A good college education trains students to hit the ground running in their future workplaces. Goucher College does just that. Here in Baltimore, Maryland, students gain the knowledge, skills and experiences to become career-ready graduates prepared to make a difference.
Stats show they are in demand — 96% of students are either employed or furthering their studies within a year of graduating. They can be found working in several industries spanning across the sciences, arts and technology. Recent employers include PayPal, the New York Times, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Peace Corps.
Such success starts by letting learning happen everywhere. Students can apply their talents and leadership skills beyond the classroom, excelling in internships, community service projects, and abroad.
Ali Kazim Nakhid is an example of how the college helps students realise their professional aspirations. Originally from Lebanon, Nakhid is a student athlete and a psychology and international business major at Goucher. He came to the US with the goal of pursuing a career as both a professional soccer player and a diplomat for his home country — both of which he believes he can achieve thanks to Goucher’s experiential learning opportunities.
“My Goucher education has put me in situations that simulate situations that would happen in the real world,” he says.
Here, classes are intentionally small with a 10-to-one student-to-faculty ratio. This lets teachers really engage with students, leading to more fruitful discussions. “It’s definitely a privilege since not everyone gets that chance in their college. You get to learn new perspectives and opinions everyday,” says Nakhid.
Kenyan student Marcellus Githua Mwangi shares a similar sentiment: “Learning in small classrooms is very interesting because you get to hear the cultural and personal views of people from different parts of the globe.” He adds that such personalisation in the class really enriches the college learning experience at Goucher.
The college prides itself on its signature undergraduate experience model: The Goucher Edge. It is built on four pillars: The Commons, Your Major, Internship Accelerator and Global Experience. This initiative is further supported by the Student Success Team where students are assigned a Success Advisor that will coach them academically, while also helping them identify their passions, goals, and interests.
The curriculum and career-related work experiences are designed to put students in situations where they tackle complex, real-world problems, including social and environmental injustices, through internships, research opportunities and capstone projects.
“I was able to do an internship through the Handshake platform Goucher uses which allowed me to meet top profile people and even work with people that I had watched growing up,” shares Nakhid. These hands-on experiences allowed him to learn soft skills such as networking, public speaking and time management.
At every step of the way, the college is attentive to the strengths of its students. Although only a sophomore, Mwangi was already awarded such recognition. “I was offered an opportunity to be part of an invitation-only honours chemistry class next semester,” he says.
With over 1,100 students from 28 countries, the college houses a growing international student community on campus. The Office of Global Education ensures each and every student is well-adjusted to their new life in the US. It hosts orientation programmes every semester where students are briefed on various topics such as campus resources and academic expectations as well as overcoming cross-cultural barriers.
Both Nakhid and Mwangi are active in their respective student clubs. Goucher offers over 60 student clubs including an International Student Association and athletic clubs that further cultivate a strong student community. Mwangi is part of the Goucher International Student Association and often joins its weekly dinners. “It brings together all the international students and people who want to know more about cultures from other countries,” he shares. As a student athlete, Nakhid finds himself at home with the men’s soccer team where he was appointed captain in his senior year.
Ranked #157 in Top Performers on Social Mobility by US News and World Report, Goucher offers a number of merit-based scholarships to its international students.
This was among the reasons why Mwangi made Goucher his #1 choice. “As I was looking for colleges, Goucher offered me a very generous scholarship and I decided to go to Goucher,” he recalls.
For those looking for a fast-track postgraduate programme, Goucher offers a unique 4+1 programme where you can earn your bachelor’s and a specialised master’s within five years. Some of these programmes include teaching, foreign languages and business. For more info, read here.
Interested in a transformative education that will inspire success in your dream career? Apply to Goucher College today.
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