Goucher College Admissions

Being on a varsity team was new to me when I first came to Goucher. As a male equestrian, there were never really any opportunities in high school for me to be a varsity athlete. I didn’t play the typical school sports like basketball or soccer or lacrosse. The strength of the equestrian program was important in aiding my final decision to attend Goucher.

Goucher’s equestrian program stands out as one of the strongest in the nation.  It is one of the few programs in the country that can boast both a coed varsity program and riding facilities on campus. This is something for which Goucher should be extremely proud. I am so lucky to only have a four minute walk down to the barn for my riding lessons. I have nothing but positive things to say about my experience on the equestrian team thus far. I love the camaraderie among my teammates, and I greatly appreciate being recognized by the school as a varsity athlete. I’m thrilled to be able to say that our team has gone undefeated this year. I hope we are able to continue this streak through the rest of the season, and perhaps even for the rest of my tenure at Goucher College.

- Joey Fink ’15

Tags: Equestrian, Varsity Athletics

Although I’m a senior at Goucher, I had never thought about doing research until this year. Of course, I read the emails about summer research but I hadn’t considered doing it until a biology faculty member directly asked me to think about it. That’s when I approached a biology professor (now my faculty mentor) and asked about her research. This led to my particpation in the Goucher Summer Science Research Program.

The summer research program caters to many departments, including biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and computer sciences, and psychology.  Goucher has allowed its undergraduate students to participate in summer research through various funding and donations.  I was able to work with Dr. Birthe Veno Kjellerup in the Microbiology field.  Our research focused on the effects of biofilm formation within a living host model. 

During the summer, research students were able to present their research topics to fellow Goucher students and faculty in an informal manner.  Towards the end of July, the research students met again to discuss their results during the 3^rd Annual Landmark Conference Summer Research Symposium.  Goucher hosted this symposium and invited undergraduate research students from Juniata College, Susquehanna University, and Moravian College.  I, along with five other Goucher students, was presented with an award for our presentations.

Participating in this program allowed me to develop a relationship with my faculty mentor, Dr. Birthe Veno Kjellerup, as well as many other faculty members.  In addition, I was able to develop a greater understand of Microbiology and learn lab techniques that are important in many areas of biology.  By the end of summer research, I was able to work collaboratively with my faculty mentor to design a new project for continuation of the research during the fall and spring semesters.   Now, I’m excited run experiments in the lab, and fix problems when the experiments don’t go as planned!

-Asia Houston, Class of 2012

About one month after graduating from high school, I received an email from Goucher asking me to visit the New Student Portal to register for classes. I skimmed through the listed courses and all seemed typical except for one – the Frontiers course. What is Frontiers? I quickly learned that it was a required course for all incoming first-year students, and my interest was piqued.  When looking through the courses, I saw that there were many options, and many interesting course titles – “Where the Wild Things Are,” or “Writing Behind Bars,” for example.  I decided to go with “Philosophy of Science,” taught by Professor Robert Welch.  I’m passionate about both science and philosophy.  What could be better than a combination of both?

Homework usually consists of reading a few assigned pages, and answering discussion questions that have been posted online.  Aside from some of our assigned readings and class time, the course takes place completely online.  We submit our homework through “GoucherLearn,” and Professor Welch responds via email.  It still amazes me how quickly Professor Welch is able to process our work, always giving us feedback prior to the next class meeting.

“Philosophy of Science” explores methods of scientific discovery, focusing on scientific revolutions like Lavoisier’s discovery of oxygen or Copernicus’ astronomical model. While these topics have certainly been fascinating, perhaps more important for me has been how this course has improved my approach to academics, and more specifically how it has improved my critical thinking and reading skills. Coursework is challenging, and there is no way to succeed without a true understanding of the course content. Although it’s still only my first semester at Goucher, the Frontiers course has provided me with a wonderful example of Goucher’s unique brand of education.

