Antioch College
Yellow Springs, OH, USA

Reviews

Antioch College

Katherine from Hillsboro, OH

a current student here
15 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Tips for prospective students
Don't expect everything to be all hammered out within the next couple of years. Antioch is still just restarting up, and they are trying to rebuild the old ties that they lost. Don't let that dissuade you, though! It's a wonderful college.
Academic Rigor
There's a lot of homework for classes, but so far it's not quite overwhelming. As long as you can manage your time effectively. The classes are very relaxed and all-encompassing, making them an easy learning environment.
Dorm Life
As a first year, I'm living in the newly renovated North Hall, and it's awesome! A lot of people do their homework in the common areas, making social time really easy.
Food and Dining
The food is delicious! It's mostly local food, and the cooks are great!
What to do for fun
Yellow Springs has a lot of cool shops, and Dayton's night life isn't too far away for the weekend fun.

Hannah from Alexandria, VA

a current student here
13 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Antioch College is rebuilding itself after being closed down by the larger University which it was affiliated with. Now independent of the University, Antioch College is reclaiming its reputation as a top-tier liberal arts college with a big emphasis on encouraging social action, educating students to be global citizens, and creating valuable learning opportunities both in and out of the classroom. I absolutely love being part of such a passionate, inspiring community, and I am so happy to have found a school where I truly feel at home.
Tips for prospective students
When you visit campus (which you should definitely do!), make sure to talk to as many students as you can. We all have our own stories as to why we chose such a unique college experience, and we would all be more than happy to share them with you. When you come to see the school make sure to look around Yellow Springs, it's an awesome, artsy little town which has so much to offer! Another piece of advice I will give is, do not expect to walk into a campus that doesn't have work that needs to be done; not all of our buildings are open yet (we don't need them all yet since there are currently only about 105 students), so don't be put off by that. Our school is a work in progress as we try to restore it to what it was, but I promise that if you give Antioch a chance, you will find it to be an incredible place to live and learn.
Academic Rigor
Come to Antioch College if you are looking to actually learn something in school and be challenged. This is not a school where you come to waste four years of your life. The classes are incredible and very diverse, especially for the size faculty we have. Every professor that I have had thus far, have been far beyond what I ever expected. The classes are small, which means a lot of class-wide discussion and co-operative learning takes place, which is absolutely wonderful.
Dorm Life
Two dorms are open at the moment, with the first-years living in North Hall and the second-years living in Birch. Both dorms have been recently renovated, and North hall (where I live) is way nicer than any other college dorm I've visited. The rooms are pretty large, as are the common spaces. Laundry and the Dining hall are both on the first floor of North. North hall was renovated with environmentally-friendly ideas in mind. Outfitted with a geothermal heating and cooling system and solar panels on the roof, it is soon going to be the oldest Gold LEED certified building in the Country.
Food and Dining
I can not praise the food at Antioch College enough. Our kitchen staff and chefs are incredible people who seek to meet every individuals need when it comes to food and diet. We always have things that are vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and anything else anyone needs. The food is absolutely delicious and beyond comparison to any other food I've eaten on other college campuses. About 90% of our produce comes from local, organic farms (including our own farm located on campus), and a lot of our meat and other items are local as well.
What to do for fun
Yellow Springs, while a small town, is absolutely brimming with things to do. On any given weekend there are multiple art openings, music and poetry performances in the local coffee shops, movies at the indie Little Art movie theater, and of course there is shopping in the locally owned shops down-town. On campus, there are always people hanging out in the dorms, or you can always take a ride to any of the nearby cities (Dayton is 30 minutes, Columbus is 45, and Cincinnati is an hour). There is no Greek life, so if you're looking for that kind of social atmosphere you won't find that here; however there are parties on and off campus that students or people in town throw every now and then.
Bang for the buck
Antioch College is offering a scholarship called the Horace Mann Fellowship for the first four entering classes since the re-opening (there are two classes of students here now, so the next two incoming classes will be the last the receive the scholarship). The scholarship covers the entire tuition, so all you have to pay is room and board, which there is some financial aid available for as well.
Great for these types of students
--people who would rather go star gazing with friends than go to a Frat party
--people who care about the environment and want to make a difference
--people who want to live in a town with practically no chain stores or restaurants
--people who care about their education and really want to learn
--people who want to be part of rebuilding something incredibly special
Clubs and Activities
Seeing as our student body is very small at the moment, clubs and activities are not the prevalent, although there are a few which are running very strong, and it is very easy to start a club. The Student Council, Bio-medical society, Newspaper, Drama Club, and Rock Climbing club are a few of the more active clubs on campus.
Greek Life
There is none. And we like it that way. :)
Campus Safety
Yellow Springs, Ohio has one of the lowest crime rates of anywhere in the Country, so I feel very safe here. The dorms are locked at all times, and need a student card key to open them. We have campus police who are always around patrolling, and who are on-call in case anyone needs help.

