A Rising Star

Introduction
Dickinson College is on the rise. The endowment has grown exceptionally from 2004-2006 – about $200,000,000! This is mostly due to the strong Alumni support. The President of the college, William Durden, is also the backbone of our institution, helping the college grow and improve over the last several years. On par with the likes of Franklin & Marshall, Bucknell University, Lafayette College, Skidmore College, Colby College, and Union College, Dickinson is set for a fruitful future. If you want to go to a small liberal arts school with a serene campus and classic colonial town just off the Appalachian Trail, then Dickinson may very well be the right school for you.

Campus Life and Social Life
Dickinson College is made up of students that like to study and party hard. Though it was once nicknamed “Drinkinson,” it does not live up to the name like it once did. That is not necessarily a bad thing, though. Though the drinking scene is large, there are other options too. Dickinson students are redefining college as we know it in the 21st century. It is no longer the “Animal House” persona on campus. Students balance their schedules well. Greek life is important on campus – about 20% of the student body is Greek – but they are no longer “drinking clubs.” Sure, they have parties but they are much more in control than they once were. Greek life is a privilege for students on campus, not so much a hindrance to the social life. The student body at Dickinson has created a healthy community – one in which students in SAE can hang out with people in the “Arts Haus” and everyone gets along. The social life, though with minor constraints (some argue it’s like a big high school), is great when balanced. Academics
Dickinson College’s academics are not a joke. It is a serious college with serious students. Professors force their students to work hard – most know their students' limits, though. The most popular majors on campus are English, Political Science, International Business & Management, Psychology, Biology, and Art & Art History. This is clearly proof of the diverse groups of students on campus. There are also different ways that students can pursue their academic interests – newspapers, literary magazines, environmental clubs, etc. The library offers students that are serious about their work a very exceptional place to study. Though being ranked #1 by the Princeton Review a couple of years ago may have been a gift (the library will never be quite on par with Harvard), the Dickinson library is a tremendous facility and is one of the nicest buildings on campus.

Student Body
Dickinson College’s student body looks like they jumped right out of a J.Crew catalog. The students dress well, though for the most part, people are not too judgmental. There is a large Baltimore County (Maryland) and Fairfield County (Connecticut) crowd, both of which tend to be preppy – and lacrosse players. The student body is diverse, though. Students come from California, Colorado, Texas, Florida, Maine, Oregon, Illinois, Arizona – all over. There are a large number of Bulgarian students – fifteen or so. There are also students from France, Japan, India, Nepal, Venezuela, and other countries around the world. For such a small college, it is really surprising how many come from such diverse backgrounds. Dickinson’s biggest problem is that they have too many Caucasian students and not enough African Americans. There is a diversity house on campus – UMOJA – that promotes diversity on campus. It does not draw large enough numbers though. Of the 2,300 students on campus, there are probably only about 100. Another minor difference is that there are more girls on campus than guys (55% female / 45% male). The student body, for the most part, tends to be very attractive, too. The girls are gorgeous and the guys are athletic. Though often considered homogenous, the student body at Dickinson is comprised of mostly middle-to-upper-class students that look good. It’s a healthy college to go to if you fit that mold. If you do not, however, you are not left behind. It is easy to find your place.

In Closing...
Dickinson College is a growing college that is going to leave others currently of the same ilk in the dust. Its mission of “Engage the World” offers something that many others cannot – diversity and an expansive campus. The President of the college is also a gift to the institution. He is setting forth many new administrative policies that are changing the way Dickinson is received. Soon it will be on the same tier as Amherst and Williams. It will be the best. Already in the top 50 liberal arts colleges in this country, Dickinson is making a name for itself. Soon, it won’t be confused with “Farleigh Dickinson University,” because it will be known as one of the “Ivy’s” within the liberal arts education circuit. I have been more than happy with my education there. Currently a junior, I feel that the college has offered me more in my two years there than any other liberal arts college or larger institution could. Dickinson is full of students that are redefining college in the 21st century…they are making it a premier liberal arts institution.