Reviews

If you weren't a hand-raiser before coming to Allegheny, it just might turn you into one. Class discussions never fail to be compelling, and even lecture classes are stimulating and never too large to exclude anyone. There is admittedly a heavy workload, in terms of papers and required readings outside of actual class hours, but there is no such thing as busywork here, as every assignment in some way significantly contributes to the course. Interdisciplinary study is one of the pillars of an Allegheny education, and many professors will freely approach their subject from unconventional angles, ie. applying psychological concepts to literature, exploring the historical implications of the film industry, discussing the role of existentialist philosophy in French literature. Suffice it to say, there's never a dull class here.

It's not everyone's first choice, and it wasn't mine, but I have yet to meet anyone who isn't growing to love it. Loyalty and school pride are gradual but inevitable, as you find something new to love every day: the way the dining hall staff greets you by name at breakfast, that professors are more helpful and understanding than you could have hoped, how the President always pairs a college logo baseball cap with his suit and tie and greets every student he passes while walking on campus, the view of the Meadville lights through your window at night, the slight slope of the lawn between buildings that's ideal for sledding. Warning: After just a few weeks on campus, you may suddenly find yourself wondering how you ever could have pictured yourself anywhere else.

The only thing possibly more exciting than the acceptance letter is the followup envelope that details the copious amounts of money the school is willing to give in grants and merit scholarships. A liberal arts education isn't cheap, but Allegheny does its best to make tuition payments as painless as possible.

Don't be afraid to be completely, wholly, two hundred percent yourself. The college welcomes and embraces individuality, whether you're a double-jointed concert pianist, looking to double major in International Studies and Studio Art, or a left-handed unicycle enthusiast with blue hair. It's no joke when we say we like unusual combinations.

Anyone unimpressed by the glitz of brand-name Ivies and looking for the comprehensive college experience, who can brave the cold to savor a quietly breathtaking campus, who will study hard but always leave their door open for visitors, who gets as excited for an environmental conservation lecture or guest author reading series as a campus-wide game of Humans vs. Zombies, and who's ready to make the next four years of their life totally worthwhile.

Small classes and really interesting and concerned professors make staying at Allegheny a pleasure.

Allegheny provides many opportunities to learn inside and outside the classroom. Right now I am part of a volunteer group that is based on campus, but helps the individuals within the community. Most of the students are open and nice, however there are some who seem to be here for the wrong reasons.

Allegheny has a trustees scholarship that is very helpful, and most students get some sort of scholarship. But even with the scholarships,
I feel that Allegheny is a little too expensive, and the financial aid department is not very helpful at times.

Visit the campus; talk to the professors, but do not be wooed by the admission staff, because when you get into Allegheny you won't see these people very often, and them knowing your name and where your from will not really matter. Also I would not suggest staying over night, since it does not give you the true experience of living on your own.

Students who are interested in pre-med, students who do not mind living in a small town, and students who understand that studying is a top priority would do fine at Allegheny.

Allegheny has a close community where students and professors learn and grow together.

Students bond over the intense academic rigor, and thrive off of the challenges the professors present.

The faculty and alumni base at Allegheny works extremely hard to ensure that each student finds internships and future jobs.

Don't be intimidated by the academic rigor, there are so many support systems put in place to help you!

Keep your dorm door open and meet the people living in your hall!

Visit the learning commons when you're struggling with homework, they are miracle workers and will help you with anything!

Get involved!! Whether it be campus employment, intramural sports or Greek Life, there is something just for you! You WILL find your place here at Allegheny.

The classes are very hard, and professors expect a lot from you. But, it is not impossible! If you apply yourself and ask for help, you will thrive here at Allegheny!

While it is hard, you will find that you will be passionate about the topics you are learning about. This is because you don't have to take a semester of required generic classes. You get to take classes that interest you right away!

There is a huge support system put in place just to help you! Take advantage of the Learning Commons, they will help you reach your full potential. Whether you have a problem editing a paper, giving a speech, balancing your time at college, or building a strong resume, there are experts to help you!

Dorm life at Allegheny is great! The admissions team works hard to place you with someone that you will get along with. The buildings are clean and up to date. Decorate your room and you will feel right at home!

Dining at Allegheny is average. Brooks, the buffet style dining hall has lots of options. McKinnley's is excellent! It has great food that is cooked to order from pasta to burgers to Mexican. You will find something that you like, and that is healthy no matter where you go. Also, there are kitchens in every dorm so you can cook!

I take advantage of the FREE classes in the Wise Athletic Center at Allegheny. Yoga classes, spinning classes, and a huge gym and pool keep me in shape! And it doesn't cost a penny.

