Starting List
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
1:41 PM
Overall list before prioritizing:
Pluses
Minuses (relative to
dream)
Getting In
Judy
Brown
Academics. Students. City.
Variety. Culture.
none
stretch
Reach
Swarthmore
Academics. Students. City.
Small. Culture.
none
Stretch
Target+
Bryn Mawr
Classic liberal arts school
All women
likely
University of Chicago Academics. Students. City.
Variety. Culture.
none
moderate
Reach
Pomona
Academics. Weather. City.
Small.
none
hard
Reach
Columbia
City. Academics. Variety.
Stress culture
stretch
Reach
Barnard
City. Academics. Variety.
none
moderate
Middlebury
Academics.
Small town. Preppy. Hard
Reach
Reed
Academics. People. City.
Culture.
Odd. Too small.
moderate
Target
Bard
Academics. People. Culture.
Small.
less academics
moderate
Target-
Carleton
Academics. People. City.
Small.
none
moderate
Bowdoin
Reputation. Small.
Small town. Preppy.
Hard
Amherst
Reputation. Small.
Small town. Preppy. Hard
Reach
Williams
Reputation. Small.
Small town. Preppy. Hard
Reach
Claremont-McKenna Weather. City. Small.
moderate
Northwestern
Academics. Variety. City.
sports
moderate
Wesleyan
Diversity. Academics.
City less desirable.
moderate
Occidental
Pitzer
Target+
Reach
Target
Claremont campus
Likely
1
Colorado College
Likely
Likely
Kenyon College
Likely
Likely
Tufts University
moderate
Reach
Trinity College
Target
Hamilton College
Moderate
Sarah Lawrence
Women's college
Target
Skidmore
Vassar
Target-
Likely
NYC access, academics,
welcoming culture
Moderate
Target+
Carnegie Mellon
Target+
Franklin and
Marshall
Likely
Haverford College
Philadelphia
Target
American University
Likely
George Washington
U
Target+
Emory University
Target
Tulane University
Likely
Vanderbilt
University
Reach
Washington
University
Academics, heart of large city
Hard
Macalester
Large city. Academics.
Likely
Scripps
Claremont campus
Women's college
Whitman
Likely
Moderate
Stretch/Reach:
 Brown
 Columbia
 Swarthmore
 Williams
 Amherst
 Washington University
 Pomona
2
Reach





University of Chicago
Northwestern
Middlebury
Wesleyan (more like Hard)
Tufts (more like hard)
Hard/Target+
 Carnegie Mellon
 Vanderbilt
 Georgetown
 Carleton
 Bowdoin
 Vassar
 George Washington University
Moderate/Target
 Claremont McKenna
 Hamilton College
 Occidental
 Emory University
 Trinity (more like Likely)
 Sarah Lawrence
 Barnard
 Haverford
Likely:
 Macalaster--quality
 Whitman--quality
 Kenyon--quality
 Oberlin--quality
 Reed--quality
 American University
 Tulane University
 Bryn Mawr
 Skidmore
 Bard
 Tulane
 Colorado College
 Pitzer
 Scripps
 Franklin and Marshall
Less interested in:
 Dartmouth (culture)
 Harvard (culture and stress of getting in)
 Princeton (")
 Yale (")
3



Stanford (")
Colby (preppy culture)
Bates (blah town)
4
US News and World Report
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
2:05 PM
The US News rankings are somewhat suspect. They use quantitative metrics about the school and peer
ratings (by other schools' faculties). This means that this is not a real ranking of how good the school is.
Use this list only for ideas.
The factors that matter are the ones that affect the quality of the education and the quality of the
experience, which are best reflected in successful outcomes of the graduates and quality of the work by
academic faculty. So, at best, these rankings provide a reminder of some schools to consider. The
actual decision, though, depends on much more important and personal factors.
5
Liberal Arts Colleges
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
2:04 PM
Score
Costs
% in
2,045
17.0%
1,697
14.8%
1 Williams College
Williamstown, MA
100
2 Amherst College
Amherst, MA
96
3 Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA
94
$37,860
1,490
15.7%
4 Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT
92
$50,780
2,455
16.8%
4 Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA
92
$38,062
2,344
36.0%
6 Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME
90
$40,020
1,723
18.6%
6 Pomona College
Claremont, CA
90
$37,017
1,532
15.6%
8 Carleton College
Northfield, MN
88
$39,777
2,000
27.5%
8 Davidson College
Davidson, NC
88
$35,124
1,668
25.7%
10 Haverford College
Haverford, PA
87
$39,085
1,169
27.0%
11 Claremont McKenna
College
Claremont, CA
86
$38,510
1,212
19.1%
11 Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY
86
$41,930
2,389
25.0%
13 Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT
84
$40,092
3,149
27.2%
14 Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA
83
$36,476
1,678
43.0%
14 Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, CA
83
$38,467
738
31.1%
14 United States Military
Academy
West Point, NY
83
$0
4,553
15.7%
14 Washington and Lee
University
Lexington, VA
83
$38,877
2,155
16.8%
18 Smith College
Northampton, MA
82
$37,758
3,101
47.7%
19 Colgate University
Hamilton, NY
81
$40,970
2,844
23.9%
19 United States Naval
Academy
Annapolis, MD
81
$0
4,489
13.9%
21 Hamilton College
Clinton, NY
80
$39,760
1,872
28.1%
22 Colby College
Waterville, ME
79
$50,320
1,847
30.9%
6
$39,490
students
$38,928
22 Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH
79
$40,004
2,865
32.7%
24 Colorado College
Colorado Springs, CO
78
$37,278
2,026
26.0%
25 Bates College
Lewiston, ME
77
$51,300
1,776
29.2%
25 Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA
77
$38,034
1,745
48.8%
25 Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA
77
$39,126
2,241
52.6%
25 Scripps College
Claremont, CA
77
$38,700
972
43.4%
29 Macalester College
St. Paul, MN
76
$38,174
1,900
41.1%
30 Barnard College
New York, NY
75
$38,650
2,359
28.5%
30 Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA
75
$40,816
3,719
29.9%
30 University of Richmond
Univ. of Richmond,
VA
75
$40,010
3,445
31.7%
33 Kenyon College
Gambier, OH
74
$40,980
1,644
31.3%
33 Occidental College
Los Angeles, CA
74
$38,922
1,868
39.4%
35 Lafayette College
Easton, PA
73
$37,815
2,382
37.2%
36 College of the Holy
Cross
Worcester, MA
72
$38,722
2,898
33.8%
36 Sewanee--University of
the South
Sewanee, TN
72
$34,172
1,562
64.0%
36 Trinity College
Hartford, CT
72
$40,840
2,566
41.7%
36 Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA
72
$36,940
1,458
45.8%
40 Bard College
Annandale on Hudson,
NY
71
$39,880
2,134
25.2%
40 Furman University
Greenville, SC
71
$36,656
2,977
57.3%
42 Connecticut College
New London, CT
70
$49385
1,852
36.6%
43 DePauw University
Greencastle, IN
69
$33,250
2,298
64.6%
43 Franklin and Marshall
College
Lancaster, PA
69
$39,980
2,164
35.9%
43 Union College
Schenectady, NY
69
$50,439
2,240
39.2%
46 Centre College
Danville, KY
68
$39,000
1,197
62.8%
46 Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA
68
$40,114
2,388
44.2%
46 Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY
68
$40,420
2,777
29.8%
7
49 Gettysburg College
Gettysburg, PA
67
$39,140
2,457
37.8%
49 Pitzer College
Claremont, CA
67
$39,330
1,025
22.3%
49 Reed College
Portland, OR
67
$39,700
1,471
32.5%
8
Universities
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
2:12 PM
score
tuition
# students % in
1 Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
100
$37,012
19,230
7.9%
1 Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
100
$35,340
7,497
9.9%
3 Yale University
New Haven, CT
98
$36,500
11,446
8.6%
4 California Institute of
Technology
Pasadena, CA
93
$34,584
2,126
17.4%
4 Massachusetts Institute of
Technology
Cambridge, MA
93
$37,782
10,299
11.9%
4 Stanford University
Stanford, CA
93
$37,881
17,833
9.5%
4 University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
93
$38,970
19,018
16.9%
8 Columbia University
New York, NY
91
$41,316
23,196
10.0%
8 University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
91
$39,381
12,386
27.9%
10 Duke University
Durham, NC
90
$38,975
14,060
22.4%
11 Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH
89
$38,679
5,848
13.5%
12 Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
87
$38,461
18,431
26.2%
12 Washington University in
St. Louis, MO
87
$38,864
13,338
21.7%
14 Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
86
$39,150
19,858
25.4%
15 Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
85
$37,954
20,273
20.7%
16 Brown University
Providence, RI
84
$38,848
8,318
13.7%
17 Emory University
Atlanta, GA
80
$38,036
12,755
26.6%
17 Rice University
Houston, TX
80
$31,248
5,456
23.0%
17 Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
80
$38,579
12,093
25.3%
20 University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN
78
$38,477
11,731
26.7%
21 University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
76
$30,022
35,409
21.6%
22 Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA
75
$39,833
11,064
37.9%
23 Georgetown University
Washington, DC
74
$39,212
15,318
18.8%
24 University of California--Los Los Angeles, CA
73
$29,897
39,650
22.8%
9
Angeles
24 University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA
73
$31,870
24,541
36.7%
26 University of Southern
California
Los Angeles, CA
72
$39,124
33,747
21.9%
27 University of Michigan--Ann Ann Arbor, MI
Arbor
71
$34,230
41,028
42.1%
28 Tufts University
Medford, MA
70
$40,342
10,030
25.5%
28 University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC
70
$22,294
28,567
34.0%
28 Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem,
NC
70
$38,622
6,862
38.4%
31 Brandeis University
Waltham, MA
67
$38,762
5,327
32.4%
32 New York University
New York, NY
66
$38,765
42,189
32.1%
33 College of William and Mary Williamsburg, VA
64
$30,592
7,892
34.1%
34 Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA
63
$39,130
13,903
26.2%
35 Georgia Institute of
Technology
Atlanta, GA
62
$25,716
19,413
60.9%
35 Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA
62
$38,630
6,994
27.9%
35 University of California--San La Jolla, CA
Diego
62
$30,819
27,520
41.6%
35 University of Rochester
Rochester, NY
62
$38,690
9,712
42.7%
39 University of Illinois
Champaign, IL
61
$26,714
43,246
69.1%
39 University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI
61
$22,270
42,030
52.7%
41 Case Western Reserve
University
Cleveland, OH
60
$36,238
9,814
73.3%
42 Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute
Troy, NY
59
$39,165
7,521
44.1%
42 University of California-Davis
Davis, CA
59
$31,385
30,568
52.6%
42 University of California
Santa Barbara, CA
59
$30,724
21,868
49.2%
42 University of Washington
Seattle, WA
59
$24,367
41,517
61.0%
46 University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA
58
$28,796
26,984
48.7%
10
47 Pennsylvania State
University
University Park,
PA
57
$25,946
44,406
51.2%
47 University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
57
$23,744
51,474
39.5%
47 University of Texas--Austin
Austin, TX
57
$30,600
49,984
43.5%
50 Tulane University
New Orleans, LA
55
$40,564
11,157
27.0%
11
Students study the most
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
5:08 PM
College Rankings
Academics/Administration: Students Study the Most
How many out-of-class hours do you spend studying each day?
