Why I chose to go to Fairfield?

Name: Daniel Wilmer

Undergraduate College: Fairfield University

Undergraduate Major: Undergraduate MajorBA, American Studies

Postgraduate Degree: MBA, Columbia University

Current Job: General Manager, Everyday Health Inc., New York

Why I chose to go to Fairfield?

I decided to go to Fairfield University because I was interested in attending a top liberal arts college in the Northeast. Fairfield had an excellent reputation as a “teaching college; – that you would be in small classes, taught by the actual professors (not post-grad students). In addition, I was attracted to the fact that Fairfield was run by the Jesuits, who have been committed to educational excellence and intellectual rigor for centuries.

What Fairfield can offer students, that you won’t read about on its website?

Like most good liberal arts schools, Fairfield is a place students go to hone their critical thinking skills. Back when I attended, there was a core requirement to take a total of five combined philosophy and religion classes, to ensure that every Fairfield graduate left with an ability to think about life’s “big ideas”. I can say without equivocation that these courses (that I may not have taken without the requirement) had a profound influence on my intellectual development and my values.

From a social life perspective, Fairfield always has a wealth of super-friendly, very enthusiastic students who are really excited to be a part of the community. Probably the best way to sum it up is that everyone “works hard and plays hard.” It is also a NCAA Division I school, so talented athletes can compete at a high level in sports such as soccer, lacrosse, baseball, crew, basketball or volleyball. There is also a strong intramural sports league for those that want to continue to have fun with a smaller time commitment.