I am also a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Delta Chapter at Allegheny. Greek Life here is amazing. It's an inclusive group of men and women who come together and make Allegheny a better place to be.

Also, there is always something going on during the weekends! The parties are a lot of fun, and safe.

While Allegheny is expensive, the benefits are PRICELESS. I have had so many opportunities here that I would never get at a bigger school. I work one on one with my professors and have had the opportunity to meet with several lawyers and judges-even the interns from the United States Supreme Court. Whatever your major is, there are endless opportunities for jobs and internships that are very hard to get if you go to a bigger school. Our alumni base is huge, and continually growing. Allegheny alumni hire Allegheny students 100% of the time and provide current students with job shadowing experience that is so helpful in the future.

I've learned so much in the semester that I've been here. The professors are very helpful, and encourage you to visit them during their office hours if you have questions. Because Allegheny doesn't make you take any required freshman classes outside of an FS, I was able to pick classes in my intended major right away, and they have all been very interesting to me!

The environment is fun, and the people here are awesome! Mostly everyone is very friendly, and the school employees are very kind and willing to help you in any way. The only thing that isn't my favorite is probably the weather - when it's warm, it seems to rain all the time and when it's cold it snows all the time (and there's quite a lot of it).

So far, I'm very happy that I came to Allegheny, and while I'm not completely broke yet, sometimes I wonder why I'm paying so much. The dorms are much nicer than some of the other schools I have visited, but some of them could still use a face lift - depending on what building it is, the carpets tend to be stained/smelly, the paint is starting to chip, and the heating systems seem to be barely working. Another thing that I have not been very happy with is the snow removal - for $44,000 a year, you would think that the stairs would be shoveled and salt would be put down. The bookstore is overpriced (although I guess it's no worse than any other college's) - I have never bought my texts there and will never (I buy my books and materials from eBay and Amazon, and usually spend half of what I would've spent at the bookstore). I really like the school's food programs, though - we use fresh ingredients from local farms, and both McKinley's and Brooks rotates meal items every day.

Be sure that you like snow if you're considering Allegheny - there's a lot of it here! Also, be resourceful and check out as many of the links on the school's webpages as you can - sometimes, procedures for different things (like student employment and financial aid) aren't spelled out for you when you get here, and you need to do a little research. If you ever really get stuck, though, be sure to call someone and ask before it becomes a big problem - any person I've ever talked to is always willing to help with any problem or question. Also, if you have a roommate problem, try to talk it out with them. If you can't, get your RA involved; moving into a new room is an option, but be sure to try to work out any problems, because as this is a small school, you most likely will see your old roomie again, and having been kind and courteous before will make this much easier.

Independent, combination of interests, studious.

Classes are small, intense, challenging, and enlightening. Professors are usually eager to help and The Learning Commons is full of people who want you to succeed. The school takes a personal interest in your education, and if you commit to the rigorous curriculum, you can reap great rewards/

I loved my time at Allegheny. I met amazing people, had incredible adventures, and learned as much outside the classrooms as I did inside them.

This is an expensive school, but the administration is eager to help support students financially. The overwhelming majority of students use scholarships and financial aid. Allegheny is an amazing school, but it just may not be financially feasible for everyone.

Visit campus - it's beautiful. There's a wonderful mix of hundred-year-old brick architecture with state-of-the-art modern buildings. Also, make sure you understand the credit requirements; especially that there's no core curriculum. Ask plenty of questions about the Senior Comprehensive project as well.

Anyone who loves to learn and is capable of working hard. Students need to understand the concept of reaping what one sews. It is also helpful to be eager to pursue a variety of ideas and opportunities as attendance at Allegheny College comes with almost endless potential - you just have to be committed to succeeding, and the school will help you do it.

Allegheny College provides small class sizes that ensure the most effective environment to foster a deep understanding of the class content and material. This small class size also allows for more ease in forming bonds and not only relationships, but also friendships, with faculty and staff members. However, even though classes are small, the education provided to the students is not cut short and compares with some of the top colleges in the nation – as Allegheny continues to be nationally ranked as one of the best Liberal Arts colleges in the country. I was always skeptical about these types of claims, even when the criteria are provided. But Allegheny has made me a believer. The courses and workload are rigorous, but you will always walk away having learned a lot and feeling enriched. It is often difficult for students to feel that what they are learning has any application to the real world. But here at Allegheny, the professors use a variety of teaching approaches that present you with the material in a way makes you understand and learn it, already seeing its applications.

