Independence: Freedom to Learn 4 • Getting Started 6 • Defining Your Space 8 • Seeking Connections 10 • Exploring the World 12 • Study Abroad 14 • The Arts 24 • Capstones and Theses 26 •
Inquiry: Archaeology 18 • Workshop Physics 20 • Research and Rector 22 •
Responsibility: Commitment to Sustainability 30 • Green Living 32 •
Student-Athletes 34 • Internships 36 • Community Engagement 38 • Alumni 40 • Academic Offerings 42 • The Facts 44 • How to Apply 46 • Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid 47 • Visiting Campus 48
Independence, inquiry, responsibility: these are the themes of the American experience, the Dickinson experience and—once you become a Dickinsonian— your experience. Dickinson was the first college chartered after the formal ending of the American Revolution. Its founder, Dr. Benjamin Rush, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. His goal in founding Dickinson was to create a new kind of college—one that would educate engaged leaders for a new world. On the edge of the wilderness, Dickinson’s campus in Carlisle, Pa., was to be a starting point for journeys of inquiry and discovery. Dickinson graduates were to take responsibility for leading the new nation—in fields of government, law, medicine, business and foreign affairs. It has been more than 225 years since Benjamin Rush decided to build a college in a country less than half explored. Yet the founding spirit propels us forward today. Dickinson remains devoted to discovery, connecting students to original research in the sciences, social sciences, humanities and arts. Its frontiers are now global. Dickinson is the hub of a series of international sites, and its campus is alive with students and scholars from around the world.
Dickinson is the model of a residential American liberal-arts education—an education that gives you the independence to develop your personal story, the freedom to ask the important questions and the intellectual clarity to define problems and communicate convincing solutions. In an age of globalization, Dickinson’s founding spirit is as vital as ever, instilling in you a sense of responsibility not just to the nation but to the world.
After the college building that was begun in 1799 burned down in 1803, the cornerstone for what is now Old West (left) was laid. It was designed by Benjamin Latrobe, the same architect who designed the Capitol in Washington, D.C., thus connecting Dickinson even more closely to the symbols of the new nation. 2 • Dickinson College
To the colonists in 1776,
Independence meant freedom—
freedom of the people from tyranny and of the individual to enjoy the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In signing the Declaration of Independence, Dickinson’s founder Dr. Benjamin Rush endorsed these revolutionary American values. He also took partial authorship of them. To enter the doors of Old West with a new class of Dickinsonians is to take up Rush’s legacy—that of an author, scientist and teacher committed to providing a useful education, and of an engaged citizen with the courage to shape a nation.
Independence • 3
Freedom to Learn Independence is the promise of college—the freedom of being away from home and the related responsibilities of taking care of yourself and managing your time. In terms of your Dickinson experience, freedom is academic— the right to personalize a program of study from among 1,078 classes offered each year across 42 majors, to build relationships with
4 • Dickinson College
professors, engage in spirited dialogue, connect ideas in new ways, do research, study abroad and, above all, learn how to learn on your own. It’s social—the opportunity to participate in more than 100 clubs and organizations. It can also be very personal—the freedom to develop a signature style, a worldview and a manner of expressing it that is uniquely your own.
Dickinson Distinctions The signature features of liberal learning at Dickinson are the choices you have to select classes and define your area of study, the immediate opportunities to do fieldwork and research, and the close relationships you develop with faculty—scholars, researchers and advisors who are teachers first and foremost. Dickinson classes are small, averaging 17 students. The student-faculty ratio is a remarkably low 10:1. By design, Dickinson is a community of scholars, a place where learning is active and study is hands-on. It is a diverse community, in which students bring their cultural, geographic and political perspectives to bear and can honestly voice competing opinions—and face challenges. Dickinson’s geographic reach is unparalleled, with 16 programs around the globe, opportunities to participate in other abroad programs and a curriculum that emphasizes a global perspective throughout the four years. “You as students enjoy wide freedom in almost every aspect of your education because we believe that the best method for producing Dickinson’s course offerstudents ready for self-governance after graduation is to apply the ings are characterized by principle of self-governance before graduation.” Neil Weissman, provost and dean of Dickinson College breadth and depth. You have the freedom to come to Dickinson with one major in mind and leave with a passion for another—or to arrive open to wherever your course of study takes you. Once you choose an area of study, you not only will complete upper-level coursework, but you also will have opportunities to develop independent studies, pursue indepth research, write a thesis or complete a capstone project. As your interests, skills and knowledge advance, you learn to ask questions, find answers and seek solutions on your own— to think independently.
Turn to Page 42 for a complete listing of programs and majors, or find in-depth information online at www.dickinson.edu/ academics.
Connecting the Dots You may come to Dickinson with a neat and compartmentalized view of the world—the idea that each subject is discrete and each major a closed system of thought. Through interdisciplinary approaches to
knowing (see Page 10), you will see openings. You also will connect the dots of your Dickinson experience without necessarily majoring in an interdisciplinary program—through independent effort. You might build
your own cluster of courses, link insights from different academic experiences and tie what you do in the classroom to extracurricular activities and residential life. You also will bridge your academic
program to experiences beyond Dickinson’s limestone walls— internships (see Page 36), service projects (see Page 38) and study abroad (see Page 14). Independence • 5
getting started
“The most rewarding and unexpected experience for me is the wide and increasing variety of mosaic programs and interdisciplinary programs that you can get involved in. There is a particularly high concentration of them in the environmental studies department – and they are expanding. If I had to do it all over again, I’d start at Dickinson now.” Philip Rothrock (environmental studies), Wilmette, Ill.
“I came to Dickinson thinking I would major in business. I’m leaving with a degree in sociology and a grant to return to Brazil, where I studied abroad, to run a program for students in the favela where we lived. The moment I started focusing on what I really wanted to do I started appreciating the liberal-arts model that drew me here.” Anna Valiante (sociology), Wilson, Wyo.
6 • Dickinson College
“If you have the option of taking a First-Year Seminar as part of a learning community, do it. Back on your hall, you can talk in depth about what you’re doing in class. And you get to form great friendships that will last.” Sarah Zaleski (archaeology and anthropology), Haverford, Pa.
We spoke to a handful of seniors one week before graduation about the opportunities Dickinson opened up to them and opened them to. Their majors run from English and French to archaeology and anthropology and international business & management; their experiences, from interning with botanists in Alaska to attending the U.N. conference on climate change. They have immediate plans to attend medical school and business school and work for global NGOs. We offer up their advice to give you a head start on your path through Dickinson.
“You’ll do a lot of thinking at Dickinson. But you have to do as well. Through Dickinson I went to the U.N. conference on climate change in Copenhagen. That was a defining moment for me. It inspired me to continue to advocate for disenfranchised groups.” Brandon McCall (English), Los Angeles, Calif.
“Every Dickinson professor has a distinct personality and style of teaching. I like professors who push students to be inquisitive and who push the imagination. The best professors balance the course material with a level of flexibility that gets you to develop something unique independently.” Vania Chan (biology and French), East Bridgewater, Mass.
