Academics
Located in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, Roanoke College, a small Lutheran affiliated liberal arts institution, “values community and academic integrity over all.” With its small class sizes, a key draw for students, Roanoke “aims to equip you for the real world, but also make you feel at home, like you belong.” The school’s “academic rigor, research opportunities, and a robust Honors Program” encourage students to push themselves. As one student puts it, “Roanoke College does not hand out A’s. You really have to apply yourself, and grades really reflect your effort.” Students say that “undergraduate research opportunities abound if you want it,” and professors “truly do want the best for [students] and go out of their way to make sure [they] are given everything needed to succeed, but make sure [they] are challenged at the exact same time.” In general, professors earn universal praise for being “approachable, knowledgeable,” and “willing and able to work with every student.” The required core classes earn mixed reviews, with some students saying the school’s core curriculum is “very strong” while others counter that the required classes are “often treated as boring busy work instead of learning the topics.” But most agree that Roanoke “[excels] in academics and learning how to relate what is learned in the classroom to real world jobs.”
Student Body
Roanoke students say that “it feels like one big family here,” and “the small tight-knit community allows [students] to have a home away from home.” Diversity is a sticking point; one student says that, “I would not say that we have a very unique student body.” But others are quick to point out that Roanoke students are “people from all over the world”: “Students from every corner of the globe, from Asia to Europe, from every religion, from Catholic to Islam, all congregate together in Roanoke peacefully and work together to find the common string that binds us all together as a community.” Students say that overall, the atmosphere at Roanoke “is kind and inclusive, with many opportunities to meet new people in and out of your major or subject of interest.”
Campus Life
Students are split over whether Greek life dominates campus life or simply provides ample social opportunities for those who want it. As one student puts it, “Go Greek or go home,” but others say that “Greek life has a presence, but it is far from overwhelming.” There are numerous other clubs on campus, as well as “many on-campus events provided by the school on the weekends.” Students looking to get away from school for a bit can take the 20-minute drive to Roanoke. With its location in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, outdoor opportunities abound and students say “hiking and kayaking are very popular,” as well as “camping trips that are organized by the Outdoor Adventure Club.” A little over 75 percent of undergrads currently live on campus, but students say that it’s not too hard to find off-campus accommodations.
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