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Anonymous |
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Date: |
January 23, 2007 |
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This is a small college (under 1,000 students), in a small town (under 10,000), in a sparsely populated area of central West Virginia. The town of Elkins is big enough to have the basics of civilized convenience (Wal-mart & K-mart, strip malls, a multiplex cinema, lots of fast food, etc.), but too small to have problems like traffic, serious crime, or pollution. Elkins is more cosmopolitan and modern than many other small towns in West Virginia, partly due to the presence of the college. For those who like the outdoors, there's an incredible wealth of activities no more than an hour or two away: skiing, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, caving, boating, kayaking, and some of the most beautiful vistas to be found in the eastern U.S.
Classes are not too demanding or rigorous, but do a good job of preparing the graduate in his/her major. Better students will find lots of upwards headroom to keep them challenged (for example, double majors with a minor are not uncommon), while not-so-good students will not be overwhelmed. In general, D&E does very well at meeting the needs of students with a wide range of abilities.
The campus is very unusual -- unlike any of the many I have seen. There's a mix of modern structures and well-maintained historical buildings, set on and between hills in a forest-like setting on the edge of downtown Elkins. Particularly noteworthy are two mansions on campus, former residences of U.S. Senators Davis and Elkins, the founders of both the town and the college. The campus buildings and environs might be described as "cozy." Athletic facilities are adequate, though not spectacular. The library is surprisingly nice for such a small school, and a great place to get away from the dorms to study.
The faculty is one of the best features of D&E. The professors are dedicated solely to teaching, being unburdened by research or the rampant campus politics common at large universities. They are highly accessible, down-to-earth, and interested in their students at a personal level. It's not uncommon for students to form a lifelong friendship with a professor, sometimes on a first-name basis. Almost all the classes are small -- around 10 is typical. The one-on-one relationships with professors more than make up for whatever big-school amenities D&E may be lacking.
Night life in Elkins doesn't amount to much - this is not the place to be if you want to go out and party all the time. On the other hand, life on campus is not exactly a monastery. Since the student body is small -- and many are commuter students living off-campus, social activities are invariably pretty small get-togethers. You'll never see a 300 person party, unlike, for example, West Virginia University (which is 1 1/2 hours away). But you'll make some close friends that you'll stick with throughout your time at D&E.
One disadvantage for those from afar is lack of transportation. There's no air, bus, or rail service into Elkins (although at one time, Elkins had all three). Driving is it. However, Elkins connects directly to Interstate 79, to the west, by Route 33, a very good, modern four-lane, with some spectacular views. Students from far away usually fly into Bridgeport (less than an hour away), Charleston (2 hours), or Pittsburgh (3 hours), and then get a ride.
Living costs are low in Elkins, making off-campus living attractive for many. Decent apartments may be rented for around $500 per month. Sharing can cost much less. From campus, you can get to anywhere in Elkins by car in no more than 10 minutes. Commutes on foot, or by bicycle, are pretty easy. Townspeople are very friendly, although you may occasionally run into "country" folk that are on a different page. Much of the surrounding area of West Virginia is almost 100% white, but Elkins is more varied, due to the college and the local hospital. During my time there were folks from Asia, the Middle East, India, Europe, and elsewhere. Hispanic persons, however, were not common (that may be different now). Black faces are rare in Elkins. I personally enjoyed having several international students as friends, and learned a lot from them.
I started college at a well-known, large university in a large northeastern city, and hated its bureaucratic, impersonal nature. After transferring to D&E, I was much happier. I went on to graduate school after D&E, and did fine with my undergraduate preparation (in fact, I had the highest GRE score my grad school department had ever seen). Since then, it's been pleasantly surprising to discover that D&E is better known than one would expect, and well-regarded by those who have heard of it. I can recommend D&E without reservation if you find the small size and the setting appealing.
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