While it’s natural for people to judge others who are different from them, understanding how to get along and be friends with those people is part of what makes the human experience fuller and more real.

Being concerned that associating with those who might be perceived as strange or quirky will somehow sabotage one’s own social status is something Hillsdale pushes its students to see beyond.  

With a population of around 1,400 students — consisting of everyone from athletes to artists to academic achievers  — students differ in the groups with which they spend their time. What they all have in common, however, is the college and its rigorous academic program.

The social poise Hillsdale students develop along with their classical education sets them apart in the workforce because of their appreciation, respect, and understanding for others’ differences, an adaptability which makes it easier for them to mesh with a variety of co-workers. 

From the moment students arrive as freshmen, the required core classes unite students of all areas of interest in the classroom and expose them to a common language of Western history, philosophy, literature, and science. On-campus jobs, clubs, and associations like Student Federation or the various student religious groups also bring students together.

Along with their intellect and many talents, Hillsdale students offer society an example of how everyone should treat each other, even those who differ most from them.