Being an Orientation Leader, I am asked a bunch of questions about what it’s like to be in college, and what student life is all about at Hiram. For each and every student and parent who has asked me why I chose to become a Terrier, here are my nine reasons why you should NOT go to Hiram College.
1. The itty, bitty population
Let’s be honest, who really wants to go to a school with a small population? Especially not a campus where there’s around 1200 students—that’s incredible! What was the admission office thinking? Did they really assume that we want the opportunity to get make friends and get to know our fellow Terriers? It’s not like we want to go to a school where whenever we see a student we can say the ‘Hiram Hi’ to our peers. Compared to other schools, you actually get to know everyone on the Hiram campus, and make connections—crazy right? But I’ll tell you right now, if you only want to be seen as a number, don’t go to Hiram.
2. ... Cool Professors?
O.M.G if you need a reason to not go to Hiram—its right here. Where do I begin? The professors here don’t understand that you want to be seen as a number, and actually interact with you. Unthinkable, I know. In class there are discussions and your opinion is added into the conversation. To make it even worse, most professors hate using PowerPoints and teach the lesson as if you were, dare I say it… human. Now if you think that’s bad, you need to hear about what happens outside of the living room or lawn area (because our classes aren’t always held inside of your standard classrooms). When midterms or finals time rolls around, brace yourself for welcoming dinner invitations from your professors. The night consists of board games and a delicious home cooked meal to help ease your anxiety and remind you that your professors want you to succeed—who would of thought? So, if you don’t want kind and personable educators, sorry but Hiram can’t offer any but that.
3. The Private School price tag
When thinking about going to college, your wallet starts to hurt, right? Like any other student, you want to spend your whole life repaying student loans, so I hate to break it to you, but you’re going to have to stay away from the friendly people in the Financial Aid and Student Accounts office. There they work with you on setting up a payment plan that is made specifically for you and your financial ability. You’re able to apply for academic scholarships and loans through the college, but who actually wants to save money. Do you know what your tuition is going to be in four years? I do! Whatever you pay as a freshman, stays as what you’ll pay as a senior! But no, you should definitely go to a huge school where you’re confused, broke, and on your own.
4. Liberal Arts, what now?!
At Hiram, your classes are centered around opening up your mind to new ideas. Here we do the unthinkable: teach you to see both sides of a topic and fully understand the meaning. The college is determined to give you an education that expands your mind and doesn’t limit your abilities. Boo, no you want to go to a school where learning isn’t important, sorry, pass up on Hiram!
5. The college on a hill
Man, if you hate flowers and trees and greenery, do not even visit! Our campus is thriving with vegetation and the maintenance team works incredibly hard to make sure wherever you are, there’s a beautiful view. But you don’t want to hear the chirping birds or smell the fresh air, no, go to the city where the litter and muggy fumes are.
6. Student empowerment?
Don’t want to be taken seriously? Skip this college, then! Hiram offers a wide variety of clubs and organizations where students are in control of what goes down. Offices around the campus hire student workers (and we get paid)—even if they aren’t a grad student or majoring in the field that the job is in, the horror! For the events like Homecoming and Alumni Weekend, students are involved in planning and approving what takes place. If you don’t want to get real experience and be treated like an equal adult, stay far away from Hiram College.
7. Stranger danger
Now I can’t joke about the safety of this campus. Tragic events occur far too often in college, but because of how close the Terrier community is, the rate of abuse and trauma is small. There are emergency phones stationed all over, and campus security is seen often patrolling. There is a comforting factor around the campus that makes it easy to be safe and relaxed. But if you’re not into living a safe and healthy lifestyle, keep on looking!
8. Excuse me, D3?!
If you play sports, this is for you! Now, who doesn’t want to play their favorite sport nationally? But if you’re realistic and want to study higher education for what is meant for (it is meant for educating, fyi), then you know that sports are meant to be extracurricular events. Hiram gets that, and here we play for the love of the game, just the way any sport is intended to be played.
9. A lifetime terrier membership?
Do you want to graduate and move on and forget your school completely? Well, stay far away from this establishment. Here we treasure our alumni, and love when they all come back home every year! Many come home to see their old dorm buildings, cheer at the traditional football game, and to party like it’s back to their good old days at the homecoming concert. Every corner of the campus has a memory attached to it. We become more than students here, but a family. We connect, thrive, and leave a name that this establishment will never forget. At Hiram, you are given abilities to change the world. We see your individuality and embrace it. What makes Hiram great isn’t the safety, sports, or liberal arts; Hiram is great because here, you matter. But if you don’t think this sounds right, keeping looking, because Hiram College will never settle for anything less than excellence.
