Grove City College
Grove City, PA, USA

Reviews

Grove City College

Jonathan from East Islip, NY

a current student here
27 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I believe listing 5 stars on this is an understatement. I did not think it was even possible for me to learn the amount of material we have covered just in my first semester! The professors are all extremely helpful and the class sizes allow for a more personal interaction with them in the event of a troublesome topic.
Am enjoying being here
Again, 5 stars doesn't cover it. The professors are amazing and obviously really love what they do. All the students (that I've met) are also amazing and love to have a good time, but (for the most part) are also passionate about learning. On top of it all the cafeteria food is even pretty good!
Bang for the buck
While $19,414 may seem like a lot to me to pay each year for an education, it is probably half of what other private schools cost. In addition, I don't think that I could ever recieve a better education. Most definitely worth all of the long hours worked over the summer and breaks to help pay for it!
Tips for prospective students
As the popular campus saying goes: Grove City College--where your best isn't good enough since 1876. It will be a lot of work, but it will also be the most amazing learning experience of your life. Also, be prepared to be challenged and uplifted in your faith by both students and faculty. Finally, if you love sports, this is the place for you. On average a student participates in 2.3 Intramural sports...not including club and varsity.
Great for these types of students
Somebody who loves a challenge and is willing to work hard but can also relax and have a good time! Oh, and it's pretty tough to get in so WORK HARD in high school!

Note: Grove City is NOT a good school if you're a party-person. Yes, we have some pretty awesome parties--no, I have not yet even seen any alcohol or drugs on campus (as mandated by GCC standards).

Shanda from Titusville, PA

a current student here
13 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I am learning so much more than I did in high school. It seems as though the information is presented in a clearer way and it is more applicable to to life in general.
Am enjoying being here
I have made so many great friends and it seems like everyone is there to help you out. There are tons of activities to choose from, whether it be sports, swing and ballroom dancing, worship, theater, or music. Every weekend, it seems, there is some event such as talent shows, Whose Line, dances, special speakers, and movie reviews.
Bang for the buck
You can't find a better college for a better price. Both of my roommates decided to come here because they couldn't find a better college in their state - even though they're all the way from California!
Great for these types of students
It's great for those who don't mind working harder than they did in high school and for those who like being on the more conservative side. We have lots of campus jokes about that.

Mandy from Phoenix, AZ

a current student here
8 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
So far, I've had TONS of academic knowledge crammed into my brain, but I've also been learning a lot about myself and how I deal with life on my own. Grove City is a great place to go if you want to be serious about school, but there's also a lot of non-academic lessons to be learned, as well.
Am enjoying being here
I'm from the opposite side of the country, so Grove City seems not even real, like it's from a postcard or a calendar or something. Of course, it rains a lot more than I'm used to, but now I actually have an appreciation for sunny days! Also, everyone I've met here has just been awesome, and even though I still feel like a dumb freshman, I know there's always someone willing to help me out if I just ask.
Bang for the buck
Grove City prides itself on being affordable, and it's the cheapest of all the schools I was considering. Despite being budget-friendly, all of the facilities are really nice - they just renovated the freshmen girls' dorms, which is definitely a plus. Also, they give all incoming freshman new tablet PCs, which means that everyone has the same tool, and therefore the same opportunity as far as internet access and notetaking and such.
Tips for prospective students
Make sure that you come and visit the campus - most people live really close, so that's not hard, but as someone who comes from further away, it was really important for me to see what GCC was actually like. The numbers in the pamphlet didn't convince me to come here - it was the atmosphere and the general attitude of everyone here when I visited.
Great for these types of students
Anyone who knows the value of hard academic work and is good at balancing tons of work with social stuff. Also, someone who is strong in their relationship with Christ or would like to be stronger - yes, it is a Christian school, and I think anyone who isn't Christian would probably feel a little out of place. You don't have to have all the answers, though...people here are in all different stages of their faith.

Katherine from Tucson, AZ

a past student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Did learn a lot
The faculty and classes are wonderful. The small class sizes mean your professors will know your name and it is easy to have an interactive class. The professors are experts in their fields and communicate effectively. The theme of the school is 'Rigorous Academics' and it is no joke. You have to work hard to keep up but it is totally worth it. Another important feature of the school is it's Christian foundation and a Christan Worldview is constantly taught in the classroom.
Did enjoy being here
The campus is beautiful and there are some great school sponsored activities. Apart from that there is not much to do. Grove City is very small. There is one coffee shop downtown and the outlets are nearby. As far as entertainment goes, the movie theater, The Guthrie, plays one movie a week. There is a drive in about 20 minutes away but is probably not open in the winter. There is no way to get to Pittsburgh if you don't have a car.
Bang for the buck
Grove City is very affordable. It is cheaper than some in-state institutions!
Tips for prospective students
Visit the campus! Definitely interview! Talk to current students. Apply Early Decision if you know it's where you want to go.