- Julia Nguyen , Class of 2015

Hi everyone! My name is Asia Houston and I am a current senior from Randallstown, Maryland. I am studying Biology (major) and Chemistry (minor) and I am also part of the Pre-Medical program at Goucher. My focus for the past four years has been pursuing a career in dentistry. Dentistry is an important field to me because it allows for the development of a strong doctor-patient relationship, in addition to providing me with an opportunity to help less fortunate people.  During my four years at Goucher, I have come to realize that there are so many opportunities available to students.  These abundant opportunities include volunteering, community-based learning, internships, jobs, student clubs, and leadership roles.  However, during my time at Goucher, my focus has been on student leadership roles. 

After my sophomore year, I became more involved on campus.  I created the Bowling club, became a Connections Peer Facilitator, volunteered with the Futuro Latino Learning Center, and worked in the Graduate Studies department.  I currently still hold all these positions in my senior year.  Being a Connections Peer Facilitator allows me to provide the incoming freshman students with valuable information and important lessons which they will hopefully utilize throughout their college career.

Holding this position as a student leader also gives me the chance to mediate group discussions, facilitate building healthy relationships within the resident halls, and plan fun and interactive lessons.  Leading as a Connections Peer Facilitator can certainly be a time-consuming position.  At times, it can be a difficult and stressful position; however, student leaders are provided with amazing staff mentors, who are always helpful in dealing with obstacles.  I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat; I loved this job so much.

The wonderful thing about Goucher is that if you have a passion for something, you can pursue it.  Furthermore, you have the whole community to lean on for support.  Fellow students, professors, staff members, etc. all have your best interest at heart. 

- Asia Houston, Class of 2012

Tags: Community, Connections, Leadership

I have often been asked: “What was as your first impression of Goucher College?” I remember thinking of Goucher as a little haven, a campus with the friendliest people I had met during my college search. Surrounded completely by trees, Goucher may feel a bit intimidating from off-campus; however, upon further inspection, these trees are part of what makes Goucher beautiful. The one thing that I will never forget about my visit to Goucher was the welcoming atmosphere – it took me by surprise. In every building entered, everyone – students, faculty, and staff – greeted me with a sincere smile. It was as if campus was whispering to me: “THIS is it!” It was a gut feeling; I knew I belonged. Every other school I visited that day is now a blur, and yet I can still remember every little detail about my first glimpse of Goucher.

Following my visit to Goucher, I became intent on gaining admission; however, I was also concerned that attending Goucher might not be financially feasible. Having grown up with a single mother who works as a nail technician raising two daughters and one son, I knew that funding Goucher’s tuition would be a far reach. I was certainly proven wrong. After being admitted, Goucher contacted me to let me know about a program that goes by the name “EOP” – Educational Opportunity Program. It’s a special program dedicated to providing first-generation college students from Maryland with the opportunity to pursue higher education.  The EOP program became my golden ticket to a Goucher education. Within the EOP group, I found a small community composed of ten others who, like me, came from a disadvantaged socio-economic background. Some incredible students join me as part of this group – one who stepped foot in America just two years ago, another who balances school with raising her newborn twins, and a third who struggled with a family member’s death just before beginning the college application process. Despite the fact that I have only been at Goucher for a little more than a month, I have gained an inclusive network of friends.  To me, it feels like a second family.

- Julia Nguyen, Class 0f 2015

There’s no doubt about it, I love my job. And part of loving my job, is loving my office.  At Goucher, it’s a friendly and cozy place.  Coffee’s always hot (Thanks, Lynn!).  Information sessions are helpful; tour guides are informed. I enjoy leaving my office door cracked; I enjoy overhearing conversations between current and prospective students; and, I’ll admit it, I even enjoy working late (sometimes).

But since Autumn’s rolled around, there’s been a noticeable shift.  Many of the counselors have departed.  We’ve locked our office doors.  We’ve hit the road.  We’re most likely coming to location near you.  With students from 45 states currently enrolled, Goucher is certainly proud of its geographically diverse student body.  Our travels reflect this pride. 