Pasted from <http://www.princetonreview.com/schoollist.aspx?type=r&id=756>
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA
Other Rankings
Professors Get Low Marks
Great Financial Aid
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA
Other Rankings
Least Beautiful Campus
Reed College
Portland, OR
Serious. Quirky. Rigorous. Laid back. Classical. Liberal. College guides g...More
Other Rankings
Best College Radio Station
Birkenstock-Wearing, Tree-Hugging, Clove-Smoking Vegetarians
12
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering
Needham, MA
Other Rankings
Best Campus Food
Best Career Services
Harvard College
Other Rankings
Best College Library
Best College Newspaper
Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT
Other Rankings
Most Popular Study Abroad Program
Best Campus Food
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA
Swarthmore, one of the nation's finest institutions of higher learning, is...More
Other Rankings
Best College Radio Station
13
Gay Community Accepted
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
A private university chartered in 1890, the University of Chicago has a lo...More
Other Rankings
Best College Library
Intercollegiate Sports Unpopular or Nonexistent
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
Princeton combines the strengths of a major research university with the q...More
Other Rankings
Best College Library
Most Beautiful Campus
Davidson College
Davidson, NC
Other Rankings
Professors Get High Marks
Most Accessible Professors
Williams College
Williamstown, MA
Other Rankings
Dorms Like Palaces
Most Accessible Professors
14
United States Coast Guard Academy
New London, CT
Other Rankings
Don't Inhale
Dorms Like Dungeons
West Point – The United States Military Academy
West Point, NY
As the nation's oldest service academy, West Point offers young men and wo...More
Other Rankings
Class Discussions Encouraged
Don't Inhale
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
Other Rankings
Great College Towns
Long Lines and Red Tape
15
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA
Other Rankings
Best Campus Food
Dorms Like Palaces
Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, VA
Since its founding in 1901, Sweet Briar College has been deeply committed ...More
Other Rankings
Best Career Services
Class Discussions Encouraged
Carleton College
Northfield, MN
Other Rankings
Best College Radio Station
Everyone Plays Intramural Sports
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, CA
Other Rankings
Least Beautiful Campus
Intercollegiate Sports Unpopular or Nonexistent
College of the Holy Cross
16
Worcester, MA
Other Rankings
Little Race/Class Interaction
More to Do on Campus
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA
Other Rankings
Gay Community Accepted
Easiest Campus to Get Around
Pasted from <http://www.princetonreview.com/schoollist.aspx?type=r&id=756>
17
Best Classroom Experience
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
5:13 PM
College Rankings
Academics/Administration: Best Classroom Experience
Based on student assessment of professors'' teaching abilities and recognition in their fields, the integration of new
business trends and practices in the curricula, and the intellectual level of classmates'' contributions in course
discussions
Pomona College
Claremont, CA
Other Rankings
Dorms Like Palaces
School Runs Like Butter
Reed College
Portland, OR
Serious. Quirky. Rigorous. Laid back. Classical. Liberal. College guides g...More
Other Rankings
Best College Radio Station
Birkenstock-Wearing, Tree-Hugging, Clove-Smoking Vegetarians
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA
Other Rankings
Dorms Like Palaces
Gay Community Accepted
18
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
Other Rankings
Best College Radio Station
Class Discussions Encouraged
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering
Needham, MA
Other Rankings
Best Campus Food
Best Career Services
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA
Other Rankings
Best College Library
Dorms Like Palaces
19
Williams College
Williamstown, MA
Other Rankings
Dorms Like Palaces
Most Accessible Professors
West Point – The United States Military Academy
West Point, NY
As the nation's oldest service academy, West Point offers young men and wo...More
Other Rankings
Class Discussions Encouraged
Don't Inhale
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
Princeton combines the strengths of a major research university with the q...More
Other Rankings
Best College Library
Most Beautiful Campus
Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT
Other Rankings
Most Popular Study Abroad Program
Best Campus Food
20
Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA
Whitman College's programs in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and n...More
Other Rankings
Best College Library
Best College Radio Station
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY
Other Rankings
Sarah Lawrence College
Bronxville, NY
Other Rankings
Birkenstock-Wearing, Tree-Hugging, Clove-Smoking Vegetarians
Class Discussions Encouraged
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY
Other Rankings
Most Popular Study Abroad Program
Best College Library
21
Marlboro College
Marlboro, VT
Marlboro College is a liberal arts college unlike any other in the country...More
Other Rankings
Birkenstock-Wearing, Tree-Hugging, Clove-Smoking Vegetarians
Class Discussions Encouraged
Wesleyan College
Macon, GA
Other Rankings
Class Discussions Encouraged
Don't Inhale
Bennington College
Bennington, VT
Bennington College, a four-year liberal arts college established in 1932, ...More
Other Rankings
Birkenstock-Wearing, Tree-Hugging, Clove-Smoking Vegetarians
Class Discussions Encouraged
University of Richmond
Richmond, VA
Other Rankings
Little Race/Class Interaction
Most Beautiful Campus
22
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME
Other Rankings
Best Campus Food
Dorms Like Palaces
Emerson College
Boston, MA
Founded in 1880, Emerson is one of the premier colleges in the United Stat...More
Other Rankings
Best College Radio Station
Best College Theater
Pasted from <http://www.princetonreview.com/schoollist.aspx?type=r&id=773>
23
Birkenstock-wearing vegetarian
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
5:18 PM
College Rankings
Schools by Type: Birkenstock-Wearing, Tree-Hugging, Clove-Smoking Vegetarians
Based on a combination of survey questions concerning political persuasion, the use of marijuana and hallucinogens,
the prevalence of religion, the popularity of student government, and the students' level of acceptance of the gay
community on campus
Bard College
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
Other Rankings
Class Discussions Encouraged
Dodgeball Targets
Hampshire College
Amherst, MA
Hampshire College is an innovative liberal arts college with some exciting...More
Other Rankings
Best College Theater
Class Discussions Encouraged
Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts
Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts is renowned for its ur...More
Other Rankings
Least Beautiful Campus
Class Discussions Encouraged
24
New College of Florida
Other Rankings
Dodgeball Targets
Gay Community Accepted
Reed College
Portland, OR
Serious. Quirky. Rigorous. Laid back. Classical. Liberal. College guides g...More
Other Rankings
Best College Radio Station
Class Discussions Encouraged
Clark University
Worcester, MA
Other Rankings
More to Do on Campus
25
Sarah Lawrence College
Bronxville, NY
Other Rankings
Class Discussions Encouraged
Dodgeball Targets
Bennington College
Bennington, VT
Bennington College, a four-year liberal arts college established in 1932, ...More
Other Rankings
Class Discussions Encouraged
Dodgeball Targets
Simon's Rock College of Bard
Great Barrington, MA
Other Rankings
Best College Theater
Class Discussions Encouraged
Marlboro College
26
Marlboro, VT
Marlboro College is a liberal arts college unlike any other in the country...More
Other Rankings
Class Discussions Encouraged
Dodgeball Targets
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY
Other Rankings
Best College Theater
Gay Community Accepted
Pitzer College
Claremont, CA
Pitzer is a comprehensive liberal arts college founded in 1963 as the sixt...More
Other Rankings
Most Popular Study Abroad Program
Gay Community Accepted
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT
Other Rankings
Best College Library
Most Politically Active Students
27
University of California--Santa Cruz
Other Rankings
Most Beautiful Campus
Reefer Madness
Lewis & Clark College
Portland, OR
On a stunning campus in one of the most exciting and progressive cities an...More
Other Rankings
Most Popular Study Abroad Program
Dodgeball Targets
Macalester College
St. Paul, MN
Other Rankings
Most Popular Study Abroad Program
Gay Community Accepted
Emerson College
Boston, MA
Founded in 1880, Emerson is one of the premier colleges in the United Stat...More
Other Rankings
Best College Radio Station
28
Best College Theater
Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH
Other Rankings
Warren Wilson College
Asheville, NC
Since its founding in 1894, Warren Wilson College has educated students wi...More
Other Rankings
Gay Community Accepted
Most Politically Active Students
State University of New York--Purchase College
Combining the energy and excitement of professional training in the perfor...More
Other Rankings
Least Beautiful Campus
Dodgeball Targets
Pasted from <http://www.princetonreview.com/schoollist.aspx?type=r&id=694>
29
Best Quality of Life
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
5:24 PM
College Rankings
Quality of Life: Best Quality of Life
Based on responses from students to several questions covering food on and off-campus, dorm comfort, campus
beauty, ease of getting around campus, relationship with the local community, campus safety, the surrounding area,
interaction between students, friendliness and happiness of the student body and smoothness with which the school
is administered.
Rice University
Houston, TX
Other Rankings
Happiest Students
Lots of Race/Class Interaction
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME
Other Rankings
Best Campus Food
Dorms Like Palaces
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA
Other Rankings
Most Popular Study Abroad Program
Best Campus Food
30
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
Other Rankings
Best Campus Food
Dorms Like Palaces
Virginia Tech
Other Rankings
Best Campus Food
Students Pack the Stadiums
Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT
Other Rankings
Most Popular Study Abroad Program
Best Campus Food
Smith College
Northampton, MA
Other Rankings
Best Career Services
Dorms Like Palaces
Barnard College
New York, NY
Founded in 1889, Barnard College was one of the first colleges to offer yo...More
Other Rankings
31
Best Career Services
Great College Towns
Saint Michael's College
Colchester, VT
Saint Michael's College is a residential, Catholic, liberal arts college c...More
Other Rankings
Town-Gown Relations are Great
Clemson University
Clemson, SC
Clemson University, one of the country s top public universities, combines...More
Other Rankings
Best Career Services
Everyone Plays Intramural Sports
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA
Other Rankings
Best Campus Food
32
Dorms Like Palaces
Westminster College of Salt Lake City
Westminster College offers students an unique learning environment, a vibr...More
Other Rankings
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering
Needham, MA
Other Rankings
Best Campus Food
Best Career Services
St. Olaf College
Northfield, MN
Other Rankings
Best Campus Food
Town-Gown Relations are Great
33
Brown University
Providence, RI
Other Rankings
Best College Radio Station
Best College Theater
Davidson College
Davidson, NC
Other Rankings
Professors Get High Marks
Most Accessible Professors
Furman University
Greenville, SC
Other Rankings
Best College Library
Don't Inhale
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
Other Rankings
Best College Radio Station
34
Class Discussions Encouraged
Pomona College
Claremont, CA
Other Rankings
Dorms Like Palaces
School Runs Like Butter
Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA
Whitman College's programs in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and n...More
Other Rankings
Best College Library
Best College Radio Station
Pasted from <http://www.princetonreview.com/schoollist.aspx?type=r&id=775>
35
College Prowler "Rankings" (highly subjective by students)
Sunday, January 24, 2010
6:31 PM
Screen clipping taken: 1/24/2010, 6:32 PM
36
Link to College Prowler Rankings
Screen clipping taken: 1/24/2010, 6:36 PM
37
Screen clipping taken: 1/24/2010, 6:36 PM
38
Some things to think about
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
11:05 PM
Does the place have energy and direction?
What is distinctive about the place and people?
Is it a very special place for accomplishment?
What are some of the things you'd like to see--great singing groups, great political discussions, arts, realworld opportunities, graduate school possibilities, work possibilities, research opportunities, service
opportunities, a unique science program, a broad world view, progressive and innovative--decide what
they could be and look for them.
Quality of undergraduate teaching? (which means student/faculty ratio, small class size, professors
teach classes….)
Variety of excellent programs, people, activities (>2,000 undergraduates compared to 1500…)
Will you feel good getting to know new people there?
Where will you do your best work?
What are you looking to get from the place and give to the place?
The most selective is not always the best. Not to say the most selective schools are bad,but location and
historical reputation do result in lots of applications and an essentially random selection process. Yale
needs some male athletes (100 spots reserved), some female athletes (100 spots reserved), some
violnists and dancers (50 spots reserved), some off-the-charts math/science achievers (100 spots
reserved)—and then everyone else is a generally smart, versatile and adept kid with SATs right in the
middle of the school’s typical mid-50% range—thousands of kids who ALL meet the numerical
requirements. It is a random process to choose among them all—applying to five such schools does not
guarantee you get into 1 of the 5. Pomona is harder to get into than Harvard: 6% acceptance rate v 7%.