“I would tell incoming first-years not to be worried about what they’re going to major in. The whole point of coming to a small liberal-arts college is to feel it out. Take a broad range of classes, talk to your advisors, professors and friends. Everyone here comes from different backgrounds and has a lot of interests. You’ll get so many different viewpoints.” Senaka Ratnayake (biochemistry and molecular biology), Valparaiso, Ind. Independence • 7
Defining your space Just as Dickinsonians personalize their course schedules, so too do they leave their fingerprints on favorite study spots. Be it a carrel in the library, a terminal in the Microroom, a first-year double in Drayer or a room in McKenney Suites, Dickinson provides ample space(s) for reflection.
“ I write all my humanities papers and music compositions in McKenney. When my suitemates are also working, the common room can be very conducive to getting things done.” Anubhav Mohan, Patna, India
“The Goodyear Studios are the visual-arts community. In this space, students push each other to levels of unimaginable creativity in pursuit of solutions to the problem that interests them most.” Rachel Warren, New Albany, Ohio
“I go to the Microroom to write papers and study guides. They’ve got PCs, Macs and printers, and IT techs keep everything running. The energy makes it a motivating place to work.” Siraj Hashmi, Oklahoma City, Okla.
“The availability of countless facts in the stacks, not to mention the knowledge contained within the minds of my peers, create an excellent learning environment within the library.” Tyler Rosá, Carmel by the Sea, Calif. “If I’m creating an outline for a paper or organizing my notes for a lab report, I’m at my desk in Drayer very early in the morning before everybody wakes up.” Steph Neal, Philadelphia, Pa.
Independence • 9
Interdisciplinary Areas of Study Nearly one-quarter of Dickinson students graduate with interdisciplinary majors, all of which by their very nature demand connecting insights from multiple fields. This list includes major, minor and certificate programs. 10 • Dickinson College
Africana Studies American Studies Archaeology Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Business (International Business & Management) Classical Studies Dance & Music
East Asian Studies Environmental Science/Studies Film Studies Health Studies International Studies Italian Studies Judaic Studies Latin American, Latino & Caribbean Studies
Law & Policy Medieval & Early Modern Studies Middle East Studies Neuroscience Policy Management Security Studies Women’s & Gender Studies
Seeking Connections Throughout your education at Dickinson, you will begin to see that the world is interconnected, that seemingly disparate ideas are related and that there is a common paradigm for solving problems. Dickinson professors are not only experts in their fields but have the capacity to teach across disciplines. Their openness to connecting ideas gives you the freedom to synthesize existing knowledge, cross traditional boundaries and challenge conventional wisdom.
Embracing Change At Dickinson, you have the freedom to choose from 42 majors, including innovative interdisciplinary programs, and opportunities to take your studies into the field. These programs are designed to allow you to play a part in solving the biggest problems that face the nation and the world today. Here are a few examples: American and Global Mosaic Programs (Mosaics), which involve intensive semesterlong research designed around ethnographic fieldwork and cultural immersion, engage students in collaborative work with local, transnational and international communities. The ultimate example of a useful education, the Mosaics provide opportunities for students to apply the theories and methodologies they are learning in the classroom to the world beyond—and to bring their experiences in the world back into the classroom. Turn to Page 26 to read about how the Black Liberation Movements Mosaic prepared one student to undertake an ambitious multimedia thesis in his senior year. “The certificate program in security studies ties a lot of my interests together. I really like the broad definition of security, which recognizes that diplomacy and development—not just the military—are critical factors in maintaining national security. The professional perspective of instructors from the Army War College and internships in Washington, D.C., are incredibly useful. I’m in D.C. right now, writing papers on foreign aid reform and counterinsurgency in Afghanistan. Dickinson is really up to the minute with what’s happening in Washington.” Sarah Hutson (political science and security studies), Robbinsdale, Minn.
Security studies is more than just a certificate program—it is part of a larger framework that connects a variety of academic disciplines, increases experiential off-campus opportunities and enhances unique partnerships. Dickinson’s concept of security has to do with protecting human well-being in a broad sense. It includes traditional concerns like threats from other states or terrorists, but also issues such as health (pandemics, for example), environment and energy, and economic security. Partnerships with the U.S. Army Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute and U.S. Army War College, a popular semester program in Washington, D.C., and a strong ROTC program enhance the curricular offerings. Dickinson has a long history of students and alumni interning and working in areas including the Department of State, Department of Defense, Office of Homeland Security and beyond. Business is a subject that Dickinson approaches in a unique way. A successful business career today requires the ability to navigate a constantly changing landscape and contend with a global marketplace, shifting regulations, international politics, a multicultural workplace and rapidly evolving technologies. That’s why MBA programs and employers are increasingly seeking graduates who can think creatively, learn quickly and make connections between a variety of fields. And that’s why Dickinson is focused on preparing students of any major for a career in business.
Independence • 11
Dickinson offers language instruction in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
ExpLoring the worLd Dickinson is renowned for its commitment to global education. Students from abroad, Americans who’ve studied and taught abroad and visiting international faculty diversify and energize the Carlisle campus. Dickinson’s programs are generally not in tourist hot spots, so students fully immerse in the language and culture of the host country. In Carlisle, every Dickinson student gains facility in at least one foreign language, because one can’t presume to get along in a globalizing world with English only. In all these ways, Dickinson gives students the freedom to explore the world and the tools to engage it.
Global Education
Dickinson is always looking to expand its study-abroad options to give students variety and address the needs of the most academic disciplines. Recently several new partner programs were established and others re-invigorated. They include: Akita International University in Akita City, Japan; AMIDEAST Amman, Jordan; AMIDEAST Rabat, Morocco; Ben-Gurion University in Beer-Sheva, Israel; Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel; Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Arizona.
In an era characterized by increasing worldwide interdependence, Dickinson builds global perspectives into all its educational programs so that students gain the international understanding necessary to be informed citizens and world leaders. Courses in all disciplines include an international focus. In addition, global perspectives and intercultural sensitivities are stressed in the cross-cultural studies requirement for graduation, in the many double-majors that combine language study with another discipline, and in interdisciplinary area studies programs on Western Europe, East Asia, Latin America and Russia.
An International Community Living at Dickinson immerses you in a global community. Besides the many Dickinson students and faculty who return to campus having studied abroad, more than 7 percent of the student body is international. There is also a constant flow of visiting scholars and lecturers. So whether or not you personally choose to study abroad, you receive a global exposure. If you think a global campus is just about study abroad, think again. Go to www.dickinson.edu to learn more.
12 • Dickinson College
“Being an international student at Dickinson truly broadens your perspective. You face challenges every day. You question the assumptions you grew up with. When you get a college education in another country, it forces you to grow. That builds an enormous sense of accomplishment.” Alejo Lifschitz (chemistry and art & art history), Buenos Aires, Argentina
Independence • 13 “In many respects, no college is more internationally minded than Dickinson College.” NAFSA: Association of International Educators
Shoes that have seen the world
1 Norwich, England Yurina Shim (chemistry) Seoul, Korea
4 Moscow, Russia
Caitlin Rice (Russian with a French minor) Mechanicsburg, Pa.
