Small Classes, Big Deal
6 Perks of attending a College with Small Classes
With a student-to-faculty ratio of just 13:1 and an average class size of 17, students at Carthage will not get lost in the college crowd. Here are six reasons why being in a small class is such a big deal.
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1. You will bond with your professors.
At Carthage, professors know your name and genuinely care about your success. You can expect a concerned email in your inbox if you have to miss class. Forming these bonds opens the door for future projects and research opportunities with your professors.
“Professor Jojin Van Winkle played a significant role in my evolution as an artist. Her mentorship helped me break out of my shell and broaden my artistic horizons. Her kindness and support were particularly crucial during challenging times with my family’s health,” explained art history and studio art major Abigail Smith ’25. “Remarkable faculty members, like Prof. Van Winkle, have guided me toward my true passions and helped me find my authentic path.”
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“Remarkable faculty members have guided me toward my true passions.”
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2. You will engage in class discussions.
Class discussions will become an integral part of your classes and curriculum — an advantage that larger classes can’t offer. These dynamic discussions lead to interesting and intimate learning experiences that help every student succeed.
Nervous about speaking up in class? Don’t be. Your professors and classmates want to hear what you have to say.
“My favorite class at Carthage so far has to be a tie between Modern Caribbean: From Pirates to the Cuban Missile Crisis and Intellectual Foundations. Both classes had great lectures and plenty of discussion time, which made the classes fly by,” said history and special education major Madison Payne ’26. “In Pirates, I remember going back to do the readings and being shocked by how little knowledge I came in with, which made me look forward to each day of the lecture. And as for Intellectual Foundations, I had a professor who never failed to facilitate great conversation.”
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“I had a professor who never failed to facilitate great conversation.”
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3. You WILL go to class.
Let’s face it: There will come a day when you just want to skip class. Maybe you’re exhausted. Maybe you’ve got a huge project due later in the week. But skipping costs you more in the long run, and at Carthage, class size is a big motivator to get you in your seat.
Why? Well, if you don’t show up, people will notice. You will find that you are an important contributor who will be missed. All students benefit from everyone being in class. Many professors include attendance in their grading. Above all? You will go to class because you want to go to class.
“I love Music Theatre Techniques with Professor Matthew Hougland. I am always excited to walk into this class and experience my love for music,” expressed musical theatre student Danae Palmer ’25. “We prepare songs and perform them in front of our peers. We then receive coaching based on our performance and discuss how we feel about our performance. After the coaching, our peers give us commentary.”
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“I am always excited to walk into this class.”
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4. You will connect with your classmates.
Small classes allow for strong relationships to form among classmates in and outside of the classroom, which makes learning more comfortable, the learning process more productive, collaboration more meaningful, and college life more enjoyable.
“Honestly, big universities scared me. I never wanted to be a face in a lecture of 300 people where the professor didn’t know me, I didn’t know my classmates, and no one cared about me. I wanted to matter. Carthage gave me that opportunity,” said Madelyn Leppiaho ’25, a history major. “From touring and talking to students, I could see the close-knit community in which everyone has a place and a network of people that can help us succeed.”
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“I wanted to matter. Carthage gave me that opportunity.”
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5. You will get the help you need, without waiting for office hours.
When your class is small, you can ask questions the moment they arise — and have them answered immediately, increasing your productivity and improving your overall experience in a course. Professors check in while teaching to make sure everyone understands the content.
“Teachers and professors say they want to see you succeed, but my professors at Carthage actually help me succeed,” explained allied health science major Line Wisely ’26. “My anatomy professor, Professor Maggie Wentzell, holds office hours the morning before an exam and is running around answering last-minute questions for students, making sure we’ve correctly understood the material. She wants to make sure we all succeed.”
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“Teachers and professors say they want to see you succeed, but my professors at Carthage actually help me succeed.”
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6. You will want to do well, and you can.
A small class brings big opportunities for success. You won’t be lost in the crowd. You will feel more motivated to work hard. Professors will support your pursuits. And you will be exposed to learning styles that could not exist in large classes. With closer attention and heightened focus, learning is fun and fruitful.
“Acting I has been awesome. Each day, at the beginning of class, we start with a game to activate everyone and break down the tension that comes with acting,” said Trevor Milne ’26, who is majoring in engineering and musical theatre. “And all the way through the class, we all lift each other up through the experience together, really making it feel like I’m working alongside everyone else, not fighting against everyone.”
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“We all lift each other up through the experience together, really making it feel like I’m working alongside everyone else.”