<p>Do you have to take math or science? Well, that info is clearly stated in the GenEd requirements on the college’s web site. </p>
<p>“To fulfill the Scientific Inquiry Requirement, students must take at least two courses, totaling at least seven credits, from an approved list. At least one of these courses must be a four-credit designated Lab Course.”
[Scientific</a> Inquiry Requirement | Earlham College](<a href=“http://www.earlham.edu/curriculum-guide/general-education-program/scientific-inquiry-requirement]Scientific”>http://www.earlham.edu/curriculum-guide/general-education-program/scientific-inquiry-requirement) </p>
<p>Faculty at Earlham may have answered, “I’m not sure” because you said your question was whether you HAD to take science/math in your first year. What courses you take in your first year will be based on your major/minor and how you plan to complete all the required courses for those plus any GenEd requirements. If you haven’t yet worked all that out using their online curriculum guide, the college faculty would have no idea what you’ll take in your first year there. The only thing REQUIRED during your first year is the two different semester-long semesters, one of which is mandatory for your first semester and the other which you’ll choose from a list when registering for your second semester.</p>
<p>My student does not plan to major/minor in a math or science degree so I can already tell you that with the two degrees you mentioned, you would have no math requirements at all. However, every Earlham student is required to take 7 science credits. According to the curriculum guide, there are several science classes in the 100 level which is probably the ones you’d want to stick with. Just be aware that due to the amount of higher level classes you’d need for either completing the majors/minors you mentioned, you’d probably want to knock out your two semesters of required science credits in your freshman or sophomore year at Earlham. </p>
<p>Like many other strong LACs (and most colleges in general), there is free tutoring available at Earlham to help support you in passing all your classes. Take advantage of this support and office visits with your professors and you should be able to pass the science courses. Nobody at Earlham wants you to fail a single class. </p>
<p>Obviously, Richmond is a smallish town of 40,000 people. It does have many different stores, restaurants, etc. Not sure? Look online to find out, that’s what we did very easily. Actually, Earlham gives you some help with their web page regarding local dining options: [Dining</a> | Earlham College](<a href=“http://www.earlham.edu/egtr/dining]Dining”>http://www.earlham.edu/egtr/dining) </p>
<p>There’s a grocery in walking (and biking) distance of campus and also a CVS, pizza, Subway, and other places. Those are just a few of the businesses I know are within just one mile of the campus. Not every town wants a 7/11 or a drugstore on every single street corner. Also, you can’t even SEE a cornfield from the campus. </p>
<p>Yes, you can get to places in Richmond without a car. For $1.25 you can catch a Roseview Transit bus right on campus. It stops at Earlham’s Runyan Center every hour on the half hour, M-F. Routes:
[The</a> City of Richmond, Indiana - Bus Routes](<a href=“http://richmondindiana.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=52&Itemid=148]The”>http://richmondindiana.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=52&Itemid=148) </p>
<p>The food sucks at some point at nearly every college. With more research on different colleges, you’ll quickly find that this is a common complaint. My student is also vegetarian and expects shortcomings to some degree when eating in large dining facilities. Earlham does have daily vegetarian offerings. Luckily at Earlham, first year students can cook some of their own meals in the dorm kitchens and choose a lower level meal plan after the first semester.</p>
<p>If you didn’t like the ‘vibe’ of ‘everyone knows everyone’ then why did you even bother to apply? I feel bad for any student who really wanted to attend but couldn’t because you took their spot. </p>
<p>The tornado that hit southern Indiana during your visit was more than 100 miles away from Earlham. I’ve lived in several states, including Colorado, and have experienced tornado warnings and actual tornados in all of them. I even saw a tornado when I lived in Los Angeles many years back, so yeah, that kind of thing can happen almost anywhere. You talked about wanting to apply to Wellesley at one point in your college search. I know that last year, they locked down with a tornado warning and the tornado passed close to campus. A family friend who attended and now works at Wellesley had to take shelter during that one and her grandmother’s town earlier in the tornado’s path was damaged. Freak weather incidents happen everywhere and you can’t let that control your life. </p>
<p>It seems you didn’t do nearly enough research in your initial college application process and you’ve done hardly any specific research on Earlham since you accepted their offer of admissions. I really do think you should take a gap year because you’ve already made yourself miserable just thinking about attending there and nobody wants a whiny, miserable roommate in college. A gap year can often help with personal growth and maturity. You’ll have the time to re-think what you want in a college. Do some REAL research on each possible college, including all requirements for graduation and your intended majors which is clearly available on every college’s web site and in mailed materials you can request from them. You may possibly discover what’s really important in making a college decision and what’s just petty. </p>
<p>Due to your lack of basic research about Earlham and the majors they offer that you say you’re interested in, you still don’t seem to understand much about the place. The ‘dozens of phone calls’ all with alleged non-responses from ‘incompetent’ staffers seems highly exaggerated. Which of course, doesn’t stop you from posting a bunch of negative personal opinions about the college anyway. Maybe something in the ‘dozens of phone calls’ rubs the recipients in the wrong way. We’ve dealt with many of the college’s faculty and staff and everyone’s always been very helpful and professional toward us. Good luck with whatever route you choose for college.</p>