7 Yaoundé, Cameroon
2 Brisbane, Australia Greg Sunshine (political science) Hamilton Square, N.J.
5 Bremen, Germany
Andrew Schulte (international studies and German) Bloomfield, Mich.
8 Toulouse, France
3 Seoul, Korea Paul Lee (law & policy) Quincy, Mass.
6 Beijing, China Clara Sanguinetti (IB&M and international studies) Buenos Aires, Argentina
9 Málaga, Spain
Alexis Henry (American studies) Bronx, N.Y.
Kaitlyn Plummer (French and English) Upland, Calif.
Paige Meredith (theatre arts and Spanish) Jefferson City, Mo.
10 Bologna, Italy Joey Kirk (Italian studies) Lansdale, Pa.
11 Nagoya, Japan Jeff Wilson (East Asian studies) Somerdale, N.J.
12 Querétaro, Mexico
14 • Dickinson College
Lindsey Hazel (international studies and Spanish) Broad Run, Va.
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study abroad More than half of Dickinson students study abroad, nearly a third for a full academic year. That’s one of the highest study-abroad rates of any college—and that’s just the students! Dickinson professors direct our programs at 16 dedicated locations worldwide. There are many study-abroad programs from which to choose, but because Dickinson’s own global centers are so highly regarded, more than 70 percent of Dickinson students who study abroad end up at one of them (see shoes and box below). “Spending time abroad makes you more aware that the American experience isn’t the only experience. Whatever we’re talking about, whatever the issue, there’s always another side to it—and maybe six or seven more sides.” Alexis Henry (American studies), Bronx, N.Y.
“I had two years studying Japanese at Dickinson, so when I got to Nagoya I was able to hit the ground running. Being there has been the turning point of my life. My host family and the program were just incredible.” Jeff Wilson (East Asian studies), Somerdale, N.J.
“You have to experience Russia to understand it. And you have to know the language to understand the culture. At first, I was terrified of using the wrong word. The old babushkas will sort of roll their eyes at you. But making mistakes is the best way to learn.” Caitlin Rice (Russian with a minor in French), Mechanicsburg, Pa.
“In international studies, 95 percent of majors spend time abroad. It gives people perspective on the U.S. system, so they can see it in a global context. That’s a huge advantage.” Andrew Schulte (international studies and German), Bloomfield, Mich.
With the addition of the Dickinson at Oxford (England) program, in which students spend their full junior year at the prestigious Mansfield College Visiting Student Programme (VSP), and the Dickinson in South America program, which combines a five-week session in Cuenca, Ecuador, with the remaining time in Mendoza, Argentina, Dickinson’s global reach continues to expand. Independence • 15
Stemming from curiosity, the drive to know more and understand more deeply,
INQUIRY is a habit of mind. It is also a spirit, the
spirit that led western explorers to the New World and colonists to the American West. At Dickinson today, this spirit unites professors and students—in the archaeology simulator, the labs of Rector Science Complex and the workshop physics classrooms of Tome Hall, in the art studios of Goodyear and the performance and exhibition spaces of Mathers Theatre and The Trout Gallery—in all the places in and beyond Carlisle where the questions posed by independent minds lead. 16 • Dickinson College
In 1890, Tome Scientific Building represented the stateof-the-art in scientific research and teaching. Today, the tradition of advanced scientific inquiry continues in the cutting-edge labs and lecture halls of a new Tome Hall and the LEED-gold-certified Rector Science Complex.
Inquiry • 17
archaeoLogy Archaeology is a process of discovery—literally uncovering the past. Students come into the field of archaeology from classics, astronomy, earth sciences, history, art history and anthropology. Working in the simulator, students experience the precision and rigor of the scientific method. They gain insight into the interplay between imagination (hypothesis) and empirical reality (experimentation). They grasp what we can and also do not yet know.
The Simulation Lab Mycenaean clay figurine of Φ-type (1400-1100 B.C.)
Athenian drachma, Aeginetan stater and South Italian Greek coins (Classical period: 5th/4th centuries B.C.)
Athenian black-figure panel amphora (550-525 B.C.)
Golden bracelet (4th century B.C.)
One of six compulsory courses for archaeology majors, Fundamentals of Archaeology is taught in the dig simulator. Buried in its layers are a settlement, a shrine, a cemetery and a road. Underneath lie the carbonized wood remains of Neolithic huts. Students learn about burial customs by studying “Working in the simulator teaches us the same process we use at Mycenae—the same kind of recording system, the same kind of drawing and picture taking. When you get there you’ve already seen all the forms you’ll be using. You know all the terminology.” Kristen Wroth, Carol Stream, Ill., lab assistant, has been to Mycenae twice the objects—all replicas—in the graves: coins, jewelry and human bones. As they excavate, they find shards of pottery, all precise copies of the authentic pieces from the National Archaeological Museum and other museums. Designed by Associate Professor Christofilis Maggidis, the simulator was constructed in a matter of weeks. Excavating to the point where only two square-foot patches of concrete floor lie exposed has taken three years. “We go very slowly,” Maggidis explains. “The goal is not to excavate fully but to learn how to use the system—which is the very same system that we use at Mycenae. So when you’re there you can work blindfolded.” Mycenae, Greece Funded by a grant from the Keck Foundation, Dickinson’s million-dollar archaeology laboratory consists not just of the dig simulator but other cutting-edge technology. The gadgets include global positioning system (GPS) units, ground-penetrating radar (GPR), gradiometers (to scan the ground prior to excavating) and total stations (to measure latitude, longitude and elevation in a fraction of a second). These technologies are all vital at Mycenae. Recently, an article in Archaeology Magazine highlighted the unprecedented work being done there by Maggidis and his team of Dickinson students.
18 • Dickinson College
“Most second-year graduate students in archaeology in this country have never had a single season’s experience in the field. Dickinson students have the dig simulator, which is unique in the United States, and they come with me to Mycenae for one, two or three seasons. There’s nothing more effective than hands-on experience.” Christofilis Maggidis, associate professor of archaeology and director of the Dickinson College Excavation Project and Survey in Mycenae, Greece Inquiry • 19
In workshop physics, the body—your body—can be the primary tool of instruction, as in this kinesthetic motion experiment devised by Professor Hans Pfister. By whirling a classmate around the “dance floor,” students gain insight into the properties of circular motion.
20 • Dickinson College
Workshop Physics At Dickinson, how you are taught is as important as what you are taught. Nowhere is this more obvious than in workshop physics. The Department of Physics & Astronomy is an acknowledged national leader in physics education for developing the innovative approach to introductory coursework. Forget formal lectures. This is hands-on learning. Literally. And it totally works—both to imprint the material on the mind and spark a passion for the subject matter. Workshop physics veterans advance to highlevel research in plasma physics, optics, magnetic fluids, material science, astronomy and astrophysics. More than 40 percent of recent Dickinson physics graduates are women, in contrast to the national average of 19 percent. “Every day in a workshop physics class there’s a different setup. Instead of staring at numbers and equations and graphs being written by a professor on a whiteboard, you’re continually involved in hands-on stuff. I can best explain its benefits with a quote: ‘Tell me, I forget; show me, I remember; involve me, and I understand.’ That really sums up why hands-on learning is such a useful tool. Of course you need some lecture to ground you in laws and concepts. But here the lectures fortify what we’ve experienced in the lab. The combination of lecture and hands-on work is just right.” Eric Dornbush (physics and mathematics), Altamont, N.Y.
