Plymouth State
By Brett Silva
Plymouth State University is a public institution that was founded in 1871 with a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,125. Its setting is a rural 170 acre campus in central New Hampshire. Plymouth, NH is often referred to as the gateway to the White Mountains. Attending school there provides endless opportunities to enjoy the outdoors year round. The average class sizes are between 17-21 students, which allows for a higher quality of education. Most important of all, the campus and the town have a wonderful bond that creates a community many learn to call home.
Students at Plymouth State are not like most other college students around the country that give our generation, millennials, a bad reputation. We are far from lazy and enjoy getting out and being active rather than being sucked into modern technology. In the summer you can find students hiking and rock climbing the numerous mountains and trails in the area with the simple goal of enjoying the breath-taking scenery. Floating the Pemi will be a tradition for students as long as the river runs through our campus. Not far from town is the one and only Squam lake, where students can take kayaks, paddle boards, and other watercrafts to enjoy a hot sunny day. As the seasons change, the snow starts to bury our campus but we always manage to dig our way out and make it to the ski mountains. Students in Plymouth have the opportunity of a lifetime to shred the fresh snow any day of their choosing, from open to close, for just $5. All of the outdoor gear and equipment needed to partake in these activities is available for students to check out at the All Well North athletic facility, free of cost.
When it comes to academics, our class sizes are a huge part of our success. The classrooms at our university are far smaller in size, with 17-21 students seated in a room for one professor. The faculty members are easily able to take the time to get to know each and every student that they have, and they learn more than just a student’s name. Professors understand what makes each student successful in the classroom, and what they struggle with. They will take the time to answer every question asked, and even work with students one on one on their own time outside of class. Caring professors willing to sacrifice so much of their time to help educate their students and make them successful is not something you can find at any other university. It is without a doubt in my mind that they are a huge factor of the university receiving a number one ranking in the nation from the CLA+ test results for a public school.