RetrogradeSonnet
Annapolis
Worth visiting!
I am a student at St. John’s College, class of 2008. If you are considering this school, feel free to ask me any questions you have—I love it and being here has made me the happiest I’ve been in my life.
ohbyjingo
Santa Fe
I’m a Johnnie hopeful, and my enrollment’s possibly just a year away, so it’s a great comfort to find a current student like yourself on 43T.
To take you up on that advice, what’s the social outlook for a nondrinker/nonsmoker? I don’t mind others’ smoking or drinking but don’t do it myself. Should I worry about being ostracized to a group of straightlaced, lily white lambs or will my abstinence not be an issue for people?
Thanks!
By the way, you look really familiar. I think I saw you in the dining hall last spring.
Nhoj
San Francisco
Speaking as one who didn’t smoke tobacco cigarettes (I did have a cigar on occasion—hey, it was the 90s; also, I was playing Freud in the Prank skit but that’s another story) at all during college and didn’t drink until . . . well, at least halfway through sophomore year, I can say there was very little social pressure to smoke, drink, or do anything else I didn’t want to do. Johnnies are nice people and they understand why a groovy nonsmoking nondrinking person might want to hang out and talk with those who do consume these substances.
If you don’t know what to do with your hands when you’re hanging around with drinkers or smokers, carry a cup of tea with you at all times. That tactic worked great for me.
ohbyjingo
Santa Fe
This further confirms that SJC will be my haven—intellectually and socially. Really, with the nature of the Program, isn’t it silly to trust one aspect of life at the college and doubt the other? I realize that the drinking/smoking thing is a somewhat hollow fear, but its one that I’m sensitive about nonetheless, so I really appreciate your reassurance of what I know in my gut is true.
PS: Thanks for implying that I’m groovy. I think you’re groovy too! :p
sarah_j
Olympia
st. john’s sounds amazing. i’d go there in a second if they had a campus here in the NW. i’m applying to reed, which is similar, but i feel like i’d be missing out on the academic program st. john’s offers. which city do you prefer? (anapolis vs. santa fe?)
thanks. :D
RetrogradeSonnet
Annapolis
I prefer the Annapolis campus. The social scene is much more integrated. We have less space, so we’re literally a closer community, which also means we’re within walking distance of the town. That difference in social solidarity is reflected in the athletics available on each campus. In Santa Fe they have hiking and search and rescue—it’s all very individual. Annapolis has crew and croquet, which are very social. It’s just a question of what will suit you best.
I looked at Reed and ended up not applying there because it seemed too pretentious. That’s not to say that St. John’s isn’t pretentious—you’ll get that at any place where a group of people is doing something exceptional or unusual. But Reed seemed especially focused on keeping up appearances.
I hope this helped!
sarah_j
Olympia
it did, thanks!
i just visited reed and loved it, so it’s going to be a really tough decision. hopefully i’ll find myself in annapolis at some point this year to compare the two. :)