Why bother?—a reputation liberal arts college in sunny California, when there are equally fine schoosl in
rainy climates with winter—don’t be part of the application flood from west coast prep schools at
Pomona.
39
Who Needs Harvard?
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
8:18 PM
Lewis says, "Getting into college is not the accomplishment. It's what you do while you are there and
afterword that matter much more."
U.S. Higher Education, Education
Gregg Easterbrook, Visiting Fellow (2000-08)
The Atlantic Monthly
October 2004 —
Today almost everyone seems to assume that the critical moment in young people's lives is finding out
which colleges have accepted them. Winning admission to an elite school is imagined to be a golden
passport to success; for bright students, failing to do so is seen as a major life setback. As a result, the
fixation on getting into a super-selective college or university has never been greater. Parents'
expectations that their children will attend top schools have "risen substantially" in the past decade,
says Jim Conroy, the head of college counseling at New Trier High School, in Winnetka, Illinois. He adds,
"Parents regularly tell me, 'I want whatever is highest-ranked.'" Shirley Levin, of Rockville, Maryland,
who has worked as a college-admissions consultant for twenty-three years, concurs: "Never have stress
levels for high school students been so high about where they get in, or about the idea that if you don't
get into a glamour college, your life is somehow ruined."
RELATED CONTENT
The Role of High Schools in Preparing Disadvantaged Students for College
Thursday, May 14, 2009
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Washington, DC
Forging New Partnerships: Implementing Three New Initiatives in the Higher Education Act
Friday, June 25, 1999
3:30 PM to
Washington, DC
Forging New Partnerships: Implementing Three New Initiatives in the Higher Education Act
Friday, June 25, 1999
2:00 PM to
Washington, DC
Admissions mania focuses most intensely on what might be called the Gotta-Get-Ins, the colleges with
maximum allure. The twenty-five Gotta-Get-Ins of the moment, according to admissions officers, are
the Ivies (Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Yale), plus Amherst,
Berkeley, Caltech, Chicago, Duke, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Northwestern, Pomona, Smith,
Stanford, Swarthmore, Vassar, Washington University in St. Louis, Wellesley, and Williams. Some
students and their parents have always been obsessed with getting into the best colleges, of course. But
as a result of rising population, rising affluence, and rising awareness of the value of education, millions
of families are now in a state of nervous collapse regarding college admissions. Moreover, although the
40
total number of college applicants keeps increasing, the number of freshman slots at the elite colleges
has changed little. Thus competition for elite-college admission has grown ever more cutthroat. Each
year more and more bright, qualified high school seniors don't receive the coveted thick envelope from
a Gotta-Get-In.
But what if the basis for all this stress and disappointment—the idea that getting into an elite college
makes a big difference in life—is wrong? What if it turns out that going to the "highest ranked" school
hardly matters at all?
The researchers Alan Krueger and Stacy Berg Dale began investigating this question, and in 1999
produced a study that dropped a bomb on the notion of elite-college attendance as essential to success
later in life. Krueger, a Princeton economist, and Dale, affiliated with the Andrew Mellon Foundation,
began by comparing students who entered Ivy League and similar schools in 1976 with students who
entered less prestigious colleges the same year. They found, for instance, that by 1995 Yale graduates
were earning 30 percent more than Tulane graduates, which seemed to support the assumption that
attending an elite college smoothes one's path in life.
But maybe the kids who got into Yale were simply more talented or hardworking than those who got
into Tulane. To adjust for this, Krueger and Dale studied what happened to students who were accepted
at an Ivy or a similar institution, but chose instead to attend a less sexy, "moderately selective" school. It
turned out that such students had, on average, the same income twenty years later as graduates of the
elite colleges. Krueger and Dale found that for students bright enough to win admission to a top school,
later income "varied little, no matter which type of college they attended." In other words, the student,
not the school, was responsible for the success.
Research does find an unmistakable advantage to getting a bachelor's degree. In 2002, according to
Census Bureau figures, the mean income of college graduates was almost double that of those holding
only high school diplomas. Trends in the knowledge-based economy suggest that college gets more
valuable every year. For those graduating from high school today and in the near future, failure to
attend at least some college may mean a McJobs existence for all but the most talented or
unconventional.
But, as Krueger has written, "that you go to college is more important than where you go." The
advantages conferred by the most selective schools may be overstated. Consider how many schools are
not in the top twenty-five, yet may be only slightly less good than the elites: Bard, Barnard, Bates,
Bowdoin, Brandeis, Bryn Mawr, Bucknell, Carleton, Carnegie Mellon, Claremont McKenna, Colby,
Colgate, Colorado College, Davidson, Denison, Dickinson, Emory, George Washington, Grinnell,
Hamilton, Harvey Mudd, Haverford, Holy Cross, Kenyon, Lafayette, Macalester, Middlebury, Mount
Holyoke, Notre Dame, Oberlin, Occidental, Reed, Rice, Sarah Lawrence, Skidmore, Spelman, St. John's of
Annapolis, Trinity of Connecticut, Union, Vanderbilt, Washington and Lee, Wesleyan, Whitman, William
and Mary, and the universities of Michigan and Virginia. Then consider the many other schools that may
lack the je ne sais quoi of the top destinations but are nonetheless estimable, such as Boston College,
Case Western, Georgia Tech, Rochester, SUNY-Binghamton, Texas Christian, Tufts, the University of
Illinois at Champaign Urbana, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Texas at
Austin, the University of Washington, the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and the University of
California campuses at Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, and San Diego. (These lists are meant not to be
exhaustive but merely to make the point that there are many, many good schools in America.) "Any
family ought to be thrilled to have a child admitted to Madison, but parents obsessed with prestige
41
would not consider Madison a win," says David Adamany, the president of Temple University. "The child
who is rejected at Harvard will probably go on to receive a superior education and have an outstanding
college experience at any of dozens of other places, but start off feeling inadequate and burdened by
the sense of disappointing his or her parents. Many parents now set their children up to consider
themselves failures if they don't get the acceptance letter from a super-selective school."
Beyond the Krueger-Dale research, there is abundant anecdotal evidence that any of a wide range of
colleges can equip its graduates for success. Consider the United States Senate. This most exclusive of
clubs currently lists twenty-six members with undergraduate degrees from the Gotta-Get-Ins—a
disproportionately good showing considering the small percentage of students who graduate from
these schools. But the diversity of Senate backgrounds is even more striking. Fully half of U.S. senators
are graduates of public universities, and many went to "states"—among them Chico State, Colorado
State, Iowa State, Kansas State, Louisiana State, Michigan State, North Carolina State, Ohio State,
Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Penn State, San Jose State, South Dakota State, Utah State, and
Washington State. Or consider the CEOs of the top ten Fortune 500 corporations: only four went to elite
schools. H. Lee Scott Jr., of Wal-Mart, the world's largest corporation, is a graduate of Pittsburg State, in
Pittsburg, Kansas. Or consider Rhodes scholars: this year only sixteen of the thirty-two American
recipients hailed from elite colleges; the others attended Hobart, Millsaps, Morehouse, St. Olaf, the
University of the South, Utah State, and Wake Forest, among other non-elites. Steven Spielberg was
rejected by the prestigious film schools at USC and UCLA; he attended Cal State Long Beach, and seems
to have done all right for himself. Roger Straus, of Farrar, Straus & Giroux, one of the most influential
people in postwar American letters, who died last spring at eighty-seven, was a graduate of the
University of Missouri. "[Students] have been led to believe that if you go to X school, then Y will result,
and this just isn't true," says Judith Shapiro, the president of Barnard. "It's good to attend a good
college, but there are many good colleges. Getting into Princeton or Barnard just isn't a life-or-death
matter."
That getting into Princeton isn't a life-or-death matter hit home years ago for Loren Pope, then the
education editor of The New York Times. For his 1990 book, Looking Beyond the Ivy League, Pope
scanned Who's Who entries of the 1980s, compiling figures on undergraduate degrees. (This was at a
time when Who's Who was still the social directory of American distinction—before the marketing of
Who's Who in Southeastern Middle School Girls' Tennis and innumerable other spinoffs.) Pope found
that the schools that produced the most Who's Who entrants were Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Chicago,
and Caltech; that much conformed to expectations. But other colleges near the top in Who's Who
productivity included DePauw, Holy Cross, Wabash, Washington and Lee, and Wheaton of Illinois. Pope
found that Bowdoin, Denison, Franklin & Marshall, Millsaps, and the University of the South were better
at producing Who's Who entrants than Georgetown or the University of Virginia, and that Beloit bested
Duke.
These findings helped persuade Pope that the glamour schools were losing their status as the
gatekeepers of accomplishment. Today Pope campaigns for a group of forty colleges that he considers
nearly the equals of the elite, but more personal, more pleasant, less stress-inducing, and—in some
cases, at least—less expensive. Institutions like Hope, Rhodes, and Ursinus do not inspire the same kind
of admissions lust as the Ivies, but they are places where parents should feel very good about sending
their kids. (A list of the well-regarded non-elite colleges Pope champions can be found at
www.ctcl.com.)
42
The Gotta-Get-Ins can no longer claim to be the more or less exclusive gatekeepers to graduate school.
Once, it was assumed that an elite-college undergraduate degree was required for admission to a top
law or medical program. No more: 61 percent of new students at Harvard Law School last year had
received their bachelor's degrees outside the Ivy League. "Every year I have someone who went to
Harvard College but can't get into Harvard Law, plus someone who went to the University of Maryland
and does get into Harvard Law," Shirley Levin says. For Looking Beyond the Ivy League, Pope analyzed
eight consecutive sets of scores on the medical-school aptitude test. Caltech produced the highestscoring students, but Carleton outdid Harvard, Muhlenberg topped Dartmouth, and Ohio Wesleyan
finished ahead of Berkeley.
The elites still lead in producing undergraduates who go on for doctorates (Caltech had the highest
percentage during the 1990s), but Earlham, Grinnell, Kalamazoo, Kenyon, Knox, Lawrence, Macalester,
Oberlin, and Wooster do better on this scale than many higher-status schools. In the 1990s little
Earlham, with just 1,200 students, produced a higher percentage of graduates who have since received
doctorates than did Brown, Dartmouth, Duke, Northwestern, Penn, or Vassar.
That non-elite schools do well in Who's Who and in sending students on to graduate school or to the
Senate suggests that many overestimate the impact of the Gotta-Get-Ins not only on future earnings
but on interesting career paths as well. For example, I graduated from Colorado College, a small liberal
arts institution that is admired but, needless to say, is no Stanford. While I was there, in the mid-1970s,
wandering around the campus were disheveled kids whose names have since become linked with an
array of achievements: Neal Baer, M.D., an executive producer for the NBC show ER; Frank Bowman, a
former federal prosecutor often quoted as the leading specialist on federal sentencing guidelines;
Katharine DeShaw, the director of fundraising for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; David
Hendrickson, the chairman of the political-science department at Colorado College; Richard Kilbride, the
managing director of ING Asset Management, which administers about $450 billion; Robert Krimmer, a
television actor; Margaret Liu, M.D., a senior adviser to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and one
of the world's foremost authorities on vaccines; David Malpass, the chief economist for Bear Stearns;
Mark McConnell, an animator who has won Emmys for television graphics; Jim McDowell, the vicepresident of marketing for BMW North America; Marcia McNutt, the CEO of the Monterey Bay
Aquarium Research Institute; Michael Nava, the author of the Henry Rios detective novels; Peter
Neupert, the CEO of Drugstore.com; Anne Reifenberg, the deputy business editor of the Los Angeles
Times; Deborah Caulfield Rybak, a co-author of an acclaimed book about tobacco litigation; Ken Salazar,
the attorney general of Colorado and a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2004; Thom
Shanker, the Pentagon correspondent for The New York Times; Joe Simitian, named to the 2003
Scientific American list of the fifty most influential people in technology; and Eric Sondermann, the
founder of one of Denver's top public-relations firms.
