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Welcome to St. John's College. I'm Alice, a sophomore. Here in Annapolis, 450 students read, discuss, and learn from the great books of Western civilization, in subjects ranging from philosophy and literature to mathematics and science. Our campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico has another 400 students in the same curriculum. All classes are discussions with fewer than 20 students.
We're on the front lawn, where the college was founded in 1696. This is where graduation takes place and where students play our most popular sport: croquet. In front of us is McDowell Hall, a colonial governor's mansion that now holds classrooms and regular waltz parties in the great hall.
Before we get started, let me explain the many ways in which you can explore our beautiful campus:
- You can click on the front facing arrow to start walking around our campus
- You can also jump to the next stop by clicking on the "Next Stop" button
- Now, if you already know where you want to go, you can select any location by using the list or by clicking directly on the map
- Lastly, remember that you can explore any particular location in more detail by clicking on the 360, photos, or video icons.
Tour stop audio transcript
Welcome to St. John's College. I'm Alice, a sophomore. Here in Annapolis, 450 students read, discuss, and learn from the great books of Western civilization, in subjects ranging from philosophy and literature to mathematics and science. Our campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico has another 400 students in the same curriculum. All classes are discussions with fewer than 20 students.
We're on the front lawn, where the college was founded in 1696. This is where graduation takes place and where students play our most popular sport: croquet. In front of us is McDowell Hall, a colonial governor's mansion that now holds classrooms and regular waltz parties in the great hall.
Before we get started, let me explain the many ways in which you can explore our beautiful campus:
- You can click on the front facing arrow to start walking around our campus
- You can also jump to the next stop by clicking on the "Next Stop" button
- Now, if you already know where you want to go, you can select any location by using the list or by clicking directly on the map
- Lastly, remember that you can explore any particular location in more detail by clicking on the 360, photos, or video icons.
McDowell Hall
Tour stop audio transcript
Welcome to St. John's College. I'm Alice, a sophomore. Here in Annapolis, 450 students read, discuss, and learn from the great books of Western civilization, in subjects ranging from philosophy and literature to mathematics and science. Our campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico has another 400 students in the same curriculum. All classes are discussions with fewer than 20 students.
We're on the front lawn, where the college was founded in 1696. This is where graduation takes place and where students play our most popular sport: croquet. In front of us is McDowell Hall, a colonial governor's mansion that now holds classrooms and regular waltz parties in the great hall.
Before we get started, let me explain the many ways in which you can explore our beautiful campus:
- You can click on the front facing arrow to start walking around our campus
- You can also jump to the next stop by clicking on the "Next Stop" button
- Now, if you already know where you want to go, you can select any location by using the list or by clicking directly on the map
- Lastly, remember that you can explore any particular location in more detail by clicking on the 360, photos, or video icons.
Greenfield Library trail
Greenfield Library
Tour stop audio transcript
St. John's College is all about great books, and that's why Greenfield Library is such an essential part of student life. Books by every author in the academic program are on display in the New Program Room. The library hosts an annual book collecting contest, and winning collections, such as international cookbooks or books that fit in your pocket, are on display. The library collection traces its roots to 1784, and the current building was once the Maryland Hall of Records. You can check out magazines, movies, online resources, and award winning essays written by past students. I usually study in the beautiful reference room or on the outdoor patio.
Seminar and Language Tutorial trail
Seminar and Language Tutorial
Tour stop audio transcript
Welcome to seminar in the Barr-Buchanan Center. Seminars are discussions with one table and fewer than 20 chairs. Students discuss works of philosophy, literature, politics, and more. Seminar begins by a tutor—we call professors "tutors"—asking an opening question. Then students do the talking. You'll read everything from Homer to Shakespeare, Jane Austen to Nietzsche, Adam Smith to the Constitution.
In addition to seminar, we take classes called tutorials in language, music, and math, and science laboratory. A room like this might be used for a language tutorial in Ancient Greek or French.
The BBC also houses the Graduate Institute, which offers an MA degree in the Liberal Arts.
