火爆社区

The University of the South (known as Sewanee) emphasizes the 鈥減ractical applications of learning instead of traditional final exams,鈥� offering 鈥渁mple group projects which give [students] a chance to work collaboratively with classmates while learning to innovate and think critically.鈥� Through the Sewanee Pledge, all students receive funding for a summer internship or research fellowship, along with a semester-long study abroad experience at no additional cost. In the natural sciences, Sewanee 鈥減uts a huge emphasis on experiential learning, made possible through our access to the [Domain]鈥濃��13,000 acres of forests, bluffs, meadows, lakes, and caves. Courses also 鈥減rioritize engaging with members of organizations outside of the school in the surrounding counties,鈥� and many assignments 鈥渃hallenge what you have learned and allow for creative expression.鈥� This ability 鈥渢o interact thoroughly with the content of the courses鈥� is a highlight for many students. Faculty serve as the 鈥渂iggest support pillars,鈥� and all 鈥渉ave a strong desire to connect with their students and aid in their overall academic journey,鈥� fostering an environment where discussion is encouraged both in traditional classrooms and in outdoor settings where many classes are held. One student recalls a course where 鈥渋t felt as if the professors were our peers and wanted to learn from us and our perspectives in the same way we learn from them.鈥� Long-standing traditions such as the Honor Code 鈥渉elp create a strong sense of identity and community鈥� and shape 鈥渁 culture of trust, integrity, and mutual respect,鈥� leading one to say, 鈥淚 love knowing everyone loves Sewanee as much as I do.鈥�

Many students here 鈥渉ave extremely specific interests,鈥� with the groups 鈥渢hat stand out as Sewanee-specific [being] nature lovers and civic service lovers,鈥� and the university supports this by providing 鈥渟o many opportunities for students to find their place and try new things.鈥� A strong sense of camaraderie connects people across campus: 鈥淓veryone who goes to Sewanee or went to Sewanee swears by the university as a fundamental part of their lives.鈥� There is 鈥渁bundant Southern charm,鈥� and 鈥測ou can walk up to anybody on campus and strike up a conversation.鈥� One student describes their peers as 鈥渆xtremely smart and extremely nice,鈥� noting that students 鈥渧alue good grades and spend a lot of their nights focusing on schoolwork or even broadening their horizons themselves.鈥� Students also say that everyone 鈥渢reats each other with an immense amount of respect.鈥� As one student says, 鈥淲e are a collective, small enough for us to have friendships wherever we go, and big enough to still have the joy of meeting new people.鈥�

Sewanee鈥檚 campus, known as the Domain, is widely celebrated for its natural surroundings, with students noting that 鈥渢he beauty鈥�is unmatched.鈥� One student adds, 鈥淚t takes about two minutes to step into the woods and immerse yourself in the wilderness.鈥� The school 鈥渆ncourages students to lead an active, outdoors lifestyle and to engage with the surrounding community,鈥� and does so in part through the Sewanee Outing Program (SOP), which 鈥渓eads a lot of hiking, caving, [and] canoeing鈥�trips.鈥� The campus fosters a close-knit environment where everyone 鈥渋s somehow connected to everyone else because it is a smaller campus,鈥� and nearly all students live on campus. Housing options include theme houses that group together students with similar identities and interests. Because 鈥渢he school IS the town, on weekends the whole campus parties together,鈥� Greek life 鈥渋s inclusive and social events include all members and non-members.鈥� Campus traditions such as the Order of the Gown are important to the Sewanee experience, reinforcing a strong sense of community. Another student adds, 鈥淭he unique aspect of being on our own little mountain facilitates such a wonderful environment for everyone to thrive in.鈥�

The University of the South creates 鈥渁 unique education that cultivates leaders and scholarly community members.鈥� The emphasis here 鈥渋s not on competition, getting the high-paying job, or destroying the grading curve: it's on learning and personal growth.鈥� The Career Readiness office is there to assist all students in achieving this, offering individual coaching, peer advisors, and identity-based resources. Real-world experience is prized, so all Sewanee students are guaranteed funding for a summer internship or research fellowship. Students are eligible for grant money from the Career Opportunity Fund to assist with the costs of career exploration, graduate school applications, and interviews. Students also 鈥渉ave several opportunities to participate in research (as a participant or investigator), and there is constant participation on both sides.鈥� Post-graduation, the school enjoys a 鈥済reat reputation around the South, which allows for higher job placement with better benefits,鈥� and there is 鈥渁n extensive alumni network which will support you after college,鈥� available through the Sewanee Gateway online platform. The first-year program, Finding Your Place, introduces students to campus, course work, and professors and pairs them with classmate mentors. This leads to an interdisciplinary immersion that 鈥渁llows students to learn outside of a specific discipline, and often reveals connections in areas that students would otherwise not know.鈥� The focus on personal growth is evident: for those Sewanee alumni visiting Payscale.com, 62 percent say they find a great deal of meaning in their work. The median starting salary for Sewanee graduates is $62,800, as reported to PayScale.com.