College of the Holy Cross
Reviews

No Complaints

All girls here are attractive, and many are hot. They all make the effort to look good, all the time. Guys will sit in Kimball and talk about every girl that walks by. The majority are athletes or ex-athletes that spend a lot of time in the gym.

There are a few groups of bitchy girls that think they're hotter than they are. However, for the most part, Holy Cross girls are outgoing and always willing to meet new people. They're funny and sarcastic, which is great for guys looking to make friends with girls or looking to find girlfriends.

Overall, the combination of good looks and good personality of the girls here is top notch.

One of the BEST!

Best curriculum you will ever find. The professors are very smart, but not all are good at teaching. Upper-classmen will be your friends in determining which were great teachers from their experiences. But the class size is so small that Professors get to know you pretty well especially if you go to their Office Hours frequently for help and also to just chat with them. Registration process is sorta unfair because everyone can register at the opening time, which usually jams the campus internet server, so depends if your lucky to get in the system first. HOWEVER, you can AVOID this by going off-campus because if you use an outside online connection the system usually lets you in first! Workload is CRAZY amounts of work, obviously depending the class and professor, but usually the Prof. gives you workload like you are taking their class only and nothing else for that whole semester. Most popular study areas is of course the sciences or PRE-MED, having the biggest Intro Courses (-30 students) and Pre-Med Courses are limited to Pre-Med Program admitted students. Also, if you plan on taking more courses in one subject, even if you might not exactly major in it later on, your best bet is to declare that as your Major because during Registration you will have preference over other non-Majors.

Financial Aid Good for Some, Barely There for Others

Most of the student body can afford college loans. So, while it's nice to complain about no financial aid, most students don't need it compared to the students getting financial aid.

Contrary to some reviews, we don't have many athletic scholarships. Most scholarships go to minority students, which is great. The school is becoming more diverse each year. This yea'rs freshman class is the most diverse class ever (25%?). With each year, the campus will become less "homogeneous" as collegeprowler calls us.

Incredibly Supportive Professors

I was more than satisfied with the Classics Department. 12 professors--a large number for a Classics department -- meant a wide variety of course choices every semester. The professors were both knowledgeable and passionate in the most inspiring way. And, perhaps most importantly, the professors care deeply about their students. They truly want you to enjoy their courses,to learn something, and overall to succeed. The academic work IS challenging, and the professors expect much from you, but if you work with them they will be behind you 100%.

Top Notch

This school is well known for the top notch education it provides for its students. Whenever I go to Boston and tell people that I go to Holy Cross, the usual response goes something like this: "Holy Cross?! That's a great school. It's harder than Harvard!" The professors here are not only brilliant, but they are willing to go above and beyond to develop a friendship with you and help you to succeed. Sure, the workload is stressful at times, and students wonder whether the workload would be easier at any other school. Yet, when it is all said and done, the workload is worth it, you learn a lot, and you know that you are receiving the best education possible. People don't know how hard we work here. The libraries are always occupied with students, including on weekends. But we also save time for fun. We are Holy Cross, and that's how we do it!

Everyone Gets Drunk.

I'm not 21 yet and so I can't really go to bars. However, I was able to get into one once where they didn't card and that was a fun time. There seem to be a good number of clubs and bars in Worcester. There are clubs that are 18+. I've been clubbing in Worcester a few times and those experiences were pretty fun. Cabs are your best bet for transportation. They're not terribly cheap but if you split the cost with your friends, it's not too bad. Nearby Caro Street is the center of the off-campus party scene. The few times I went, I wasn't impressed. A lot of the time there are just groups of kids standing around outside in the street trying to find a house party to go to. Besides that, there are plenty of parties on campus and ways to have more convenient fun. Most people do drink on the weekends.

Give HC Some Credit

Even though Holy Cross is mostly white and Catholic, most colleges are predominately white. HC has been do a noticeably good job recruit minority students and making sure they can afford to attend. I was pleasantly surprised when I got on campus at the amount of diversity I saw. I thought I was heading to an all-white, all-New Englander school.

The Science Library

I love the science library. It is the place to be. If it is inside the library itself or outside in the couches or the common tables. It is the newest thing on campus. It is new and modern and not too crowded. it is great. If i am not found bet I am in the science library.