When you get in, take Old and New Testament with Dr. Bibza!
Great for these types of students
Hard-working, Christian, challenge-lovers, engineering, Liberal Arts

Jacob from Whitinsville, MA

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I've learned more than a lot. I've learned more than I thought I had the capacity for! The professors here are passionate about what they teach, and they truly want their students to learn the material (not to just appear to have learned the material). Yes, the professors assign more difficult work; and yes, it can be overwhelming at times. But that is how you get such a high-quality education here -- you're being pushed to actually learn the material!
Am enjoying being here
Personally, I don't think I could enjoy any other college as much as GCC. While we GCC students have a relatively atypical sense of fun, there is always an interesting activity or event to participate in, and people are always willing to hang out and have a good time. (No, this does not imply wild partying; Grove City College is not a party school by any stretch of the imagination.) In my experience so far, GCC is an awesome place to be, and I really do love it here. The campus is beautiful, the food is good, and even the dorms are comfortable. My only complaint is that there's often too much work to be done to really appreciate being on campus. Yes, that's to be expected given the high caliber of education I am getting, but it does take away from the overall enjoyment of being at GCC.
Bang for the buck
From Grove City's website:

U.S. News & World Report has again ranked Grove City College the No. 1 Best Value in its category for the 2007 guide. This year marks the fifth year in a row that Grove City has been named in the top spot.

As a student at GCC, I will say that there is a reason for this. I am learning a ton here, I am confident that I am getting a phenomenal education, and tuition (plus room & board) is less than $10,000 a semester. Compared to what you'd pay at another private school for a comparable education, that price is an absolute steal.
Tips for prospective students
Yes, it's a lot of work to be a good GCC student. Yes, you can still have an awesome college experience despite that fact. Practice good study habits so you won't be knocked off your feet by the workload when you get here.

As a member of a fraternity, I can say that it's been awesome being able to live with such an amazing group of guys this year. When you get here, look into fraternities, sororities, and housing groups. It has really enhanced my college experience, and I would recommend that all freshmen consider it.

Most importantly: Don't get too worked up about grades! Do your best, but don't stress as if you need an A to have a successful future. Strive to glorify God with your work here, and you'll have nothing to worry about.
Great for these types of students
Grove City college is great for hard-working, bright students who want to follow Christ, live and grow among other devoted believers, and learn to use their gifts to their maximum potential.

Lynn from Lewis Center, OH

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Every class that I have taken so far has challenged me. I have learned so much this year, not only about what I am studying, but also about myself and how to be successful. Professors are always willing to help.
Am enjoying being here
There are so many amazing people here. Hardly ever do I meet a mean person. The workload is hard, so that is sometimes not enjoyable, but I really like my major and classes, so that makes the hard work less painful. There are so many great activities and ministries to get involved in too that make life here so much better.
Bang for the buck
It is reasonable for a liberal arts college, but there are not many scholarships offered.
Tips for prospective students
The interview is important. Don't come here if you plan on partying and drinking often.
Great for these types of students
Students who want a challenge, Christians, students who want small classes, all kinds of people- athletic, musical, artsy, etc.

