Simpson College Reviews
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Freshie
12/31/2009Reviewer is A current student here.
4 out of 4 people found this review useful. 1 of 14
Categories Comments Great for these types of students Simpson is a very small school. It is great for small town kids or students who just like the intimate setting in classes.
Tips for prospective students If your looking at Simpson, be sure to visit campus. Look at the dorms, buildings, and eat in the dinning hall. Get a feel for what an average day at Simpson is like. Apply, even if you don't think you can afford it, you will be surprised at the amount of aid you can get. Also, try out the facebook roommate selection. I found my roommate that way, trust me, it's a lot less of a headache.
Bang for the buck Honestly, Simpson is exspensive. Get as much financial aid as possible. Overall though, your education is worth it. I have a relationship with all of my professors, and who could really say that going to a public college? The dinning hall food is not the best, but other than that it is a beautiful campus with great dorms!
Am enjoying being here I love living at Simpson. Most of the students are within four hours of their homes. Luckily, I am only 20 minutes away. I love this because I am close enough to home to see my friends, but I don't have to stay at school. There are normally enough things to do on campus between forum events, CAB activities, and sporting events. You just have to get out and do things.
Am learning a lot The best thing about Simpson is the relationships you can have with the professors. The biggest class I was in this past semester had 35 students in it. Having small class sizes makes discussions easier, but, on the downside, professors know when you're missing. They care about you, and expect you to take their classes seriously.
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Rebecca from Indianola, IA
08/18/2009Reviewer is A current student here.
2 out of 2 people found this review useful. 2 of 14
Categories Comments Great for these types of students Any student that is willing to step up and be great. Simpson offers many opportunities and if you are willing to put yourself out there, you can only be set up for success.
Tips for prospective students I would highly recommend stopping by during Private College Week for the tour and if you decided to really make a commitment to Simpson, befriend your destination leader during your personal tour. They will be a great help for EVERYTHING during your school year.
Bang for the buck The freshman dorms aren't the greatest, but they are a good environment to live in for your first year. They are very user friendly and are located in central campus so all of your classes are easy to find, as well as the food!
Am enjoying being here There is almost always something to do, whether it is on campus or around the town. The location is also great because it is so close to Des Moines. I also enjoy the size of the campus because I don't have to walk all over the town to get from class to class.
Am learning a lot I will be a sophomore at Simpson this year and I find the environment to be very learner friendly. The professors are always willing to help when I don't understand something, and the student services are great, too.
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O #25 from Indianola, IA
06/02/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
2 out of 2 people found this review useful. 3 of 14
Categories Comments Campus Safety The campus security are remarkable they protect the students and are very responsible in their work. Their isn't much to worry about being in a small town in Iowa so the campus site is pretty safe.
Greek Life The greek life is small but overall it helps you network yourself after college. We have a couple of frats which are SAE, ATO and Kapppa. All these frats host different events to better the campus which is an exiting feat.
Clubs and Activities There are the fratenities, intamurals which is very popular on the campus and sports events to attend. There are also activities on campus such as the talent show and comedians who attend the college but the activities are interesting and entertaining.
Great for these types of students This school is great for the type of students who want a quiet enviornment to focus on their studies but also have a great college experience in a small social enviornment.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus There is a tradition called stand around where you begin to walk around campus and meet others where you participate in numerous events which our entertaining. There is Homecoming as well which is also eventful.
Bang for the buck This school promotes all the sporting events and gives away gifts which will suprise any student.
What to do for fun Every weekend their is a party of some sort or there are events in the beginning of school which the school promotes which are interesting but in the middle of the year it's usually parties on the weekend.
Food and Dining The food served at Simpson College isn't quite pleasurable. The food sometimes isn't up to par but some days the food is quite impressive but most of the time I don't recommend the food on most days.
Dorm Life The dorm life is remarkable. They have a freshman dorm and a sophmore dorm for both classes but the upper classes which are the Junior and Seniors get to live in apartment like dorms which get you ready for the real world after college.
Academic Rigor The school work is difficult to an extent and their is a lot of time spent in the library but at the end of four years the time spent in the library is worth it.
Tips for prospective students Give Simpson College an opprutunity they give you an excellent opprutunity to excel in their school work. If you are looking for a party school this isn't the school to pursue but this school will give you a quality education and 98% of students find an job after college which are the benefits of attending a private college.
