By Stella Brejwo · Contributing Writer
The Princeton Review released its annual findings of “The Best 392 Colleges,” and Grove City has moved up and down the ranks with several new ratings.
The information recorded in the Princeton Review comes directly from internal reviews, meaning that it is the opinions and perspectives of each institution’s students and faculty that are surveyed.
This year, the review explored Grove City College’s strengths and reviewed several of the college’s offerings and school traits.
Compared to last year’s results, a few of the school’s ratings changed significantly, with several ratings going up or down several places.
Grove City College is back to being No. 1 for the most “LGBTQ-Unfriendly” college after ranking third last year. The college’s student body was also ranked as No. 3 for “Most Politically Conservative Students” and No. 5 among the “Most Religious Students”.
The college fell by four places in ratings for having the friendliest student body. Coming in behind Brigham Young University, University of Dallas, Taylor University and The Catholic University of America, Grove City is now ranked No. 7. This is a significant drop from second place last year.
The college was ranked No. 9 for “Town-Gown Relations are Great,” which is a measurement for “how well they get along with the local community.” While not in the top 10 for “Best Quality of Life,” the college’s No. 19 spot still makes the college’s beauty and perceived safety notable.
The Princeton notes that one of the college’s greatest strengths is the diligence of the professors. The survey highlighted that the professors are known for their accessibility and engaging teaching styles. Most of all, the review revealed that students felt that their teachers are “very caring, and they want us all to do well.”
Hand in hand with this metric were the survey responses concerning professors’ expectations. Students generally reported that their professors set challenging but achievable expectations, which created an environment where their dedication was rewarded. For a total quality rating of their professors, Princeton reports that on a scale of 60-99, Grove City professors earned a score of 96/99.
In the student review portion, Grove City College students were called “Passionate about pursuing a relationship with God” and passionate about their nickname “Grover achievers”. Academic ratings show that, on a scale of 60-99, students graded the school at 85/99. This score reflects how much they felt they got back from their efforts in class.
Students noted that while they spend much of their time studying, there is still time to pursue friendships and recreational activities. For them, the culture on campus grows students as individuals and as a community of faith. As one response said, “(My peers) are so encouraging. From uplifting me in my academics to walking alongside me in my relationship with Jesus, I feel very supported here all around.”
