College of the Holy Cross

Holy Cross is a very small school and consequently each student gets a lot of attention. You are not treated as a number. Classes are small and some classes are only a few students. There are no TAs. You really get to know the professor and there is lots of opportunity for dialgue with professors. Because it is so small, you really get to know people well and form strong relationships. It is difficult to be lost in this tight knit community. There is a lot of career driven kids who are very focused on academics but also polite and respectful for the most part. The students have a lot of pride in the school and there is a lot of school spirit especially with respect to the men's basketball team. Some of my best memories are at exciting games at the Hart Center and NCAA appearances. I still attend many games as an alumnus and follow the teams like a maniac. Holy Cross is unusual in that there student athletes are academically representative of the school. The top football quarteback from the 90s is now a surgeon. A football halfback who was in my class is now an actuary. The top basketball player my year is now a VP of a major Boston realtor.

1st Year Male -- Class 1980

Education Quality: A+, Surrounding City: B

Wow -- my four years here has been amazing. I was nervous coming to HC at first -- I'm from the West Coast, and while I knew the campus was beautiful and the academics are top notch, I wasn't sure I'd fit in. I was so pleased to be wrong -- everyone is so friendly, down to earth, and while there are your "boarding school preppy kids", it's nice to see that they're a REALLY small minority.

Academics: Amazing... professors are so brilliant, and with no TA's, it's nice to know that every assignment I hand in is graded by someone with a ph.D. Research positions are really easy to come by, because there are no graduate students to compete with. But be prepared -- although HC is full of valedictorians, 1600-SAT-scorers, and other brilliant students, you'll hear us all say the same thing: the workload is TOUGH! Manageable, but there is a LOT expected of you.

Social life: There's always a lot to choose from, that's for sure... and if partying is you thing, there's a different theme party pretty much every week. But there are also on campus concerts, talent shows, and (of course) basketball games... it's generally hard to be bored.

Worcester: People have a tendency to bash Worcester because it's not Boston -- but I wouldn't want to go to a school simply because of the city it's in. Granted, Worcester does have its unattractive industrial parts, but I was really pleased to see that it has SO much to keep you busy (it's just generally harder to find). You've got restaurants, bars/clubs, and shopping... all your city stuff. But being in central mass, you also have things that Boston kids *can't* get -- hiking, skiing, apple picking... all within 20 minutes of campus.I love Holy Cross, and I'm so sad to be leaving, but thrilled to be going into the workforce-- HC's reputation was REALLY helpful in finding a job!

4th Year Female -- Class 2009

Education Quality: A+, Innovation: A-

Many people complain about Holy Cross being built on a (small) mountain (Mt. St. James), it is a beautiful campus and eventually you get used to walking a million stairs a day; not to mention if you are one of those few people that are overweight it is a great place to lose weight just going through your daily routine. Though we are a tiny college I feel like it is the perfect size. You may see some of the same people everyday while meeting new people all the time. If I could change one thing it'd probably be the area surrounding the school. It is not a bad area per se, it is actually on the up swing. Despite that, there is really nothing to do/ no place to go within walking distance of the campus. Yet there is plenty to do in other parts of Worcester, that you can get to by car, bus, taxi, or other means of transportation.

3rd Year Female -- Class 2012

Education Quality: A+, Useful Schoolwork: B-