Earlham University Admission
Earlham University Undergraduate Program
Earlham University Application

The Facts

Earlham College is a small, private, liberal arts college affiliated with the Quakers. It is located in the town of Richmond, Indian , and is home to over 1,100 undergraduate students and approximately 92 graduate and part-time students. The school offers its students some terrific liberal arts programs such as English and history, as well as strong programs in the sciences such as biology and pre-med. There are also some very unique programs, such as Japanese studies, and human development. The school offers its students a wide array of majors; some of the most popular choices include biology, English, sociology, anthropology, psychology, as well as human development and social relations.

Admission to Earlham College is not particularly competitive numerically, however, students that do apply tend to have a strong sense of what they want to do with their lives, and are usually very motivated and intelligent. Last year, over 1,400 students applied to the school for admission, and approximately 1,050 students were accepted; of those, about 350 matriculated. The admitted students had an average combined SAT score ranging from 1080 to 1330, and an average comprehensive ACT score ranging from 23 to 29. Additionally, over 61% of those admitted were ranked in the top 25% of their high school graduating class with an average high school GPA of around 3.45.

Earlham has a low student to faculty ratio of 11:1, and the college is known for its accessible faculty. They have long office hours and welcome frequent visits from students. Earlham places a definite emphasis on a tightly woven community, and it shows. The professors work hard to bond their classes together so that by the end of semester, the group is not only a class, but hopefully friends as well.

The Social Scene

The town of Richmond, Indiana doesn't offer students much; it is an industrial town with nothing more than a Walmart and some grocery stores. There are a couple of bars, but they tend to be pretty sketchy and aren't really places that students are fond of frequenting. However, the majority of students own cars, and head to Indianapolis or even Chicago on the weekends.

There are no fraternities or sororities at the college, and it is not a party school, as the administration has a very strictly enforced dry policy. Most students aren't into partying anyhow; they would rather hang out with friends in small groups, or go see a movie at the local theater. Sports are also popular at Earlham, and include activities as varied as rugby, lacrosse, football and cheerleading.

The dating scene is what you make of it; chances are, you'll have to actively search for a date at the college.

What’s Good

“The teachers here do a wonderful job of fostering a solid sense of community here. You leave class feeling like you have new friends as well.”

“The study abroad program is great and is a great escape from Richmond. I spent all of the last year in Greece .”

“The campus is gorgeous, and it feels like a stereotypical college campus in the best way possible.”

What’s Bad

“Richmond is terrible. It might just be one of the most depressing towns I've ever been to.”

“There is absolutely no partying on campus. It's hard to escape from academics because they are all that exist here.”

“Some of the Quaker-values are extremely stifling. You always feel like you are being watched by the administration.”

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