Inquiry • 21
Research and Rector
A community of inquiry always strives for new knowledge and new ways of understanding the world and ourselves. In many ways, “inquiry” is almost synonymous with research—the act of in-depth exploration that gives students the opportunity to develop many valued skills. These range from technical mastery of methods to the wider ability to think critically, analyze deeply and answer questions imaginatively.
With the first phase of the Rector Science Complex completed in 1999, the second in 2008, and the third to be completed in fall 2013, much of the scientific community at Dickinson is now centralized. The state-of-the-art facility, built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification standards, represents the culmination of a decade of innovation that increased the number of science majors at Dickinson by three-quarters. Dickinson also routinely wins national and international research grants from foundations and programs including the National Institutes of Health 22 • Dickinson College and the National Science Foundation.
Student-Faculty Research
Phoebe Oldach, a junior from Chapel Hill, N.C., with a double major in chemistry and biochemistry & molecular biology, was one of only 282 scholars nationwide to receive a 2012 Goldwater Scholarship by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program. “I love being in the sciences because the possibilities are virtually endless,” says Oldach, pictured conducting fish-feeding experiments in the wetlab of the University of Queensland’s (UQ) Moreton Bay Research Station.
Research is a key component of the Dickinson liberal-arts curriculum. In the sciences, recent subjects include bupropion as a smoking-cessation agent (neuroscience); synthetic applications of iron-arene complexes (chemistry); the behavior of filamentary currents as they propagate through a uniform and quiescent background plasma (physics, in Dickinson’s Plasma Laboratory); and the gene switches that distinguish leukemia cells from normal cells (biology)—research in which Dickinsonians were among the first undergraduates to use computer imaging of genetic macroarrays to study expression of nearly 1,200 genes at once. In biochemistry & molecular biology, Associate Professor Kirsten Guss and her studentresearchers focus on transcriptional control of neuronal differentiation in Drosophila melanogaster, National Science Foundation–funded research that has taken her and Matt Manganaro to Washington University in St. Louis for a summer of intensive lab work. Such research leads directly to career success.
“It’s pretty unique for an exclusively undergraduate liberal-arts college to have a confocal microscope. It’s equally unusual for undergrads to be using it independently as part of their research.” Kirsten Guss, associate professor of biology, pictured with research assistant Matt Manganaro (biology and biochemistry & molecular biology).
Inquiry • 23
The Trout Gallery Along with housing Dickinson College’s permanent art collections, The Trout Gallery maintains a varied and frequently changing exhibition schedule of historical, contemporary and multicultural materials. Annual schedule highlights include works of and by Dickinson art & art history majors. The yearlong senior seminar that caps off the studio-art program culminates in an exhibition of student work at The Trout Gallery. Advanced art-history majors curate an original exhibition of objects from the college’s collections. Internships in the gallery are offered to superior art majors during their senior year. Accomplishments Recent art & art history majors have gained important professional experience through internships at institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Washington National Cathedral and The Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Art history alumni are currently at work in galleries and auction houses in New York City, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere around the country, as well as in major national museums, including Washington National Cathedral, National Gallery of Art, Jefferson County Historical Society, American Museum of Natural History, Whitney Museum of American Art, Science Museum of Minnesota, The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, The Andy Warhol Museum and North Carolina Museum of Art. 24 • Dickinson College
The arts Whether they create new works or study existing pieces, Dickinson students explore the arts as modes of inquiry. How do societies communicate through movement? What can you say with a paintbrush that you cannot say with the written word? What is the distinct power of theatre as an art form? Dickinson’s superb facilities and resources enable students to practice and perform at a high level while also pursuing a liberal-arts education. The studio program culminates in a senior show; art history has as its capstone a senior seminar in which students curate an exhibition. In theatre arts, student actors can first take to the stage during the
Freshman Plays and later on through Lab Shows and Senior Projects. Behind the scenes at Dickinson’s black box theatre, The Cubiculo, and through internships and assistantships at local theatres and the Pendragon Theatre in New York City, students get hands-on experience in stage and technical management, and costume, set, sound and light design. The student dancers of Dickinson’s Dance Theatre Group often share the stage with visiting professionals, performing the choreography of troupes such as the Trisha Brown Dance Company, the Paul Taylor Dance Company and Headlong Dance Theater, to name a few.
In a recent show, students in the Dance Theatre Group performed “The Other Side of What,” a dance that examined the tensions between public law and personal belief. It was choreographed by Sarah Skaggs, director of dance and a National Endowment for the Arts and New York Foundation for the Arts fellow.
Inquiry • 25
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Capstones and Theses 1 Ethnomusicology Ryan Koons’ interdisciplinary multimedia thesis is on the never-before studied winter ceremonies of the Pine Arbor Tribal Town of northern Florida’s MuskogeeCreek Native Americans. His experience collecting oral histories with the Black Liberation Movements Mosaic was great preparation. “I learned important lessons about what sustainability means in the academic field: that, as a researcher, you work with and for the community to build a reciprocal relationship.”
2 Political Science Aaron Williams’ senior honors thesis is the summation of a life-changing academic relationship. Aaron explains: “At 18, I was intrigued by a career in law but I didn’t know why. Between studying in England and taking comparative and philosophy of law classes with Professor Doug Edlin, what piqued my interest was the thought process—how it’s like a puzzle with a logical pattern. Working on the thesis with Edlin has changed my perspective on my future. My goal hasn’t changed, but my reasoning has been refined—and enlightened.”
26 • Dickinson College
3 Psychology Professor Marie Helweg-Larsen
hand-picked Meg Tobias and Bettina Cerban to assist her with National Institutes of Health grant funded research on perceptions of smoking risk and the degree of moralization in the U.S. and Denmark. The two psychology majors recently presented their findings at a national conference. A co-authored paper, which will lay the groundwork for more effective educational interventions and smoking cessation programs in the U.S., is slated for publication. 4 Earth Sciences and Environmental Studies
With guidance from collaborator Professor Jeff Niemitz, Courtney Haynes’ thesis research will add significant data to the debate surrounding dam removal in the Cumberland Valley—an issue with major consequences for the Chesapeake Bay. “I wanted to do something independent,” says Courtney, “and something that tied a lot of my interests together. I really feel like I’m piloting this project—and making a lasting contribution both to Jeff’s greater research interests and to the scientific community.”
