Erika Bennett

Class of 2007

Grapevine, Texas

Academic Major

My major was Business Pre-Law and I just graduated in December.  I am currently in the process of taking my LSATs and applying to law school.  St. Andrews has prepared me to meet my goals in numerous ways.  Regarding academics in specific, having the option to tailor the Pre-Law aspect of my major to reflect areas I’m more interested in was not only pleasant and conducive to learning, but really gave me the opportunity to build a strong foundation as I go into law school. More generally, St. Andrews really promotes community, conversation, strong writing skills, all of which will take me far - and I’m most certain I wouldn’t have built at any other college.

Unique Experience

I would say that going to India was probably the most unique.  It was undoubtedly the greatest, most thoughtful, and moving experience of my life.  I think it’s really amazing to have such an opportunity and to be able to go on a trip of this nature with someone who is able to set up a travel opportunity where students are actually able to live in and experience the people and their culture rather than just do the tourist thing.

Extracurricular Activities

• The General Honors Program

• Honors Mentor

• Teaching Assistant for Quest 1

• Teaching Assistant for Writing Workshop 1

• Equestrian Program

• Equestrian Show Team Member

• Business Club - Treasurer for two years

• Student Judicial Council - Secretary

• Writer’s Forum

• President of Pate Hall

• Student Senate

• Regional Ethics Bowl Competing Team Member

• Business Ethics Symposium

St. Andrews Faculty

Dr. Neal Bushoven is absolutely amazing and has done a stunning job building a stellar Honors program.  Some Swami somewhere said “Find a wise teacher and follow him,” and absolutely - mine is Neal.  He really challenges students to stretch and grow - he kind of just continually seeks to destroy your personal paradigms and provide you with good reading material and thoughtful questions to rebuild it. 

Dr. Richard Prust has also been a major help to me—he was my advisor and outside reader for both my Junior and Senior honors theses; he was always there to help guide me on my writing journeys and was just incredibly helpful and involved when I needed a hand focusing my work.

Why St. Andrews?

Wow, what a question!  If I thought “everything” was a legitimate answer, then that’s what I’d say.  But for the sake of being more specific: the amazing faculty; the honors program, going to India, and Neal Bushoven; the strong community (a rarity these days) the “liberal arts feel” of the college, e.g. open door policy, small classroom size, etc.  In all honesty, my experience at St. Andrews as a whole has probably been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life; I couldn’t be more thankful that I never finished filling out the housing applications to any of the major universities I almost went to.

My friend Jordan Copp, Class of 2008, and I in India during  our SHoTs Course with Dr. Bushoven, Summer 2007.

In front of the Taj Mahal.