In all honesty, Allegheny was not my first choice, but not a day goes by where I find myself regretting my decision. I come from a very small town, so the small enrollment and small campus really are what made me the most comfortable. However, the level of diversity on campus gives it a somewhat more city feel. Nevertheless, the actually small enrollment and high student involvement provides the opportunity to get to know almost everyone on campus. You will definitely walk away with some lasting friendships and enriched attitudes from your experiences at Allegheny College!

I will not lie, Allegheny is a somewhat pricey school, and for some students, it is a real challenge. However, being a Liberal Arts college, Allegheny is able to provide many students with grants and scholarships based on merit as well as need. It does not take too much effort, and Allegheny starts handing you money. Obviously, we all wish we had a bit more money sometimes, or that the school we were attending was less expensive, but for the education and experience one can gain here at Allegheny, I would say it is worth it.

My only tip is to come visit! You will absolutely fall in love with the gorgeous campus (unless you come when the weather makes the snow slushy or when it is incessantly raining). But campus really is beautiful and the people here are one of a kind. You think you are certain of the schools you have chosen, but once you visit, your mind can change. A school can be everything you want on paper, and once you visit, it just may not be right. Your gut feeling about your school options tells you a lot. If it does not feel right, it probably will not be. So come on out and visit; I have a feeling you just might fall in love with it!

Allegheny provides a well rounded education of fantastic quality! It organizes internships and hands on experience for people in most all fields, has an exceptionally strong science program for a small liberal arts college, and Allegheny provides a flexibility in curriculum for people interested in various fields. Allegheny also is a college that simply has a faculty that is interested in you and how you are doing, and a student body that is genuinely friendly.

Don't look at the price tag and refuse to apply! Allegheny provides great financial aid packages and if for some reason you still can not afford the price call financial aid and send them a letter. For me personally the FASFA doesn't accurately show how much money my parents could afford. We pay out $20,000 to $30,000 in medical bills that is not taken into account by the FASFA. I wrote the financial aid office and showed them our tax returns and they made it so that I could afford Allegheny without putting strain on m parents. It was one of my most affordable colleges.

I was Valedictorian and the science program here, while not impossible, is really making me work for my grades. The classes can be hard, but you will never do anything that seems to be busy work. The hard work that Allegheny requires makes so that you have mastered the material. Allegheny students also have numerous opportunities for research. This is fantastic for applying for grad school!

Compared to other colleges the dorms are nice! They are not like a hotel or anything but they are definitely passable.

The food is surprisingly good. You can chose to eat in two different places. One is buffet style with the food choices changing all the time, and one is a place where the food choices are constant and you pay by portion. The dining service tries to get most of the food locally when it is in season, and works to create healthy options for those students that are so inclined. The healthy options actually taste good but for when you just need to have your cheese covered nacho goodness, they have you covered as well.

If you get involved you will have no lack of things to do, even though, the college is a little bit off the beaten path. Some unique things that we have include the outing club (think hiking, canoeing, rock climbing), equestrian team, ski club, role playing club, video game club, and swing and social dance club. These are just a few clubs that provide great entertainment, but the college also puts on numerous activities that are fantastic. Some activities that I have seen happen at the college are survival Bingo (You have never seen bingo like this!), free movies at the movie theater, Ice Skating trips, Amazing Race competition, Humans vs. Zombies campus wide nerf battle, Fitness dance party, Decorate your own tumbler, and much more. The best thing is that most everything, (horse back riding is a $50 for the year) is covered in your tuition and is totally freeeeeee!

If you need financial aid they will go leaps and bounds to help you get the aid you need.

People that want a college with a tight knit community that is supportive, but that has the academic rigor of a larger prestigious university.

THERE IS EVERYTHING and if for some reason there is not the college will help you start it! The sky is the limit.

I have not once felt unsafe on campus. Just be smart!

Allegheny will push you to work until not only the professor is satisfied but so is the student. The key to a successful life at Allegheny is to work hard during the week and then go enjoy a full weekend with friends. The opportunities are endless with not only programs on campus, but joint projects with the community, and larger cities to visit nearby.

The one thing I would definitely focus on is learning how to balance your time. On multiple occasions I would hear many friends pulling unnecessary all nighters. Fortunately for me I never had that issue. The key to avoiding excess stress, at least for me, was to immediately start the work assigned in a class the day it was given instead of doing it the next day. Not only was there more time to work on it but by Thursday afternoon I had no more work to worry about until the weekend.

If I'm going to pay a large sum to attend a private liberal arts college I expect to be pushed and I certainly have been. Some of my classes have been fairly easy while others have made me work for multiple days to obtain a fairly decent grade. It truly depends on what your intended major is when it comes to the size of your workload but I know I will have some very long weeks ahead once I've decided what I want to do with my life.