In terms of students who went on to interesting or prominent lives, Colorado College may have done
just as well in this period as Columbia or Cornell or any other Gotta-Get-In destination. Doubtless other
colleges could make the same claim for themselves for this or other periods; I'm simply citing the
example I know personally. The point is that for some time the center of gravity for achievement has
been shifting away from the topmost colleges.
Fundamental to that shift has been a steady improvement in the educational quality of non-elite
schools. Many college officials I interviewed said approximately the same thing: that a generation or
two ago it really was a setback if a top student didn't get admitted to an Ivy or one of a few other elite
destinations, because only a small number of places were offering a truly first-rate education. But since
43
then the non-elites have improved dramatically. "Illinois Wesleyan is a significantly better college than it
was in the 1950s," says Janet McNew, the school's provost, "whereas Harvard has probably changed
much less dramatically in the past half century." That statement could apply to many other colleges.
Pretty good schools of the past have gotten much better, while the great schools have remained more
or less the same. The result is that numerous colleges have narrowed the gap with the elites.
How many colleges now provide an excellent education? Possibly a hundred, suggests Jim Conroy, of
New Trier; probably more than two hundred, Shirley Levin says. The improvement is especially
noteworthy at large public universities. Michigan and Virginia have become "public Ivies," and
numerous state-run universities now offer a top-flight education. Whether or not students take a public
university up on its offer of a good education is another matter: large, chaotic campuses may create an
environment in which it's possible to slide by with four years of drinking beer and playing video games,
whereas small private colleges usually notice students who try this. Yet the rising quality of public
universities is important, because these schools provide substantial numbers of slots, often with
discounted in-state tuition. Many families who cannot afford private colleges now have appealing
alternatives at public universities.
One reason so many colleges have improved is the profusion of able faculty members. The education
wave fostered by the GI Bill drew many talented people into academia. Because tenured openings at
the glamour schools are subject to slow turnover, this legion of new teachers fanned out to other
colleges, raising the quality of instruction at non-elite schools. While this was happening, the country
became more prosperous, and giving to colleges—including those below the glamour level—shot up.
When the first GI Bill cohort began to die, big gifts started flowing to the non-elites. (Earlier this year
one graduate bequeathed Pitt's law school $4.25 million.) Today many non-elite schools have significant
financial resources: Emory has an endowment of $4.5 billion, Case Western an endowment of $1.4
billion, and even little Colby an endowment of $323 million—an amount that a few decades ago would
have seemed unimaginable for a small liberal arts school without a national profile.
As colleges below the top were improving, the old WASP insider system was losing its grip on business
and other institutions. There was a time when an Ivy League diploma was vital to career advancement in
many places, because an Ivy grad could be assumed to be from the correct upper-middle-class
Protestant background. Today an Ivy diploma reveals nothing about a person's background, and
favoritism in hiring and promotion is on the decline; most businesses would rather have a Lehigh
graduate who performs at a high level than a Brown graduate who doesn't. Law firms do remain
exceptionally status-conscious—some college counselors believe that law firms still hire associates
based partly on where they were undergraduates. But the majority of employers aren't looking for
status degrees, and some may even avoid candidates from the top schools, on the theory that such
aspirants have unrealistic expectations of quick promotion.
Relationships labeled ironic are often merely coincidental. But it is genuinely ironic that as non-elite
colleges have improved in educational quality and financial resources, and favoritism toward top-school
degrees has faded, getting into an elite school has nonetheless become more of a national obsession.
Which brings us back to the Krueger-Dale thesis. Can we really be sure Hamilton is nearly as good as
Harvard?
Some analysts maintain that there are indeed significant advantages to the most selective schools. For
instance, a study by Caroline Hoxby, a Harvard economist who has researched college outcomes,
suggests that graduates of elite schools do earn more than those of comparable ability who attended
44
other colleges. Hoxby studied male students who entered college in 1982, and adjusted for aptitude,
though she used criteria different from those employed by Krueger and Dale. She projected that among
students of similar aptitude, those who attended the most selective colleges would earn an average of
$2.9 million during their careers; those who attended the next most selective colleges would earn $2.8
million; and those who attended all other colleges would average $2.5 million. This helped convince
Hoxby that top applicants should, in fact, lust after the most exclusive possibilities.
"There's a clear benefit to the top fifty or so colleges," she says. "Connections made at the top schools
matter. It's not so much that you meet the son of a wealthy banker and his father offers you a job, but
that you meet specialists and experts who are on campus for conferences and speeches. The
conference networking scene is much better at the elite universities." Hoxby estimates that about three
quarters of the educational benefit a student receives is determined by his or her effort and abilities,
and should be more or less the same at any good college. The remaining quarter, she thinks, is
determined by the status of the school—higher-status schools have more resources and better
networking opportunities, and surround top students with other top students.
"Today there are large numbers of colleges with good faculty, so faculty probably isn't the explanation
for the advantage at the top," Hoxby says. "Probably there is not much difference between the quality
of the faculty at Princeton and at Rutgers. But there's a lot of difference between the students at those
places, and some of every person's education comes from interaction with other students." Being in a
super-competitive environment may cause a few students to have nervous breakdowns, but many do
their best work under pressure, and the contest is keenest at the Gotta-Get-Ins. Hoxby notes that some
medium-rated public universities have established internal "honors colleges" to attract top performers
who might qualify for the best destinations. "Students at honors colleges in the public universities do
okay, but not as well as they would do at the elite schools," Hoxby argues. The reason, she feels, is that
they're not surrounded by other top-performing students.
There is one group of students that even Krueger and Dale found benefited significantly from attending
elite schools: those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Kids from poor families seem to profit from
exposure to Amherst or Northwestern much more than kids from well-off families. Why? One possible
answer is that they learn sociological cues and customs to which they have not been exposed before. In
his 2003 book, Limbo, Alfred Lubrano, the son of a bricklayer, analyzed what happens when people from
working-class backgrounds enter the white-collar culture. Part of their socialization, Lubrano wrote, is
learning to act dispassionate and outwardly composed at all times, regardless of how they might feel
inside. Students from well-off communities generally arrive at college already trained to masquerade as
calm. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds may benefit from exposure to this way of carrying
oneself—a trait that may be particularly in evidence at the top colleges.
It's understandable that so many high schoolers and their nervous parents are preoccupied with the
idea of getting into an elite college. The teen years are a series of tests: of scholastic success, of fitting
in, of prowess at throwing and catching balls, of skill at pleasing adults. These tests seem to culminate in
a be-all-and-end-all judgment about the first eighteen years of a person's life, and that judgment is
made by college admissions officers. The day college acceptance letters arrive is to teens the moment of
truth: they learn what the adult world really thinks of them, and receive an omen of whether or not
their lives will be successful. Of course, grown-up land is full of Yale graduates who are unhappy failures
and Georgia Tech grads who run big organizations or have a great sense of well-being. But teens can't
be expected to understand this. All they can be sure of is that colleges will accept or reject them, and
45
it's like being accepted or rejected for a date—only much more intense, and their parents know all the
details.
Surely it is impossible to do away with the trials of the college-application process altogether. But
college admissions would be less nerve-racking, and hang less ominously over the high school years, if it
were better understood that a large number of colleges and universities can now provide students with
an excellent education, sending them onward to healthy incomes and appealing careers. Harvard is
marvelous, but you don't have to go there to get your foot in the door of life.
Pasted from <http://www.brookings.edu/articles/2004/10education_easterbrook.aspx>
46
Brown
Student Faculty Ratio: 8:1
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,244
Known for its somewhat unconventional (but still highly-regarded) approaches to life and learning,
Brown University remains the slightly odd man out of the Ivy League, and the school wouldn't have it
any other way. The school's willingness to employ and support different, untested methods such as the
shopping period, the first two weeks of the semester where anyone can drop into any class in order to
"find out if it's something they're interested in enrolling in," or the Critical Review, a student publication
that produces reviews of courses based on evaluations from students who have completed the course,
is designed to treat students "like an adult" through "freedom and choice." This open-minded
environment allows them "to practice passion without shame or fear of judgment," the hallmark of a
Brown education. Even if students do find themselves exploring the wrong off-the-beaten path, "there
are multitudes of built-in support measures to help you succeed despite any odds." Even grades are a
non-issue here, "except amongst paranoid premeds." Professors are mostly hits with a few misses, but
there are "amazing professors in every department, and they're not hard to find;" it's just "up to
students to find the teaching styles that work for them." "Academics at Brown are what you make of
them," and even though students are diligent in their academic pursuits and feel assured they're
"getting a wonderful education with the professors," most agree that their education is "really more
about the unique student body and learning through active participation in other activities." The
administration gets cautiously decent reviews for their accessibility and general running of the school,
but it also gets scolded for getting "distracted by the long term." The president, however, is absolutely
loved by students for being "an incredible person with a great vision for the school."
Thinking-yes, thinking-and discussing take up a great deal of time of time at Brown. "People think about
life, politics, society at large, global affairs, the state of the economy, developing countries, animals,
plants, rocket science, math, poker, each other, sex, sexuality, the human experience, gender studies,
what to do with our lives, etc.," says a senior anthropology major. "Most people here don't go home
that often," and like any school, "there are people who go out 5 nights a week and people who go out 5
nights a semester." "Alcohol and weed are pretty embedded in campus life," and most parties are dorm
room events, even though partying "never gets in the way of academics or friendship. If you don't
drink/smoke, that's totally cool." There's also plenty of cultural activities, such as indie bands, student
performances, jazz, swing dancing, and speakers. Themed housing (art house, tech house, interfaith
house) and co-ops are also popular social mediators.
SAT:
% Submitting Score: 89%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 650 - 760
Math Middle 50%: 670 - 770
Writing Middle 50%: 670 - 770
47
University of Chicago
Student Faculty Ratio: 6:1
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,065
A private university chartered in 1890, the University of Chicago has a longstanding reputation for
academic excellence, and for good reason. The birthplace of both sociology and political science,
Chicago does not just teach scholarly disciplines, it creates them. Across the entire range of its strong
liberal arts and sciences curriculum, the University's distinguished faculty reflects this commitment to
fundamentals and to breaking new intellectual ground. Chicago's 5,000 undergraduates are deeply
involved in those enterprises. Small classes and spirited give-and-take characterize the undergraduate
experience at Chicago. Drawn to theoretical inquiry and open discussion, Chicago students thrive on a
free exchange of ideas. With abundant opportunities for involvement in research, some
undergraduates even coauthor journal articles before graduation. Many others undertake independent
projects, guided and challenged by dedicated faculty and their own high standards. The University of
Chicago encourages a close-knit learning environment on campus, and promotes this by guaranteeing
each student on-campus housing for four years. Chicago's ten residence halls, including modern dorm
complexes and neo-Gothic buildings, as well as converted former luxury hotels and apartment
buildings, are distinct communities made up of undergraduate students as well as Resident Heads, who
are advanced graduate students or faculty members. These communities are a focal point for campus
life.
