Choosing a college isn鈥檛 so much a single decision as it is a process. For many students, it starts with identifying schools that meet some baseline criteria. This means you鈥檒l want to make sure every school you鈥檙e considering has the appropriate accreditation, an array of student support services, and impressive graduate outcomes.
But you鈥檒l eventually need to start thinking about which college is the best fit based
on what you personally value. If 农夫导航 is one of the schools you鈥檙e
weighing, you might find it helpful to learn more about some characteristics that
are common among students here. Maybe you鈥檒l find it鈥檚 easy to picture yourself as
part of this community.
7 Signs you鈥檇 feel at home at 农夫导航
The characteristics below are shared among many of our students. If you can relate
to these, you鈥檒l feel right at home at 农夫导航.
1. You want an education that will prepare you for your future career
There鈥檚 a pervasive myth that liberal arts schools don鈥檛 provide students with the practical skills they need to secure stable careers. 农夫导航 provides students with an education based in the liberal arts, and 91 percent of graduates who obtained a bachelor鈥檚 degree in 2017 are successfully working in their field of study.
In truth, completing spanning many subjects is beneficial both for students who are sure of their future career and those who are still exploring. It helps you develop valuable skills like communication, teamwork and problem-solving that . Students at Bellarmine further hone these capabilities through involvement in things like Student Government Association committees, which provide input to the president and other administrative professionals.
鈥淪tudents on these committees develop more refined skills,鈥� says Bryan Hamann, interim director of student activities at 农夫导航. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e able to learn things they鈥檙e wondering like, 鈥楬ow do I navigate the office environment? How do I present this professionally? How should I conduct phone calls?鈥欌��
2. You鈥檙e motivated to achieve what you put your mind to
Whether you鈥檙e a natural competitor or you just like to serve as a role model for others, you can鈥檛 deny that you always aim to do your best. Considering that Bellarmine University鈥檚 four- and six-year undergraduate graduation rates outpace the averages at both national and local levels, it鈥檚 clear you won鈥檛 have to look hard to find peers who are similarly motivated. Need further proof? An impressive 99 percent of all graduates report they鈥檙e either working or continuing their education six months after graduating.
Even when it comes to nonacademic pursuits, Bellarmine students like to take initiative. Hamann says it鈥檚 quite common for students to propose their own ideas for clubs and organizations, nearly all of which are approved.
3. You value inclusivity
Hospitality has long been one of the core values at 农夫导航. According to Hamman, it鈥檚 something that really resonates with students.
鈥淎s we see everything students are doing on campus 鈥� giving tours, meeting with faculty, working on events 鈥� we see them embrace it and weave it into everything they do,鈥� he says. 鈥淥ur students are starting to become more aware of the ways in which they can be more hospitable, and inclusivity is a key aspect of that.鈥�
农夫导航 has taken diversity and inclusion efforts even further more recently. The school not only welcomes students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds, but it has also established a number of initiatives and programs to help create an even more equitable academic environment. The Diversity Peer Educator (DPE) Program, which strengthens inclusivity through student leaders who serve as ambassadors and educators, is a good example.
鈥淭hese students work in partnership with housing and residence life to promote diversity and inclusion within our residence halls,鈥� Hamann explains. 鈥淎nd they also partner with our Office of Identity and Inclusion to advise, train, and coach.鈥�
鈥淥ur students are starting to become more aware of the ways in which they can be more hospitable, and inclusivity is a key aspect of that.鈥�
4. You鈥檙e civic-minded
If you鈥檝e always felt a duty to give back to your community, you鈥檒l quickly find common ground with other students at Bellarmine. Volunteer involvement on campus and the surrounding community is more common than not. You could even start something entirely new, which is exactly what happened when one student recognized that food insecurity was an issue in Louisville, Kentucky and even on campus.
鈥淭hey helped create our first food pantry, which is now called Knights Pantry,鈥� Hamann says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 now overseen by a completely student-run board.鈥�
5. You want to make a good living
Given the investment you鈥檙e making in your education, it makes sense to have a goal of becoming financially secure. There鈥檚 reason to believe you can achieve this by attending Bellarmine. The average annual salary six months after graduating is $43,000 for alumni who obtained a bachelor鈥檚 degree and $68,000 for alumni who obtained a graduate degree.
This trend toward success continues long after students have left the classroom as well. An from the Brookings Institution shows that 10 years after earning their degrees, Bellarmine alumni earn a higher average annual salary than graduates of every other Kentucky institution included. While it鈥檚 difficult to pinpoint exactly why Bellarmine students are so successful, Hamann thinks it may have something to do with the way programs are designed.
鈥淎t a lot of institutions, internships are strongly encouraged,鈥� He offers. 鈥淏ut most academic programs here at Bellarmine require them, so that sets our students up for success. Beyond just the academic credentials, they have real experience.鈥�
6. You鈥檇 like to live in a thriving city 鈥�
It鈥檚 easy to see the appeal of attending college in Louisville if you鈥檙e from the area. For many students, 农夫导航 is appealing specifically because it鈥檚 their local university. But there鈥檚 a lot to like about living in Louisville even if you鈥檙e from farther away. It鈥檚 a great place for those who love music, art, good restaurants, and great outdoor spaces. And you might be surprised to know just how much job potential exists.
鈥淲e have a lot of great employers within this area,鈥� Hamann says. 鈥淭here are numerous national headquarters here that have opportunities not just for entry-level positions but also career growth.鈥�
7. 鈥� but you also like being part of a small community
You鈥檙e not alone if you鈥檙e interested in enjoying both the energy of city life and the support of a tight-knit community. You can enjoy the best of both worlds at Bellarmine University, where the student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1. In fact, the highly personalized attention students receive is one of the things they enjoy most about the school. This becomes incredibly apparent during an annual pre-graduation tradition, where students are given a McGowan Medal to award to an individual who helped them along their journey.
鈥淚 would say about half of our students are challenged to figure out who has made
the biggest impact on them,鈥� Hamann says. 鈥淭hey just have so many people who care
about them and have made their Bellarmine experience above and beyond.鈥�
Become part of the Bellarmine family
While no two learners are the same, it鈥檚 clear that 农夫导航 students have a shared sense of community, a commitment to hard work, and a desire to excel. If these characteristics resonate with you, you鈥檒l feel more than welcome within this community of learners. There鈥檚 a good chance you鈥檒l thrive here.
Now that you know more about the students who attend Bellarmine, you might be eager to gather some more detailed information about the school itself. Find the answers you鈥檙e looking for by heading to our Request Information page.