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Champlain College Reviews

Average Rating Details

Academic Rigor

Dorm Life

Food and Dining

See Champlain College reviews submitted by students. Find out what students have to say about various aspects of attending Champlain College. Read about academic experiences and campus life in these free Champlain College reviews, or contribute your own Champlain College review if you're a current student there.

  • 7 out of 7 people found this review useful.

    Tyler from New Milford, CT

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    Champlain has a lot of good teachers, however I feel as though some of the courses could have been dealt with differently. For instance, being a Game Programming major, I had to take a C++ course during second semester and it was a large 3 hour block of coding madness that didn't really help me learn all that much. This year they have reorganized the class into two days, one in a lab and one in a classroom. This should work much better than last year.
    Am enjoying being here

    I've had a good time at Champlain, and in Burlington. The location is great because in summer time you have the lake you could go to, and during winter there are prime locations to go skiing/snowboarding within an hour ride.
    Bang for the buck

    Yes, Champlain is expensive. It is a very nice school with a lot of technology available to students, but for someone who doesn't have loads of cash lying around; it might be difficult to go for four years.
    Tips for prospective students

    Be ready to cope with the core program, it may be a lot of reading/ essays that some people don't seem to find the time to complete.
    Great for these types of students

    It is great for students who want to learn about technology as this school has hundreds and hundreds of computers available to use for a good portion of the day.

  • 6 out of 6 people found this review useful.

    Amber from Warren, RI

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    Champlain has a lot of great teachers that don't hesitate to take their personal time to make you the best you can be. Whenever people said that I'd always think they were being paid but honestly it's true. It's only been one year but I've improved a lot since I came here.
    Am enjoying being here

    There's an endless possibility of things to do here. From free movie nights to gingerbread house making right before Christmas plus an array of other activities suited for nearly every interest out there. If it doesn't exist, it's so easy to make it and find others interested as well! The dorms are cozy and it's not hard to find friends or something to do around town.
    Bang for the buck

    Despite this being a private college, it's a little pricey. If it wasn't one of the best for my major and didn't have so much to do I'd say it wasn't worth it but it's alright for what I'm learning.
    Tips for prospective students

    When you get there you'll find you have a heck of a lot of freedom, teachers won't care if you show up to class but they sure as heck won't care if you fall behind because of fooling around either. If you're not serious in what you're doing (and I'm not talking about the occasional mental health day) then you'll fall behind quick and it's hard to come back up. Don't make too many mistakes and you'll make it just fine.
    Great for these types of students

    Champlain is great for people who love the environment; they put a lot of emphasis on it. It's also good for people who like to put a heck of a lot of extra time into their in-class assignments. Most classes require it anyway but if you enjoy working on things at home or in your dorm until it's perfected then you'll excel here in no time.

  • 5 out of 5 people found this review useful.

    Jordan from Boulder, CO

    Reviewer is A past student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Did learn a lot

    The schools nontraditional core program is both a blessing and a curse. Its set up to allow you to explore several different topics at once in a small discussion based classroom. Given the right professor, the core classes can be great.

    The drawback is a lack of clear focus, and difficulty transferring credits. The classes are given vague titles such as Concepts of the Self. The class is supposed to teach you about what forms an identity based on art, psychology, literature, and science. Although it looks good on paper, its impossible to go over so many different and disparate topics in any sort of detail.

    Classes in your major tend to be more focused than the core classes. I was a graphic design major, and can't speak well to what students in another major might experience. I was quite impressed with what the school promised it could be. It seemed to me that the GD program had the potential to become quite good, but it seemed like it was still in an early stage of growth and only starting to come into its own.
    Did enjoy being here

    Burlington is a town. The people are nice, and the city is beautiful. There was a good number of things to do in the city, but often Burlington would show its size: small. The nearest grocery store or wal-mart is a bit of a haul to get to, and not at all convenient. The culture of the town is still pretty cool though, with lots of local shops and restaurants. If your not into bigger cities, but don't want to live in a small town, then Burlington might be a perfect medium for you.

    The dorms are restored Victorian mansions which also come along with their own pros and cons. The buildings are just neat looking, and full of little charms. In my dorm we discovered an attic hidden above the ceiling tiles, and the older doors in the building had the coolest hinges. The small size of the dorms fosters a camaraderie among your dorm mates. Its difficult not to become friends with the people you live in the dorm with.