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To gain in-depth knowledge of an area of study, to work in close collaboration with faculty as well as very much on your own, to author original work— potentially for publication in a peer-reviewed journal—these are all reasons why so many Dickinson students participate in capstones and theses. Capstones range from senior seminars to studies that integrate research completed abroad. Thesis topics are as wide-ranging as Dickinsonians themselves. Inquiry • 27
In the 1960s and ’70s, Dickinsonians expressed their political beliefs through peaceful protests and marches. Today, Dickinson students live their values in widening circles of engagement, from the campus to Carlisle, the nation and the global stage. 28 • Dickinson College
When Benjamin Rush signed the Declaration of Independence he did so as a representative of the people of Pennsylvania. In the act of signing his name, he performed the one duty absolutely required of citizens in a democratic republic. Without people courageous enough to stand for countless others and honest enough to be held accountable to them, without leaders willing to take
RESPONSIBILITY, the
American experiment would have failed. Today’s Dickinsonians live this dimension of Rush’s legacy as they strive to live sustainably, give back to their communities and speak out on issues of consequence. Responsibility • 29
Commitment to Sustainability Dickinson is recognized as a leader among educational institutions committed to environmental sustainability and green initiatives. Thanks to a $1.4 million Mellon grant, the college established the Center for Sustainability Education (CSE) to integrate study of the environment and sustainability across the college curriculum. CSE also links campus learning with co-curricular programs, greening of campus operations and global and local civic engagement.
Not Just Being Green Sustainability is about more than recycling, more than reducing one’s carbon footprint. Sustainability is a worldview— it involves asking questions about the social, economic and political forces that have led to extreme disparities in the use of resources around the world. Why is clean drinking water in parts of the developing world owned by private companies? What is the global impact of the United States’ disproportionate consumption of fossil fuels? Today, Benjamin Rush’s vision of a publicly responsible institution compels Dickinson to take a leadership role in educating its students on these issues. No matter what subject you major in or what clubs and organizations you join, you will learn about the challenges of sustainability. At Dickinson, this perspective is not just for some students. It is for all students so that all will graduate with the tools they need to act as responsible, forward-looking agents of change confronting the great challenges of our time.
Thinking Globally While Acting Locally
In 2009 and 2011, Dickinson sent interdisciplinary research teams of students and administrators to participate in the United Nations Framework on Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP). COP15 was in Copenhagen, Denmark, and COP17 was in Durban, South Africa. In unparalleled experiential learning opportunities, students conducted research and interviews with international negotiators, stakeholders and citizens to learn about values and perceptions on climate-change issues. They blogged about their experiences and presented findings to the campus community. 30 • Dickinson College
Although sustainability takes a global perspective, it is nonetheless important that students learn about issues firsthand—through actions as well as ideas. That is why Dickinson provides so many outlets for students, including the Treehouse, the biodiesel initiative and the certifiedorganic College Farm.
Learn more about Dickinson’s commitment to sustainability at www.dickinson.edu.
The Dickinson College Farm is a 120-acre, certified-organic working farm and educational resource that provides produce to the college’s Dining Hall, a local food bank and members of the farm’s co-op. Located a short drive from campus in Boiling Springs, Pa., the farm includes state-of-the-art sustainable operations, such as solar-electric and solar-hot-water systems, and serves as a leader and model for college farms by hosting conferences, workshops, tours and more. It is run by staff members and students with a mission to inspire responsible land stewardship and demonstrate the science, practice and culture of sustainable food production.
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The Treehouse was the first LEED– gold-certified college residence in Pennsylvania. The house’s 14 residents monitor their utility consumption in “real time” using computer sensors. A greywater system stores drain water from showers and sinks, recycling it through lowflush toilets. As a result, residents consume 50 percent less water, electricity and fossil fuels than the average college student. Residents also involve themselves in philanthropy, leading roadside cleanups and hosting earth-friendly events on campus.
Green Living
According to Treehouse resident, Dickinson College sustainability intern and Colorado-native Casey Michalski (environmental studies and mathematics), sustainability is not the passing cause célèbre of a small coterie of Dickinsonians. Rather, she says, “it’s a mindset that students have when they come to Dickinson.”
It’s just that in the Center for Sustainable Living, aka the Treehouse, that mindset is expressed in every detail, from the LEED-gold-certified residence hall itself to the products used to maintain it. Take, for example, the composting bucket on the kitchen counter 1 , the green-seal certified products around the sink and in the laundry area 2 , the ever-present recycling bins 3 that are on hand not only at the Treehouse but at every gate that opens onto the Carlisle campus and every room within it. Then there are the compact fluorescent 32 • Dickinson College
light bulbs that each save 304 kilowatt hours per year 4 , reducing the house’s carbon footprint; the personal water bottles 5 , because why buy bottled when free-flowing Carlisle tap will do?; and the notable red bikes, which signify a free and emission-free ride 6 not just to and from the Treehouse but as far as Harrisburg, Pa. It’s all about green living—the idea that you think globally about the consequences of every consumer choice you make while acting as locally as your own living room.
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Name: Courtney Anderson Major: psychology Hometown: South Pasadena, Calif. Interesting Fact: taught herself the Egyptian hieroglyphic alphabet “Being a part of women’s soccer squashed all my fears as an incoming first year because I immediately became a part of a group of amazing girls who became my closest friends.”
Name: Pavel Hejsek Major: economics and international business & management Hometown: Prague, the Czech Republic Cool Personal Stat: 51 wins after sophomore year “Thanks to the Dickinson athletics program I can be a serious and competitive athlete while keeping my main focus on academics and career progress.”
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Name: Jen DiBiagio Major: biology (pre-health) Hometown: Bel Air, Md. Interesting Fact: has played the guitar for 10 years and started piano at Dickinson “In addition to keeping our grades up, our team does some philanthropy in the community. In the past we’ve worked at a church day-care center and at the Dickinson farm. You have to be responsible, a time manager, to keep all those balls in the air.”
Name: Matthew Beamer Major: biochemistry & molecular biology Hometown: Gettysburg, Pa. Interesting Fact: plans to study abroad in Brisbane, Australia, junior year “I swim because I love it—the competition, the team camaraderie, the values and the sense of accomplishment. Being an athlete takes discipline. Being a teammate means taking responsibility not only for yourself but for every other member of the team.”
Men’s Teams Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track
student-AthLetes The challenge of balancing academics and athletics is one every Division III player faces. But the lessons of Red Devil athletics reach beyond balance—to leadership, and responsibility, to a group greater than oneself: the team. Competing in the Centennial Conference while holding down a challenging Dickinson major (or two) requires the discipline that is the foundation for future success.
Name: Thomas Shapiro Major: international business & management Hometown: Chevy Chase, Md. Cool Personal Stat: shot 75 in the second round of conferences sophomore year, putting the whole round with a 3-wood “Discipline, patience and confidence—these are lessons I’ve learned from varsity athletics at Dickinson. My work ethic from golf has carried over to the academic arena, making me a better player, a better student and a better person.”
Name: Yazmin Monet Watkins Major: American studies Hometown: Northridge, Calif. Cool Personal Stat: broke the school record in triple jump “The greatest thing about being a student-athlete at Dickinson is the ability to meet, connect, bond and interact with so many incredible people through our love of track.”