Great Place to Grow

You could spend a lot of time evaluating the facilities, activities, and nightlife of any college, but at the end of the day, it's the people you meet that will make your experience. You'll meet great people here if you keep an open mind. I was very iffy about coming to Holy Cross at first, and tension can exist on the topic of trying to be more diverse. But you've got to keep in mind that real friendships and respect goes beyond race and ethnicity, always. I made close friends much faster than I thought I would, and we keep each other here. We keep each other happy. Everyone's got decent work ethic too, so getting work done with peers makes it easier. Of course, it can also make it harder, and there are isolated places for that. I'd choose Holy Cross again because I've met people who've opened up my potential to be my best person.

Buses All Over

The school provides buses to Boston and Providence as well as buses around Worcester. Its very useful and very convenient!

I have found my dorms at Holy...

I have found my dorms at Holy Cross to be great. The rooms are not nearly as dungeon-like or cramped as any of my friends' rooms at other schools. Also, each dorm has a unique character to it. You will always see people around wearing t-shirts about their dorm and stuff like that.

Holy Cross was not my first...

Holy Cross was not my first choice, but I am so thankful that I ended up here. The overall experience is amazing, and I can't picture myself anywhere else.

Holy Cross is on the side of a...

Holy Cross is on the side of a mountain, making it pretty windy. Winters here are very cold, too. Definitely bundle up well! Rain boots are very useful, too, since it rains a lot.

Holy Cross was an easy transition...

Holy Cross was an easy transition for me, since I came from a very small school. All of the students here are very nice—for example, everyone holds the door for the next person. It's also comforting to me to see familiar faces around campus. There are enough people here that there is always someone new to meet, but it's small enough that you certainly don't feel lost in a sea of students.

There isn't a huge drug scene on...

There isn't a huge drug scene on campus, although I'm sure if you look hard enough you'll find it. Many more students look to alcohol for a release.

The network here at Holy Cross is...

The network here at Holy Cross is easy and convenient, and you can always find a computer. The computers sold through the school are pretty good, and have free repairs. However, the Internet is sometimes spotty in the dorms.

It is very easy to get off campus....

It is very easy to get off campus. There are shuttles sponsored by the student government, which takes you anywhere in Worcester for free. The Woo Bus, made specifically for Worcester Consortium students, is also free and very convenient. It makes rounds around Worcester to neighboring schools and downtown. There are also buses that run to a nearby mall called Blackstone every weekend, and it's also free of charge. Taxis are also very easy here, although slightly more expensive than the normal NYC taxi.

The professors at Holy Cross are...

The professors at Holy Cross are extremely helpful and always available. The lack of a graduate program means that the professors are completely focused on their undergraduate students and on teaching. Small class sizes result in close relationships with professors. Last semester, I even got to go to one of my professor's houses for dinner. The professors will challenge you, but they will also be there to support you. Holy Cross is known for its workload, which while rigorous, is not impossible. Holy Cross students spend a lot of quality time in the library—or wherever they like to study. The school has been getting a lot of press about the inception of its freshman seminar program called Montserrat. Students opinions about the program seem to depend on their seminar. Personally, I love my seminar, and since the program requires that you be housed with your "cluster," I have made many good friends through my seminar.

A typical Holy Cross student is...

A typical Holy Cross student is smart but not pretentious. They work hard during the week and on Sundays, so that they can play hard on Friday and Saturday nights. They are involved in some form of extracurricular activity, very likely something athletic or volunteer-oriented. Many of the students come from private and parochial schools, and quite a few come from single-sex high schools, which can result in some interesting transitions. While the student body is predominantly white, the College seems to do a good job of promoting multiculturalism.

The dorms for freshmen are pretty...

The dorms for freshmen are pretty standard and uniform. The rooms are rectangular, and most people set up their rooms so that each roommate has his or her own distinct side. Upperclassman housing is more varied. There are double rooms with private bathrooms available and very nice suites for four with a full kitchen, bathroom, and living space.

Campus police aren't here to make...

Campus police aren't here to make your life miserable. The Worcester police can be excessive, though.

There are no parties on campus...

There are no parties on campus really. The bars are cool. McFadden's is a good bar, and off campus always has parties going on.

There is a great workout athletic...

There is a great workout athletic center. The campus food places are slightly lacking. The library and student center are both great.

Shrewsbury Street has plenty of...

Shrewsbury Street has plenty of good restaurants, but there are not that many good eateries close to campus

There are a lot of basketball...

There are a lot of basketball fans, but other than that, people aren't very consistent fans.