Gabriel from San Diego, CA

a current student here
12 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Choosing to go to Antioch, a small, rebuilding liberal arts college that is smaller than the United States Senate, is like choosing the road less taken. It deviates from the traditional, conventional notions of what college is supposed to mean to an individual. Here at Antioch, education aims to prepare an individual for the practical world of work, competition, and challenge, with refined world views and broadened skills.
Tips for prospective students
Be really mindful of the fact that Antioch is an unconventional college in an atypical situation at an atypical time. Also consider that Antioch does run year-round. One thing that is expected of any Antioch student is grit - the persistence, the right confidence, the courage to face challenges and strive for some victory for humanity. But because Antioch has such atypical circumstances and unconventional deviations from the mainstream college system because of said circumstances, it may not be the right fit for every student seeking to go to college. One's choice to go to Antioch and accept both its offers and its challenges will largely depend on (1) what one seeks to get from college and (2) what one believes college is really supposed to mean in this day and age.
Academic Rigor
In some ways, it is not unlike a typical classroom environment with the usual homework, lectures, and readings, but in other ways, it's far different from the typical colleges with 10,000+ students. With such a small class size, discussions are far more active, open, and genuinely interesting, and learning becomes far more individualized.
Dorm Life
It is absolutely wonderful, and even absolutely wonderful is rather of an understatement. It is comfortable and convenient, and literally invokes the idea of a home away from home. People enjoy socializing in the common areas every day and every night.
As of 2012, there are only two dorm buildings: one for the second-year students and one for the first-year students (with few exceptions, but that is generally the case for all intents and purposes). Rooming in the dorms will shift as students go to and return from their co-op jobs.
Food and Dining
Most, if not all, of our food is grown from our local farm. We harvest our own vegetables. We use our chickens for eggs, and we also use our chickens for chicken....
The food is absolutely delicious, and on top of that, healthy as well. Vegans and vegetarians are very much pleased.
What to do for fun
In my class (class of 2016), when we aren't studying, doing homework, doing laundry, or catching up on sleep, we have people playing Magic, playing video games, watching Japanese anime, watching other movies, going out to Yellow Springs, playing instruments, reciting poetry, knitting, going out exercising, going out shopping, playing ping pong, completing puzzles in the library, and many other things people like to do in their spare time with other people. There is no limit to the fun activities we can do (granted that they are within campus safety policies, of course).
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Antioch's library has some of the oldest texts and works in the world, and is a really wonderful place for studying. There is practically another library within the library (underground). Along with the usual books, there are countless archives, old tapes, and even some reel-to-reel recordings.
Great for these types of students
You will definitely like it here if you are:
-An introvert (Everyone gets along so well and is so open. You will no longer feel like the introvert you once were. Natural extraverts do enjoy their time here as well.)
-One who leans left on the political spectrum
-One who is uncertain of going to a conventional college
-One who is really interested in liberal arts and social justice