Sophomore Grover

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
GCC is a small and beautiful campus located in Grove City, PA, a similarly small, but charming, town. It has a close-knit student body family and the professors love getting to know their students personally. It has top-notch academics that will challenge you, but plenty of clubs, organizations, and intramural sports to blow off steam with.
Tips for prospective students
Come to the campus and experience it for yourself! Come and meet your potential professors in a major you are considering at one of the Junior or Senior Crimson days. Have a meal in the cafeteria. Talk with students walking around on campus and you will see just how friendly they really are.
Academic Rigor
The academics are quite challenging here, but they will help you learn.
Dorm Life
The majority of the students live in the on-campus dorms. This helps form that close family community we have. Guys and girls have separate dorms, but intervisitation is allowed on weekends and on Wednesday nights. Most of the dorms also have lobbies that are open to both genders until midnight everyday (longer on the weekends). This is very nice as during the week those who really need to study can have peace and quiet without the distraction of their hallmates and roommates having fun with their significant others, but for those who do want to get together with their boy/girlfriend there are places they can go to hang out. All the freshman resident students are placed in the same dorms (North Hall for the girls and Memorial or Hicks for they guys). This is great as it gives the freshmen a chance to really get to know their own class in a unique way. There are also some on-campus apartments available to upperclassmen. The rest of the dorms are made up of both halls with community bathrooms or suites. All the freshmen live on halls with community bathrooms.
Food and Dining
Bon Appetit is the company that is in charge of the food here at Grove City College. I have heard that they have been better in years past, but recently the food has not been great. There are two main dining rooms on campus attached to two of the dorms: Hicks and MAP. The food is set up as a buffet where you can go to different stations and pick out exactly what you want. There is also a small place to get food in the students union called the Geedunk. You can either choose from a set of options and purchase with a meal credit from your meal plan (just like you would when going into Hicks or MAP), or you can order something else and buy it with money. You can also get coffee, milk, juice, soda, junk food, or baked goods there. The Geedunk is open longer than the regular cafeterias so it is nice to have it as an option if you accidentally miss dinner or something. If you want to treat yourself to really good food, go to the biweekly Food Feedback Forums that are put on by Bon Appetit and the Students Government Association. Bon Appetit always goes out of their way to make something really good for those.
What to do for fun
There are plenty of great clubs and intramural sports to get involved with for fun. You can also just hang out with friends in one of the two rec rooms and play pool or ping-pong. There is also a nice coffee shop in town that you can easily walk to called Beans on Broad that students like to hang out at. GCC is not a party school, so if that is what you are looking for don't come here. Grovers have a blast just being with friends and don't feel a need to go and get stoned doing so.
Bang for the buck
GCC is an extremely inexpensive school which makes up for the fact that it doesn't accept federal aid (they will take state aid if you live in PA). They also have a pretty good financial aid program and if you get good grades, you can qualify for scholarships. Even if scholarships don't cover everything and you need to go into some debt (like me!), I would definitely say coming here is worth it! I love GCC and can't picture myself anywhere else.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
There is a tradition that happens when Grover guy asks his Grover girlfriend to marry him and she accepts. The guy's friends plan an ambush for him and carry him down to Wolf Creek (which runs through campus) and toss him in! His new fiance is supposed to meet him with a towel or she may be tossed in as well!
Great for these types of students
GCC is great for students who are willing to work hard and really care about their studies and who are looking for a close college family.
Clubs and Activities
There are a ton of clubs to choose from! From fencing to ballroom dancing to rugby to the Secondary Education Society, you will find something that fits you.
Greek Life
Greeks and independents get along quite well here. Most people I know have friends in both groups. Greeks make quite the scene during rush week and organize a number of the social events for the whole college.
Campus Safety
This has got to be the safest campus and town in America. I don't know of anywhere else where people can safely claim tables in the cafeteria by leaving their wallets on it! I always feel very safe walking around by myself, even at 1 am. Campus safety is frequently making the rounds so you did need help for whatever reason, you would get it very fast.

Christopher from Philadelphia, PA

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Grove City is serious about academics, so be ready to be challenged in that respect. Grove City also is fairly diverse; like any college campus it has its fair share of wild people who are in college just to have a good time. At Grove City, you will be challenged and you will grow over all four years; I've learned so much and I'm glad I chose Grove City.
Tips for prospective students
Get ready to read and to learn. It's tough, but it's worth it. If you're not serious about academics and if you don't enjoy learning, I wouldn't go to Grove City.
Academic Rigor
Since Grove City is located in a small town, there isn't much city life or activities during the weekends, which means that academics are the top priority for Grove City students. Academically, Grove City is excellent, at the top of its class.
Dorm Life
Dorm life can be good if you join Greek life, otherwise it can be fairly isolating. As with any college, if you find a group of friends that you love, you'll make it through college just fine.
Food and Dining
The food is pretty good, though not the best. But there's always a couple of things that are good options in the cafeteria.
What to do for fun
This is probably Grove City's biggest struggle; since it's located in a small town, there's no city life and during the weekends there often isn't much to do. But with friends you get creative and always manage to figure something out.
Bang for the buck
Grove City is extremely low in cost. This is outstanding because the low cost isn't a compromise for high academics; both high academic standards and a low tuition are here at Grove City.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
When a guy gets engaged, all of his friends surprise him, tackle him, and carry him to Wolf Creek which runs through lower campus and through him into the river. This is called Creeking, and it's pretty fun. The cries of Wolf Creek! Wolf Creek! are often heard in the fall and spring, and that's the cue that someone is being creeked.
Great for these types of students
If you are hard-working, diligent, Christian, devoted, and love learning then Grove City is the right college for you.
Clubs and Activities
There are a plethora of clubs and activities to join. Because Grove City is a Christian college, there are many ministries on campus that serve the surrounding area.
Greek Life
Greek life is vibrant, with many sororities and fraternities. This is a great way to form bonds and friendships that extend far beyond the college years and into your whole lifetime.
Campus Safety
The campus safety at Grove City is good, though the students are usually mocking them or pocking fun at them, but I think that's true of every college and their campus safety groups.

