinking about [what] they are learning.鈥� Many students relate that the professors are what they like most about the college. As one student puts it, 鈥淚 always feel welcomed and listened to by my professors.鈥� Another says, 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 rare to have this many professors that truly care about your success and well-being.鈥�

This 鈥渟maller, community-like college鈥� has nearly 1,900 undergraduates, which 鈥渁llows for relationships between students and faculty,鈥� but it鈥檚 still large enough that 鈥測ou can walk across campus and say 鈥榟i鈥� to five people you know and still see five people you don鈥檛.鈥� Though most here are 鈥渨hite and come from [an] affluent background,鈥� the school is 鈥渟teadily working toward a reflection of the diverse population of Virginia,鈥� and students themselves strive 鈥渢oward building a diverse, welcoming community for fellow peers on campus.鈥� And as another student says, 鈥淓verybody is unique in their own way and makes you feel welcome.鈥� Roanoke attracts 鈥渟mart, kind people who are genuine and excited to get to know each other,鈥� and even in class, students 鈥渁re very open in sharing their opinion and personal life when it is relevant to the lecture.鈥� The overall sentiment is that 鈥渢he students are caring, determined, and outgoing.鈥�

There is a 鈥渟trong community both within and outside of the campus,鈥� and the school does 鈥渁n amazing job of emphasizing the 鈥榝amily鈥� aspect of what it means to be a Maroon.鈥� Typical days involve some combination of the following: going to class, working out, eating with friends, doing homework, and hanging out on the Quad. Many students remark that they would like more on-campus dining options but note that there is a coffee shop just off campus that many students frequent. Athletic games (especially basketball) are highly attended, and students enjoy spending time outside playing games like spikeball or relaxing in hammocks. On Mondays, 鈥渕ost students go to Theology on Tap, which provides free food and is hosted by the chaplain.鈥� Roanoke is located 鈥渋n a beautiful area filled with hiking and kayaking nearby,鈥� and 鈥渢here are lots of hiking trips on the weekends.鈥� In any time not spent studying, there 鈥渁re always people hosting hangouts from Greek life鈥� and people going into the towns of Salem and Roanoke to 鈥渢ake advantage of the things like outdoor gear rentals and movie ticket discounts.鈥� In general, people 鈥渓ike to participate in many clubs.鈥