Dedication to enriching the 'life of the mind' is palpable at the "incomparable" University of Chicago. It
is home to "the best economics department in the country," and one of the best (and most
monstrously ugly) main libraries on Earth. Chicago students believe that "no university offers a better
academic experience," and there is "an unexpectedly vibrant school spirit that comes not from
athletics, but [a] shared academic involvement." Undergraduates must complete an intense,
"interdisciplinary" core curriculum that "teaches them how to think about literature and philosophy
and science." The core is "rigorous" and "you will spend about a third of your time here on it. But it's
[also] fantastic, and you come out an incredibly well-rounded thinker with opinions on a wide variety of
subjects." Naturally, "courses are tough." "Once you're out of the fire," though, "you realize how much
more enriched you've become intellectually, with respect *as+ to how to learn and…knowledge itself."
Professors at Chicago "are the best in the world" and are "real celebrities in their fields of study," but
they "make every effort to help every student who asks." Still, "there are duds." "Not everyone with
the intelligence to do amazing research is capable of teaching." The "incredibly supportive"
administration "takes pains to engage the entire campus in a sort of collective, community-wide
conversation.…They bring in all sorts of speakers, allow student groups almost absolute freedom, and
are very supportive of student initiatives."
Total applicants:
13,564
Total applicants who are accepted:
3,708
27%
Total of accepted students who enroll:
1,335
36%
SAT:
% Submitting Score: 79%,
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 660 – 770.
48
Math Middle 50%: 650 - 760
Vassar
49
Washington University
Student Faculty Ratio: 7:1
Rigorous but very rewarding, Washington University boasts a "strong" premed program, a "very intense"
curriculum, and a "very, very stressful" academic atmosphere. "Teachers are tough," warns a biology
major. "They have high expectations." "Architecture majors for instance, have so much work that they
go for days without sleeping," observes a junior. Overall, though, students at Wash U wouldn't have it
any other way. "I've had an amazing time since my first day of class," declares an English major.
However, students aren't without complaints. "Distribution requirements are complicated and difficult
for students to understand." "The engineering professors are very poor teachers." However, "All of my
professors have been brilliant," says a chemistry major. "My only problem with them is some of them
are so smart that they can't even conceive how I don't understand an idea." Professors "really care
though." They "love to talk to their students," and they are remarkably accessible. Management is a
huge hit. "Administrators realize that their first priority should be the students." "This school is also very
wealthy and therefore offers greater opportunities than some schools would be able to." "From building
amazing new facilities to creating world-class programs from scratch, it really feels like the sky is the
limit."
The food is "really amazing" on this "gorgeous campus." Dorms are reportedly fabulous, too. "Things are
way too expensive," though. Outside of class, Wash U students hit the books hard. "The library is always
incredibly crowded." "Campus involvement is big" as well, and "no one social scene dominates the
campus." "Wash U is a bit of a bubble," describes a senior, "When you're here, the school experience
shapes your entire lifestyle. It's a pleasant world, but [it's] hard to divorce yourself from the happy
beauty of the campus and take note of the greater world and its problems." "Not every weekend is buck
wild," but, of course, debauchery does happen. Some students "seem to live this strange double life of
intense studying and partying." "A lot of students go to parties at the fraternities." There is little
pressure to drink, though. "If you just want to stay in and watch a movie or play board games with
friends," it's not a problem. The eclectic area next to campus-fondly called "The Loop"-is "a great
neighborhood to walk to for restaurants, boutiques, and bars," though sketchy neighborhoods are mere
blocks away. "St. Louis is a great sports town, so there are always great baseball, football, and hockey
games," and there is some culture here but much of the city "shuts down after about 1 A.M."
SAT:
% Submitting Score: 75%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 680 - 760
Math Middle 50%: 700 - 780
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Amherst
Student/faculty: 8:1
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,697
With just fewer than 1,700 students, Amherst College "has a strong sense of community born of its small
size" that goes hand-in-hand with an atmosphere that "encourages discussion and cooperation." Many
here are quick to praise the "fantastic" professors and "supportive" administration. "Professors come
here to teach," says one undergrad, "not just to do research." The "enriching" academics are bolstered
by the "dedicated" faculty, but slackers be warned: You must be "willing to sit down and read a text
forward and backward and firmly grasp it" as "skimming will do you no good." Besides having "easily
accessible" professors, some students also appreciate that "registration is done by paper" as "it forces
you to talk to your advisor." Another student notes that "I'm amazed at how easy it is to sit down for a
casual lunch with anyone in the administration without there having to be a problem that needs to be
discussed." Indeed, most here agree that "the support for students is as good as anyone could expect."
However, some mention that despite the "administration, staff, and faculty" being "accessible and
receptive to student input on every level," the "realities of running a small school in this economic
climate mean a lot of suggestions won't be acted upon any time soon." Nevertheless, Amherst's alumni
have a solid track record when it comes to obtaining postgraduate degrees-so much so that some think
of the college "as prep school for grad school."
While students at Amherst are "focused first and foremost on academics, nearly every student is active
and enjoys life outside of the library." "There's a club or organization for every interest" here, and
students assure us that if there isn't one that you're interested in, "the school will find the money for it."
Students also praise the "awesome" dorms (some say they're "as spacious, well-maintained, and
luxurious as many five-star hotels"), for being "designed to facilitate social interaction." Coincidentally,
the dorms tend to serve as the school's social hub, particularly since Greek organizations were banned
back in 1985. Amherst makes up for the lack of frat houses with "a number of socials put on by student
government and I-Club (International Club) that are held throughout the year at bars downtown." And
don't worry if you don't have a car since these events "have free buses that transport students to and
from the bars." Some bemoan that the town of Amherst is "incredibly small" and doesn't feature much
in the way of fun. Others take solace in "the many eateries in town that feature lots of ethnically diverse
foods" and "go to sporting events." And since Amherst is part of the Five Colleges consortium, there's
"an extended social life to be had," however "not that many people go out of their way to experience
it." For those who like liquor with their extracurricular activities, most "drink on-campus instead of offcampus" thanks to some "huge apartment parties."
SAT:% Submitting Score: 73%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 660 - 760
Math Middle 50%: 660 - 760
Writing Middle 50%: 660 - 760
51
Williams
Student Faculty Ratio: 7:1
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,997
Williams College is a small bastion of the liberal arts "with a fantastic academic reputation."
Administrators sometimes "ignore student consensus in their misguided efforts to improve campus life,"
but they are "incredibly compassionate and accessible" and red tape is virtually unheard of. Financial aid
is outrageous. Absolute, "full-ride" assistance with no loans is available to any student who needs it.
"Williams students tend to spend a lot of time complaining about how much work they have" but they
say the academic experience is "absolutely incomparable." Classes are "small" and "intense." "The
facilities are absolutely top-notch in almost everything." Research opportunities are plentiful. A onemonth January term offers study-abroad programs and a host of short pass/fail courses that are "a
college student's dream come true." "The hard science departments are incredible." Economics, art
history, and English are equally outstanding. Despite the occasional professor "who should not even be
teaching at the high school level," the faculty at Williams is one of the best. Most professors "jump at
every opportunity to help you love their subject." "They're here because they want to interact with
undergrads." "If you complain about a Williams education then you would complain about education
anywhere," wagers an economics major.
Students at Williams enjoy a "stunning campus." "The Berkshire mountains are in the background every
day as you walk to class" and opportunities for outdoor activity are numerous. The location is in "the
boonies," though, and the surrounding "one-horse college town" is "quaint" at best. "There is no nearby
place to buy necessities that is not ridiculously overpriced." Student life happens almost exclusively on
campus. Dorm rooms are "large" and "well above par" but the housing system is "very weird." While
some students like it, there is a general consensus that its creators "should be slapped and sent back to
Amherst." Entertainment options include "lots of" performances, plays, and lectures. Some students are
"obsessed with a capella groups." Intramurals are popular, especially broomball ("a sacred tradition
involving a hockey rink, sneakers, a rubber ball, and paddles"). Intercollegiate sports are "a huge part of
the social scene." For many students, the various varsity teams "are the basic social blocks at Williams."
"Everyone for the most part gets along, but the sports teams seem to band together," explains a
sophomore. Booze-laden parties" "and general disorder on weekends" are common. "A lot of people
spend their lives between homework and practice and then just get completely smashed on weekends."
Nothing gets out of hand, though. "We know how to unwind without being stupid," says a sophomore.
SAT:
% Submitting Score:95%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 660 - 760
Math Middle 50%: 660 - 760
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Barnard
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
2:01 PM
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,359
Student: faculty 10:1
Founded in 1889, Barnard College was one of the first colleges to offer young women the chance to earn
a college degree. Today, Barnard College is still committed to the education of over 2,360
undergraduate women from over 40 countries and 48 states. Barnard College partnered with Columbia
University in 1900 under an agreement unique in the world of higher education. As an independent
college for women, Barnard continues to maintain its own Board of Trustees, campus, curriculum,
faculty, staff, and admissions process. Barnard also operates from its own endowment, while Columbia
University confers degrees to Barnard students. The fully residential campus features countless,
independent resources and facilities; students at Barnard also have academic and extra-curricular access
to the Columbia campus across the street, including cross-registration for courses. The small, personal,
and close-knit character of Barnard is augmented by the resources of a large research university.
Barnard is located in Manhattan in the quiet neighborhood of Morningside Heights. The school stretches
from 116th Street to 120th Street on Broadway, and the four-acre campus has everything its students
need. A full gymnasium is located on the first floor of Barnard Hall, which faces the college's main
entrance. Brooks, Reid, Hewitt, and Sulzberger Halls make up the residence life complex situated at the
southern end of campus. Off campus housing options include opportunities for coeducational living. The
heart of student life will be the exciting NEXUS Student Center, opening in fall 2009, where students will
have access to many amenities to augment academic life.
Even though it's all women here, Barnard is "the anti-women's college," as "very, very few students are
here for the single-sex education"-they're here for the academics and New York. There's a definite
liberal slant on campus, and these "usually politically savvy," "very cultured," "energetic and motivated"
women are "ambitious and opinionated," with career and leadership goals at the top of their agenda.
"Barnard students are not lazy" and have no problems booking their days full of study and activities.
Most here learn to "fit into the mad rush" very quickly and take advantage of their four short years.
Although quite a few students are from the tri-state area and the majority are white, "there is still a
sense of diversity" thanks to a variety of different backgrounds, both cultural and geographical; there's
also a "tiny gay community" that seems easily accepted.
SAT:
% Submitting Score: 90%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 640 - 740
Math Middle 50%: 610 - 700
Writing Middle 50%: 650 - 750
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Wesleyan
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
2:02 PM
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,772
Student Faculty Ratio: 9:1
Students at Wesleyan University relish "the immense amount of freedom the school gives you," both in
terms of class choices ("because of the lack of core curriculum, you can mold each semester however
you want: lots of lecture, lots of discussion, a mix") and in extracurricular life (in other words, "Public
Safety rarely bothers the students"). This may sound like a recipe for a nonstop party, but that's hardly
the case at Wesleyan. Students here don't see the school as a 24/7 kegger, but rather as "a playground
for the most opinionated and social-norm-destroying students of our generation to debate issues that
really matter to them." If that suggests a school entirely focused on humanities and social sciences,
guess again; Wes "has one of the strongest science programs [of] any of the top liberal arts school[s].
One-quarter of the students major in a science. Since we're in a university, but have very few graduate
students, there are tons of opportunities for students to get involved in research. As a sophomore, I was
highly involved in a $5 million NIH grant. That's pretty unique and amazing." In all disciplines,
"professors are incredible. They are all as available as they could be to us and more willing to help than I
ever expected college professors to be." Those who teach "upper level courses are ridiculously
passionate about what they teach, and are usually doing research that is very relevant to their field. At
Wesleyan, I always get the sense I am surrounded by many brilliant minds." A "very active student
body…frequently tries to make changes in the way the school is run," and "the administration does a
good job [of] working with students to ensure we all have the most positive experience possible."