Quad and Coffee Shop trail
Quad and Coffee Shop
Tour stop audio transcript
Here we are on the quad. Between McDowell Hall, the freshman dorms, and the dining hall, the quad is always busy. This is an ideal spot to read or chat with friends. Next door is the coffee shop, where you'll find students meeting with tutors, doing homework by the fireplace, or having coffee. Students check their mail and post flyers for club activities.
When you look around at your classmates on the quad or in the coffee shop, you see the diversity of this college. St. John's draws students from 49 states and 27 countries, from all different races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, genders, socioeconomic backgrounds, and schools of thought.
Dining and Dorms trail
Dining and Dorms
Tour stop audio transcript
About 80% of Johnnies live and eat on campus. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served seven days a week here in Randall Dining Hall. Meals are all-you-can-eat and there are dietary options for every student. The main dining room is beautiful: it has Georgian columns and royal portraits on the walls.
There are eight dorms on campus, each housing around 40 students and upperclassmen resident assistants. Most freshmen will share a room, and you'll have access to laundry, kitchens, and common spaces. One of the most popular dorms is Spector Hall, which overlooks College Creek and is famous for its rainwater garden, geothermal heating, and common room with large chalkboards.
Music Tutorial and the Arts trail
Music Tutorial and the Arts
Tour stop audio transcript
This is one of the music classrooms in Mellon Hall. You'll study two years of music as a student at St. John's. In Freshman Chorus, even the most tone deaf student will learn the elements of music notation and singing. Then, as a sophomore, you'll study classical music theory in-depth, analyzing Mozart and Bach.
The arts are a big part of extracurricular life on campus: there are vocal ensembles, a college orchestra, active theater groups, plus workshops taught by professional artists in painting, sculpture, creativewriting and pottery. Our campus is home to the Mitchell Gallery, which brings collections from places like the Smithsonian, and also hosts community art exhibitions.
Science Lab and Math Tutorial trail
Science Lab and Math Tutorial
Tour stop audio transcript
We are now in a freshman laboratory classroom in Mellon Hall. We study four years of math and three years of science, including biology, chemistry, astronomy, genetics, and physics. Relying on primary texts and replicating experiments, you'll consider the fundamental questions of scientists throughout the ages, ranging from William Harvey to Watson and Crick, Euclid to Einstein. Students use the on-campus planetarium and observatory, and we are one of the few colleges with a Ptolemy Stone. In the summers, the college sponsors dozens of internships in math and science; this past year I had friends doing research at the U.S. Naval Observatory, neuroscience labs, and in marine biology.
Gymnasium and Boathouse trail
Gymnasium and Boathouse
Tour stop audio transcript
Welcome to Iglehart Gymnasium, built in 1910. Here, you can take advantage of our cardio room, yoga studio, and weight room. You'll also notice the unusual hanging track. More than half of all Johnnies participate in intramural sports, which are open to all students. We have four intercollegiate sports, which are fencing, sailing, crew, and croquet. There's a famous croquet match every spring between St. John's and our next door neighbor, the United States Naval Academy.
While St. John's is at the center of Annapolis, we also overlook the water. The boathouse on College Creek serves our crew and sailing teams, but anyone can borrow a canoe or kayak.
Annapolis trail
Annapolis
Tour stop audio transcript
Only a two minute walk from campus, downtown Annapolis is a quintessential college town that's also filled with history. You can stroll along the pier, grab a bite at one of the many restaurants, or study at a locally-owned coffee shop. You can walk the grounds of the United States Naval Academy or sit on one of the many benches surrounding the Maryland State House. Washington, DC is just 30 minutes away, so it isn't uncommon for students to spend the day in the capital for fun or take advantage of internship opportunities there in the summer.
Admissions Office trail
Admissions Office
Tour stop audio transcript
Our last stop is where you begin your journey to St. John's College: the Admissions Office. Here in the Carroll Barrister House, you can ask questions, have an interview, and discover whether St. John's is the right fit for you. The admissions officers are genuinely friendly; they want to help you find a home for the next four years. In the application, they rely principally on essays so they can understand who you are as a person and student. Johnnies love to read and talk, so don't be shy—even if you can't visit campus, feel free to email or give us a call. I hope you enjoyed this tour!