In three sentences Simpson is a prestigous college in a small town called Indianola. It is a quiet friendly enviornment town which gives students the opprutunity to excell at their work. It may be a non party school but it's tremendous academically.
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Shannon from Denison, IA
07/10/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 4 of 14
Categories Comments Greek Life Three sororities and four fraternities
Great for these types of students Artistic
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus Walk to end the isms
What to do for fun Dances, bingo, sports games, opera performances, theatre performances, creative u (paint and do crafty things), yoga, and intramurals
Tips for prospective students Apply for the theatre and music scholarships. You get money just for participating.
In three sentences It has a beautiful campus and lots of activities. You have the option to design your own major. They have great may term options.
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Macy from Des Moines, IA
07/16/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 5 of 14
Categories Comments Great for these types of students Music, Forensics, Teaching, Liberal Arts, Theatre,
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus Humans vs. Zombies games
Bang for the buck Four dollar movies on the weekends, and an activity every single night.
What to do for fun The theatre department and musical department always have an event happening just around the corner. They have a lot of intramurals, and several clubs and teams to join.
Food and Dining The fries are incredible and are probably their best known food. They keep a variety of food, from pastas, to salads, to dessert, to cucumber water. They are adding a Starbucks and another food restaurant to campus. The meal plans are not very customizable, however.
Dorm Life The dorms here are much nicer than any other college I have visited. The floors are carpeted, the building is air conditioned, the school provides the lofting bunk beds, and the rooms are spacious. There are bathrooms located very close to the rooms. The wash and dryer are in the dorm buildings, and their use is free.
Academic Rigor The college works hard on keeping the students active on campus. They give everyone so much school pride and school spirit. The assemblies are made to be so fun, as well as preparations for assemblies and games.
Tips for prospective students Call the school for any question. They are always very willing to help, and they are very clear with their answers and recommendations. Attend the scholarship weekends. I went and had a blast, and received quite a bit of scholarship money from it.
In three sentences Simpson is an incredibly welcoming facility. The campus is kept very lovely and clean, and the faculty members and teachers are kind, and quick to help. The students I have met are all ecstatic about attending this school.
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Jordyn from Hartford, IA
08/21/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 6 of 14
Categories Comments Campus Safety Very nice security!
Clubs and Activities Soo many to choose from!
Great for these types of students Students who don't mind spending a little more for the smaller classes and more personalized learning.
Bang for the buck Awesome school all over!
What to do for fun They have tons of intramurals!
Food and Dining College food always gets old after the first couple weeks.. Meals from home always seem so much better once you've started college.
Dorm Life Very fun, they have a lot of activities to do!
Academic Rigor It is a good place, with a great education!
Tips for prospective students Plan early! It's never too early to begin searching for colleges that will fit your needs!
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Emily from Colorado Springs, CO
09/07/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 7 of 14
Categories Comments Campus Safety There is not a time of day or place that I would not feel safe walking to, even alone. Campus Security will also escort you if at any time you do not feel safe.
Greek Life There is Greek Life on campus, but is not like larger schools. The sororities and fraternities are much smaller in numbers and this allows for tighter bonds and more leadership position opportunities. They are actively creating philanthropic events which benefit the community as well as their philanthropies.
Clubs and Activities There are so many clubs and activities to be a part of at Simpson College! There is religious life community, political groups, residence's life, and major groups to name only a few. There are also many leadership positions in classes that students can apply for such as Teacher's Assistants or Supplemental Instruction Leader.
Great for these types of students Simpson is a great school for those interested in the arts. There is a new performing arts center that hosts the opera each year and is supported widely by the community. The Athletic Training program at Simpson is very competitive, with knowledgeable teachers, and many hands-on-experiences.
Bang for the buck The professors are very personable and the small class sizes allow for easy learning. Resources are easily obtainable and there are many free programs that the school provides, such as tutoring. There is free laundry and cheap parking fees. To top it off, there will be a new campus center opening October 2012 that has new dining options along with frozen yogurt.
