Naval Architecture

Introduction
Advice to a college student...This school is specialized and its tough. However, you can make time for what you like (sports, hobbies...etc.) and the dual degree of naval architecture/marine engineering is really broad and gives you an understanding of all the systems involved in ships, making it applicable to many other fields. I chose to apply to Webb because of the field of study. Not everyone applies for this reason. Some students don't know anything about boats before they come here, and that's fine. If you are interested and are willing to put in the work, someone will help you learn. I joined the sailing team when I started here. I did not have any experience using small sailboats, but when some of us showed interest the members of the sailing team were happy to teach us.

So if are interested in engineering, small classes, and a unique experience, I encourage you to consider Webb.

Campus Life and Social Life
The school is very small, but all students are great friends, making for a family atmosphere. We are all in the same situation, taking the same classes, and help is always there. The honor code is the main aspect of campus life. All students trust one another and promise to never lie, steal, or cheat. This allows for a lot of freedom and security on campus. On the weekends there is usually time for social life, and the city is not far away (~hour train ride) if you want a change of scenery. Plus the Long Island Sound is just a walk down to the beach, and includes all sorts of water sports including sailing, kayaking, windsurfing and others.

Sports are great and if you want join a team, it's simple, just join. No tryouts required. You may find yourself asked to play soccer on the weekend even though you are not on the team. There is sailing, soccer, tennis, basketball, cross country, ultimate, volleyball, and floor hockey. In sailing we face various small colleges in the area, and we usually do pretty well. Advertisement
Academics
The academics are the heart of the school. You will begin study in your major courses in the first semester of your freshman year, studying all types of boats. Then the January/February winter work terms give you the opportunity to apply all you have learned in class to the work place.

The faculty staff is pretty much one professor for each subject (sciences, humanities...). There is opportunity to take elective courses to learn something different (this semester a course on rock and roll history was offered). Professors are always available if you need them and are often very helpful in helping you understand subject.

The workload is rigorous, but it is manageable. The curriculum exhibits the challenge, with usually 6 or 7 courses per semester.

Student Body
The school has only 85 students currently, but everyone gets along. We all help each other out with the coursework from the first day of classes onward. Students come mostly from the New England/east coast, however there is a few from the West Coast and some international. Girl/Guy ratio is not the best, which is probably the worst part of the social life. However there is time for hanging out on weekends, and again, New York City is not far if you want to go out.

In Closing...
The school was started in 1889 by William Webb, with the intention of offering the opportunity for students to learn naval architecture and marine engineering. Webb began this Institute with the utmost generosity, allowing a full-tuition scholarship to be given to students since the schools creation. We students try to honor Webb's legacy through tenacity and giving back to the school, through programs like founders day (cleaning school facilities as a school). We are like a big family here at Webb, all in collaboration with the desire to enter or improve upon the study of boat design.