Goshen College
Goshen, IN, USA

Reviews

Goshen College

Stacy from Goshen, IN

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Classes are academically based and require studious habits. This benefits the students overall. Liberal arts colleges creates a well-rounded individual.
Am enjoying being here
Residence hall and building activities are numerous. Social atmosphere is constant yet not out of hand. Although the college does have behavioral standards, they do not create a sense of being overly controlled. Often, Christian colleges place many restrictions on students which treat them not as upcoming adults, this is not the case at Goshen College.
Bang for the buck
Expensive tuition and rooming due to the private college status. However, the community atmosphere and opportunities at the college make up for the expense. On campus jobs are abundant and available for those who make the initiative to apply.
Tips for prospective students
Attend social events for they are what help mold the community atmosphere.
Great for these types of students
Mennonites and other religions alike. Although the college is officially considered a Mennonite college, other religions and cultures do not feel excluded or separated from the majority. Personally, I felt as though there were no religious separations due to the sense of community. Chapel services specifically cater to Mennonites but nourish all religions.

Christine from New Paris, IN

researching this school
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Will learn a lot
The teachers are excellent and care about students as individuals. Everyone will know your name.
Will enjoy being here
You will enjoy Goshen's close-knit atmosphere. However, make sure that you visit at least once before deciding to go to GC. Make sure that the environment is what you want. Some students don't like the small size or Mennonite atmosphere.
Bang for the buck
Tuition is through the roof, but it's worth it.

Bobby from Berne, IN

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
At Goshen you find a passionate community and lifelong friends. Goshen provides opportunities to engage in classes with professors, on campus with other students, in the community and around the world through its courses and unique Study Service Term. Here is a place where I have grown and will be sad to leave.
Tips for prospective students
Stay overnight, go to a choir concert, attend a hymn sing, sit in on Peace, Justice, and Conflict studies class.
Goshen is expensive, but it also offers a lot of scholarships-- so be sure to look into those!
Academic Rigor
As at any college, courses differ in difficulty. I've been pleased with the level of rigor, though Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry were definitely challenges that I wouldn't want to repeat. The courses are engaging, and because small class sizes, you can engage with professors. Professors integrate what we learn theoretically to real life issues, and they engage with hard questions.
Dorm Life
Living in the dorms as a first and second year provides great opportunities for meeting new people and making lifelong friendships. Some of my best memories are of staying up late having deep conversations with people, watching movies, running to Steak & Shake or Taco Bell, going on floor retreats, or having late-night hymn sings with over 80 people!
Juniors and Seniors have the option to live in small group housing or in apartments.
As a junior I lived in an on-campus house with 9 other people, and had a great year! We had fellowship meals once a week, and there was always someone to cook/talk/watch a movie/ play a game with!
Food and Dining
The Westlawn Dining Hall is catered by AVI fresh and offers a wide variety of food options. There's always a well-stocked salad bar with an assortment of lettuces, spinach, vegetables, and cold pastas. We have a main line of hot foods that always has at least one vegetarian option. There's always two types of soup available, and we always have a special Fusion station where staff prepare a special option. There's even multiple types of pizza at every meal! Overall, the food is good quality and there's always something for everyone.
What to do for fun
With over 40 clubs, 7 musical groups, multiple sports teams, an active residence life, and an active community, Goshen always has something going on. Oftentimes you have to pick and choose what you want to do because there's so much.
You can play ultimate frisbee, make music with people, watch movies, attend concerts, go to sporting events(soccer games are especially fun!), and basically whatever else you might want to do! There are some parties that happen and you can go to, but there's no pressure to do that, and there's always plenty to do besides.
Bang for the buck
Goshen, though it has an expensive sticker price, is totally worth it. No one pays the full tuition because of all the scholarships that are available.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Goshen has a long history of singing hymns. Many times each semester, students will congregate to sing hymns, filling the space with beautiful four-part harmonies. Before Goshen, I didn't thinking singing hymns could be that much fun, but now I know that this singing is something that I'll take with me wherever I go.
Another thing that's special about Goshen is the relationships with professors. Your professors will know you by name, and they encourage you to call them by first names. It's not uncommon for your class to be invited to a professors house for super or desert!
Great for these types of students
Goshen is perfect for students who are passionate about peacemaking, social justice, making a difference in the world, the environment, christianity, and community! If you want a place where you can grow and be challenged, a place where you will have leadership opportunities, and a place where you will find lifelong friends, then Goshen is for you!
Clubs and Activities
Goshen has over 40 clubs, multiple music groups, plenty of sports and intramural activities, campus activities council, an active residence life group, and many performing artist concerts. If it there isn't a club for an activity that you like, you can make one!
Campus Safety
Nestled in the small town of Goshen, Goshen College feels like a home. I feel comfortable walking alone at night on campus, and I know that there is an active security official always patrolling.