What to do for fun There is a Campus Activity Board that provides many activities throughout the year such as BINGO, dances, pottery painting, comedians, and random events. We also have fitness classes offered at a fitness cent ,such as step and zumba. These are all free for Simpson students. Simpson students also get a discount at the local movie theater. At homecoming each year, we have Yell Like Hell, which is a very large stomp/dance competition. It really brings the whole college together for the night.
Food and Dining Pfieffer Dinning Hall was remodeled over the summer and resulted in a variety of food options. There is a buffet line, pizza station, subway like sandwich station, and a chef who makes a personalized version of the dish of the day.
Dorm Life Freshman dorm rooms are decently sized, well kept, and centrally located on campus. Upperclassmen dorms are suite-like. Student's keep their doors open when they want company and many other's stop by for a study break. Dorms are usually quiet during the week and occasionally are louder on weekends.
Academic Rigor The professors are very personable and the staff is always looking in the student's best interest. Professors are very open to working with students one-on-one and always have their door open.
Tips for prospective students Make sure that you tour campus! There are a lot of opportunities at Simpson as there are at other colleges, but at Simpson there is a tighter community. Be sure that you take into consideration that Simpson is a small college.
In three sentences Simpson College is home away from home. The small town community and the college work together to give students the best opportunities possible. Resources are easily accessible and the education gained here is excellent.
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Ell from Indianola, IA
11/17/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 8 of 14
Categories Comments Campus Safety I've not had much experience with the security guys but they are really good at giving tickets out.
Greek Life The Greek Life at Simpson is different from any other Greek Life you'll find. The pledges are all very nice, but Greek Life is still expensive.
Clubs and Activities Again, all the clubs conflict with each other and it sucks.
Great for these types of students -Greek Life kids -Athletes
Bang for the buck Simpson is a pretty pricey college, but they help a lot in the financial aid area. It would not be worth attending at all without financial help.
What to do for fun Nothing, all the clubs conflict with each other so it's a drag when you want to be involved. Everyone leaves on the weekends, so there's not much to do but hang out at the Frat houses.
Food and Dining Even with the opening of the brand spanking new Kent Center, the dining is awful. There is no variety and everything manages to lack flavor no matter what it is. Not only that, but there is always a long wait when you want to eat. I shouldn't have to wait 30 minutes to buy a bowl of soup and a cookie for 13 dollars.
Dorm Life The dorm's are awful, there is nothing good about them. You do not have to pay for laundry which is cool, I guess. People will disrespect your area and every harass you via your white board. Fun! The bathrooms are pretty dirty and the water pressure is awful.
Academic Rigor The academics here are high school level, in my opinion. Every class is so easy that I don't have to do my work and I still pass with flying colors. If you want a challenge, go some where else. The professors here are really nice though.
Tips for prospective students If you want to feel like you're still in high school for another four years than Simpson is a great place for you. Keep in mind that you will have to-- it's a requirement-- take classes you have no interest in because of their academic program. Make sure you learn everything you can before you attend or you will waste a year of your life here like I did.
In three sentences Simpson College is lacking in the College Experience I was hoping for when I applied to be a student, there is nothing College about it. 75% of their students, including me, go home every weekend because there are no activities to do on the weekends and the food here is mediocre at it's best. The only good thing about Simpson is the campus is small, so walking to class isn't a big deal.
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Morgan from Creston, IA
02/05/2013Reviewer is A current student here.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 9 of 14
Categories Comments Campus Safety Feel very secure walking across campus alone at night. Security is always willing to answer questions. They have people on call to drive you somewhere in a golf cart if you feel uncomfortable.
Greek Life Not involved in this, but there are 3 sororities and 4 fraternities
Clubs and Activities A lot of IM activities ranging from sports to card games. Lots of athletic teams where you don't receive scholarships, but try out and are recruited.
Great for these types of students If you want a small environment. Like one on one access. Want to be involved.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus There are seals that you are not supposed to step on or it is said that you will fail your next test.
Bang for the buck If you really like it, it is well worth the money. However, it is really expensive
What to do for fun Movie theater, attend Simpson events, Des Moines is only 20 minutes away
Food and Dining Regular dining hall and a new student center with 4 restaurants
Dorm Life The dorms are nice. In a double room you get 2 desk, 2 chairs, 2 dressers, 2 closets, 2 lofted beds, and a bookshelf. Each room has an individual thermostat.
