Before you start reading...I apologize for the length of this one...please bear with me. I'll make the next one shorter, I promise!
SIDE NOTE: Stairs are mean. So so mean. If only SMC had been built on like three times as much land and could be all one floor...SIDE NOTE ON A SIDE NOTE: Excuse my extreme laziness. Hopefully it will work its way out as I work myself back into running shape. END SIDE NOTES.
Enough about me for today. I'm sitting comfortably in my cozy little bed and should therefore stop complaining about my tired little legs...for now... I'm going to shift the focus as the 437892 items on my to-do list (again, an estimation) are not anything compared to that of the newly accepted high school senior. These are the students and families that have started mulling about the general St. Mikes area this weekend. I remember two years ago when I was one of those students. So many things to worry about - prom, what school to choose, yearbooks, avoiding senioritis like the plague. In that order. Priorities...you know how it goes. Although, unfortunately I really wasn't all that successful in the senioritis department. Anyway, I figure you would love me just a little bit more if I could make your life slightly easier.
I know that choosing a school can be extremely tough for a lot of people. I'm quite obviously a HUGE advocate for St. Mike's, but I know that me saying it's completely awesome isn't going to win everyone over. What really counts is what you experience when you are here, at the school, imagining your life next year. It's during the tours and Open Houses like the ones this and next weekend that big questions get answered and many accepted students leave knowing this is exactly where they want to be...or not (though I really hope this is not the case!). Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to make it up to the lovely Burlington area to visit SMC. The crazy senior spring schedule combined with greater distances from SMC sometimes make it impossible to get here. So this one's for you - the potential future Purple Knights that have an even harder decision to make...whether or not to go to a school you might not have ever seen.
I just got back from spending this morning with a tour group during the Accepted Student Open House. (Literally just got back. I figured I'd do something productive while I wait for my suite mate to drag herself out of bed for Alliot brunch...mmm...waffles...) As the tour wandered through SMC, dodging other tour groups (240 families on campus! CRAZY!) I took note of some of the biggest questions so that I could share the answers with all of you.
Q: Is the meal plan limited to three times a day?
A: No it's not. It's absolutely unlimited. You can run into Alliot 15 times in one day and it would be the same as going once. Awesome for just grabbing an apple between classes.
Q: What's a Knight Card?
A: It's your life. DO NOT LOSE IT. I mean I think so anyway. It gets you into Alliot. I'd say that's rather important. It also serves as a debit card so you can buy the random snack at the Knight Stand outside of Alliot, anything from the bookstore, and the ever necessary laundry. It also serves as a bus pass for public transportation down to Burlington, where you can use it in a good number of the restaurants on Church Street.
Q: What's up with this Catholic school thing going on at SMC?
A: About 50% of the population identifies itself as Catholic although a lot of the time you'd never know it. You can be as involved or uninvolved as you'd like. You do have to take two Religion courses throughout the time here, but they come from a historical perspective. If you want to be involved there's a chapel on campus with mass on weekends as well as many programs you can be involved with.
Q: How close is Burlington?
A: Church Street is about 10 minutes away and is the best. From there you can wander down to the waterfront. I love Burlington so very much. I've been going there all my life (I live so close) and I'm still amazed by how awesome it is.
Q: How are the professors?
A: The professors here are absolutely amazing. They always have office hours and want to help. I literally go to one professor every week after I've tried the homework to get clarification. He's the same professor that invited all of his students to his house for a BBQ in a few weeks. I absolutely love pretty much every professor I've had, especially the ones in my majors.
Q: Does it seem really small?
A: Yes and no. But yes and no in a good way. Yes because when I'm walking around or in Alliot I feel like I always know someone. And everyone's so friendly. Even someone you only see in your Tuesday/Thursday class will say hi between buildings. But at the same time I can be eating dinner with a group of friends and someone will sit down that I've never even seen before - that's the no part. I'm forever meeting new people. It's like St. Mike's can sense things. Every single time I've thought "Wow, I'm really getting to a point where I know a good amount of people." I meet five new people that day and I realize how many people I haven't met yet. And I know I just said it, but I want to emphasize it...the people are SO friendly. Plus, f you're feeling confined by the campus you can always take the day and go into Burlington or even to Canada if you want to make a real trip out of it. That's a nice thing to do every once in a while just for a little change of pace. Although, I've never really felt like the campus was too small. The walk back from the ski room after practice always seemed SO FAR. Although, I can be juuuust a little tired at that point.
That's pretty much it for today. If you have any other questions I am at your service. Ask away!
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