Elizabeth from Greensboro, NC

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
A small, liberal arts, christian school that focuses on a personal education specific to your needs. The downfall of such a small school is the hours of the cafeteria and library, but the resources are just as good as any university. It is a well grounded and tight-knit community that let's everyone share in a common bond and goal for justice in our world.
Tips for prospective students
Make sure you want to be at a small school and enjoy that tight community feel. Also, if you want to be at this school and aren't very spiritual, I advice being open-minded to a more religious view in some classes and in the weekly chapel.
Academic Rigor
The science classes are much more rigorous, but the 100 and 200 level classes for English and otherwise aren't especially strenuous.
Dorm Life
Gorgeous dorms with great connecting lounges and hallways for all of the students. There is a really good dorm life staff and cleaning staff, so the dorms are clean and there are always fun floor activities.
Food and Dining
It is a smaller school, so the hours are fewer and the so are the options. However, there are new things to try most days and some classics that can keep you full if there is nothing else that suits your appetite.
What to do for fun
There are many intramural sports and the gym has really fun options, such as: racquet ball, spinning classes, and a rock wall. There are hymn sings, which are fabulous, and many other ways to find service that works for you. There are always sporting events going on and floor activities during the night. And no matter what, you can join or start a club that suits your fancy.
Bang for the buck
You receive a really good education that also focuses on servicing our world and our communities. The professors love what they do and expect and help you learn no matter what. Regardless of what you believe or what help you may need, someone is there to help guide you and enable you to receive the best education possible.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Hymn sings are a really cool tradition. The Hymn Club has a meeting once a week and then every now and then a giant hymn sing happens on campus. Faculty and students alike join in four harmony for 15-20 songs and just enjoy music and fellowship.
Great for these types of students
If you are looking for an small setting with intimate classes and spiritual availability, this is the place for you!
Clubs and Activities
There are a good number of clubs for the size of the school and they vary from theatre club to introvert club. So regardless of your personality, you can find one that fits you and your schedule.
Campus Safety
We have keycards that let us on to floors and dorms. There are video monitors around campus and you often see security around at night. I've always felt very safe.

April from Goshen, IN

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
It has a good student-professor ratio and even most lower level classes are taught by professors with doctorate degrees. The cafeteria serves mostly organic food from a variety of cultures in addition to the basic college fare of pizza and sweets. There are quite a few social clubs on campus as well.
Tips for prospective students
It is a Mennonite College so one should familiarize him or herself with the Mennonite faith and ethnic Mennonite culture. The college is working on improving its relationship with LBGT students but still has a restrictive policy concerning openly LGBT faculty. The college is also actively working on becoming more welcome to ethnic and religious diversity.
Academic Rigor
It is important to pay attention to how much study time the professors suggest students take for their classes. Goshen College is known for being good preparation for grad school. The professors are strict but fair. An A in other schools is typically a B at Goshen College
Dorm Life
The dorms are segregated by gender and drinking is not allowed in the dorms or off campus housing. However, there is still alot of fun to be had with dorm parties and picnics held year-round.
Food and Dining
Food is fanastic. Meal plans are a bit pricey but for organic locally grown food its worth it. There is a lot of variety. The college has a cafeteria nicknamed The Fresh. It used to be the Rott before AVI became the food provider. It also a has a grill , the Leaf Raker and a student run coffee shop called Java Junction.
What to do for fun
There are lots of campus related clubs and other student led activities. The drama and music programs are really good. The town of Goshen also has a First Friday each month downtown with music, food and wares for sell. There is something for everyone.
Bang for the buck
The school is a bit pricey but the Finaid department really helps needy students with scholarships and other aid. It seems that athletes get the best Finaid packages but there are several scholarships available based solely on academic achievement.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
There is a lot of singing and first years go through the Goshen Tunnel created by other students, professors and staff on their first day of college. There is this annoying tradition of Goshen Borrowing...where people will take/steal bikes or other items without asking. Usually the items are returned but not always.
Great for these types of students
International students will like the tuition breaks that Goshen College offers and they are given first priority for on campus jobs since they can't work elsewhere on a student visa. Students who wish to major in Biology or Nursing do well. The college has a strong music and arts program as well. Students who just want to go a party school and slack off will not do well.
Clubs and Activities
there are clubs for every major in addition to political and social issues.
Greek Life
There isn't any.
Campus Safety
Safety of students is taken very seriously. The security here is vigilant and very approachable.