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Dickinson College

Carlisle, PA
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Dickinson College

Photo: Dickinson College. Retrieved from: www.dickinson.edu

Dickinson is a private, residential, liberal arts college known for its academic curriculum and excellent international education programs in 12 study centers abroad. The programs of this college have been recognized by the American Council on Education and NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

School History

Dickinson College was established as Carlisle grammar school in 1773, a school meant for the young frontier men in western Pennsylvania. The awarding of a charter in 1783 was momentous with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in the same year; the events were, in fact, five days apart. Dickinson is historically the first college to be founded in the newly recognized United States. The founder was Benjamin Rush, a revolutionary leader and signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. The school was named in honor of a signer of the Constitution, John Dickinson, who was later the President of Pennsylvania.

The college closed down for several years, from 1816 to 1821, due to several factors including financial problems and dissension among the faculty. The school closed for a second time during 1832 when the board of trustees was not able to find a solution for a curriculum dispute among the faculty.

Dickinson Law School was a part of the college in 1833, but the school became an independent institution in 1890. The Dickinson Law School formally separated from Dickinson in 1919, and is now affiliated with Pennsylvania State University. At present, affiliation between the undergraduate college and the Law School is non-existent.

Dickinson College was historic for having been the alma mater of two of the important proponents of the Dred Scott v. Sanford decision, which led to the civil war, James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States, and Roger Brooke Taney, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Confederate forces twice occupied Carlisle and the Dickinson campus in 1863.

The Metzger Institute was opened when George Metzger, an alumnus of Dickinson College class of 1798, donated his land and fortune to the town and the college. The all-female institution was separate from the college until 1913. When the building of Metzger was leased to Dickinson, the two institutions merged.

Campus Life

Athletics if a big part of student life, with the Dickinson Red Devils participating in the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference. Dickinson College has 23 varsity sports teams all in all, including female and male teams in baseball and softball, football, tennis, track and field, basketball, swimming, country, equestrian, volleyball and hockey. A cheerleading squad exists, as well as other club sports such as ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer and ultimate frisbee.

Dickinson has an Office of Campus Life that manages every aspect of student life in the college including student organizations and residences, particularly Special Interest Housing (SIH). At Dickinson, students are given the opportunity to live with others that share common interests. This housing program encourages the intellectual development of groups of students who live under the same roof by virtue of their common goals and passions. Each house is under the care of a faculty or staff advisor, who is expected to execute programs and plan goals along with the student members of each house. Greek societies, as well as several hat societies exist on campus.

Financial Aid

Admitted students that applied for financial aid are required to send proof of financial need for the college to come up with an appropriate financial aid package. Need-based aid packages usually include grants, loans and work study opportunities. Merit-based scholarships are also awarded to some first year students. The average debt after graduation is $25,000.

Overview

Despite college rankings and countless beautiful college websites, most students and families know very little about the actual student experience at particular schools. College websites, campus tours and conversations with high school guidance counselors provide very limited information.

The Voice of the Student Survey compares the responses of over 7,500 liberal arts college undergraduates on more than 40 questions about college life. As a result, we learned what “real life” looks like at individual schools.

Some of the best (and worst) performers in our research are surprising. Some are among the U.S. News & World Report’s top ranked liberal arts colleges in the country, while others are ranked much lower but provide a successful student experience.

Our Liberal Arts Insider members know exactly how these colleges compare.

We surveyed thousands of liberal arts students to help you get the real scoop about the student experience… the good, the bad and the ugly.

Campus Community Coach & Safety Sherpa

How safe, accepted, and comfortable students feel on their college campus is one of the largest influencing factors as to how satisfied they feel with their college experience. Having a tight-knit college community is the cornerstone of a successful college experience, as proven by our Voice of the Students survey.

We can compare what the college brochures advertise to what students are actually experiencing; sometimes the admissions representatives have no idea how students on their campus really feel. This “Community” section is a way to find out exactly what students think about their campus, in their own words. Here, we have data about student satisfaction, housing, social cliques, and student’s sense of safety.

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The smartest way to cut through the college marketing hype and pick a college that is a perfect fit for your child is to become a Liberal Arts Insider member. Our research reveals inside information that colleges will never tell you.
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Academics Advisor

Without a doubt, academics are a major focus, if not the top priority, for many college students. Schools will often advertise their classrooms as collaborative, but we’ve found that students sometimes describe the academic environment as highly competitive. Are students helping each other with academic work or trying to get ahead? Do students spend every waking moment with their nose in a book?

We asked students both qualitative and quantitative questions to find out how the academics at this school challenge them, and contribute to their college experience. Find out directly from the students how they feel about academics, challenging or otherwise, at their school.

Get Our In Depth Analysis of Liberal Arts Colleges

The smartest way to cut through the college marketing hype and pick a college that is a perfect fit for your child is to become a Liberal Arts Insider member. Our research reveals inside information that colleges will never tell you.
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Social Life Navigator

In addition to academics, social life is integral to the campus experience, and it’s dictated by a few different elements. Do students feel discriminated against based on their identities? Where do students spend most of their time socializing? Do drugs and alcohol dominate the social scene? This is the kind of information that schools will NOT advertise.

So, to find truthful answers these to questions, we asked students for their perspectives. We looked into social aspects such as extracurricular involvement, opportunities in the local community, and alcohol/drug culture on this campus.

Get Our In Depth Analysis of Liberal Arts Colleges

The smartest way to cut through the college marketing hype and pick a college that is a perfect fit for your child is to become a Liberal Arts Insider member. Our research reveals inside information that colleges will never tell you.
Learn More

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