Academic Rigor In comparison to the community college I took classes at while in high school, it is way harder. Lots of reading and papers.
Tips for prospective students Make sure you don't have any summer reading assignments. Don't procrastinate - learn time management skills now! Fill out every scholarship you qualify for - even if you don't think you stand a chance of getting it. Be wise when picking a roommate. Don't stress over trying to pick a major right away.
In three sentences It appears to be full of activities when you visit, but in reality it is a suitcase campus, which leaves you with nothing to do on weekends. The small campus makes it easy to get anywhere in 5 minutes. The teachers know you on a first name basis and are willing to help and meet with you out of class.
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Anna from Cedar Rapids, IA
02/26/2013Reviewer is A current student here.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 10 of 14
Categories Comments Campus Safety Simpson's campus is incredibly safe. Indianola is a pretty small Iowa town, so there isn't much crime to begin with. We also have a 24 hour security service that will drive you from building to building if you ever don't feel safe at night, though there's nothing really to worry about.
Greek Life Greek Life is wonderful. I'm in a female fraternity ( ;) ), and it is one of the greatest things I've ever done. I love my sisters, and the entire process one takes to go through bidding is long, but totally worth it in the end.
Clubs and Activities Simpson has tons of clubs and activities to do for any sort of person. We have clubs ranging from Comic Book Club to Computer Club, to Religious Life Formation Groups, to Simpson Student Democrats. The clubs are also working on doing more collaborative work with each other, so you're likely to be exposed to many different things on campus.
Great for these types of students Simpson College is actually a great place for all sorts of students. Simpson is renowned for its vocal music program, and the rest of the departments are well ordered as well. Simpson is actually a very liberal campus, and stands against many social injustices so there's always a way to be involved with the world around you.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus Don't step on the seal! If you step on the seal in front of College Hall, you'll fail your next test. Oh, and there's also the ghost of Mildred.
Bang for the buck Simpson is a great college academically. If you go to Simpson you know you're going to get one of the best educations you could pay for, which is priceless. Unfortunately, the food isn't that good and the tuition is ridiculously expensive.
What to do for fun Simpson College is in Indianola which is a pretty sleepy town, but we're about fifteen minutes from Des Moines which is fantastic. We have the venues nearby, but none of the traffic. Simpson is quiet at night, which is great for sleep, but it also leads to a lot of people going home on the weekends.
Food and Dining Simpson has multiple on campus venues for food because the Kent center was built and some restaurants moved in. The trouble with the food in the Kent Center though is that it is ridiculously expensive; you don't get your money's worth. The other option is Pfeiffer Dining Hall, which is all you can eat, but they decided to close it on the weekends and sometimes the food isn't the most tasteful.
Dorm Life Dorm life at Simpson is pretty laid back. At the beginning of the year in the freshman dorms we had meetings to get to know each other, but that all stopped when a lot of people switched rooms, floors, and even buildings! Greek life also took a lot of people so the dorms aren't actually all that active, which is nice for studying.
Academic Rigor Simpson has a wide variety of classes, and thus, Simpson has a wide range of difficulty for classes. Advisors will make sure that no student attempts to take a 300 level class their first year, but students are also free to take the classes they feel they're ready for if they have the prerequisites. I absolutely love the challenges the classes give me at Simpson because I know I'm not paying for a bad education.
Tips for prospective students The biggest tip I have for prospective students would be to not be afraid of talking to the professors. The professors aren't like high school teachers. They will help you with absolutely anything and will take as much time out of the day as needed to make sure that you succeed to the best of your ability.
In three sentences Simpson College is an amazing campus where I have grown immensely. I absolutely love Simpson, and others do too, though no college is perfect. It's a beautiful place to be.
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Ali, IA
01/02/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
0 out of 4 people found this review useful. 11 of 14
Categories Comments Tips for prospective students Do your assignments and study.
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Sweet Pea
01/05/2013Reviewer is A current student here.
0 out of 1 people found this review useful. 12 of 14
Categories Comments What to do for fun Intramural sports are a blast!
Food and Dining The food is good but it would be nice to have more variety.
Dorm Life Most of the time we get along really well.
Academic Rigor The professors have high expectations
Tips for prospective students Get your financial aid figured out early.
In three sentences This is an excellent school!
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Kendra from Indianola, IA
03/20/2013Reviewer is A current student here.
