火爆社区

Saint Mary鈥檚 College of California takes a Lasallian approach to service and learning, using the study of the liberal arts to produce students who are both passionate learners and committed citizens. The diverse core curriculum is centered around the Collegiate Seminar, a series of courses in which undergrads read, dissect, discuss, and live the ideas behind major works of Western civilization. This foundation of 鈥渋nteresting texts...allows for students to bring in real world experiences,鈥� and encourages the 鈥渟tudent-based discussions rather than professor lectures鈥� that are a key aspect of a SMC education. The academic calendar also includes January Term, a month-long course in which enrollees deep dive into one single topic, which many agree is 鈥渁 fun and exciting way to keep students engaged.鈥� Undergrads can choose from one of the many robust study-abroad programs to gain valuable experience (and college credit) while immersed in a different culture. Students also have access to a plethora of academic support services, including tutoring, mental health counseling, and the Center for Writing Across the Curriculum. And if there鈥檚 anything that attendees need, the administration is committed to listening to student needs: 鈥淭he staff have been here for all of us students every step of the way.鈥� There are 44 majors offered across four schools, and a student-to-faculty ratio that allows 鈥渁mazing relationships with professors thanks to the small classroom sizes.鈥� Faculty 鈥渕akes sure that you know everything that you need to prepare you for life,鈥� and are 鈥渁lways accessible for meetings and office hours because they want their students to succeed.鈥� Additionally, teachers are 鈥渁n incredible resource for internships, grad school, [and] jobs,鈥� and 鈥渁re always trying to get us involved in outside events.鈥�

There is 鈥渄iversity both ethnically and intellectually,鈥� and since one-third of Saint Mary鈥檚 College鈥檚 students are the first in their families to attend college, there is a 鈥済reat alumni network鈥� that understands the remarkability of what many students have achieved in order to attend SMC, as well as the school鈥檚 鈥渁bility to produce well-rounded students through a well-designed curriculum.鈥� There鈥檚 also a strong 鈥渆mphasis on culture and ethic identities鈥� throughout every aspect of the school, which students find desirable on account of the way it 鈥渇osters a sense of community.鈥� This isn鈥檛 a gradual effect, either鈥攕tudents agree with the idea that 鈥淔rom the first day of orientation I knew that the student body was very accepting.鈥�

According to students, this is most definitely 鈥渁 calm campus,鈥� one that goes hand-in-hand with the chill vibe of the San Francisco Bay and the student population, most of which leads a laid-back life when not engrossed in studying: 鈥淧eople walk around campus, occasionally work out, and get food from local places.鈥� Cooking and watching Netflix are classic pastimes, and 鈥減eople spend a lot of time exploring the Bay Area,鈥� as the campus is close to Walnut Creek, Oakland, and San Francisco, where the weather is reportedly 鈥渂eautiful no matter [the] time of year.鈥� In fact, the Campus Activities Board 鈥渇requently gives BART tickets for students to take public transportation to go to events.鈥� Game days are some of the biggest of the year, and 鈥渂asketball is huge here.鈥� First-year students are required to live on campus, but they may choose to live off-campus their sophomore year. The tight-knit nature of the school creates a 鈥渃ommunal, friendly, and intimate鈥� sense of familiarity, as does its modest population of under 2,500 undergraduates: 鈥淚 enjoy walking to class and knowing eighty percent of the people I pass on the way there.鈥