Women’s Teams: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track, Volleyball Responsibility • 35
internships Benjamin Rush required that Dickinson offer a useful education so that its graduates would be prepared to take public roles in the new democracy. Today, the college’s well-equipped Career Center makes this vision a reality through advice on internships and work after college. Dickinson’s extensive alumni network provides open doors for students wishing to pursue careers in science, law, politics, arts, entertainment and a host of other fields. For a list of recent internship sites, see Page 45. Name: Margaret Battey Major: English Hometown: Alexandria, Va. Internship Sites: Hardball with Chris Matthews, MSNBC; Publications Department, Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.; News Department, WHP CBS-21 At the Smithsonian, Margaret helped research and write articles for the institution’s newspaper and quarterly magazine. At MSNBC and CBS, her responsibilities focused on pre-production, including editing video, writing scripts and managing guests at Hardball. “By interning at a variety of places, I have been able to narrow down what my best career choices are for the future. Working in broadcasting, and especially on Hardball, has convinced me that I want to work in media and in politics after graduation.”
Name: Alex Barlow Major: economics and Spanish Hometown: Ambler, Pa. Internship Sites: The Office of Consumer Litigation, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.; Judge Edward Guido, Cumberland County Courthouse, Carlisle, Pa.; Merrill Lynch, Elkins Park, Pa. Alex’s internships used his skills to organize, analyze and present information, write up research, build databases and persuade clients to join programs. “I have been seriously considering going to law school, and my two legal internships gave me insights into the realm of law. I was considering going into finance, but my internship at Merrill helped me to decide against that as a potential career path. I’ve learned that while I don’t mind collaborative efforts, I prefer working independently.”
“I love sports and thought that after graduation I might want to do something in broadcasting, so my internship at Sirius XM Radio was great. I worked alongside Chris Russo, a famous New York radio personality, doing everything from cutting audio clips to working the production board to researching statistics, managing callins and even going on air. I learned a lot about promotion and marketing and how important they are in sports. This was a field I wanted to learn about, so I took it upon myself to gain the experience.” Will Perry (American studies), Bronx, N.Y.
Name: Marissa Cho Major: international business & management Hometown: Hagerstown, Md. Internship Site: Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, Beijing, China Interesting Fact: Since her sophomore year at Dickinson, Marissa has traveled to China every year to study, work or conduct research. Q: What were your responsibilities as an investor relations intern at Ogilvy? A: My task was to communicate financial strategies to shareholders and potential investors concerned about the company’s market stability. This worked a broad range of my skill sets, namely abstract, analytical and creative thinking. Q: How did the internship relate to your major and your plans for the future? A: Translating articles polished my language skills, and living in Beijing allowed me to understand the drastic differences in working conditions on an international scale. The experience I gained was especially relevant to my postgraduation plans to work with the Chinese markets. Q: What’s the most important lesson you learned? A: To put it simply, to be flexible. A general plan for your career direction is crucial, but it is important not to let your plans prevent exploration. Before my internship I never considered PR as a career path. Taking on all the tasks that were presented to me, including writing corporate Web content and organizing a networking event, helped me find new interests. Now I appreciate the extensive work that PR requires, and I have realized a greater interest in working in private equity. Responsibility • 37
Community Engagement Dickinsonians recognize that they are at the center of expanding circles of community— beyond the self, there are clubs and organizations, the campus community, the community of Carlisle, the state of Pennsylvania, the United States, the world. The four students who tell their stories here have chosen to engage at these different levels. Each has emerged as not only a responsible citizen but also an outstanding leader.
Name: Giovania Tiarachristie Major: international studies and sociology Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa. Udall Scholar, member of Public Affairs Symposium committee, member of Amnesty International, intern at Dickinson College Farm, board member of Dickinson’s Idea Fund, studied urban planning and social inequality in São Paulo, Brazil “I want to incorporate environmental justice into urban design. I’m passionate about creative engagement with low-income residents to increase education, participation and collaboration to preserve the health and livelihood of at-risk communities. Udall Scholars represent little pockets of hope across the nation who believe in change enough to actually make it happen and inspire others to rise and act.”
Name: Coleman Bass (far left) Major: biology Hometown: Baltimore, Md. Co-founder of the Inspirational Medicine Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to connect critically ill children with their heroes “I’ve always been interested in entrepreneurship, and this is a great way to use all of our skills, be creative and bring people together.”
Name: Noorjahan Akbar Major: English and music Hometown: Kabul, Afghanistan Co-founder of Young Women for Change, featured in the Women in the World summit “My education in Pakistan, at public schools in Kabul, at International School of Kabul, at George School, and finally at Dickinson College continues to enable me to think critically and imagine a more safe and just world for myself and half of the people on Earth: women. Given the life-changing effect education has had on my life and who I am, I dream of living a life dedicated to promoting and providing education to women in Afghanistan.”
Name: Josh Handelsman Major: political science Hometown: Durham, N.H. Eleven-plus service experiences at Dickinson, spring break service-trip leader, deferred Yale Law School to join Teach for America “I first heard about service at Dickinson during my first-year orientation. I thought getting involved with service would be a great way to meet like-minded people. I quickly learned how eye-opening and fun service trips are. To me, leadership has been about developing comfort in the role and gaining confidence.”
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Alumni Dickinson alumni possess the competence of a liberal-arts graduate and the social commitment of an engaged citizen. With a solid education in the essential skills—writing, communicating, calculating, assimilating complex information—the world is a Dickinson graduate’s oyster. Yet there’s more. Dickinson imparts to its students a sense of purpose. From those who are granted such a fine education, much is expected.
Two years after graduating from Dickinson, Alfredo Axtmayer ’04 partnered with soccer teammate Drew Chafetz ’04 to create love.futbol, an organization that works with impoverished rural communities in Latin America to build sustainable soccer fields for youths. He says that his experience at Dickinson gave him the tools and confidence to think globally: “Love.futbol is small in the greater scheme of things. But I think we’re helping create a new sense of hope. People are uplifted, and it’s palpable.”
Cameron Kerr ’09 went from a standout in Dickinson’s ROTC to a first lieutenant in Afghanistan earning a Purple Heart for injuries sustained while protecting a fellow soldier. Since returning, he’s been interning with the U.S. Department of Defense, participated in an expedition to Antarctica promoting sustainability and ran the Boston Marathon: “I could have attended a technical college and learned to work with machines, but at the end of the day I would have really only been able to work with machines. I could have attended a large university and barely heard the professor at the front of a 200-person classroom. Instead I found Dickinson and Dickinson found me, and I received an education that wasn’t simply a means to an end.”
When Alex Zobel ’08 read her first Richard Ford story, “Rock Springs,” in a creative-writing class at Dickinson, she never imagined that Ford would someday read her work. In 2008, he chose Zobel’s from more than 300 entries as the winner of the prestigious Kenyon Review short fiction contest. Now a graduate student in creative writing at UCLA, Zobel credits the English faculty at Dickinson for honing her love of her craft: “I didn’t know anything about poetry before I came to Dickinson. And if it wasn’t for my Dickinson professors I’d still be writing stories about teen breakups.” 40 • Dickinson College
Chad Mirkin ’86 is Northwestern University’s George B. Rathmann Professor of Chemistry and director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology. He founded two companies, Nanosphere and NanoInk, has written more than 380 papers, holds scores of patents and has earned more than 50 national and international awards. He was appointed by the Obama administration to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) and was named to the National Academy of Sciences. Mirkin sees connections between his work environment at Northwestern and his Dickinson experience: “My team of scientists is interdisciplinary, including chemists, medical doctors, material scientists and biomedical engineers. We have the Dickinson culture of working together, and this culture has allowed us to build a major presence in the field of nanotechnology.”