The Wesleyan campus is a busy one, replete with club and intercollegiate athletics, frat and house
parties, and lots of performances and lectures. One student explains, "The Wes social scene is very much
what you want to make it. Want to party? We do have frats (though they're a super-small part of
campus life) and house parties. Don't want to party? Go to a play, concert, movie, or just hang out. Not
everyone here is partying." Indeed, "there is plenty to keep you occupied" at Wesleyan, including
campus politics, as "on this campus there is always some issue being fought or demonstrated against."
Students take a strong hand in driving campus life, as "everything is mostly student-run." "If a Wes
student wants something that doesn't exist on campus, [he or she] make[s] it happen." Hometown
Middletown, while "clearly lacking the resources of a large city," "has lots of opportunities to get
involved and feel like a member of the community for four years." A junior reports, "Main Street in
Middletown has changed tremendously just in the three years I have been here. Lots of new
restaurants, bars, and art galleries have opened."
SAT: % Submitting Score: 79%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 640 - 740
Math Middle 50%: 660 - 740
Writing Middle 50%: 640 - 740
54
Middlebury
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
2:02 PM
Student Faculty Ratio: 8.9:1
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,482
Home to "smart people who enjoy Aristotelian ethics and quantum physics, but aren't too stuck up to go
sledding in front of Mead Chapel at midnight," Middlebury College is a small, exclusive liberal arts school
with "excellent
Most people you talk to who are still in school at Middlebury are more than satisfied with their college
experience or else they wouldn’t be doling out the high tuition to come here. The academics are
outstanding, though you may wonder where they’ll take you later. Students often wish they toiled less
at the books and more at the booze, but the pristine facilities tend to distract from scholastic misery.
Professors are brilliant, witty, and sympathetic, although there are some haughty bumps in the road.
The on-campus social scene is lively and shot through with school spirit. The athletics put Middlebury at
the top of its division, and the area is quaint (“quaint,” unfortunately, being the opposite of any
adjective suggestive of “nightlife”).
Middlebury provides an incredibly varied experience—an opportunity to stick your paintbrush in all
shades of colors, so to speak. Students can leave Middlebury with seven different areas of study, visits
to 10 foreign countries, and/or stories of rock climbing in New Zealand under their belts. Sure, you’ll
inevitably take a class or two that ends up as the bane of your existence for a semester, and you will
cringe at the titanic tuition bill every month, but the people you’ll meet and the places you’ll go will set
your experience apart from those of other students in your high school’s graduating class. The daunting
ambitions of others around you will provide a constant challenge to your own motivations, actions, and
thoughts.
SAT: % Submitting Score: 87%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 638 - 730
Math Middle 50%: 650 - 740
Writing Middle 50%: 650 - 740
55
Reed
Student Faculty Ratio: 10:1
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,442
Serious. Quirky. Rigorous. Laid back. Classical. Liberal. College guides grapple to define the Reed College
experience, but they all tend to agree on two points: Reed is one of the most distinctive colleges in the
nation and it is not for everyone. Reed attracts serious students--and often brings out the best in them.
Usually engaged, often engrossed, and occasionally engulfed in a demanding, exhilarating educational
adventure, "Reedies" thrive on a mix of classical study, critical analysis, and guided inquiry that rewards
creativity, independence, and reflection. Classes are small, faculty make themselves accessible, and
students adhere to an honor principle both in and out of the classroom. Reed recruits nationally, with
California and the Pacific Northwest well represented and 5 percent international students. A recent
survey of graduating seniors at 52 liberal arts colleges found Reed students one and a half times more
likely to be satisfied with their education than the national average and twice as likely to say they would
choose Reed again. Reed ranks first among U. S. liberal arts colleges in percentage of graduates going on
to earn doctoral degrees and third among all institutions of higher education. The breadth, depth, and
rigor of the curriculum provide great preparation for many endeavors. Many Reed alumni found or lead
companies and organizations, earn medical or law degrees, write books or create works of art, or work
to make life on the planet better for all.
Reed Says...
Academic Programs
The curriculum at Reed is both demanding and wide-ranging. Through required studies, Reed students
receive a solid grounding in the liberal arts and sciences. All freshmen must complete "Hum 110," a
survey of Greek and Roman scholars from Homer to St. Augustine. Distribution requirements set a
substantial portion of a student's curriculum for the first two years at Reed. Freshmen and sophomores
must complete two courses in each of the four major divisions of the college. No specific courses are
required; students are free to pursue their interests within the strictures of the requirements. Reed
juniors must pass a comprehensive exam in their major, to allow faculty members the chance to
determine the student's readiness for his or her senior thesis project. The required senior thesis is the
capstone experience of a Reed education. Every senior must produce an original independent research
project over the course of the final year. Reed strongly believes that learning should be undertaken for
its own sake, not for the sake of letter grades. Accordingly, students do not receive grade reports unless
they wish to. A student's transcript does include letter grades for all courses taken, but students can
better gauge their progress through professors' written evaluations of their work and one-on-one
meetings with faculty. Most prefer this system, which greatly eases competition among students and
thus allows them to focus entirely on the content of their academic work.
Majors & Degrees Offered
Reed confers the bachelor of arts degree in a wide selection of fields, both in traditional academic
departments and in interdisciplinary combinations. Undergraduates are encouraged to design
interdisciplinary majors; such majors must be planned with the approval of faculty advisers from each
department involved. Reed offers a number of 3-2 (dual degree) programs; these allow undergraduates
56
to earn a three-year bachelor's degree from Reed, then earn a professional degree from a cooperating
institution in two additional years.
Reed Students Say...
Reed College, "offers a serious liberal-arts education in a small, creative, community" where
"intellectualism is highly respected" and students pursue "learning for learning's sake" in "a challenging
academic atmosphere." "We are a collection of those weird kids in high school who had a passionate
interest in learning about something and made that interest academic, even if it wasn't beforehand,"
one student explains. They're the sort of students who seek out an "academic rigor that definitely
prepares us for graduate school and scholarly work." "Small, discussion based classes, frequent
interaction with professors, and general intellectual curiosity override all other aspects of the life at
Reed," where "studying and going to classes is not somehow the price to pay for staying here (with the
ultimate goal being the weekend and, eventually, a diploma); rather, it is the core joy of being at Reed."
Unsurprisingly, "students work incredibly hard," but "the school is there for us every step of the way. As
freshmen, students meet with their humanities professors after every paper one-on-one for paper
conferences." Seniors must complete a thesis project; "When writing one's senior thesis, students meet
with professors one-on-one for an hour every week." It's exactly the right sort of place for students who
"want to be excited about school again," says one student. "I wanted to be around other people who
were both excited about academics and excited about being at a place where academics excited them. I
wanted to be in a place where people didn't take themselves too seriously but took their work
seriously." Welcome to Reed.
SAT:
% Submitting Score:
99%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 660 - 760
Math Middle 50%: 630 - 710
Writing Middle 50%: 650 - 740
57
Carleton
Student Faculty Ratio: 9:1
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,975
Students interested in "discovering what it is you want to learn and then learning it within a wide
context" are drawn to Carleton College, a small and extremely rigorous school that is "strongly liberal
arts-oriented" but also boasts "serious science departments." One freshman explains the reasoning
behind choosing Carleton: "I could truly explore what I wanted to do without feeling as though I would
have to have a sub-par education in science, if that was what I chose to major in." The "intensely
passionate" undergrads of Carleton enjoy "a sense of community that's hard to find elsewhere." One
undergraduate says, "You'll find yourself striking up conversations with complete strangers at the post
office, in town, and along sidewalks in the middle of a snowy night. New friends are found everywhere."
This is true even among the faculty; "Carleton is not a research college, so while professors do some
research, they are much more focused on students." Carleton operates on a trimester calendar, which
students endorse. "It's nice to be only taking three classes, though more intensely, rather than spreading
yourself over four or five." Students also love the "great study-abroad office," which has provided
students here with "opportunities to travel to China, Thailand, Spain, and, Africa.
"Small and quaint" are two words Carleton students frequently use to describe their school's
hometown. "Northfield is not that exciting," cedes a freshman, "but I'm not sure anyone wants to
change that." Most students are content simply to find "nice restaurants" and "locals [who] are darn
helpful in about any situation" in town. This might be because things are much livelier on campus. "An
evening doesn't go by without some kind of event, whether it be musical, artistic, theatrical, or
political," a sophomore writes. The notoriously heavy workload means "people study most of the time
on weekdays" and occasionally "lose it. This comes more in the form of weird, creative outlets than it
does self-destructive behavior, though. There are a lot of naked Winter Olympics, pranks, traditions, and
general goofing off." Students are proud of this "little bit of eccentricity [that] makes everything fun."
Intramurals "are really hot at Carleton; the people who aren't playing them are much fewer and
[farther] between than the people who are." Ultimate Frisbee and broomball are the games of choice.
There are also "plenty of parties," and while a portion "of the student body will be drunk on a typical
weekend," there is "absolutely no pressure to drink if you don't want to." One freshman tells us that for
fun she "makes a smoothie run to the Sayles-Hill Student Center," then later stops by "Dacie Moses
House, a place where students gather to bake cookies." Students are even upbeat about the harsh
winters here, describing them as "a uniting element in the fact that it's negative 50 degrees outside."
SAT:
% Submitting Score: 77%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 660 - 750
Math Middle 50%: 650 - 740
Writing Middle 50%: 650 - 750
58
Bowdoin
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,777
Student faculty ratio 9:1
Bowdoin Students Say...
Highly selective Bowdoin College is all about providing an "excellent liberal arts education in a
supportive, small community" in "a beautiful part of the country." Undergrads cite Bowdoin's
"intelligent" and "diverse" student body, "absolutely top-notch" professors, and "challenging,
fascinating academic program that allows you to explore all your areas of interest" as particularly
deserving of praise. Students here reap the benefits of "a close-knit community of learners, teachers,
and leaders pursuing academics, athletics, music, art, clubs, and fun with relentless, positive
enthusiasm" in "a very nurturing and safe environment." Standout programs include environmental
studies, neuroscience, foreign languages, and the English and education departments which students
described as "excellent, bar none." The workload at Bowdoin "is just a few steps shy from
unmanageable, which is good" because it forces students to "not only do your work," but "to do it
carefully." Students also appreciate a faculty that is "truly interested in learning everyone's name," and
"will stay hours after review sessions" until students grasp the concepts. "Professors challenge you, and
push you to go beyond just the books." Great facilities include the Career Planning Center, Writing
Center, Baldwin Center for Academic Development, Counseling Center, and administrative offices. The
cherry on the sundae? "Excellent alumni networking."
SAT:
% Submitting Score: 75%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 660 - 750
Math Middle 50%: 660 - 750
Writing Middle 50%: 660 - 750
SAT optional for admissions
Undergradudate liberal arts school
Abolished fraternities and replaced with college "houses"
Admissions rate: 18-20%
"No loan" policy for student aid to any needy student
Very strong program in govt. 19% of class
59
Claremont-McKenna
Student Faculty Ratio: 8:1
Total Enrollment: 1,212
It's almost awkward the way students at Claremont McKenna College gush about their "pragmatic" little
liberal arts school. "There is no better place to come to college," promises a sophomore. CMC offers
small classes and a "challenging academic environment." "Classes kick my butt, but I keep coming back
for more," admits a biology major. Courses also tend toward discussion, and CMCers report that "your
beliefs and ideologies will be challenged whether you like it or not." There are "super boring" profs but,
generally, "professors are here because they want to teach and their enthusiasm is palpable." The
faculty is "on a completely different level of accessibility" as well. Administratively, CMC is among "the
best-run" anywhere. Even the folks in financial aid are "amazing." The broad core curriculum includes a
mandatory senior thesis. Resources are "vast." "Students have the opportunity to get involved with
nearly anything they can think of, and mostly with the college footing the bill." A wealth of institutes
allows undergrads to participate in research. Internships and study abroad (and internships abroad) are
readily available. The Claremont Colleges Consortium allows students to supplement their curricula with
classes at four other schools. The Athenaeum brings a slew of "prominent speakers" to campus (e.g., Bill
Clinton, Antonin Scalia, and Bono). Great programs here include many in the hard sciences and some
students loathe the notion that CMC is purely based on economics and government. However, the fact
is that "the school is incredibly focused on those fields."
