Connecticut College
Responses from the Student Interview
From a student who identifies as Majors: International Relations and History double major
Minor: Classical Studies
Student Self Identifies as: White Female
Summary
I’m part of the International Students’ Association, Law Society, and the Mock Trial Team. I’m also on the club equestrian and club lacrosse teams.
Background
Gender Identity: Female
Race/Ethnicity: White
First-Generation College Student: No
High School Experience: Private international school in Frankfurt, Germany with a graduating class of about 130 students
Majors: International Relations and History double major
Minor: Classical Studies
Extracurricular Activities: I’m part of the International Students’ Association, Law Society, and the Mock Trial Team. I’m also on the club equestrian and club lacrosse teams.
Have any of your extracurricular activities had a particularly big impact on your experience?
The International Students’ Association has had a very positive impact as well as the International Advisor Program. In the advisor program you get paired with an advisor who helps you settle in and find your way. I acted as an advisor as a sophomore. The International Students’ Association was great because it plans fun events throughout the year. I also really enjoyed equestrian because I liked continuing a sport I participated in growing up.
Academic Experience
Can you describe your weekly coursework for your major?
International Relations and History are both reading heavy. I read a lot. And they both have a strong writing component, not necessarily weekly writing but throughout the semester there will be bigger essays or projects.
Is there anything that you feel your majors’ departments do especially well or especially poorly?
I like that International Relations is interdisciplinary. It demands you to take courses in different fields. You need economics classes, history classes, and you have the option to take classes in religious studies, anthropology, etc. It demands you to think in different ways and to learn about different things. I would also say both departments have great professors and I have felt supported both in advising sessions and in classes.
What has been your favorite class so far?
The Cold War. It was taught by two professors, one was an expert on America and the other is an expert on Europe. They covered different aspects of the Cold War and introduced how it began and what caused it and the impact it had even after the Cold War ended.
What has been your least favorite class in your major?
Intro to Microeconomics. You have to take an upper-level Economics course as an International Relations requirement, which requires you taking both Intro to Microeconomics and Intro to Macroeconomics.
What is a fun class you’ve taken outside of your major?
Classical Mythology, which I took and then made me become a Classical Studies minor. I also took Intro to Computer Science freshman year, and I’m not a science or tech person, but I really enjoyed it.
How happy are you with your major choice?
I am happy with my major choices from an academic perspective. I really enjoy learning what I am studying, it’s fun and I feel that I’m learning a lot. We’ll see how good they are for jobs after graduation.
How has it been managing both equestrian and your coursework?
It’s been alright because the equestrian team only meets twice a week during the week and then we have competitions on Saturdays and that takes up most of the day. If you manage your time well it isn’t a problem.
Can you describe the level of academic honesty you have experienced?
I would say that Conn has a relatively high standard for academic honesty and the Honor Code has a positive impact on the community. However, with something like the Honor Code, there are people who use it to their advantage. We have self-scheduled, un-proctored exams, and in an exam I was in last spring, a student got up and went to the bathroom five or six times in the span of 3 hours. The issue is that on one hand you are supposed to report something like that, but at the same time you don’t want to get your peers in trouble. I don’t know what you’re actually doing so I’m not going to start something without it being blatant. Others I know have seen people looking at notes and conferring with each other. So, in terms of the work people hand in, I think it’s very high, but in terms of self-scheduled exams, it could use some work.
Reasons to Attend
1) Conn does have a welcoming and open community. My transition was made easy because people were nice and open and wanted to know people.
2) The Career Office and Career programs are really helpful and they try to prepare you well with your resume and with interviews.
3) The professors are very good and committed to students. I have very good relationships with my professors and I like that it is a small setting where you can meet them. You will get the extra help that you need through professors or the Academic Resource Center.
Reasons Not to Attend
1) I enjoyed going to a small school, but sometimes it does feel that it’s too small and it’s a limited space and there’s nothing new. For some people, it might feel a little confined.
2) There isn’t much to do within the area other than go out to eat, especially if you come from a big city that will be a big change.
3) The nightlife is on the decline.
Around Campus
Where have you lived on campus?
Freshman: Blackstone with one roommate, it wasn’t my favorite. [Blackstone is the substance-free dorm].
Sophomore: Single in Knowlton
Junior: Abroad first semester, second semester single in KB [Katherine Blunt]
Senior: Single in Knowlton
What was your favorite living situation?
I really loved Knowlton both because of the rooms and the people there. I would also say my semester in KB has also been good because the location is really practical.
What is your favorite off campus restaurant?
Two Wives Pizza, it’s close and it’s not very expensive for good food.
What is your favorite place to get away from campus?
Because the equestrian team has to travel to the stable in Groton, I get off campus twice a week. I really like being able to go there and ride and be with the animals.
Social Opportunities
What kind of weekend activities or nightlife do you like to participate in?
Thursdays we have bar nights in downtown New London, which I used to enjoy more when more people went but there has recently been a decrease. Then on weekends – well, mostly Saturdays – I go to parties at the Ridges and Winchesters.
What have been your favorite days or nights at Conn?
Floralia, because it’s the big festival and everyone gets together and has a good time and let loose for a day.
How was transitioning from a place where the legal drinking age is 18 to the USA?
I think that was the most difficult part of the transition [to college in the US] just because in Europe you grow up with a culture where alcohol isn’t considered a taboo. You grow up knowing that as long as you are responsible it’s okay. But, coming to a place where you can’t drink for another 3 years legally and drinking feels more taboo was strange for me. It’s still something that bothers me because I think it’s illogical that you can do so much, like join the military or buy a gun, at 18 but still can’t have a drink.
How happy are you with the weekend options at Connecticut College? Is there anything you would change if you could?
On a nightlife level, Conn is kind of lacking where it feels like something is missing and it could definitely be better. The way the college is trying to control nightlife is making it worse. By shutting down parties and stuff early it’s causing people to start earlier. They’re trying to slow down the culture, but if you know something by 11-11:30 you start drinking earlier. So, by regulating it they’re making the problem worse.
Campus Culture
How was blending into the domestic community as an international student?
I think, at least for me, my experience was different because I can pass as an American. My mom is from Connecticut and I went to an international school, so I speak with very little accent. That made assimilation easy for me. Otherwise, I think the experience of most international students is pretty positive at Conn. It’s a pretty open community and there are many opportunities to meet people and become part of the community. It depends from person to person and it depends on what you make of it. If you go out and try to meet people, this is a place where you will be happy.
How would you describe the social scene at Connecticut College?
From activities to clubs and academic events, there is definitely a lot to do. You can do almost anything and it’s nice to have the opportunity to do different things.
To what extent do you feel students of different races and sexual orientations mix on campus?
I think as a straight white girl I can’t speak much to that. Based on my friends’ experiences, I think they think that Conn is a better place to be, especially for people of other sexual orientations. I think we are one of the most LGBTQ friendly schools in the country. In terms of students of different races, the school has been working to change this, but I think that some people feel that it’s still very white and New England-y, but that’s partially due to the location and type of student the school attracts. It’s improving, but it can still feel homogenous if you aren’t part of that group. [About 38% of students come from Massachusetts or Connecticut. About 71% of students at Connecticut College are White.]
Careers
Has the alumni network helped you find internships or jobs?
No, I’ve personally used my own connections, but that is also because my internships have been in Europe at home. I like to be home during the summer. Most of the Conn internships and connections are in the Northeast of the USA. I do think that the career office is a very valuable asset with the funded internship and training they provide.