St. John's College

[Anonymous]

I'm interested in hearing if anyone is a recent alum or has children who have attended St. John's in Annapolis (or Santa Fe). It looks very different from many college experiences and might be a good fit for my DD but it would be great to learn more from someone who has experienced it. What is the environment like? Do students who are not math/science types struggle with the requirements of math and science for four years? DD is a great student all around and very cerebral, reads a lot and loves to discuss history and literature in small groups. She's not passionate about math or science but she does fine in the subjects, which is what gives me pause over the requirements. How is the ancient Greek/modern French mix and do students enjoy that? DD is currently at a top private and she is very comfortable with seminar style classes and lots of dialog so I'm thinking of having her visit St. John's but wanted to gather some information ahead of that if possible.

What is the social life like? I assume it's pretty tame but for the right student might be perfect. My daughter isn't one who wants a party scene and doesn't drink so she would love a place that has a lot of interesting things to do that don't involve the typical college party scene - just not sure what those are at St. John's.

Thanks for any input you may have.

[Anonymous]

I graduated from SJC Santa Fe and my BF since high school graduated from the Annapolis campus. If you post an email address, I will contact you and we could talk via phone or get a cup of coffee if you are around Bethesda. That would be easier for me than trying to type everything out.

[Anonymous]

Your daughter sounds a lot like mine. We looked at a number of highly academic, quirky SLAC options, including St Johns (the one in Santa Fe, getting a certain number of miles from home was a requirement for her!). She ended up choosing Reed and it has been a good fit. Just wanted to suggest that you consider it as well.

[Anonymous]

I went to a different Great Books school that had a math curriculum similar to St. Johns. The math was very different that what kids in HS or other colleges do - very, very theoretical and conceptual, in a way that really engaged the intellect. From what I can tell, St. Johns is similar and may be just the thing for your DD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your daughter sounds a lot like mine. We looked at a number of highly academic, quirky SLAC options, including St Johns (the one in Santa Fe, getting a certain number of miles from home was a requirement for her!). She ended up choosing Reed and it has been a good fit. Just wanted to suggest that you consider it as well.

Reed is definitely on her list and sounds like a place she would thrive. Do they give any merit aid? It would be an added bonus if so!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to a different Great Books school that had a math curriculum similar to St. Johns. The math was very different that what kids in HS or other colleges do - very, very theoretical and conceptual, in a way that really engaged the intellect. From what I can tell, St. Johns is similar and may be just the thing for your DD.

Great to know, thank you! I am definitely going to have her visit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your daughter sounds a lot like mine. We looked at a number of highly academic, quirky SLAC options, including St Johns (the one in Santa Fe, getting a certain number of miles from home was a requirement for her!). She ended up choosing Reed and it has been a good fit. Just wanted to suggest that you consider it as well.

Btw, where else did your daughter apply? It would be very helpful to see other schools she liked if you're willing to share.

[Anonymous]

It's a great school for B+/B, 1200-1300 SAT students with a deep interest in ideas and reading. More appropriate for more intellectually conservative for students who don't question the Western canon. Almost a 90% acceptance rate so you pretty much need to show an active disinterest in their philosophy and approach to not get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a great school for B+/B, 1200-1300 SAT students with a deep interest in ideas and reading. More appropriate for more intellectually conservative for students who don't question the Western canon. Almost a 90% acceptance rate so you pretty much need to show an active disinterest in their philosophy and approach to not get in.

Agreed that it's not about getting in. In fact she could get into many competitive SLACs without much trouble based on her academic record. I'm more interested in fit. I know that's shocking on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

We looked closely at St. John's a couple of years ago for our DC who was very into classics, and that it would be a great place to meet like minded young people which would also promote strong social interaction. We also thought Annapolis would make for a good college town in its own way. Ultimately, DC did not apply because he wanted more flexibility in the curriculum and a larger school, but it was certainly a viable option. DC ended up going to a larger school that had an intensive freshman year curriculum focused on the Western Cannon, but thereafter allowed him choose any specific major. It provided that same cozy, seminar curriculum as a freshman with close faculty relationships, and a natural built-in social grouping which was great (obviously only one year, not four). On the other hand, once that year is over you realize that most college students are not into the same things that excite you and your first year friends. Still, something to think about as another option.

[Anonymous]

OP -- here is a link to a wide range of schools that have great books programs of one type or another (including St. Johns, of course). At one end lots of schools most of us have never heard of and on the other some ivy league schools we probably all know. Obviously, few if any are as comprehensive as St. Johns but that is the trade off. Good luck. http://astro.temple.edu/~szelnick/actc/ListofGreatBooksPrograms2.htm

[Anonymous]

I am not a alum so I hesitated before saying this, but I do know several people who went to St. Johns. Some graduated, others transferred elsewhere.

It is an unique school and the danger is that some kids in HS fall in love with the idea of St. Johns and the great books, but after a year or two they find it too narrowly defined and small, and realized they wanted a much "broader" experience of a more conventional school (that still offered similar courses). One person I knew who attended St. John's for a year said he loved the great books but didn't realize it would be a "such a dorky school" and transferred to a very preppy NE LAC. Another person I know did graduate from St. Johns but regretted it because she knew she always wanted to go into a STEM master's/PhD and had to take a fifth year elsewhere ($$$$) to catch up on the math/science prereqs for graduate school. But she did meet her husband at St. John's.

In other words, carefully study the school and carefully decide if it 's really the best place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP -- here is a link to a wide range of schools that have great books programs of one type or another (including St. Johns, of course). At one end lots of schools most of us have never heard of and on the other some ivy league schools we probably all know. Obviously, few if any are as comprehensive as St. Johns but that is the trade off. Good luck. http://astro.temple.edu/~szelnick/actc/ListofGreatBooksPrograms2.htm

Thanks! I will check it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not a alum so I hesitated before saying this, but I do know several people who went to St. Johns. Some graduated, others transferred elsewhere.

It is an unique school and the danger is that some kids in HS fall in love with the idea of St. Johns and the great books, but after a year or two they find it too narrowly defined and small, and realized they wanted a much "broader" experience of a more conventional school (that still offered similar courses). One person I knew who attended St. John's for a year said he loved the great books but didn't realize it would be a "such a dorky school" and transferred to a very preppy NE LAC. Another person I know did graduate from St. Johns but regretted it because she knew she always wanted to go into a STEM master's/PhD and had to take a fifth year elsewhere ($$$$) to catch up on the math/science prereqs for graduate school. But she did meet her husband at St. John's.

In other words, carefully study the school and carefully decide if it 's really the best place.

I appreciate the input and agree. I showed DD the information on St. John's last night and she was intrigued so I told her to set up an overnight and see if it was for her. We will see...

[Anonymous]

does the annapolis campus still have a very ideologically conservative streak?