CMC's campus is "constantly abuzz with activity." There are so many events around the Claremont
campuses "that you constantly have to sacrifice one for another." Intramural and varsity sports enjoy
tremendous popularity even though CMC's athletics facilities "really need improvement." "Food is good
and healthy, dorms are big and spacious, and the campus is always green and sunny." "People are
always outside." There's also a "vibrant" political atmosphere. These students "debate politics 24/7."
"It's common to overhear very complex political discussion as you walk by people who appear to be
casually conversing." The level of debauchery is solid if not outstanding. If you don't drink, "it doesn't
make you uncool." On the whole, though, "people at CMC party." They also "know how to manage their
time well" because, in addition to all the diversions, there are "bundles of work." "Learn to balance
them," warns one student, "or you will be screwed." "The school is very academic from Sunday till
Thursday. Then everyone parties Thursday, Friday, and Saturday." The festivities "are open to everyone,
as there are no frats." There are many "big, school-sponsored outdoor parties that are generally
themed." "The student government buys us alcohol and that's important," notes a junior. The other Five
C's throw a lot of bashes, too. "There will always be a big party somewhere, and there will usually be
free drinks."
SAT:
% Submitting Score: 86%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 630 - 740
Math Middle 50%: 660 - 750
60
Swarthmore
Student Faculty Ratio: 8:1
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,490
Swarthmore Says...
Swarthmore, one of the nation's finest institutions of higher learning, is a college like no other. Private,
yet open to all regardless of financial need. American, yet decidedly global in outlook and diversity,
drawing students from around the world and all 50 states. Small, yet with the financial strength to offer
students and faculty generous resources to push their own and the world's understanding of disciplines
from Arabic to plasma physics, from microbiology to dance, from engineering to art history.
Swarthmoreans are CEO patent-holders who bring technology to underserved markets, investment
bankers looking for alternative forms of energy, lawyers who become college presidents, doctors who
serve in Congress, winners of the Nobel Prize. A Swarthmorean founded the first liberal arts college in
Ghana. Another led the team that developed the Hubble Space Telescope. Swarthmoreans invented
hypertext and helped women win the right to vote. So much of what Swarthmore stands for, from its
commitment to curricular breadth and rigor to its demonstrated interest in facilitating discovery and
fostering ethical intelligence among exceptional young people, lies in the quality and passion of its
faculty. Professors at Swarthmore are leading scholars and researchers in their fields, yet remain deeply
committed to serving their students as outstanding teachers and mentors. A student/faculty ratio of 8:1
ensures that students have close, meaningful engagement with their professors, preparing them to
translate the skills and understanding gained at Swarthmore into the mark they want to make on the
world.
Academic Programs
The College offers more than 600 courses a year; an exceptional honors program; individual special
majors; a program in education that leads to Pennsylvania secondary school certification; and
undergraduate research opportunities in the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and engineering. The
Honors Program features faculty working with small groups of dedicated and accomplished students; an
emphasis on independent learning; students entering into a dialogue with peers, teachers, and
examiners; a demanding program of study in major and minor fields; and an examination at the end of
two years' study by outside scholars.
Swarthmore Students Say...
Swarthmore College "has a lovely campus, the people are almost unbelievably friendly, it's a safe
environment, and it's really, really challenging academically," and "although it's not one of the most
well-known schools, those who do know of it also know of its wonderful reputation. It's where to go for
a real education-for learning for the sake of truly learning, rather than just for grades." Students warn
that "academics here are definitely stressful, especially when you sign up for extracurricular activities
that take up some more time-and almost everyone here's involved in something outside of just classes,
because you don't want to just go to class, study, and sleep every day here." As a result, "Swarthmore is
truly challenging. It teaches its students tough lessons not only about classes but about life, and though
it may be extremely, almost unbearably difficult sometimes, it's totally worth it." Undergrads also note
that "there are tons of resources to help you-professors, academic mentors, writing associates (who are
really helpful to talk to when you have major papers), residential assistants, psychological counseling,
61
multicultural support groups, queer/trans support groups-basically, whenever you need help with
something, there's someone you can talk to." Swatties also love how "Swarthmore is amazingly flexible.
The requirements are very limited, allowing you to explore whatever you are interested in and change
your mind millions of times about your major and career path. If they don't offer a major you want, you
can design your own with ease."
SAT:
% Submitting Score: 93%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 680 - 760
Math Middle 50%: 670 - 760
Writing Middle 50%: 660 - 760
62
Macalaster
Total Undergraduate Enrollment:
1,900
"Globalism, liberalism, social justice and environmentalism rule the day" at Macalester College, a small,
Minnesota liberal arts school where "academics are taken very seriously and students are expected to
perform." Academic offerings "are top-notch" here, "particularly chemistry, economics, and
international studies," the last of which benefits from "the new Institute for Global Citizenship, study
abroad, and the diversity of international students" which together make Macalester "a very worldly
place." Departments of psychology, sociology, and political science also have their champions. Students
warn that because of Macalester's small size, some other departments "are extremely understaffed, and
in combination with small class sizes, that leads to a lot of people being turned away from courses they
need." Students report, "In true liberal arts style, every department is somehow interconnected to
seemingly opposite departments, numerous interdisciplinary majors exist, and even within individual
classes, professors approach teaching their given subject from numerous angles. "While this may make
choosing a specific major somewhat difficult, it absolutely enriches everyone's thoughts and sparks
discussion across campus about a variety of issues." This can lead to "The 'Macalester Dilemma,' the ohso-common problem of so many interests and so little time. With so many ways to involve oneself, Mac
students, with their wide-ranging interests and their desire to explore them, often find themselves over
committed."
"Everything is pretty low key" on the Macalester campus, where "there are rarely large parties. Instead,
people will drink and hang out in the dorms (if underclassmen) or friends' houses (if juniors or seniors)"
where they tend to discuss 'big ideas.' In this way, "life at Mac is an extension of classes. We talk about
gender, sexuality, multiculturalism, politics, etc. I always learn something new in a conversation with my
friends because Mac students love analyzing things." As one student notes, "A joke here at Mac is how
often the phrase 'social construct' and the word 'hegemony' are used, both in classes and even in social
settings." Mac life is not all hanging out and deconstructing. On the contrary, "there's a really strong
campus community. There are always events going on on the weekends, both campus-sponsored
dances and parties in dorm rooms, etc." as well as "plays, musicals, and other things on campus." And,
"when Mac lets us down, there are two cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) for us to go play in. Everyone
should go to the Gay '90s at least once before they graduate." Other urban options include "football or
basketball games...some people go clubbing or out to eat. Lots go to the museums or just out shopping."
"Getting around on the bus system is easy, although sometimes slow."
SAT:
% Submitting Score:
70%
Critical Reading Middle 50%:
640 - 740
Math Middle 50%:
630 - 710
Writing Middle 50%:
630 - 730
63
Northwestern
Student Faculty Ratio: 7:1
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,476
The strength of the school is its range. Northwestern students agree, vowing their school "has
everything": "Intelligent but laid-back students, excel[lence] in academic fields," "great extracurriculars
and good parties," "strong [Big Ten] sports spirit," and "so many connections and opportunities during
and after graduation." Undergrads here brag of "nationally acclaimed programs for almost anything
anyone could be interested in, from engineering to theater to journalism to music," and report
"everything is given fairly equal weight. Northwestern students and faculty do not show a considerable
bias" toward specific fields. The school accomplishes all this while maintaining a manageable scale.
While its relatively small size allows for good student-professor interaction, it has "all the perks" of a
big school, including "many opportunities" for research and internships. Be aware, however,
"Northwestern is not an easy school. It takes hard work to be average here." If you "learn from your
failures quickly and love to learn for the sake of learning rather than the grade," students say it is quite
possible to stay afloat and even to excel. Helping matters are numerous resources established by
administrators and professors, including tutoring programs such as Northwestern's Gateway Science
Workshop. Those who take advantage of these opportunities find the going much easier than those
who don't.
There are two distinct sections of the Northwestern campus. The North Campus is where "you can find
a party every night of the week" and "the Greek scene is strong." The South Campus, about a one-mile
trek from the action to the north, is "more artsy and has minimal partying on weeknights," but is closer
to town so "it is easy" to "buy dinner, see a show at the movies, and go shopping. People who live on
North Campus have a harder time getting motivated to go into Evanston and tap into all that is
offered." As one South Campus resident puts it, "South Campus is nice and quiet in its own way. I enjoy
reading and watching movies here, and the quietude is appreciated when study time rolls around. But
for more exciting fun, a trip north is a must." Regardless of where students live, extracurriculars are
"incredible here. There is a group for every interest, and they are amazingly well-managed by students
alone. This goes hand-in-hand with how passionate students at Northwestern are about what they
love." Many students "are involved in plays, a cappella groups, comedy troupes, and other
organizations geared toward the performing arts. Activism is also very popular, with many involved in
political groups, human-rights activism, and volunteering." In addition, Northwestern's membership in
the Big Ten means students "attend some of the best sporting events in the country." Chicago, of
course, "is a wonderful resource. People go into the city for a wide variety of things-daily excursions,
jobs, internships, nights out, parties, etc."
SAT:
% Submitting Score:80%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 670 - 750
Math Middle 50%: 690 - 780
Writing Middle 50%: 670 - 750
64
Total applicants:
25,013
Total applicants who are accepted:
6,552
26%
Total of accepted students who enroll:
2,078
31%
65
Tufts
Student Faculty Ratio: 7.4:1
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,044
Tufts University boasts a "small-campus feel;" a "globally recognized" reputation; and "engaging,"
"personable" faculty. Professors here "know what they are talking about" and "seem to go out of their
way to make themselves accessible." These very same professors, however, "flood" students "with tons
of work." Lower-level classes can be huge on occasion, but upper-level classes are "small and wellfocused." The "transparent" administration tends "to grapple with technology and change," but it is
"incredibly helpful" and very well liked, despite "militant political correctness." "President Bacow will
generally respond to any e-mail sent to him by a student within about 20 minutes." Academically, while
you can choose from a massive number of stellar majors in the liberal arts and engineering, Tufts is
probably best known for its "very strong" science programs (especially premed) and its prestigious
international relations programs. "Tufts is internationalism," declares one student. "From the music
department's ethnomusicology [major] to political science and international relations, every facet of
Tufts, both in and out of the classroom, revolves around thinking globally." Studying abroad "is highly
encouraged;" about 40 percent of students take advantage of awesome study-abroad programs in a
host of exotic locales including an "amazing" summer program in the Alps.
At Tufts, the campus is "gorgeous," "the food is incredible," and course work is time-consuming, so it's
no surprise that social life is basically centered on campus. Students here "know each other." "It's a nice
feeling," an undergrad says, but "if you want to be anonymous, Tufts is not for you." The "fabulous
extracurricular opportunities" include "a daily paper, a dozen student magazines," and "countless
service and activism organizations." In addition, a vast array of large-scale, free campus events helps to
keep students entertained. While "drinking is very popular on the weekends," undergrads report that
"there is not always a party guaranteed on a Friday or Saturday night, which is unthinkable at bigger
schools." When there is one, it can seem as if "The campus police break everything up." This may be why
"as you get older and you meet more people, you begin to go to more parties and social events off
campus," a more seasoned student tells us. Many feel that the surrounding town of Medford leaves a
lot to be desired, but fortunately, "you have the greatest college city in the nation a subway ride away"
if "you get tired [of] the Tufts scene." It should be noted, however, that public transportation into
Boston takes "like an hour (counting waiting)." "We're not in Boston," cautions one student. "Don't let
the admissions folks fool you."