    A word of warning, because the school has many video game majors, there are a lot of guys that attend the school, and a good portion of them are on the nerdier side. For some this might be a good thing, for me, not so much. My interests lay in other things than video games.
    Bang for the buck

    The classes are good, and the professors do their best (for the most part), but I when all is said and done, your paying about $40,000 for an education that I would argue isn't worth nearly that much. Student life at Champlain is great, and I suspect that's where most of you money goes because the behind the scenes stuff like financial aid and registering for classes is horrendous. The school may be making improvements, but it felt like I was paying a lot for only a decent education and a lot of headaches trying to get scheduling and financial aid figured out.
    Tips for prospective students

    Visit the school first. Eat a meal in the dining hall and pay attention to the kinds of people who go there. The school has a very unique culture, and its important to make sure that you would fit into it before you jump in and spend the next four years in Burlington at Champlain.
    Great for these types of students

    If your interested in one of the more specialized majors like video game programing or graphic design, then this school might be a good fit. If your interested in studying something like business, I would steer you towards a school like UVM. You'll save money and still be in Burlington, which is unique city and a pretty cool place to live.

  • 4 out of 4 people found this review useful.

    John

    Reviewer is A past student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Did learn a lot

    The academics specific to a major are strong (a 4.5/5) but some of the classes needed for basic requirements were not challenging. Many of the full time faculty are passionate about their area of concentration and greatly help students.
    Did enjoy being here

    The dorms are awesome and very cozy. It felt like living with a family. Everyone is very nice and close with each other. You'll never have to eat dinner alone! The food was great and the student center was an awesome place to hang out and meet new people.
    Bang for the buck

    Although the campus life is great, I felt that the level of academics was not worth such a high price. I would say that this is improving as time moves on.
    Tips for prospective students

    Take a tour and meet the professors specific to your major. They're very nice and you'll get a feel for whether or not the college is the right one for you. Don't be afraid to get an email address of a dean or professor off of the website and send them questions.
    Great for these types of students

    Students who know what they want to major in, career focused, concerned about the environment

  • 4 out of 4 people found this review useful.

    Allyson from Windham, CT

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am enjoying being here

    There are so many activities on campus. I am in multiple clubs and absolutely love them. There's always something to do on the weekends, so I never get bored.
    Tips for prospective students

    Make sure you keep up with all of your homework, it's easy to fall behind if you miss an assignment. Also, try joining a group or club, you'll meet a lot of friendly people there.
    Great for these types of students

    If you love small schools where you get to know your professors personally, get involved in a lot of clubs, and enjoy small cities like Burlington, Vt, then you will love Champlain College.

  • 3 out of 3 people found this review useful.

    Adri from Lima, NY

    Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Will learn a lot

    I attended Champlain's Young Writer's Conference and it was an amazing experience! I highly recommend it to anyone interested in creative writing, poetry, songwriting, or performance. The sessions I took were very well-organized and fascinating. The faculty led with a hands on style and never seemed arrogant or unfriendly (at least the ones I came into contact with) and they all had wonderful perspectives. The leaders taught some great classes on working with specific genres, why some novels fail, building your confidence as a slam poet, learning to write freely and working within a believable setting. VERY informative an interesting; I was very impressed.
    Will enjoy being here

    I would love to give Champlain a full five star; Burlington is a great town (even if seemingly infested by hipsters) and Champlain has a beautiful, laid back campus. However, it is hard to ignore Champlain's apparent lack of diversity.
    This may be benefit for prospective minority students, but among the faculty it creates a singular perspective. As a multi-ethnic prospective student, I felt uncomfortable at times as the faculty read their original work. Thankfully I was under the instruction of the more open-minded and brilliant, but several pieces revolved around VERY occident-centric, xenophobic views.
    I get the impression that many of the Champlain faculty have not ventured into the world outside Vermont and this is heightened by low diversity amongst the faculty.
    Bang for the buck

    Champlain loses me with its low selection of majors. If I'm going to spend that kind of money, I want to be able to build an eclectic schedule.
    Tips for prospective students

    Visit visit visit! The campus is gorgeous and the students and faculty are friendly. Before you apply, you really need to consider if Burlington is right for you. It is a very hip little town, but it is undeniably tiny.
    Great for these types of students

    Great for those who are not drawn to the big city and don't like the traditional test-taking style of learning.

