12-2003 -- Reflections On Canisius

For my first journal entry I will reflect on my overall experience here at Canisius.  I’m a senior entering my last semester (Spring 2004) and I am very pleased with my education.  The college has a lot to offer, and definitely supports that with a solid, well rounded education.

When I originally applied I had no intention of matriculating.  In fact, I only applied because a friend gave me a fee-waived application.  Once accepted, I decided to attend the Campus Overnight, a program offered to accepted students who live outside the Buffalo area (TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS if you can afford to do so – it definitely helps get a feel for where you'll be living the next four years of your life).  Upon attending I absolutely fell in love with the campus and decided to attend.  To this day I have no regrets!!

Since matriculating in the Fall of 2000, I have learned a great deal about Canisius that I wish I had known beforehand (it would have made my decision easier!).  First of all, I have to say that TIMING MATTERS.  Even though we have rolling admissions, scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.  I applied a little later that I should have, and as a result missed a few scholarships that I qualified for.  This mistake cost me around $8000.

Another thing that I’ve learned is that Canisius is a h

	Here's Laura Gellin '04, a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit honor society.  The Alpha Sigma Nu members hosted a Christmas party for children staying at Vive La Casa, a center for refuges seeking political asylum that is close to the Canisius campus.

ighly respected academic college.  Our teaching and political
science programs are excellent, and our acceptance rate into Graduate Medical School is approximately 90% – 95%.  In my sophomore year I applied for Early Assurance to UB Medical School (one of the many programs/opportunities Canisius offers).  This is a program that allows students to apply to medical school two years early.  There were about 45 applicants, and only around 20 – 25 were accepted.  I was one of the three accepted from Canisius that year, which meant that I not only avoid the stress of applying to med school my senior year, but I am also not required to take the entrance exam (the MCAT) required by all traditional applicants!!  That’s equivalent to applying to one college (which means you only have to write one essay!) and being accepted to that college before taking the SAT’s!!  We have similar "seven-year Joint Degree programs” with an increasing number of professional schools. Two participants include the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine and the SUNY Buffalo School of Dental Medicine" (www.canisius.edu/premed).

As far as classes and professors that I have taken over the last 3 ½ years I think that I have done well.  Depending on your chosen major, the caseload can be quite rigorous.  All students (minus a few majors) are required to take the core curriculum of Religion 101, Philosophy 101, and English, and then two classes from each area studies section (which I think totals 12 or so classes).  Although this seems like a lot, the professors are very good about non-major students in their classes (i.e. a history/religion/philosophy major taking a biology area studies class).  Most teachers recognize that area studies are designed to broaden one’s knowledge base.

 Similarly, part of the education at Canisius is learning how to get along with someone you don't necessarily 'get along' with, while networking with the professors you do get along with (networking is a HUGE part of the real world – and as they say "it's not always what you know, but who you know").  Canisius College definitely helps teach the students how to network in the real world.
 
There are a lot of other things I didn’t mention in this first journal entry (activities/parties/clubs for one), but it’s because I plan on dedicating other entries to them later on.  Also, I will be dedicating a journal entry to questions that prospective students have.  I’ve already been emailed a few questions, but I need some more to make it a full journal entry, so PLEASE EMAIL ME (I can’t make it a full entry without more questions).  My email is surdykd@canisius.edu and my name is Dan.

I wish the best of luck to you in your decisions – and I’ll ttyl.
DAN

PS.  Don’t forget to email me!

Here's another photo from the Vive La Casa Christmas party.  The children had a great time and it was very rewarding for us.