College of the Holy Cross
Responses from the Student Interview
From a student who identifies as Majors: Mathematics and Economics double major
Minor: None
Student Self Identifies as: White Straight Male
Summary
I’m on the men’s club volleyball team, I’m a Math workshop tutor, and I [have a leadership position in the] Finance Club.
Background
Gender Identity: Male
Race/Ethnicity: White
Sexual Orientation: Straight
High School Experience: Public school in New York with a graduating class of about 300 students. There was a culture of going to college.
First-Generation College Student: Yes
Majors: Mathematics and Economics double major
Minor: None
Extracurricular Activities: I’m on the men’s club volleyball team, I’m a Math workshop tutor, and I [have a leadership position in the] Finance Club.
Have any of your extracurricular activities had a particularly big impact on your experience?
The Finance Club and the volleyball team have. The Finance Club has prepared me to get a job in the finance world in that it’s helped me prepare for interviews, help network, and build up my resume. For the club volleyball team, it was a great way to spend time with some of my best friends. The career prep with the Finance Club was through a faculty member, but mostly run by seniors who have upcoming jobs at Wall Street banks. They help the freshmen, sophomores, and juniors build their applications and get to know what the process is so they can get their internship junior year.
Academic Experience
Can you describe your weekly coursework for your majors?
It varies. For the Math major, we have a problem set every week and two or three exams per semester. For Economics classes, some classes will have a weekly problem set and exams, while others are more theoretical and will have some reading and essays.
Is there anything you feel your majors’ departments do especially well or especially poorly?
One of the things Holy Cross makes sure students know – and I can attest to how big of a deal this is – is that the class sizes are really small so you get to have really good relationships with professors. They are really accessible in that they have office hours and if you email them, they are more than willing to take time to help students with problems. The dedication and being able to talk with your professor on a day-to-day basis really makes a difference.
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s competitive or collaborative?
It’s not competitive in the sense that it’s a cutthroat environment. I want everyone in my class to do well. People want to work together as a community.
What is your favorite part of the academics at Holy Cross?
I’ve made some really great connections with professors, so much so that I can see myself talking to them years after college. It’s not just about school for them, they want to get to know everything that’s going on in your life. You can learn so much just by being able to talk with them.
How was transitioning academically as a first-generation college student? Were there any resources available that helped you adapt?
I didn’t take advantage of the programs because I felt really prepared for college by my parents and my public school, but there are multiple first-generation programs sponsored by the college.
Why did you pick your majors? Are you happy with your major choice?
I came in knowing that I want to be a Math major, but we are encouraged to take classes outside of your comfort zone freshman year and I took an Economics class and really liked it, so I picked it up. I’m super happy with both of my majors now.
Reasons to Attend
1) The small class sizes. You get to really develop relationships with your professors and learn from them.
2) It’s a really collaborative environment. Everyone wants everyone to succeed.
3) The alumni network is so strong. If you try and know what you want to do, there’s going to be a Holy Cross person who’s going to want to help you succeed.
4) The campus is really beautiful, especially in the spring.
Reasons Not to Attend
1) Some people don’t like that the school is small.
2) We’re not a big sports school. You’re not going to have a packed football stadium to go to.
Around Campus
Where have you lived on campus?
Freshman: Brooks-Mulledy Hall with one roommate
Sophomore: Lehy Hall with one roommate
Junior: I was abroad all year
Senior: Figge Hall in an apartment with two other people
How was transitioning from your hometown to Worcester, MA in terms of location?
Holy Cross is cool because the campus is on the edge of the city, so it was cool because I got to go into the city sometimes on the weekends. It’s also really cool to be close to Boston and take the school’s shuttle there. Worcester also has some really good restaurants to hang out in.
Can you describe the level of safety you experienced on and around campus?
Holy Cross takes safety pretty seriously. We have the blue light system and there is a shuttle system that students use on and off campus. It’s nice because if you go out to a bar you have a free ride back to campus.
Social Opportunities
What kind of weekend activities or nightlife do you like to participate in?
There are a lot of things to do on the weekends. There’s a lot of space on campus so, depending on the weather, my friends and I always try to find time for Spike Ball. There are bar nights that are big for seniors and some of my friends will host parties at their off-campus houses that I will sometimes go to, but I more so just like to stick with my friends and hang out.
What have been some of your favorite times at Holy Cross?
I think one of my favorite experiences at Holy Cross was when we found out that we were being sent home [for the COVID-19 pandemic] and classes got canceled. I just remember for those three days when we packed up and went home, we were all walking around campus and spending time outside. All the professors came out and talked with us and it was great to come together as a community to say goodbye.
How happy are you with the weekend options at Holy Cross? Is there anything you would change if you could?
I’m not really a party-goer, so I’m really satisfied with Holy Cross. It’s a relatively small school, so I know a few years some people say it gets repetitive. For people deciding whether they want to go to a big school or a small school, there are plenty of opportunities for you to have it fit your needs.
Campus Culture
How did you meet your closest friends?
I actually met some really good friends during my senior year playing on the club volleyball team, but my closest friends have come from being in classes with them. The Math majors are a really small, tight-knit group, so as I went to classes with the same people over and over again for four years, I built relationships. Also, a lot of friends I met in the dorms during my freshman year.
How would you describe the social scene at Holy Cross?
There are plenty of opportunities to go and have fun, like parties, but that can get repetitive because you go and do the same thing with the same people. But, since it’s a small school, you just become better friends with people and become closer. It does get repetitive, and that’s why I went abroad because it became the same thing over and over again, so that was nice to refresh, but it also becomes much better because you appreciate everything you’ve had in previous years.
How do you like the size of Holy Cross in terms of undergraduate enrollment? How has that impacted your experience? [Holy Cross has about 3,100 students.]
I absolutely love it because it’s a big campus for the number of people here and we have a lot of space, but you still grow to become best friends with the people on campus. I never got tired of my friends. I love the small classrooms and love knowing my professors.
Careers
Has the alumni network helped you find internships or jobs?
Being a leader in the Finance Club, you get to know alumni. Holy Cross is a liberal arts school, so you can’t take courses that are specific to finance, so with the Finance Club we pride ourselves on the alumni network. I’ve never had an alum not respond to my email or take my call. My sophomore year I got hired by an alum who only hired Holy Cross people for internships. I’ve also had alumni take hours out of their day to help me push my application through or build my resume, so the reason I have my job after school is because of how much they’ve helped me.
What have you used the career office for? How helpful have they been?
The career office is run by an amazing lady. The first thing you do with them is they help you build your resume. At first, you meet with a student so they can help with formatting, and, once they approve it, you can meet with counselors there that help you focus on what you should include. They will also help you build cover letters. After that, you tell them what you’re interested in and they will tell you about how to prepare for those jobs through Holy Cross and help give alumni you should reach out to. They also do a good job of keeping you posted on job and internship openings.
Have you learned any computer programs or languages through your coursework that will be helpful to you professionally?
Yes, that was super important for me getting my job. Holy Cross actually implemented Excel classes, which are really nice.
Financial Aid
Have you used financial aid? If so, how easy is the office to work with?
I do get financial aid but I’ve never really had to contact them because I’ve never had a problem. I’ve reached out once to clarify something and they were super accommodating.