Treasure Walker ’04 graduated from medical school at the University of Maryland and is now an ob-gyn resident at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, Pa. She says that her Dickinson education taught her how to deal with patients of different races and cultures: “I got to study abroad in England, which most pre-med students don’t get to do. And Dickinson gave me opportunities to be flexible, to be a diverse person, to be more than just one thing.”
Dickinson students routinely win prestigious awards for postgraduate study, including Fulbright, George J. Mitchell, Rotary Ambassadorial, Kathryn Wasserman Davis Projects for Peace, the Carnegie Junior Fellowship, Barry M. Goldwater and Udall awards. In fact, Dickinson is a leading producer of Fulbright scholars among liberal-arts colleges with more than 70 graduates receiving the grants. Responsibility • 41
Academic Offerings Africana Studies American Studies Anthropology Arabic Archaeology Army ROTC Art & Art History Astronomy Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Biology 42 • Dickinson College
Business (International Business & Management) Chemistry Chinese Classical Studies Community Studies Computer Science Creative Writing Dance & Music Earth Sciences East Asian Studies Economics
Education Engineering (3-2) English Environmental Science Environmental Studies Film Studies First-Year Seminars French German Global Mosaics Graduate School Agreements Greek
Health Studies Hebrew History Humanities Interdisciplinary Studies International Business & Management International Studies Internships Italian Italian Studies Japanese
Journalism Judaic Studies Latin Latin American, Latino & Caribbean Studies Law (3-3) Law & Policy Linguistics Mathematics Medieval & Early Modern Studies Middle East Studies
Military Science Modern Greek Music Neuroscience Philosophy Physical Education Physics Policy Management Political Science Portuguese Portuguese & Brazilian Studies Pre-Business
Pre-Engineering Pre-Health Pre-Law Psychology Public Speaking Religion Russian Science, Technology & Culture Secondary Teaching Certificate Security Studies
Sociology Spanish Sustainability Theatre Arts Women’s & Gender Studies Writing Program Note: Majors in bold Find in-depth information online at www.dickinson.edu/academics. Dickinson College • 43
The Facts History and Mission Chartered in 1783 (the first college chartered in the newly recognized United States), Dickinson is a highly selective, private liberalarts college known for its innovative curriculum. Founded by Benjamin Rush and named for John Dickinson, its mission is to offer students a useful education in the arts and sciences that will prepare them for lives as engaged citizens and leaders. Degrees Granted Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Campus, Facilities and Services 180-acre campus; 58 general and special-interest housing options; three LEED-gold-certified buildings; dining options include gluten-free, kosher, organic, vegan, vegetarian, and local fruit and vegetables from the College Farm. Learn about enhancements at go.dickinson.edu/facilities.
Student-Faculty Ratio 10:1 Average Class Size 17 Academic Features 42 majors plus minors and certificate programs, self-developed majors, independent research, internships and Army ROTC. Extracurriculars More than 100 student-run clubs, including music and drama, publications, fraternities and sororities and religious, political, special-interest and community-service organizations. Athletics Member of the Centennial Conference (NCAA Division III); 11 men’s and 12 women’s varsity sports, plus club and intramural sports. To date, 170 student-athletes have been named All-American.
Enrollment 2,364 full-time students representing 39 states and territories and 46 foreign countries; 15 percent students of color and 7 percent international.
Global Education Dickinson offers one of the most respected off-campus study programs, and more than half of students study in more than 40 programs on six continents in 24 countries. Dickinson also is one of the nation’s top institutions for foreign-language study.
Faculty 252 faculty members; 95 percent holding Ph.D.s or the highest degree in their field.
Recent Initiatives Sharing its Carlisle location with other educational institutions, Dickinson has partnerships with
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the U.S. Army War College and Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute and the world-renowned Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Admission Applicants are expected to have pursued a college preparatory course of study, including substantial sequences in math, foreign languages and the physical sciences. SAT and ACT scores are optional but may prove helpful. Interviews and campus visits are strongly recommended. Tuition and Financial Aid 2012-13 tuition is $44,101. Room and board is $11,178 and a $450 student-activities fee is required. Dickinson awarded more than $38 million in grants in the 2011-12 academic year, and 63 percent of students received merit or need-based awards. Dickinson offers scholarships not based on need to about 13 percent of its entering class. Sustainability Dickinson is recognized as a leader among educational institutions committed to sustainability and green initiatives. The Center for Sustainability Education provides assistance as Dickinson integrates sustainability into its academics, facilities, operations and campus culture. Dickinson has received the highest
Recent Internship Sites
awards from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, Sierra Club, Sustainable Endowments Institute, Princeton Review and Second Nature. Awards Prestigious awards for postgraduate study include Udall, Barry M. Goldwater, Fulbright, George J. Mitchell, Rotary Ambassadorial, Carnegie Junior Fellowship and Kathryn Wasserman Davis Projects for Peace. Dickinson is a leading producer of Fulbright scholars. Postgraduate Plans 95 percent of Dickinsonians are either employed or in a graduate program five years after graduation. Graduate school acceptance rates are strong: 80 percent for law school and 88 percent (of those recommended) for medical school. Recent alumni have been admitted to prestigious graduate and professional schools at universities such as Boston, Columbia, Duke, Emory, George Washington, Georgetown, Harvard, New York, Northwestern, Princeton, Stanford and Yale as well as Boston and Dartmouth colleges and the University of California-Berkeley, University of Pennsylvania and University of Virginia.
Graduate School Partners Top business, law, engineering and medical schools offer programs to accelerate admission for Dickinson graduates or give graduate credit for undergraduate courses. Agreements are in place with renowned institutions, such as Columbia and Johns Hopkins universities. Prominent Alumni U.S. president, Supreme Court justice, second secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, retired chairman and CEO of Wyeth, first editor of USA Today and chairman and CEO of Gannett Co. Inc., chief executive of wealth and investment management & executive chairman of Barclays Americas, assistant general manager of the New York Jets, agents for professional athletes, Tony and Jeff award winners, Lemelson-MIT Prize winner, several U.S. representatives and other elected officials, co-head of William Morris Independent and senior vice president of the motion pictures department, award-winning poets, novelists and photographers, three elected members of the National Academy of Sciences, member of Time magazine’s 2006 list of 100 most influential people and several college presidents.