13 of 14
Categories Comments Campus Safety Campus security is never more than five minutes away. There are street lights lighting up every inch of campus, and the small town of Indianola makes you feel completely secure. Other than the random pranks, Simpson is a place where you can feel completely safe.
Clubs and Activities We have a ton of activities around campus. Each year, students are given the opportunity of creating new school-sponsored clubs, so if you do not see something you like, then round up your friends and fix it! I don't think you'll run into that problem though, since there is everything from yarn club and comic book club to the radio station and chemistry club along with all of the sports and intramural sports that Simpson offers.
Great for these types of students Simpson is home to a wide variety of students. You would have to want a smaller school and more personalized education.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus Never step on the seal! Stepping on the Simpson seal will make you fail your next test (maybe). Simpson is made almost completely of brick buildings and sidewalks. It gives the campus a cozy feel especially with snow falling in the Iowa winter.
Bang for the buck Simpson is pricey since it is a private school. I think they could use the money in better ways by adding more water fountains or getting more updated dorms. If you choose the right classes, you will get the education that you pay for, but some professors may just let you off a little too easily-- you have to talk to professors themselves to find out.
What to do for fun Indianola is a small town with not much to do. The Simpson Campus Activities Board helps with this a lot. We have hump day has where we have a comedian come one Wednesday a month to perform on campus with no admission fees. CAB also puts on Bingo, dances, and a variety of activities that will keep you entertained. If you are not one to get involved in these and would rather be out clubbing, then Simpson might not be for you since the nearest clubs are at least 25-30 minutes away.
Food and Dining The dining areas are changing thanks to the new campus center. However, the food still is not that great, and there is not much diversity. Most of the food is american hamburgers, or salad, soup, pastries. The lack of diversity can get pretty tiring.
Dorm Life Like most dorms, Simpson's dorms are small. It is nice to be able to walk anywhere on campus from your room in less than five minutes. However, you cannot move off campus until your senior year, and upper-classmen housing is pretty close quarters for four people.
Academic Rigor Studying is an important part of school, but we tend to do a lot more projects and hands-on activity than most schools do. Being a small school, you have the time and capabilities to do fun activities during classes that help you learn. The fun activities tend to help you grasp the difficult concepts that you will learn.
Tips for prospective students Just relax and be yourself. Check out our new Kent Campus Center which is filled with yummy food for your meal plan! Meet with the professors and find which ones you can talk to the best- having a good adviser is crucial! Last, do not sweat not know what you want to do, everyone changes their major, and you will not be alone when you say you've changed it at least five times your freshman year.
In three sentences A small school with a beautiful campus which is a great place to get individual attention. Teachers are cooperative and excited to help you understand the material. Getting to know people is easy since everyone is so friendly and the school is so small.
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Heather from Indianola, IA
05/01/2013Reviewer is A current student here.
14 of 14
Categories Comments Campus Safety I have never felt unsafe here
Greek Life They seem pretty into themselves and are very family like
Clubs and Activities Plenty of different organizations on campus. From artsy to comic books to rugby
Great for these types of students Anyone to be honest, anyone who is looking to be social
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus Don't step on the seal, you will fail your next test without a doubt. A lot of creepy spooky stuff on campus late at night, especially the crawl spaces in the freshmen dorms.
Bang for the buck If I could do it again, I would make the same choice in coming here. BUT cost keeps increasing and the scholarships and grants don't, what's up with that?
What to do for fun There are usually plenty to do on campus on the weekends. Movies, bingo, craft projects, comedians, could use more live entertainment. Sporting events are fun to go to and the plays are always good. Intramurals are a must
Food and Dining Some of the food in the dining hall is questionable on what it even is. Breakfast is always amazing though. The lines in the student center can be ridiculous depending on when you go to eat, hope you like waiting.
Dorm Life Freshmen and sophomore dorms have been great. Some of the upperclassmen apartments look a little dumpy and could use work, such as more lighting and cleaner in general.
Academic Rigor Classes can be very challenging so don't get behind or if you have questions speak with your professor right away
Tips for prospective students Get involved as much as possible
In three sentences Very welcoming to all in coming and new students. It is easy to settle in and feel like home. The smaller size means more attention from professors which in the end helps the learning process.
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