Allegheny College

Responses from the Student Interview

From a student  who identifies as Major: Global Health Studies – On the pre-health track
Minor: Political Science
Student Self Identifies as: Black Bisexual Female

Summary

I [have a leadership position] in the African Student Association (ASA). I’m also going to be [part of] a new club for Queer students, I dance with Orchesis, and I also help with the IDEAS Center.

Background

Gender Identity: Female
Race/Ethnicity: Black
Sexual Orientation: Bisexual

High School Experience: Boarding school in Baltimore, MD with a graduating class of 45 people. There was a culture of going to college.
First-Generation College Student: No
Major: Global Health Studies – On the pre-health track
Minor: Political Science

Extracurricular Activities:
Did any of your extracurricular activities have a particularly big impact on your experience?
When I first came to Allegheny I didn’t feel like I fit in. Culturally I’m not Black, so I don’t do the things regular African-Americans do. It was hard for me to find a balance and be okay with not having the cultural things I did back home. The ASA helped me have a place that reminded me of home. The purpose of ASA is to not only be reminded of home but to also educate those who have no idea about the continent of Africa and its many nations. It helped with my growth as a leader, and my growth in being able to communicate and educate other people that don’t know about the culture. It also helped me find a place where I can say I belong.

Academic Experience

Can you describe your weekly coursework for your major?
Because I’m pre-health, I’m trying to go to medical school so for the past two semesters, I’ve been working on science classes. I have Chemistry and Biology labs. I’ve taken a few Global Health courses that also require essays, critical thinking, and workshops. In general, most of our graded assignments are exams.
Is there anything you feel any of the pre-health majors’ departments do especially well or poorly?
In the Biology department, I’d say the exams aren’t as good as they should be. I feel like they only cater to one type of student and they might learn differently or come from a different educational background. Walking into an introduction to chemistry class, the professor automatically assumes the students have the basic knowledge of chemistry, but not every student does. In the Global Health department, I don’t think there’s anything they do poorly. You learn about a lot of opinions and how to connect them.
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
I’d say it’s a mixture of both. The students either want to help you, or they want you to figure it out because they also have to figure it out.
How accessible are your professors?
They’re pretty accessible. You can get in touch with the pretty easily.
Why did you pick your major? Are you happy with your choice?
I took an introduction to global health class and I’d hear about areas in Africa that are dying from diseases that are easily cured by education and better resources.

Reasons to Attend

1) Especially for African-American students, Allegheny is a little snippet on how the real world is. One should experience this so they know how to maneuver the world when they end up graduating.

Reasons Not to Attend

1) It’s not the best college when we have a racial or rape crisis. They don’t know how to actually support their student body. It’s not that they haven’t done any type of support, but they haven’t been that supportive for students wanting extra help. [See Allegheny’s counseling center here. See The Campus article, “Federal Title IX investigation ends after lawsuit,” and article, “Court grants three-year PFA order against student.”]

Around Campus

Where have you lived on and around campus?
Freshman: Ravine-Narvik Hall with one roommate
Sophomore: Ravine-Narvik Hall with one roommate
Junior: Caflisch with one roommate
How was transitioning from your hometown to Meadville, PA?
It’s so hard and I’m still dealing with it. There is a lack of things to do. There isn’t a big mall, a Chipotle, or a Starbucks.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
I don’t necessarily feel safe all the time. There are a lot of racial things that happen on campus, but when I’m with my group of friends I feel fine.

Social Opportunities

What kind of weekend activities or nightlife do you like to participate in?
I’m mainly studying or I’ll go out with my friends to a party. These typically happen on Saturdays and are held by Greek life or sports teams and may be held in College Court. You have to be somewhat associated with those people to be invited.
What’s an alternative to going to a party or a bar that you like for a night out?
Seeing a performance or going to the movie theater. Going to the movie theater is pretty cheap. Also, being part of Orchesis can take up your whole night.
How has identifying as LGBTQ influenced your nightlife experience? Are there any LGBTQ nightlife options that you like to go to?
It hasn’t really. It’s not frowned upon, but some people take a second look when they see two people of the same sex indulging in that. I recently came out and I don’t think a lot of people know me that way yet. It’s not that I’ve been hiding from that scene, but I haven’t been involved in it yet.
How happy are you with the weekend options? Is there anything you would change if you could?
I’d change so many things. I’d change it so the bars wouldn’t be a thing and we’d throw our own parties late at night. Secondly, public safety is always shutting down the parties.

Campus Culture

How did you meet your closest friends?
It kind of just happened. I didn’t go to an event and feel like the people there were for me. It took a lot of trial and error of being involved with a lot of different people. I’d say people just grew with me, there wasn’t a specific way.
How would you describe the overall social scene at Allegheny?
I’d say it’s like high school where you have your athletes, your overinvolved people who are known, then you have the students who prefer to study more, people who prefer anime and games, etc.
To what extent do you think people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
I’d say through the minority organizations that are under the IDEAS Center. The diversity of those clubs brings people together. We all try to come to everyone’s general body meetings which help different people come together. In those groups, it’s common to see diverse groups of people. [The undergraduate population is 9% Hispanic, 8% Black, 68% White, and 4% Asian.]
How would you describe the African American community on campus? How strong is it?
It’s pretty strong. When it comes to an event or something somebody is serious about, we know how to put all of our differences aside for that one thing.
How would you describe the student body?
Everybody is pretty different. Everybody purposely picked to be on this campus, so, in a way, we kind of complement each other. Everybody has their own niche on campus. Everyone is weird, but in their own way, and it compliments other people’s weirdness.
How do you like the size of Allegheny in terms of undergraduate enrollment? How was transitioning to a school with [about 1,800] students?
For how small Allegheny is, I meet somebody new every day. I’d say it’s a perfect size.
To what extent do people in Greek life and not in Greek life mix socially?
I have a couple of friends in Greek life, and I’d say the interaction is based on the individual. It’s pretty open. They’re not going to not talk to you because you’re not associated with Greek life.

Careers

What have you used the career office for? How helpful have they been?
I have gone to the career office. I’ve been looking for internships and they’ve been helping me with a lot of things.
Have you learned any computer languages or software that will be helpful to you professionally?
I’ve learned how to use Excel because of my Chemistry labs.

Financial Aid

Have you used financial aid? If so, accommodating was the office to your needs?
I used to work at financial aid, and I’d say they’re very responsive and easy to work with.