ALLARM Black Entertainment Television Carnegie Mellon University Psychology Department CBS College Sports CNN International Business Unit Cumberland County Courthouse Edward Jones Feminist Majority Foundation Food and Drug Administration FOX National Station Full Circle Dance Company Goldman Sachs Harvard Medical School Harvard University Department of Psychology Hunterdon Medical Center HY International Media Internal Revenue Service International Women’s Media Foundation Lionsgate Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts MTV Networks National Aquarium National Institute of Child Health and Human Development NBC Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Pennsylvania Writing and Literature Project Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office Philadelphia Flyers Skate Zone Sirius XM Radio The Brookings Institution The Paley Center for Media The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History The White House Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience TriPoint Global Equities U.S. Army War College U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission UBS Financial Services Inc. UNICEF United Way Universität Bremen, Germany Dickinson College • 45
How to Apply Dickinson students have strong academic credentials and enthusiasm for engaging the world. They are not passive learners; they do not settle for simple answers to complex questions. They understand that a quality liberalarts education is the foundation for a lifetime of productive intellectual and civic engagement. As a community, Dickinson is committed to recruiting the most socially, ethnically and economically diverse student body possible. The admission review focuses on the secondary-school academic record, leadership in and commitment to extracurricular activities, recommendations, The Common Application and Supplemental Form and SAT I or ACT scores, which are optional for admission but may prove helpful.
You will express your “fit” with Dickinson in the essay on the Supplemental Form but also can set yourself apart during campus visits, in communication with your regional counselor and in interviews (encouraged but not required and available both on campus and near home). Early Decision (ED) allows applicants who know that Dickinson is their first choice to enter the admission process early, enjoying a review process focused on the student’s individual merits rather than the strengths of the larger pool. Early Action (EA) allows applicants to learn of their admission earlier than they would in Regular Decision (RD), maintaining the opportunity to entertain offers from other colleges through the May 1 Candidates Reply Date.
Student Clubs & Organizations Whether you’re into politics or photography, dance or debate, Dickinson has more than 100 student organizations that provide exciting opportunities to get involved. Participating in these groups helps to cultivate a well-rounded college experience and enhances the leadership and critical-thinking skills students are learning in the classroom. Here are a few samples of the opportunities available:
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Deadlines Early Decision I November 15 Early Action December 1 Early Decision II January 15 February 1 Regular Decision (Note that need-based financial-aid applicants must file the CSS PROFILE by the application date selected.) Dickinson is a member of The Common Application, a form providing efficient and environmentally friendly online submission. You may access the Common Application, Dickinson’s required Supplemental Form as well as tips and FAQs at www.dickinson.edu/admissions. For more information: Admissions Office Dickinson College P.O. Box 1773 Carlisle, PA 17013 800-644-1773 Fax: 717-245-1442 admissions@dickinson.edu www.dickinson.edu/admissions
Service Alternative Spring Break Serve the World Habitat for Humanity Foreign Language Clubs French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
Religious Dickinson Christian Fellowship Hillel Muslim Student Association Newman Club Performing Arts Mermaid Players (theatre) Octals, Infernos, Syrens (a capella groups) Run With It! (improv) College Orchestra
Tuition, Fees & Financial Aid The college strives to make a Dickinson education affordable. Our financialaid program is designed to bring costs within reach for nearly all financial-aid recipients. Specially earmarked funds from our endowment, gifts and grants from corporations and foundations, and some federal and state funds bolster our efforts to make a Dickinson education financially accessible to qualified students. Dickinson maintains a track record of offering financial aid to all admitted applicants demonstrating need. And Dickinson continues to seek new ways to help families and students manage the costs of education. More than $38 million in need-based and merit-scholarship support was provided for 2011-12.
Campus Media Microcosm (yearbook) The Dickinsonian (student newspaper) The Dickinson Review (literary magazine) WDCV-FM The Square (alternative newspaper) Multimedia Club
Dickinson’s tuition for 2012-13 is $44,101. Room and board is $11,178. A $450 student-activities fee also is required.
For more information on financial planning, academic scholarships and need-based aid, visit www.dickinson. edu/admissions.
While no forms are required to apply for a merit-based scholarship, need-based financial aid requires submission of the CSS PROFILE by the application deadline. This form may be found at www.dickinson.edu/admissions/apply or www.collegeboard.com, and Dickinson’s code is 2186. Students and their families also are asked to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by your state’s deadline or April 15, whichever is earlier. This form may be found at www.fafsa.ed.gov, and Dickinson’s code is 003253.
For more information: Financial Aid Office Dickinson College P.O. Box 1773 Carlisle, PA 17013 717-245-1308 Fax: 717-245-1972 finaid@dickinson.edu www.dickinson.edu/finaid VALUE and
AFFORDABILITY
Greek Six national fraternities, five national sororities and one local sorority
Club Sports Dickinson Cricket Club Equestrian Club Ice Hockey Club
Honor Societies Phi Beta Kappa Alpha Lambda Delta Psi Chi Dickinson Law Society
Special Interest African-American Society Model UN Earth Now! Student Senate Jive Turkeys (ultimate Frisbee)
A DICKINSON EDUCATION IS WITHIN YOUR REACH. >> LEARN MORE
A Dickinson education is affordable and within your reach. Learn more at www.dickinson.edu/admissions.
Mock Trial Spectrum (LGBT) Feminist Collective Students for Social Action Swing Dance Club Union Philosophical Society (debate) Third Degree Steppers For a complete list, visit the student life page at www.dickinson.edu. Dickinson College • 47
Where We Are Carlisle, a town of 20,000 situated in Pennsylvania’s Cumberland Valley, is part of the metropolitan region (population 500,000) of Harrisburg, the state capital. Interstate highway, rail and air links provide easy access to all major East Coast cities. Carlisle is a vibrant and culturally rich town, including a historic district and a downtown that offers an eclectic array of international restaurants, art galleries, specialty shops and more. The area was named one of the country’s best places to raise a family by Forbes magazine and voted one of America’s “most livable cities.”
Harrisburg: 25 miles / 30 minutes Baltimore: 95 miles / 90 minutes Philadelphia: 125 miles / 2 hours, 10 minutes Washington, D.C.: 130 miles / 2 hours New York: 190 miles / 3 hours, 15 minutes Pittsburgh: 190 miles / 3 hours, 15 minutes Richmond: 215 miles / 3 hours, 45 minutes
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The best way to get to know Dickinson is to visit. You can take a tour, meet members of the admissions staff or sit in on a class. To schedule a visit, contact the Office of Admissions at 800644-1773, 717-245-1231 or admissions@ dickinson.edu. Our Web site (go. dickinson.edu/visit) contains details about our many visit opportunities.
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Get a sense of the distinctive elements of the Dickinson experience at http://tour.dickinson.edu.
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Raleigh-Durham: 380 miles / 6 hours, 30 minutes Boston: 400 miles / 7 hours Atlanta: 700 miles / 11 hours, 30 minutes
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The vision of Dickinson’s founder motivates us today: we educate highly skilled graduates, comfortable with new frontiers and ready to assume roles of leadership in the wider world.
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NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID BALTIMORE, MD PERMIT NO. 1608 Office of Admissions Dickinson College P.O. Box 1773 Carlisle, PA 17013-2896 Connect with Us www.facebook.com/Dickinson
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