  • 1 out of 1 people found this review useful.

    Olivia from Burlington, NY

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    champlain college offers its students every opportunity during their time at the school. international studies, internship availability, real-world information and skills, among many more are included along with the curriculum of classes in each major. champlain aims to prepare its student population for a life outside of college; upon graduation, students are on the pathway to success.
    Tips for prospective students

    champlain college faculty and staff will work to ensure that you receive the best education possible. small class sizes help students to stand out so that they are not just a face in a lecture hall. integrated learning, career services and opportunities such as annual job and internship fairs allow students to experience the real world early on. take advantage of what the school has to offer and you will be pleasantly surprised!
    Dorm Life

    students love the victorian housing during their first year! for upperclassmen, the lakeview building on campus is equipped with spacious rooms and a great view of lake champlain! there are also off-campus housing options, quarry hill and spinner place, which are apartment-style living arrangements. shuttles run from campus to these buildings every 15 minutes during the week.
    Food and Dining

    our dining hall is run by chef sandy; whatever she says goes! we have a pizza station, salad bar, sandwich station, entre station, international options, and everybody's favorite ice cream corner! there is also a champlain dining hall facebook page which lists all meal options throughout the day for students to view ahead of time. students are able to communicate with sandy and the other chefs and give feedback about the food.
    What to do for fun

    burlington is the ultimate college town! church street is everyone's favorite downtown place to be, with various hole-in-the-wall eateries, the mall, street vendors and the park. the waterfront is gorgeous in both summer and winter, offering a spectacular view of lake champlain and plattsburgh, new york. for the skiers and snowboarders, champlain is within close range of mountains such as sugarbush, killington, jay peak and stowe. champlain also offers discounted season passes for its students; how does a $30 season pass to sugarbush sound?
    Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

    the fireside lounge, housing the only working fireplace on campus, is a great place for students to relax in between classes and it is also the place for the grind on wednesday evenings. the grind is our open mic night! students can sing, dance, read poetry, whatever they would like for an audience of respectful and open-minded peers.

    first-year residential housing is guaranteed; students will live in remodeled victorian homes. gorgeous brick buildings lining the residential area of champlain's campus serve as comfortable homes for new students.

    free movie nights every other thursday of each month! students are shuttled by free taxi from campus to the local movie theatre where they are presented with a free movie pass to a film of their choice.

    trips put together by the wilderness planning committee: ice climbing, bobsledding in lake placid on the olympic track, white water rafting in maine, a ropes course in new york, and many more.
    Great for these types of students

    skiers and snowboarders love the elongated winters and easy access to local mountains.

    graphic designers have a menagerie of local landscape to serve as inspiration.

    game design/cit curriculum consists of state-of-the-art equipment and hard-working professors. it is champlain's most popular major.

    Clubs and Activities

    there is something for everyone!

    champ - champlain's student-run planning committee (snowball, spring meltdown, spirit week, comedian/mind reader/psychic visitors)

    saps (student activity planners) - fondue/movie nights, twister tournaments, be a kid night, tarot card reader/astrologer visits, henna night

    wilderness planning committee - ice climbing, white water rafting, snow shoeing, ropes course, bobsledding

    intramural sports - basketball, volleyball, dodgeball, ultimate frisbee, soccer, lacrosse, rugby (division iii, our only divisional sport)

    active minds - starting the conversation about mental health in college students

    sga (student government association) - funding for student clubs, the voice of the student population

    Campus Safety

    campus public safety is located right down the street from campus and are always just a phone call away. our blue light system on campus is connected to both cps and the burlington police department. there has never been a safety situation in which it has been used.

  • 1 out of 3 people found this review useful.

    Caitlin from Farmington, ME

    Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Tips for prospective students

    Wonderful admissions staff!! Super helpful!
    Great for these types of students

    Aspiring to learn, and work with others in their major.

