Anna Maria College
Paxton, MA, USA

Reviews

Anna Maria College

Bernice from Bridgeport, CT

accepted here and planning to attend soon
7 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Will learn a lot
The student to teacher ratio is 15-1!
Will enjoy being here
If you like a small campus, this is the college for you!
Bang for the buck
I had no prolem getting money for Anna Maria College. My award letter covered everything.
Great for these types of students
Anna Maria is great for students who like a small campus. If your not use to the big areas then this college is great for you.

Ernie from Nashua, NH

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Anna Maria College is a beautiful small campus college in the town of Paxton, Massachusetts. We are a family here, and through daily interactions and events and programs, we truly get close to each other. There is always something amazing and new happening.
Tips for prospective students
Come take a tour of our campus. Especially on a bright day, it is so beautiful because we take good care of it. When you get here, talk to everyone and anyone you find. If I find you, you can be sure that I will say hi.
Find out about all of the different opportunities we have here. Most likely, there will be many things that interest you. Get involved as soon as you can. Lives change for the better here at Anna Maria, and I know that because the people I have in my life from Anna Maria and the experiences I have here are a significant part of who I am.
Academic Rigor
The academic rigor certainly depends on what your major is. Some of the most challenging majors are nursing and the music majors, music education, performance, and music therapy. Those students have busy schedules with classes for sure. It is all worth it, as each is very passionate about the field they are in. Some of our other majors, such as fire science, which is my own, are not so challenging in the classroom. This is a plus, though. It allows for time for education and experience outside of the classroom, such as clubs, internships, and community service organizations on campus and within the community.
Dorm Life
We are a family in my residence hall. That is the environment that I make for, and it is reality for many of us. We currently have five residence halls, with plans to build more if we increase enrollment. Madonna Hall, built in 1958, is our oldest and houses most of the freshmen year students. Saint Anne Hall, built in 2011, is our newest suite styled building, with suites of four or six people. Alumni Hall, our substance free residence hall, and Coghlin Hall, our quiet, more studious residence hall, are both connected. Alumni Hall was once our art building and was renovated into a residence hall, and in 2008, Coghlin Hall was constructed attached to it. We also have South Hall, which a more temporary housing unit, located to the rear of Saint Anne Hall. Our Residence Life staff is amazing, with resident assistants who care and provide weekly programming within.
Food and Dining
Beginning in the fall of 2011, we now have SAGE Dining Service, and they are wonderful! Each person comes with his or her own preferences and background of food, which makes it difficult at any college to please everyone, but we do the best we can at Anna Maria. They are always open to suggestions and will be honest with you if it is possible to make a particular change. The dining hall is my absolute favorite place to be on campus. It is an amazing feeling to come have breakfast, lunch, and dinner with your friends who you care about.
What to do for fun
There are so many things to do for fun that I could not write about all of them here. Our campus activities board, AM(CAB), has programming at least every weekend, in addition to all that our other clubs and organizations put on. Every day there is something to do. Just on campus, to name a few, we have dances, singers, comedians, hypnotists, and many more throughout the month. Many days of the week, there is something going on in the Campus Center when you walk in for lunch. There is always something and you simply need to get involved and make it happen.
Bang for the buck
It is all worth it. It is too much money for many people, and we are working on that, but it is all worth it. You'll never believe how amazing this experience will make your life and who you will become through it. Make the most of each and every day. And, if it does seem too expensive for you, be sure to ask for help.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
My favorite traditions on campus are during the holidays! We have a campus nativity scene followed by a tree lighting ceremony. Yes, our facilities department actually decorates the trees and buildings on campus. We also have a very special Christmas dinner hosted by our college president, which includes an amazing and fancy meal, class tree decorating and song competitions, prizes and gifts, and a special guest. It is the best time! As for special locations, did you know that we have two gazebos on campus? One is behind Saint Joseph's Hall, our science building. Oh, and did you know that a big part of our 192 acre campus is wooded trails that surround it? It is so beautiful! Oh, and thanks to the Sisters of Saint Anne, there are tunnels running under our campus, some that are usable and others that are not. We do use one from the Campus Center to Trinity Hall when the weather is harsh. We seem to have a spirit in the Zecco Performing Arts Center, who I hear is named Teresa and I have witnessed likes to play with the lights. I hear we also have a spirit, or some, in our music building. For me, this is really cool, and is an excellent example of our history.
Great for these types of students
Anna Maria College is excellent for people who love to be involved in something. You can come in and just go to classes and then leave, but what we do here is so much more. There are so many clubs, organizations, community service opportunities, events, and programs to be involved in to make for a special holistic experience that will be significant to who you are.
Clubs and Activities
Especially during the 2011 and 2012 academic year, our clubs and organizations have grown to over thirty clubs, organizations, and groups that you can be a part of. Make sure you explore each and every one of them. You will likely find many that interest you. Students at Anna Maria have the opportunity to be involved in more than they even have time for. I know that, because that is how I am.
Greek Life
We do not have any Greek life at Anna Maria, and that is how many of us like it. We are one big family on campus, and in our residence halls.
Campus Safety
We are in the middle of a very small and quiet town, making it very safe. Our public safety department is staffed every moment of each day, all throughout the year, even during the summer, and they patrol campus constantly simply for precautionary purposes and because they really do not have much to do. All of us here at Anna Maria are very friendly people. And, because we have people majoring in such fields as fire science, criminal justice, nursing, and paramedicine, we have knowledgeable people to help keep it safe and help in the event of any emergency that could arise. Quite a few of our fire science students work and volunteer for local fire departments, including Paxton Fire.

Anonymous from MA

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
AMC is a small Catholic college in the middle of nowhere, north of Worcester. It is well-renowned for programs for music, sciences, and art. The teachers are knowledgeable and care about their students.
Tips for prospective students
Definitely visit and check out the location. It is close to Worcester, but AMC basically makes up the town of Paxton. Plus it gets super cold.
Academic Rigor
It could be harder, not that I am complaining. Students learn a lot over the course of their education. If you want to succeed, you will.
Dorm Life
The dorms have a lot of rules, especially about guests/visitors. It does not feel like college sometimes. Some dorms are in better condition than others but they are all unique and great in their own way,
Food and Dining
The dining staff cares about students and accommodate as much as possible to their needs. The food is decent. There is always a bowl of fruit, lettuce. and bread if you don't like the main dishes. Lots of options though.
What to do for fun
Athletic center and there are a lot of clubs to be a member of. There are musicals every semester. Class can be fun too!
Bang for the buck
Scholarships are available to pay the tuition
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
10 meals a week vs. 19 meals a week.
If you get 10 meals, you get more money for the Hub downstairs that serves food all day.
Great for these types of students
There is no one type of student that would like AMC. The football and basketball boys love it though!
Clubs and Activities
active minds, habacats, visual arts club, theater, student government
Greek Life
NO GREEK LIFE!
Campus Safety
They are actually Paxton Police. Feel safe but watch out because they WILL ticket your car if you are not in the right parking lot.

Sarah from Framingham, MA

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Great teachers and teaching techniques.
Am enjoying being here
Good, small campus and great students and faculty.
Bang for the buck
Expensive, but if grades are kept up, merit scholarships help with the cost. But definitely worth the money!
Tips for prospective students
DON'T SLACK! Keeping up with work is a fool-proof way to succeed!
Great for these types of students
Wants a small college community and wants a great student-professor relationship.