1. Small class sizes!
For those of you who enjoy personal relationships with your professors, SMC is the place for you. With class sizes starting with as little as 10 people, everyone is promised to reach their personal success and full understanding of the course they are enrolled in. Building connections along the way, students learn about faculty and often find themselves looking forward to class because it is a comfortable environment, free from judgment and full of self-discovery!
2. Our campus is drop-dead gorgeous.
If you haven't seen Saint Mary's College of California's campus, you're missing out. Lined with cherry trees as you drive down into the entrance gate, you are greeted by rolling green hills and a Chapel that stands tall in the center of campus. As you continue around campus, you will see student and faculty classrooms and halls. The school's Spanish styled white buildings with tiled roofs are overflowing with professional education and student success. It truly makes you want to be a Gael!
3. Two words: JAN TERM.
Tell me a state school that provides its students with one entire month to explore any course they want.. Having trouble? Well.. Saint Mary's does! Faculty allows their students to venture out of their major, taking one course in the month of January(and one course only) to find hidden interests that they never knew existed! With classes such as Harry Potter, Fencing, Lying, and traveling abroad, every person can find what their creative side desires! Because of Jan Term, students often discover passions for different courses, helping lead them in the right direction of their decided major. It doesn't get much better than this!
4. We don't have Greek life.
Yep, you read that correctly! I know what you're probably thinking... There's no Greek life? No parties? No college experience? But do not fear, SMC is a college campus focused on inclusiveness, no matter who you are or what you believe in. We hold no "standards", except for the expectation of YOU striving to be the best YOU possible. And yes, for those of you who are concerned, we do have parties... they're just a little smaller and more intimate than your typical Greek Row on a Saturday night at UC Berkeley.
5. Adventure awaits just through the tunnel...
Take a trip off campus and explore the towns and cities that surround beautiful Moraga! In 20 minutes you can find yourself in Berkeley, Oakland and on a day with no traffic, San Francisco! These historical and intriguing places will lead you to good food, music, art and sight seeing. All that your little Instagram-photo-taking heart desires!
6. You know you truly earned your degree when you leave.
At Saint Mary's, you are promised to walk away with the education that is not only informative but applicable. As each student takes on the responsibility to become an expert in their discourse, professors also guide the path to success by giving helpful suggestions when it comes to internships and staying involved with your major's community. The degree you earn is much more than just an education, it's an experience that will continue to lead you to a lifetime full of self-discovery doing what you love.
7. You'll make life-long friendships.
After your time here at SMC is complete, class requirements are filled and you find yourself walking on stage to collect your diploma, you will walk away with not only a degree but relationships and memories that will last you a lifetime. Here at Saint Mary's, you are sure to find people that will impact your life more than anyone has before. The campus will become your home, while the students and faculty will become your family. We all take care of each other, inside and outside of school grounds. This kindness continues to flow into every community that each student decides to settle in after their time here at Saint Mary's is completed.