It’s possible that we’ve already met with you at your high school, or at college event in your area.  It’s also possible that we’re on the way.  I encourage you to check out our scheduled High School Visits and College Fairs. Furthermore, we’d be delighted to meet with you at one of our Off-Campus Interview Programs (time slots are filling up quickly!).  Of course, we also encourage you to visit our campus if you are able to do so.  We’d love to meet you at one of our Explore Goucher Days - a great opportunity to get a real feel for our campus community.  

On a personal note, you can find ME in Boston and Southern New Hampshire in the coming days.   Don’t be shy – come say hello!

- Chris Marty, Admissions Counselor

Tennis.

I came into Goucher a slick middle-infielder who had never played tennis as part of a team. I grew up on baseball and learned the many valuable lessons the game carries with it. Tennis was always an off-season activity I did to stay in shape, and up until several weeks prior to being accepted into Goucher, had no real intentions to continue playing at the college level.

I’m thankful that Goucher Athletics gave me the opportunity to do so. What started as a hobby quickly grew into a passion that brought me to tears as I walked off the court after my final match at Stevenson University several weeks ago. 

I’m a competitive person by nature, so overall, I was disappointed with our play during my four years. As a team, we didn’t have one winning season, and as an individual, my record was far below .500. 

It was incredibly frustrating at times, but in retrospect, wins and losses aren’t what I’ll take away from Goucher Tennis. What matters most is the irreplaceable leadership, friendship, and pride that builds within the program every year. 

What leaves the strongest impression on me is the sheer number of hours participating at the NCAA level requires. It’s not just playing matches. It’s practicing, team meetings, fundraising, and traveling. It’s your afternoons, your sunrises, your late nights, your weekends, your Spring breaks, and your Summer vacations. Almost every day revolves around the hours alotted for tennis. It’s taught me about commitment, time management, and persistence, lessons that carry far beyond any tennis court.

Mentally, tennis is a tough game, and it just about always left me absolutely baffled. Baseball just seemed much simpler to me for reasons I can’t explain. But despite the losses, I had fun playing and I enjoyed the battle, and I’ll never lose sight of that. Goucher Tennis has given me irreplaceable memories and laughs. I’ll miss the shirtless practices on the first days of spring. I’ll miss the 6 a.m. team lifting, the 9 p.m. hit sessions, the pre-game speeches, the post-game speeches, the closet-sized locker room, the Goucher Football T-Shirt sales, the laser tag in Virginia Beach, the team dinners at the Steamy’s BBQ’s of the world, the bus rides home, and the sweet sound of the Victory Bell. 

We Goucher Tennis people always refer to ourselves as “family,” so I posted this photograph that I took on self-timer two fall seasons ago rather than any action shot I have.

It’s full of family, mentors, leaders, and friends. That’s Goucher Tennis at its finest. 

- Billie Weiss, Class of 2011

Photo Credits to Billie Weiss.  Feel free to check out further “Reflections” at http://billieweiss.wordpress.com/?s=reflections 

My reflections about my time at Goucher College are not complete without some closing thoughts on The Quindecim, the institution that gave me a sense of purpose on campus and defined me professionally and personally. After being voted Editor-In-Chief of the newspaper, I led an extensive revitalization of all aspects of the publication. These efforts transformed The Quindecim from an inconsistent and unprofessional newspaper to a reliable, recognizable, and revered institution on campus. You can read about what we set out to accomplish at the start of that processhere. 

We did a huge service to the Goucher community, one that unfortunately has been taken for granted and has gone largely unrewarded. You’ll get a sense of what I mean if you read here. 

What I didn’t refer to much in those articles, though, is the impact The Q had on my life at Goucher, and subsequently, in the professional realm. I joined as a photographer at the start of my sophomore year, and despite quickly developed frustrations about the editorial leadership of the paper, I was shooting every day. I was now more than just a photography student in a class. I had deadlines to hit and events to cover. Knowing that my photographs would be seen by more than just one professor, I forced myself to do better work. 