Jeremiah from East Liverpool, OH

a current student here
6 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Antioch College is one of the best decisions I've made. Everyone here is so wonderful and accepting. Not only is it an accepting environment it is an active one.
Tips for prospective students
Expect a lot of debates at Antioch College. Everyone here is diverse in the best way possible, but we are also very vocal about our opinions. Antioch College is focused on social justice and equality as well. You are allowed to be a loud voice at Antioch, but be aware that other people are allowed to be just as loud.
Academic Rigor
The classes here are tough. But they are definitely fair. Academic competitiveness isn't as important as Academic co-operation at Antioch. We all help each other out.
Dorm Life
The dorms are wonderful. There is very little verbal fighting and no physical fights, and the fighting that happens is usually resolved within minutes. Everyone here tends to have a level headed approach to conflict. The dorm rooms themselves are fairly spacious. And they try to room you with a close personality match for as much comfort as possible.
Food and Dining
The food here is phenomenal! The variety of options is great. They take into account vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and other dietary restrictions as needed.
What to do for fun
Yellow Springs and Antioch College are crazy places to be. The town has such an odd variety of things to do. Fair warning: city folks may find themselves in a bit of a culture shock. Yellow Springs is a small town. There are a variety of cafes that people frequent. Political events happen frequently.
Yellow Springs is a very musical town, and something is happening every week. There are nearby towns that are also very active if Yellow Springs isn't cutting it for you.

Antioch College is one of the most politically active colleges I've seen. People are usually organizing events to travel to, or other various activities. The student body is very fun to be around as well. We tend to make our own fun, and that is no understatement. We all seem very cultured and like to share movies, music, games, ideas, and political movements with each other.

Not to mention the fact that there are usually at least 2-3 events happening on campus every week.
Bang for the buck
Since Antioch is giving the Horace Mann Fellow Scholarship out, students really only have to pay for room and board, traveling expenses, and books. It's a really great deal for what you are getting.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Antioch recently restarted, so we as students are sort of making our own traditions as we go.

The Olive Kettering Library is one of the most popular study or even hang out spots for students. The Library allows food, drinks, and even talking and socializing for students and the general public. There is an old record room for anyone who likes old music. It has one of the most expansive libraries in Ohio and one of the best rare book collections in the U.S.A. (It's not uncommon to have the only copy of some texts in the world.) Above the library is Antiochiana, which houses the rare books, various rooms for presentations, and just a generally cool place to be.

Great for these types of students
Politically active, social justice oriented, and equality focused students will do wonderfully at Antioch.

Minority students will do wonderfully here as well.
Clubs and Activities
The clubs at Antioch recently just started up and so it's difficult to keep up with all of them.

You can probably find a club or two to fit into.
Greek Life
We aren't about that life.
Campus Safety
The campus, despite being open to the public, feels very safe. The worst crimes in town are limited to bike theft and that never happens on campus. Campus security is always available to escort students. Students also look out for each other a lot. Self-defense workshops happen often as well. Student dorms are keycard only and have rigorous guest processes to help students feel safe.

Tymber from LA Vergne, TN

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Antioch is a beautiful college set in a funky town called Yellow Springs. It is not for the average person; in fact, it is for people that are wacky and creative and wish to speak their minds. Despite the fun, Antioch still has some issues, and it really just needs the students' guidance!
Tips for prospective students
Be aware that, like all colleges, it is not always fun and games. I was a little naive coming here, and thought it was going to perfect. I probably read the reviews on this school on this site about a thousand times because I was so excited to go here. Just don't let your enthusiasm completely cloud your judgement. People are really passionate here, which sometimes leads to some censorship. If you lean more conservative, you may not really like the school. It is very liberal, which I honestly love, but again sometimes, the people who go here can create a toxic environment. Make sure you do your research, and also if you really want to be here, fight for it. They love to see students with grit!
Academic Rigor
It's pretty rigorous. It may not seem so the first quarter you are here, but over time the difficulties build. I would also say it depends on the classes you take, and how much you are willing to handle. I had chem and bio this quarter, and it was rough. Be prepared for anything the professor will throw at you, even really really short deadlines!
Dorm Life
It is fun! You make friends very easily, and it has a very community-like feel to it. Everyone respects each other, for the most part. People like to steal each other's ice cream from the freezer now and then, but other than that, it is pretty nice!
Food and Dining
The food is good sometimes and other times, you wonder what in the world the chefs were thinking that day. The food will make you nostalgic for home, and much of the food comes from the farm on campus!
What to do for fun
You can go to The Little Art Theater, get salsa dancing or modern dance lessons, mingle with the townies, go shopping in the cute, eclectic stores, go to Young's Dairy (you can feed goats there!) or Corner Cone, participate in the big festivals that the Village sometimes has, go out with friends, or participate in the events on campus!
Bang for the buck
Free tuition for the first four classes!
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Drink from the springs in the Glen, and as legend has it, you will always return to Yellow Springs!
Great for these types of students
Liberal
Passionate
Understanding
Grit
Hard-working
Fun-loving
Dying to speak their minds
Open
Adventurous
Clubs and Activities
Plant Club
Salsa Dancing
Feminist Group
Masculinity Club
Gay / Lesbian / Transgender / etc Club

