Located in the heart of historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Gettysburg College is a
community of 2600 undergraduates. Mrs. Crane and Mrs. Gerrity recently attended a counselor breakfast hosted by President Janet Morgan Riggs who addressed the question “Why Liberal Arts?” Dr. Riggs highlighted the merits of a liberal arts education that allows students to learn through interaction with people from different perspectives. She stressed that a liberal arts education successfully prepares students for a wide range of career pursuits by teaching valuable transferrable skills such as problem solving, communication skills and analytical and critical thinking.Dr. Riggs also spoke about the many initiatives and programs offered at Gettysburg College.
With an average class size of 17, Gettysburg offers over 68 interdisciplinary academic programs in all areas of study such as Business, Organization and Management Studies, Health Sciences, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Civil War Era studies, a minor that capitalizes on the unique historical location of the college.
Gettysburg College encourages all its students to “Do great work” and to that end, offers a wide variety of signature programs. For instance, the Sunderman Conservatory of Music unites professional study with the intellectual and academic breadth of the liberal arts. Students in the Conservatory are able to take advantage of mentoring, study abroad and diverse performance and touring opportunities. STEM Scholars is a competitive program consisting of a select cohort of 12 -14 students who have access to a first year seminar taught by STEM faculty and that provides mentoring and research opportunities.The Eisenhower Institute, grounded in President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s legacy of leadership, promotes nonpartisan discourse and critical analysis of issues of long-term importance through competitive fellowships, access to renowned experts, and symposia. Gettysburg College also offers a Dual Degree Engineering program. A student who successfully completes this program is awarded the B.A. degree from Gettysburg College and the B.S. degree in an engineering discipline from partner institutions Columbia University, University of Pittsburgh, Washington University in St. Louis or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Over 80% of Gettysburg’s students complete at least one internship during their four years and 98% of students are employed or enrolled in graduate school one year after graduation. Gettysburg College is test optional and offers interviews to high school seniors that allow them the chance to tell their story and add personality to their applications. Admissions officers review applications holistically and, in addition to a student’s transcript, personal essay and recommendations, consider a student’s activities and whether they reflect the student’s pursuit of those areas that most interest them.
Outside the classroom, Gettysburg students take part in many campus traditions. For instance, the First-Year Walk commemorates November 19, 1862 when Gettysburg College students, townspeople and Abraham Lincoln processed to the National Cemetery site. Each fall, Gettysburg’s first-year class follows this same route to hear a reading of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address at the Soldiers’ National Cemetery. During orientation, first-year students process through Pennsylvania Hall, one of the oldest buildings on campus. Over the next four years, they never touch those steps until their graduation when they process back through Pennsylvania Hall on their way to Commencement.
Gettysburg is an active campus where students have the opportunity to participate in over 120 clubs and organizations that include 24 NCAA Division III teams and numerous club
and intramural sports.