I was named Photography Editor soon after, and because Goucher is such a tight-knit community, I donned a “the kid with the camera at every event imaginable” type persona. It was this visibility that led to countless photo opportunities for the Office of Communications, The Quarterly, The Sports Information desk, the Dance and Music departments, Goucher Hillel, and other various student clubs. My newspaper portfolio was also good enough to land me my Photography internship with the Baltimore Orioles. 

As I started reporting and writing more as well, my involvement grew and grew. Serving as Editor-In-Chief was the most grueling task of my college years, but was without a doubt also the most gratifying. I learned about ethics, tough decision making, working alongside others, organization, time management, attention to details, the risks of making mistakes, and recognition and lack of recognition for good work. These are lessons that reach far beyond a newsroom. 

I view joining The Q as one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. As silly as it seems, those first photography assignments about bed bugs and campus housing shortages remain just as important to me as any assignment for a more well-known publication. Without those assignments, I never would have gotten to The Baltimore Sun or The New York Times. Those first photographs ignited a passion that I hope will turn into a career, and for that, I love The Q.

- Billie Weiss, Class of 2011

Photo Credits to Billie Weiss.  Feel free to check out further “Reflections” at http://billieweiss.wordpress.com/?s=reflections 

Some of the best experiences Goucher College made possible for me were ones that happened thousands of miles away. Given Goucher’s international sensibility and study abroad requirement, I had many opportunities for travel, both nationally and internationally.

To fulfill my requirement, I studied in Buenos Aires, Argentina in January 2010 for a four-week intensive Spanish language program. What a trip. Living with a wonderful host family during my stay there, I was immersed in Argentine culture and learned the value of living without some of the luxuries that are easy to take for granted back home. I also left with a group of close friends from around the United States.

In retrospect, I wish I had been able to go abroad for an entire semester. It would have been impossible to do without missing a tennis season, but had I stayed there for three or four months, I’m confident that I would have achieved fluency in Spanish. That still remains a goal of mine.

I also visited a good friend of mine in Germany, traveled to Poland and the Czech Republic, and participated in a Taglit-Birthright trip to Israel this past January.

Finally, tennis team Spring break training trips took me to Virginia, North Carolina, and California, and I had many shorter visits to other parts of the country throughout the past four years. 

There’s always lots of discussion about Goucher’s abroad requirements. There are certainly challenges to working around 1,400 plus students’ travel plans. In my view, though, this is one of the best things Goucher has going for it.

- Billie Weiss, Class of 2011

Photo Credits to Billie Weiss.  Feel free to check out further “Reflections” at http://billieweiss.wordpress.com/?s=reflections 

"A storm blows through the Recoleta neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina Monday, January 18, 2010."

 

Halfway through the four years, the library moved to the Athenaeum, a much more convenient location. The workload increased however, and surviving on Snickers bars and Fritos from the vending machines in Julia Rogers changed to surviving on Caprese baguettes and Iced Athenaeum’s from Alice’s Restaraunt. 

Those nights, and the lack of sleep in general, are elements of College that I won’t miss, but hard work pays off. I graduated Magna Cum Laude with honors in my Communications and Media Studies major and a minor in Spanish Language. I’m also a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Chi Alpha Sigma academic and athletic honor societies. And, this year, I wrote a 76-page Senior honors thesis titled, “Sex, Censorship, and Student Journalism: What Two Newspaper Columns Reveal About the Student Press.”

What I will miss are the conversations and discussions that took place in classes, and I’m thankful to the professors who sparked my interest in so many different areas of study. It was always a joy listening to lectures about the changing landscape of journalism or the role of robots in science fiction films. 

Finally, Goucher is unique in that professors become mentors and then subsequently become friends. I doubt there’s many other places where your Research Methods professor beats you 7-0 in basketball or your Spanish professor asks you to play tennis or your Communications professor buys you Chinese food. In my opinion, the prospect of forming these types of relationships is among the finest that Goucher has to offer. 

- Billie Weiss, Class of 2011

Photo Credits to Billie Weiss.  Feel free to check out further “Reflections” at http://billieweiss.wordpress.com/?s=reflections 

Tags: academics, Athenqeum, Billie Weiss, Reflections