  • Olin from St Thomas, VI

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    Great small school with fairly easy but informative academics. The food is not ideal but doable but the dorms are all really nice. Champlain has a very eclectic population ranging from gamers to athletes to business students.
    Tips for prospective students

    Do all your work and make sure to make a good impression on your teachers because they can do a lot.
    Academic Rigor

    Champlain has fairly easy academics but it totally depends on your major. You can make it really hard for yourself or very easy.
    Dorm Life

    Living in the dorms everyone is respectful and there is generally a wide range of people in each dorm.
    Food and Dining

    The food is slightly repetitive but good.
    What to do for fun

    Its fun to go for a walk downtown and the school also provides a lot of cool activities. Also snowboarding and skiing is huge during the winter with a number of mountain within driving distance.

  • Tiphanie from Mansfield, MA

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    I am so glad I chose to attend this school. The core curriculum helps you plan your education so that you are able to make the most of it. I have found nothing bad to say about this school whatsoever.
    Tips for prospective students

    Take a tour of the school and talk with the staff and have your questions answered.
    Academic Rigor

    I find the classes keep me challenged but not to the point where it is overly stressful. The professors are also always available whenever support is needed.
    Dorm Life

    I love the dorm life. I have lived in both on and off campus housing and think either one is a great choice. I like the off campus housing primarily because its similar to an apartment and you have your own kitchen so you can eat or cook on your own schedule.
    Food and Dining

    I am a fuusy eater so I prefer to make my own meals, but the ones I have gotten there were very good.
    What to do for fun

    There are so many things to do for fun. The malls are just minutes away and there is entertainment, movies, dining and just a brief travel to Lake Champlain. There are also places to see such as the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory, Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream.
    Great for these types of students

    Anyone who knows what they want to specialize in, because the core curriculum is geared toward you major. You don't have to do those classes that one might have to take at a traditional college, which I feel gives you more time to study in your area of academic study.

  • Mary

    Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Academic Rigor

    Since I'm still in high school, I don't know exactly how rigorous the classes are, however I have heard from students that they require a lot of work and (particularly for an art major) a lot of time will be spent on projects.
    Dorm Life

    The dorms are renovated Victorian houses, which is pretty cool. It's so beautiful there. The dorms might be a little small, though.
    Food and Dining

    Freshman get unlimited food, which is awesome. Plus, the exercise room is right next to the cafeteria.
    Great for these types of students

    I am currently interested in the Game Art program, and I have heard only good things about Champlain. It seems to be incredibly well known for its gaming programs. Anyone who is interested in a video game major would be making a great choice in Champlain.

  • Trey from Burlington, VT

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    a small, focused, innovative school that does a lot to help the student. laid back school with many great opportunities made available to you. with things like upside-down curriculum and smaller classrooms, you get the education you need.
    Tips for prospective students

    come here it is like one big wonderful family! great college for students looking for gaming or computer majors. also great college for digital arts. don't hesitate to come take a tour and see the beautiful dorms and campus.
    Academic Rigor

    not overly difficult and teachers work well with you to help you achieve your goals.
    Dorm Life

    this being my first year, i have had an amazing experience with my dorm life and all of my housemates. it is practically a large home with so many great people as your family!
    Food and Dining

    the food and dining hall is quite good with options ranging from pizza bar to hamburger bar to sandwich bar to international bar and even a diner bar. also they have great ice cream, hard and soft serve, and also things like salad bar, deserts, and coffee.
    What to do for fun

    burlington is a city that is bustling with activity at all hours of the day and is only a short 10 minute walk down the road. there is always something fun to do on or off campus if you are simply willing to open your eyes!
    Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

    things like zombies vs humans and field trips keep things on campus exciting!
    Clubs and Activities

    there are tons of clubs and with enough support you can always make a new one if they don't already have what you want!

  • J from E Concord, VT

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    Only just starting, but my time/learning ratio is quite good so far.
    Am enjoying being here

    Students and instructors are decent and engaging.
    Bang for the buck

    Good education, decent price.
    Tips for prospective students

    The 7-week classes are fast. Keep up with the reading assignments and encourage the conversation.
    Great for these types of students

    Fast learners who like experienced instructors.

  • Alexander from Wells, ME

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    I'm learning things that actually apply to ME and the things I want to do when I graduate. The professors are actually interested in teaching you the skills you'll need to get a job once you're in the real world.
    Am enjoying being here

    I LOVE CHAMPLAIN
    Great for these types of students

    Champlain is great for anyone who enjoys small colleges and a close community of great people.

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