Alex from PA

accepted here and planning to attend soon
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Tips for prospective students
I would definitely suggest visiting the campus before you make any decisions. The campus at Grove City is gorgeous and the staff and faculty are really nice and super helpful. And of course it is really helpful to be on top of things, and make sure that you are giving yourself the time you need to get everything done.
Academic Rigor
I've heard so many good things!! The professors that I met were all so nice and ready and willing to help you learn. The classes seem to have challenging material in it, while still being exciting in a way that makes you want to learn more.
Dorm Life
The dorms look AWESOME. Not too big, not too small, and plenty of leeway for decorating. It's cool to have a room key card like hotels.
Food and Dining
Think I'm weird if you want, but I was mostly excited that they have chocolate milk available. But the dining areas are well cleaned and not too crowded. The food looks great with a lot of options including healthy stuff, but I didn't get a chance to eat it, so I am not sure if I qualify for this part of the review.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
well, I don't remember the story so I won't try to tell it to you, but I'd just like to say if you are a guy at Grove proposing to a girl at Grove, I would suggest doing it when it's warm out, or after graduation, unless you are up for a little fun in the water.
Clubs and Activities
I don't know if this counts as an activity, but I'm really excited for chapel. Also, two other things that I personally think are cool are the ballroom dance club and any music performances. They also have CREW!! yay!

Kate

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Before coming to Grove City College, I did not even think it was possible to learn so much in such a short time. The professors here cover material at a fast pace, but still manage to address topics in depth and challenge you to think about the material and make connections to other topics and subjects. Even if you took many challenging courses in high school, you will not waste a lot of time going over material you already know. The preliminary material is covered quickly, and then you will rapidly move on to more advanced topics, keeping the material fresh and interesting for advanced students. A Grove City College education will challenge you to think critically and deeply.
Am enjoying being here
Grove City College has a very safe and supportive environment that allows students to flourish. Drugs, alcohol, and crime are practically nonexistent, and the campus has a distinctly genuine Christian atmosphere. Chapel is offered twice a week, and there are many additional special chapels and speakers throughout the school year. Students also have the option of joining small groups or attending student-lead worship services. There are a wide array of on-campus activities, ranging from a huge selection of intramural sports to service and ministry opportunities to dances, concerts and other recreational events. The professors are extremely helpful and caring, and because of the small class sizes, many of them will know you by name. In my experience, the professors are excellent at keeping their scheduled office hours and are always willing to answer questions or discuss a topic or issue in which a student is particularly interested.
Bang for the buck
While the college’s annual tuition fee of $21,008 is higher than the tuition fees at state schools, it is still much lower than the cost of almost all other private colleges. This fee covers the cost of tuition, room and board for the entire year. A 21-meal-per-week meal plan is included in this cost. Students also receive a notebook computer at matriculation, which is theirs’ to keep upon graduation. The quality of the education you will receive for this price is exceptional, and Grove City College is known for providing an affordable quality education. However, incoming students should be aware that Grove City College does not accept any federal funds including federal grants, federally affiliated scholarships, and federal loans.
Tips for prospective students
If you are interested in applying, make sure to take challenging courses in high school. Your grades, as well as the difficulty level of your high school coursework, are important components in admissions. Also, make sure to have significant involvement in at least one or two extracurricular activities. If you live close enough to the college, be certain to schedule an interview, as this is given a lot of weight. I would also recommend scheduling a tour of the beautiful campus.
Great for these types of students
Grove City College is well known for engineering and liberal arts. The college also is strong in the sciences, and is even listed as a DNA sequencing center! This school is a great choice for students who are serious both about their academics and about their faith in Christ.