I wish I could tell people about the typical freshmen dorm, but I was placed into the women's dorm because of my preference for a more quiet area. I personally enjoy my dorm because it is connected to the dining hall so I don't have to bundle up to go in search of food. Also, overall the people in other rooms are considerate of those sleeping or studying and friendly to those willing to chat. The only issue I have is that because I'm in a corner room with two windows, most of the time my room is too cold for my liking and the heating doesn't seem to kick in until I'm asleep. I plan on talking to my RA when I return if the problem is still there.

When I first got there, the opportunity to eat as much as I want per meal swipe was appealing. Yet over time the food became rather repetitive and sometimes wasn't appetizing. Although the cafe on campus is a good alternative to the main dining hall some items sold there are way overpriced. However don't let my criticisms scare you away, overall the food is exactly what I expected from college food, some days are delicious and other days I'd rather fend for myself.

The town is small so there isn't a large social scene in Meadville. However the college has many sponsored events every weekend on campus and at times there are activities available in town to see. If necessary, an outlet mall is not too far away and Erie, PA is only forty minutes north of Meadville.

The college is rather pricey and I certainly need plenty of financial aid to get by but I do appreciate what I get in return. Most professors are friendly and welcoming even if you are not one of their current or previous students. Also, from the beginning you are connected with ACCEL which helps push students into career and internship opportunities for the future and orchestrate study abroad programs. The college not only wants you to do well but also branch out to greater prospects.

All clubs I've been interested in are extremely welcoming, you just need to be willing to go out and participate. I'm personally interested in theater and already in one semester I've been an assistant costume designer for a student run show and have done run crew for one of the large department shows.

I personally won't be part of Greek Life in the near future but it is prevalent on campus. Fraternities and Sororities hold school sponsored events that are enjoyable and safe for all students and there is absolutely no pressure to join.

The campus is definitely a place where you can walk safely from place to place. During the first week of school students receive numbers for the RAs in the building and general security for the campus. If you feel unsafe you can call security and have a personal escort to your desired destination. Any time there is some kind of disturbance it is because a student forgot to lock his or her car or wasn't paying attention to where they were going.

The Campus is simply beautiful. The thing I love though is definitely how personalized and student centralized they claim everything to be. Just the right word to the right person can make a real change and make your whole experience better from my understanding.

My only thing that I would say tip wise would probably be to make sure you have money, a decent number of scholarships in line, or be willing to work. They do give a decent number of merit scholarships, but that does not make the college any less pricey.

They claim themselves to be pretty top notch. They're rated number 22 in most rigorous schools if I remember correctly.

Can't say much for this because I haven't stayed. From what I've seen, they seem pretty accommodating and pretty roomy.

They have a great food court style set up. Didn't actually get to eat there, but they at least seem to have tons of options. They even appeal to vegans!

I have learned so much at Allegheny--the professors and students alike are helpful, intelligent, and compassionate. At Allegheny, professors will know you by name and appreciate you for the unique combination of interests that encompass who you are as an individual. As far as work, every student agrees that the workload is intense. However, you will understand your subject(s) so thoroughly, and the workload is not unmanageable.

Being a rather expensive liberal arts college, Allegheny has students who lack a genuine interest to learn but have the funds to attend. However, every school has this minority, and the amount of intelligent and incredibly enthusiastic learners far outweighs the rest. Students at Allegheny are involved on a community and national level--if you have a passion for service, you will adore Allegheny. The amount of extracurricular clubs catering to every interest (both academic and non-academic) is also enormous. While there have been issues associated with intolerance in the past, students have rallied together in many instances to prove that we are Gators, not Haters. Being quite tiny, everyone knows everyone at Allegheny. However, the town of Meadville is quite small and this deters some students. Yet, if you look hard enough, you will find some hidden gems for fun, food, and entertainment. Just ask any student and they'll be happy to tell you (and Erie is only a short drive away!)

Allegheny is expensive and I initially had some issues with financial aid. However, if you show academic aptitude, Allegheny will give you more money so you will attend--being a small school, they are quite generous. Some students have issues with the EFC calculations and large loan amounts. Yet, I think Allegheny is worth the price, and a student should talk with the Financial Aid Office before completely dismissing the school based on money.

Your academic record is incredibly important but don't forget to pay attention to extra-curricular activities! Also, visiting was very helpful to me. Try to visit when students are not on break to get a better feel for the campus.

Students who are willing to work very hard and are intently interested in their subjects will thrive here, as well as students that enjoy a combination of interests. Students who are passionate about service and community-based projects will also love Allegheny. Allegheny is also great for those who appreciate a tight-knit community where your professors will know you as a person and everyone knows everyone else.