Culver Academies - Review #13

The leadership system and curricula are the most unique aspects of the school. Culver prides itself on the education of the mind, body, and soul within the context of an environment that fosters leadership. Both schools, Culver Girls Academy and Culver Military Academy, have their own leadership systems. The Girls Academy is based on an English Prefect system, whereas the Military Academy's system is based on military structure. Every student in the school is given the opportunity to explore roles of following and leading within various contexts. Whereas most schools only offer a handful of leadership roles for students, that is not the case for the Academies. The variety of extracurricular activities allows students to develop skills in teamwork and leadership while be involved in an activity they enjoy. This makes Culver unique in that every single student has been exposed and has experienced leadership and work within a community.

This school was the best thing I ever did for myself. I grew in all facets of my life and became an educated, well-rounded individual. It has honed qualities in me that will allow me to succeed in life, despite any adversity I face. After leaving Culver, you are mature and well beyond most of your peers who didn't attend Culver.

If I could've done something different, it would've been to engage more socially my freshman year and to not let one facet of Culver life control the rest of it. Sometimes you will be faced with decisions to do all of your homework, work on a leadership position, or engage in a unique social activity that you can never get again.

Everything. It's a beautiful campus, it is an intimate environment, academics are challenging, social life is fun and unique.

I would recommend this school to anyone. Just make sure you give it a fair chance and buy into it. Just remember to enjoy each moment you are in because whether you like it or not, you are in that moment.

Culver provides a rigorous academic program. Classes are challenging, but your teachers are always willing to meet you outside of class and help. Class sizes are also small, which helps not only in learning the material, but also in fostering a intimate relationship with professors. The homework load is extensive and usually takes anywhere from two to four hours to complete each night, but there is rarely a time when the work is "busy work." Culver's philosophy is to give students a well-rounded education, and it does just that. I would be surprised if anyone who graduated from Culver found college difficult. It was the best prep I could every get.

The great thing about Culver is that is has everything. If you can't find your niche at Culver or activity that you enjoy I would be surprised. But if it isn't there, the school is very open to starting new clubs so you can always start it yourself. Every student is required to participate in some sort of physical activity, and if sports aren't your thing, they have a variety of fun intramurals. The athletic teams that I was a part of were great programs. We always had good seasons and many memories to share afterwards. We have practice five to six days of the week for two hours a day. Traveling is necessary since Culver is in the middle of country Indiana, but the trips are always fun. Coaches are very helpful and caring, and because they are teachers as well, you always see them around school. Facilities for sports and activities at Culver are better than many colleges.

The only fine arts I participated in at Culver were my art classes. I took studio art 2D and Photography. I had a great time in both classes and learned basics of each art. The theatre is awesome. I never participated in it, but I had many friends that did and the productions they put on were fantastic. Not to mention they just renovated the whole auditorium and built a new dance center.

Like I said before, there are so many activities at Culver, I would truly be surprised to hear if you couldn't find something that interested you. The equestrian program is unique to Culver and the Black Horse Troop and Girls Equestrians ride in the Presidential Inaugural parade every four years. Not only are there many opportunities for you to find something you like, but there are also plenty of different opportunities for community service.

Dorm life is probably the best part of Culver. It might seem like prison since you get locked in the dorm at 9:45 each weeknight and 11:00 on weekends, but being locked in forces you to interact with the people in your dorm and on your floor. It is where you make most of your greatest friends and memories. Each dorm has a counselor and a resident director (dorm mom). The counselor is typically younger than your dorm mom and runs the dorm. She is always there if you need something or if you need someone to talk to. The dorm mom is kind of like your grandmother and she is usually always in the dorm and lives there a lot of the time. The rooms in general are pretty nice (compared to some college dorms anyway). You can room with one to three people. You get a bed, desk, and closet. There is a kitchen and bathroom on each floor.

Though it isn't your mom's cooking, it is a pretty good dining hall. There are a variety of food choices and it is better quality than some college dining halls. Seating consists of many long tables that can seat anywhere from ten to twenty people. The dining hall is open almost all the time, so you never have to worry about missing a meal.

The town is quaint. It is mostly known as a summer attraction and tries not to buy into commercialism, so you won't find any fast food (except Subway and Dairy Queen). There is a small theatre, a CVS, and some great restaurants to enjoy on the weekends.

Every day and every moment is part of social life at Culver. Since everyone is practically living in the same home, you are always interacting and bonding. Every weekend CAB (the Culver Activities Board) plans activities for students or trips so that no one is ever bored. The greatest part of social life at Culver was that we had to make our own fun sometimes and through that you get some of the best memories you'll ever make.