To Love Carthage
1. Our Liberal Arts Foundation
Well-rounded. Resourceful. Insightful. Prepared. A Carthage education goes beyond career preparation to empower you to deal with complexity and change. Just ask Jennifer Hartig ’19, a middle school English teacher. “Having gone to a liberal arts college has completely changed how I approach problems. When I need to collaborate with fellow teachers on how to best serve a struggling student, I try to use different perspectives to gain a comprehensive understanding of the problem.”
Learn more about the liberal arts at Carthage
Hear what graduates have to say
2. Small Classes
With an average class size of 17, you will get all the personal attention you need. “Carthage allows students to develop a close relationship with their professors, as the class sizes are usually small,” says Miranda Paikowski ’20, an English and French major. “My first year at Carthage, I had one class, Advanced Jazz, in which there were only six students and another class, Advanced French, which only contained eight students. Carthage is a great place for students to feel a sense of community as they continue their studies.”
3. Devoted Faculty
“Professors at Carthage truly go above and beyond to make sure that each student is fully supported. They are always looking to find ways to improve their courses and programs so that each student has the opportunity to receive a quality education,” says Lauren Weis ’20.
4. Top Facilities
Things look new at Carthage because they are. The athletic center, library, student union, and many residence halls have all been constructed or renovated in the last 12 years. A new science center opened in 2015, and the new Tower Residence Hall opened in Fall 2018.
5. January Term
During January, students have the opportunity to take a month-long course either on campus or abroad. “My favorite class at Carthage so far has been the J-Term trip to Madrid, Spain during my freshman year,” says Allie Ontaneda ’22, Spanish major. “There, I was challenged to go beyond my comfort zone and grow in my confidence as a Spanish-speaker, speaking Spanish the entire trip. I made great friends, tried new food, and simply enjoyed the experience of using the language to fully experience life as a Madrileña.”
6. Focus on Real Learning
“I’m not sure I’ve ever met someone who finds such joy in music and who feels so passionately about music education, as Professor James Ripley,” says music major Katiann Nelson ’22. “I’ve learned so much from his rehearsals, both in the short-term sense about how to play and in the long-term sense of how to educate, remain patient, and keep a positive environment.”
7. Research Opportunities
Carthage places a major emphasis on undergraduate research, scholarship, and creativity. Early and often, students are challenged to perform original research under the close guidance of experienced faculty.
8. You Might Go Weightless!
Carthage has one of the most successful Microgravity Teams in the country. “The opportunities I’ve had at Carthage are incredible,” says Cassi Bossong ’21. “I never thought that I would be able to have these opportunities as an undergraduate, and the fact that I’m doing research indirectly for NASA is an amazing feeling. Being part of the Microgravity Team has given me the skills that I would need for potential careers, which are not only physics and engineering-related but also professional development.”
9. Intellectual Foundations (formerly Western Heritage)
“My favorite class at Carthage so far has been Western Heritage, says Noah Griser ’21. “I met some of my closest friends during that class, and it also helped me become better at expressing my views and opinions in a group setting. Western Heritage provides a place to read great books, develop writing skills, and it also facilitates amazing conversations.”
10. 130+ Student Organizations
With more than 130 student clubs, you will need one really big excuse not to get involved. “I belong to the Carthage Accounting Association, VITA, Alpha Lambda Delta, and Model UN, says Michael Arient ’21. “All of these clubs led me to meet amazing new individuals who are all very motivated and intelligent. In Model UN, I made countless friends and had amazing opportunities to represent Carthage and make memories of a lifetime.”
11. CAB
The Carthage Activities Board hosts events weekly for students by students, whether it is a comedian, hypnotist, spoken word artist, or simply a movie. “With CAB there is always something to do on campus,” says Autumn Williams ’22.
12. Be a Student and an Athlete
About 30 percent of Carthage students discover the benefits of competing on our 27 NCAA Division III teams. Here, it’s possible to continue playing the sport you love and get a first-rate education.
“At Carthage, I found the perfect balance with athletics and academics. Not only is the campus beautiful and inviting, but I knew I could achieve greatly on the field and in the classroom,” says Lacrosse athlete Emily Lima ’20.
First baseman and pitcher Ellie Bernero ’20 says, “I’m grateful to belong to an institution that creates an atmosphere where I can learn, compete and thrive. Being part of the softball program has given me a sense of belonging, motivation, and my best friends.”
13. Intellectual Cross-Training
Don’t give up anything you love learning about. We have students who major in chemistry and theatre, or earn a dance minor with their education major. “It wasn’t easy to find a college that had Mandarin, Chinese, dance, and chemistry all in one! When I visited Carthage, I fell in love with the campus, and the welcoming professors, staff, and students I met made me feel right at home,” recalls Grace Kozisek ’20, a Chinese and chemistry major. “I was reassured this was the place for me when I looked into the Chinese, dance, and chemistry programs. The professors were very engaging and enthusiastic about the subjects they taught.”
14. Summer School!
Carthage takes summer school to a whole new level. The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience pairs selected students with faculty for full-time summer research. 10 weeks. One-on-one mentoring. Countless doors opened.
15. Big Names. Big Stage.
Carthage theatre students work with world-renowned writers like Keith Huff from “Mad Men” and “House of Cards.” They don’t just come to campus for a lecture; they spend months working closely with our students on a brand new play.
16. Events like Christmas Festival
“My favorite Carthage moment has been going to the Christmas Festival,” says Jordan Ball ’23. “Not hearing much about it beforehand, I was expecting it to be similar to the concerts my high school held. I was very much mistaken. The concert was absolutely amazing. Every moment was breathtaking. The choirs and bands put on such an outstanding performance that I will definitely be back next year.”
17. The Senior Thesis
Carthage is one of the few colleges in the country to require its seniors to complete a thesis. There’s no answer key for this one. No one telling you what chapters to study. This is your chance to build, perform, and explore a topic of your choice.
“The opportunity to deeply research and understand a topic that I am passionate about has been priceless to me,” says Jane Thurow ’20. “I believe that my senior thesis on corporate social responsibility will positively affect the trajectory of my career and has changed how I view the future of the world.”
Gavin Kaepernick ’20 says, “The computer science department has pushed me to build something I am proud of with no limitations on what is possible. As a kid, I could not have dreamed about the possibilities of the technology that I was able to create doing my senior thesis and I think it really shows future employers that I have the skills as a Carthage computer science graduate to build for the future.”
18. Late Night Breakfast
On the weekend before finals, Carthage faculty, staff, and even our President serve students a late-night breakfast in The Caf. Nothing relieves stress like your college president personally serving you scrambled eggs.
19. Our Location
The views? Breathtaking. But our campus isn’t just beautiful. It’s also ideally located between Chicago and Milwaukee, giving you big-city opportunities.
“I love how beautiful the campus is and how it is located between Chicago and Milwaukee,” says Sammie Woodward ’20. “This gives students so many opportunities for internships and jobs in big cities.”
20. Lake Views from Your Dorm Room
“The sunrise over the lake never gets old, and the sound of the waves is always relieving no matter what is going on in my life,” says Jess Thierfelder ’20.
