Dickinson College
Responses from the Student Interview
From a student who identifies as Major: International Business Management
Minor: Economics
Student Self Identifies as: Black Straight Male
Summary
I’m on a sports team. I’m part of Big Brother Big Sister for the Carlisle region. I’m part of Dickinson Friends and we link up with people with mental disabilities and do activities with them.
Background
Gender Identity: Male
Race/Ethnicity: Black
Sexual Orientation: Straight
High School Experience: Went to a boarding school.
First-Generation College Student: No
Major: International Business Management
Minor: Economics
Extracurricular Activities: I’m on a sports team. I’m part of Big Brother Big Sister for the Carlisle region. I’m part of Dickinson Friends and we link up with people with mental disabilities and do activities with them.
Have any of your extracurricular activities had a particularly big impact on your experience?
Big Brother Big Sister has had a big impact. I was able to have a “little brother” and play sports with him. Being able to fill the void of him not having an older brother has a pretty big impact.
Academic Experience
Can you describe your weekly coursework for your major?
We have a lot of readings.
What are your major graded assignments?
Mostly tests and group projects.
Is there anything that you feel your department does especially well or especially poorly?
Showing the big picture of how something across the world has an impact on our market and the world market. It is international business and they instilled the whole idea of it being international and how other countries decisions and influences can impact us.
What is your favorite class you have taken for your major?
Fundamentals of Business.
What is your least favorite class you have taken for your major?
My least favorite class was Accounting.
Can you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
It is collaborative. Teachers want us to work together and encourage us to work in small groups to discuss answers. I don’t feel the competitive nature and people are trying to one up each other.
What made you choose your major? And are you happy with your choice?
I like the idea how everything connects together and I like how businesses drive the economy and how people live. It has been a worthwhile major and I have learned a lot and it brings me to different areas of study that I like.
How is it managing your sport and your coursework?
It is tough. [I have an intense coach]. We have film every Tuesday and Thursday from 12PM to 1PM. That time is called Common Hour, and is the time that you can meet with teachers, but we are not able to because no one has that time free. We have late practices, lifts, runs, and all season work. It is challenging but you have to make it happen. Every Sunday night, we write out our schedules for every hour of each day of the week on our “time management sheets.”
Reasons to Attend
1) The people are great and you will have great friendships.
2) Academically, they have everything that you are looking for and are always willing to help out, from creating new classes or being thoughtful with your major.
3) The sport scene is great.
Reasons Not to Attend
1) There is not a lot to do in Carlisle. They used to call Dickinson, Drinkinson, because people just drink.
2) The majority of the parties will be shut down by the DPS.
3) They are getting rid of off-campus student housing and that is sad.
Around Campus
What kind of weekend activities or nightlife do you like to participate in?
In season, I only go out on Saturdays, usually to a team party or other parties. I know other people who go out three or four nights a week and have a pretty fun time. Because of my limitations in the fall, I just go out on Saturdays, but I have a good time.
Can you describe a typical night going out in freshman year?
I would go to one of my team’s houses. First, I would [have a small party] in my room and a group of us heads over and stay there. We could stay there the whole night, but could also go over to another party because the campus is small and everything is walkable. In terms of partying, Dickinson is fun for being a small school. But, it’s not like guys are getting arrested or there are any fights, it’s good, clean fun.
How happy are you with the nightlife at Dickinson? Is there anything you would change if you could?
I’m happy with it. The DPS (Dickinson Public Safety) are always rolling around and shut parties down without a reason. I wouldn’t change anything other than that. I like the amount of time that I go out and how much I drink. I don’t need to go crazy, especially not in season because I want to keep my body right.
Social Opportunities
Pros:
1) There is a great family area. There are a lot of restaurants and shops. It is really nice to go with your girl on a date and to try new places.
2) It’s not really much to do, so everybody hangs out with friends all the time.
Cons:
1) There is nothing to do. You wish you could go to places, but the capital, [Harrisburg], is half an hour away and nobody wants to drive drunk coming back.
2) Public safety. It is a small campus and the DPS are always around and shutdown parties.
Campus Culture
How did you meet your closest friends?
Through my sport team.
How would you describe the overall social scene at Dickinson?
I like it. I’m involved in a lot and I’m always in different places with different people. I have met about every type of different person that there is at Dickinson, but they’re all great people. You always see people you know and have a good time with them.
To what extent do you feel people of different races and sexual orientation mix socially?
I feel that they get along pretty well. Every group has its own section whether it’s the Black Student Union or people are part of LGBTQ [Office]. There is a lot of crossover because people are in the same class, sports teams or clubs and so people really mix. It doesn’t matter what your sexual orientation or skin color is, people get along well. [In 2018, about 56% of the undergraduate population was White, about 4% was Asian, about 16% were international students, and about 6% were Black.]
People have told me that Dickinson is a White preppy place. How is it for you going there as a Black guy?
It is a preppy place. I went to a boarding school for high school, so I’ve been around those kids for four years. People from New York, like the Bronx, Brooklyn, or Queens are not used to it. They’re not used to fancy colored shorts and khakis, but it doesn’t change anything for me. There are a lot of White people. Usually Black people stick together. We have our area outside of the cafeteria where we like to hang out.
Careers
To what extent have you used the career office? How helpful have they been?
I have been to the career center a couple of times. The first time they helped me with my resume and they were really helpful. My resume is now great and it helped me get an internship. They gave good advice for my team. They did a networking event with all the past alumni from my team. That was really helpful; I talked to the people that are members of the Steelers and the Ravens who I hope can help pursue long term what I want to do. They help you to getting prepared for a career, it’s not about the next 4, it’s about the next 40 years and they set you up for success.
Did you learn any computer programs that will be especially helpful for you professionally or for your course work?
I took one class and it was so much Excel work. I’m great at Excel now, so it was helpful. I have one class, Global Markets, that’s about how they all impact each other. It’s really interesting because I want to bring the NFL and other sports leagues to other countries. I need to know what is going on in China and their market if I want to launch something that is worth putting my time and money into it. These two are pretty predominant towards what I want to do.