Still needs work, but you are open to create any club you wish, as long as you have support!
Campus Safety
Very safe!!

Richard from Phoenix, AZ

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Antioch is awesome. Its a place to fit in. Everyone is nice, and cares.
Tips for prospective students
You have one more year to apply and get a full tuition scholarship. Jump on it.
Academic Rigor
Its not easy.
Dorm Life
Comfortable and fun.
Food and Dining
Foods amazing, some of if comes from our farm on campus.
What to do for fun
Walk the glen, go to youngs, go to Dayton, hang out, ride a bike, read, watch tv.
Bang for the buck
Especially with the scholarship. Totally worth it.
Great for these types of students
Free thinkers. Hard working.
Clubs and Activities
You have your choices.
Greek Life
None
Campus Safety
Security on campus at all times need a key to get into any building

Current Student

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Antioch College is a small liberal arts school that is trying to get itself back up and running. Its Sexual Offensive Prevention Policy has become known in universities nationwide. There is a lot of focus on current, real world problems such as social justice, sustainability, etc.
Tips for prospective students
Come with an open mind. Antioch is not like other colleges you may experience.
I did not visit the campus before attending, but I would recommend that you do to get a feel for campus and the town.
Academic Rigor
The academics may be incredibly rigorous depending on the track you take. My classes have been challenging in all the right ways.
Dorm Life
Comfortable. Cozy. It's very easy to know everyone around here. There are always conversations and almost always games and activities going on throughout the day (especially weekends). The dorms can get very musical at times!
What to do for fun
There are discussions and presentations available to attend on a lot of dates. Yellow Springs is a very cool town with cute shops and coffee stops. There's also a small theatre.
If you want to grab fast food/see a more popular film you would have to face about a 20 minute drive to a neighboring area, but a lot of people go out and it would not be hard to find a ride.
There's a nature preserve basically across the street to hike on.
Great for these types of students
Students looking for a small school and town. If the thought of attending a more conventional school makes you gag you'll probably like it here.
Clubs and Activities
There are so many clubs and starting one yourself is very easy.
Campus Safety
I have not run into any safety problems. Security/help can always be reached.

Alana from Waterford, MI

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Great liberal arts school. Small and friendly. A terrific place to get an education.
Tips for prospective students
Visit the campus and get a feel for what it's like here.
Academic Rigor
Challenging but rewarding.
Dorm Life
We all sit in the common area and lounge together. Most students know all the other students here because so few students go here.
Food and Dining
We have wonderful meals here. About1/3 of the food we eat comes from our own farm. Everything is super fresh!
What to do for fun
So many clubs! Join DIY Club, basketball, volleyball, tennis, a cappella or create your own! With a recently renovated wellness center you can also workout or go for a dip in the pool. Plus, there's always something fun to do in Yellow Springs!
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Lot's of buildings are closed down and need to be renovated, but it makes are campus fun to explore! There are really unique places on campus, there's a spot where MLK gave a speech and a chair that was used by Rod Sterling, creator of The Twilight Zone.
Great for these types of students
People looking for a small liberal arts school in a small town setting. It's not a place to vacation for four years!
Clubs and Activities
Already mentioned these earlier, but here are a few more to join:
Debate team
Queer Center
Running club
Spanish club
And many more!
Greek Life
We have none, and that's the way we like it!
Campus Safety
We always have security on call. That being said, I never feel the need to use it because the campus is small and safe. I am not afraid to walk to my dorm alone at night.