火爆社区

Thomas Aquinas College is a private Catholic college known for its dedication to the Socratic method style of teaching, so much so that the 鈥渂rilliant, yet down to earth鈥� professors are called tutors. Students appreciate these touches, explaining that 鈥渁ll our lessons, other than the monthly lectures, are in-classroom discussions in which tutors lead with a question and guide the conversation.鈥� This also provides much appreciated freedom through which 鈥渟tudents can direct the path of learning each day,鈥� though 鈥渟ome tutors have a more hands-on style鈥� while others 鈥済ive the students more of a free rein in discussions.鈥� Given the small student-to-faculty ratio tutors are described as 鈥減art of the community鈥� and 鈥渁re always available to talk, whether during meals in our cafeteria or if I need to ask them something in their office. They look out for me if I am struggling in a class and are open to any and all questions I may have.鈥� Students describe an environment that challenges them and supports their growth. As one student puts it, 鈥淵ou have to show up every day prepared and ready to engage constructively and kindly with your peers, and that takes some serious discipline.鈥�

Overall, the student body is 鈥渞eally friendly and wholesome.鈥� Many students are 鈥渁nimated by a definitively Catholic spirit鈥� and are 鈥渢rying to grow in their faith and relationship with God.鈥� Students describe their classmates as 鈥渟tudious and with a strong desire to do good and help others.鈥� There is 鈥渘o label [that] will accurately describe everyone, but for the most part, these are students who care about learning.鈥� TAC 鈥渉as a strong sense of community and mutual support. You can walk into any building on campus and find students helping each other with homework and engaged in conversation.鈥� Students form 鈥渞eally deep friendships based on the things that really matter鈥� and describe their peers as 鈥渟ome of the happiest, funniest, and smartest people I鈥檝e ever known.鈥� As one enthusiastic student elaborates, 鈥淭here are simply too many fantastic people here. I would love to become close friends with everyone but there is simply not enough time! Everyone is very kind, fun and hard-working.鈥�

The California campus is located in Santa Paula near the Topatopa mountain range and is within driving distance of Los Angeles. Outdoor recreation is popular, as students enjoy the school鈥檚 proximity to 鈥渆xtremely beautiful鈥� hiking trails as well as the nearby beaches that are frequent weekend destinations. Many students play intramural sports or join in as spectators to support their classmates. As one student describes it, intramural sports 鈥渂ring the entire college community together and provide a healthy outlet for energy and stress.鈥� There are plenty of activities on campus, including a 鈥渓ively drama department that does a show each semester,鈥� open mic nights, and chess, pool, and video game tournaments throughout the year. Choir is another popular activity, and there are 鈥渕any different choirs, some for religious purposes, and some for entertainment.鈥� Students note that religion plays a big role on campus, and most students 鈥済o to one of the daily Masses.鈥� Students describe off-campus parties鈥擳AC is a dry campus鈥攁s 鈥渦sually pretty lowkey; it鈥檚 overall not at all a party school.鈥� This isn鈥檛 seen as a loss by attendees; many spend their evenings instead reading for school or for fun, listening to music, baking, or socializing with friends in the dorm. As one student enthuses, 鈥淒orm life is fantastic: people hang out in common areas and stop by for a fun conversation.鈥�

Thomas Aquinas College 鈥渉as people only working for our well-being,鈥� and 鈥渋s an academic launch pad into any field you can think of.鈥� Its reputation is well known; graduates can 鈥渆xpress themselves clearly, understand the causes of an issue, and 鈥� isolate and attend to them in a cordial and personal manner.鈥� Students find the academic structure allows you 鈥渢o excel in whatever field you choose because of the habits of critical thinking that you've cultivated over the four years.鈥� Career Services is well-aware of the strengths of the curriculum's uniqueness: providing one-on-one counseling and distributing a Career Strategies Guide that specifically informs students on how to showcase their TAC education to employers. Students here 鈥渢ake the intellectual life seriously, and the life of study continues outside the classroom鈥�; in fact, 40 percent of alumni eventually go on to graduate or professional schools, and 10 percent enter the priesthood or religious life. Of those alums visiting Payscale.com, 56 percent said they derived a great deal of meaning from their jobs and reported a starting median salary of $60,000.