Submitting Score: 71%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 670 - 750
Math Middle 50%: 670 - 750
Writing Middle 50%: 670 - 760
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Hamilton
Student Faculty Ratio: 10:1
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,882
A small, liberal arts school, Hamilton College "runs smoothly" with "top-notch" professors who are "very
committed, passionate, and genuinely caring." The close student-faculty relationships are a
distinguishing characteristic of Hamilton. One junior who chose Hamilton for its "small class size and
opportunity to really establish a relationship with the professors" described the accessibility of the
professors as "AMAZING." A graduating senior tells us, "My professors have inspired me to take on my
education as a truly personal and important aspect of my life, even after I complete my formal
education." One student comments on how Hamilton is a leader in teaching effective writing and
persuasive speaking: "Hamilton challenges me to improve my writing each and every day, regardless of
the class...writing is a central aspect." Though the "extraordinary focus on writing" is paramount at
Hamilton, the school also offers a "strong science program." The science curriculum emphasizes
"undergraduate research" and a recently built, state-of-the-art science facility provides students with
ample "research opportunities." Students also love Hamilton's distinct open curriculum. The "lack of
distribution requirements" gives students the freedom to make their own educational choices and to
select classes that reflect their unique interests. With "no required curriculum...it's nice to know that
you're not wasting any time and are taking the classes that you really want [and] need to."
A "picturesque oasis of academia" Hamilton makes students feel like the fact that they are "isolated
away from city noise and bustle, but close enough to an urban area to be connected." The closest major
city is Syracuse, located about an hour's drive from campus, and the school "organizes trips to New York
City regularly." Hamilton is a "small town," but students agree that though Hamilton "is in the middle of
nowhere" it does not mean it is lacking in things to do. In fact, says one student, "that's far from the
truth." During the week, "the pressure is on," and life at Hamilton is "academically oriented" with
everyone working hard and "little time to play." At week's end, students are ready to "have as much fun
as possible," and the focus turns to "various fraternity or sorority parties and any athletic events going
on." Students tell us, "Greek life is popular but not threatening" and "provides much of the party life oncampus." Most Greek events are "open to the campus" but foster a "very inclusive social environment."
The campus "accommodates students so that everyone is able to get together and have fun." Students
agree that there is "something to do for everyone." Hamilton boasts a long list of student-run clubs and
teams, active intramural leagues, "incredible athletic and workout facilities," a "pretty decent" 9-hole
golf course, and "miles of trails for skiing, snow-shoeing, and jogging." Winters tend to be quite long, "so
curling up with a blanket and a movie in a dorm room is always popular."
SAT:
% Submitting Score: 60%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 660 - 740
Math Middle 50%: 650 - 730
Writing Middle 50%: 650 - 740
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Kenyon
Student Faculty Ratio: 10:1
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,663
At Kenyon College, an "entrancingly pretty" campus and "personal, small, and intimate" classes
combine to create "a low-stress setting" for a "liberal arts experience that allows you to make
profound changes in your approach to life." Kenyon is primarily "known as a writers' college." It seems
fitting, then, that the English department draws the lion's share of students' praise. The school's
reputation, however, seems to derive more from the fact that written communication skills are valued
and emphasized "in all departments, ranging from history to math," rather than from a course
catalogue only filled with fascinating fiction and poetry courses. In terms of academic workload, it "is
large but manageable, and students in general never seem overly worried about it." They seem to
know they can count on their "brilliant, incredible" professors who "know their stuff" and "are capable
of making it accessible and interesting." Professors give students "as much individual time as [they]
need" to digest the material. Administratively the school has experienced "a lot of turn-over in the last
year," leading many students to feel administrators are "still getting their bearings." While they don't
"always follow the student body's opinion," they are at least aware of it and "willing to listen" to
students' input. Both "professors and administrators love to take an active experience in the lives of
Kenyon students outside of the classroom" by doing things like attending student "art shows, sporting
events, [and] musical performances." Such beyond-the-books interaction leads many students to feel
"the school is more of a family than a business."
SAT:
% Submitting Score: 81%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 630 - 730
Math Middle 50%: 630 - 690
Writing Middle 50%: 630 - 710
Total applicants:
3,992
Total applicants who are accepted:
1,538
38%
Total of accepted students who enroll:
469
30%
68
Scripps
At least 32 courses are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree at Scripps. Included in these courses are
the Core Curriculum requirements, breadth requirements (in fine arts, foreign language(s), letters,
mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences, and writing), coursework for the chosen major, and
elective courses or courses for a minor. Students also complete one course each that fulfills a
requirement of race and ethnic studies and gender and womenÂ’s studies. More than half of all Scripps
students dual or double major. Students may elect to pursue an honors program in their chosen major.
All students complete a senior thesis or—in the case of music, dance, studio art, or theater—a senior
performance or project. There are two semesters to each academic year at Scripps, and the year runs
from early September to mid-May.
Majors & Degrees Offered
The following majors are available at Scripps or through cross-registration at other Claremont Colleges:
accounting; American Studies; anthropology; art history; Asian studies; Asian American studies; biology;
biology-chemistry; Black studies; chemistry; Chicana/o studies; Chinese; classics; computer science;
dance; economics; engineering; English; environment, economics and politics; environmental science;
environmental studies; European studies;; French studies; gender and women's studies; geology;
German studies; Hispanic studies; history; human biology; humanities: interdisciplinary studies in
culture; Italian; Japanese; Jewish studies; Latin American Studies; legal studies; linguistics; management
engineering; mathematics; media studies; molecular biology; music; neuroscience; organismal biology;
organizational studies; philosophy; physics; politics and international relations; psychology; religious
studies; Russian; science and management; science, technology, and society; sociology; studio art; and
theatre.
Scripps Students Say...
Scripps College is for serious female students looking "to get away from the preppy, East Coast feeling"
of other "top-notch" liberal arts educations. Due to its membership in the Claremont College
Consortium, Scripps provides the "intimacy of a small school" environment while boasting "the
resources of a large university." With an "emphasis on analytical thinking and creativity" Scripps' unique
Core program focuses on "broadening minds and teaching students how to think" while presenting
"learning in a way that is socially conscious." Scripps' "humanities-based education" takes an
"interdisciplinary approach to learning, which allows the mind to cultivate and [to] make connections
amongst all subjects, creating strong, intellectual women" and providing them with "the skills to become
leaders in their chosen fields." At Scripps "it's difficult to go 'under the radar'" because "the professors
are extremely caring and attentive to their students' needs." Small class sizes are "an instant appeal."
According to many students, Scripps "is the best of both worlds…intimacy of a small school with
resources of a small-to-medium university, atmosphere of a women's college with the benefits of coeducation (through the other Claremont Colleges), [and] small-town feel with L.A. an easy hour away by
Metrolink." Dedicated to "turning loose generation after generation of confident, hopeful, courageous,
and inspiring women," the school offers "a good variety of courses."
Scripps Says...
Scripps is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Located in Claremont, California, a college
town with a population of 36,500, Scripps is 35 miles east of Los Angeles. Within driving distance are
mountains, beaches, and deserts, all of which can be enjoyed in the beautiful southern California
69
climate. Part of the Claremont Consortium, Scripps shares facilities and resources with Claremont
McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, and Pomona Colleges. More
Scripps Students Say...
Scripps is a place where women are challenged to stretch themselves academically, have a strong voice,
pursue their passions (whatever they may be), and love every minute of it. What natural luxuries the
"warm weather" and "laid-back California atmosphere" provide, the school capitalizes upon: from its
"beautiful grounds and dorms," to "the brand-new Sally Tiernan Field House, [which] makes working out
fun and easy." "Devoted to creating strong female leaders," as one hard-core Scripps enthusiast
proclaims, Scripps "is a playground for the mind, body, and spirit that allows you to learn, grow, and
understand yourself and the world." For relaxation, students "will go into town or hang out at the
Motley, the school coffeehouse." On a quiet night, students "watch movies, hang out in The Village, go
to the theater on campus, and [find] many other extracurricular activates." Though the Five College
Consortium offers numerous party options, "for those not interested in the party scene, residence halls
often host evening soirees; there are numerous art openings." "Many students enjoy the weather and
the opportunity for outdoor activities (surfing, skiing, hiking, etc)." Others who have found their way
into the city appreciate "the proximity to movie theaters and L.A."
70
Georgetown
Student Faculty Ratio: 11:1
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,092
This moderately-sized elite academic establishment stays true to its Jesuit foundations by educating its
students with the idea of "cura personalis," or "care for the whole person." The "well-informed" student
body perpetuates upon itself, creating an atmosphere full of vibrant intellectual life, that is "also
balanced with extra-curricular learning and development." "Georgetown is...a place where people work
very, very hard without feeling like they are in direct competition," says an international politics major.
Located in Washington, D.C., there's a noted School of Foreign Service here, and the access to
internships is a huge perk for those in political or government programs. In addition, the proximity to
the nation's capital fetches "high-profile guest speakers," with many of the most powerful people in
global politics speaking regularly, as well as a large number of adjunct professors who, either are
currently working in government, or have retired from high level positions.
Georgetown offers a "great selection of very knowledgeable professors, split with a good proportion of
those who are experienced in realms outside of academia (such as former government officials) and
career academics," though there are a few superstars who might be "somewhat less than totally
collegial." Professors tend to be "fantastic scholars and teachers" and are "generally available to
students," as well as often being "interested in getting to know you as a person (if you put forth the
effort to talk to them and go to office hours)." Though Georgetown has a policy of grade deflation,
meaning "A's are hard to come by," there are "a ton of interesting courses available" and TAs are used
only for optional discussion sessions and help with grading. The academics "can be challenging or they
can be not so much (not that they are ever really easy, just easier);" it all depends on the courses you
choose and how much you actually do the work. The school administration is well-meaning and "usually
willing to talk and compromise with students," but the process of planning activities can be full of
headaches and bureaucracy, and the administration itself "sometimes is overstretched or has trouble
transmitting its message." Nevertheless, "a motivated student can get done what he or she wants."
Students are "extremely well aware of the world around them," from government to environment,
social to economic, and "Georgetown is the only place where an argument over politics, history, or
philosophy is preceded by a keg stand." Hoyas like to have a good time on weekends, and parties at
campus and off-campus apartments and townhouses "are generally open to all comers and tend to have
a somewhat networking atmosphere; meeting people you don't know is a constant theme." With such a
motivated group on such a high-energy campus, "people are always headed somewhere, it seems-to
rehearsal, athletic practice, a guest speaker, [or] the gym." Community service and political activism are
particularly popular, as is basketball. Everything near Georgetown is in walking distance, including the
world of D.C.'s museums, restaurants, and stores, and "grabbing or ordering late night food is a popular
option."
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Pitzer
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,043
Student Faculty Ratio: 12:1
Pitzer Says...
Pitzer is a comprehensive liberal arts college founded in 1963 as the sixth member of The Claremont
Colleges and ranks as the fifth most diverse private coed national liberal arts college. Our emphasis on
interdisciplinary learning, intercultural understanding, and social responsibility distinguishes us from
most other American colleges and universities. Interdisciplinary learning encourages you to explore how
different academic fields intersect and draw on each other's wisdom and ideas; intercultural
understanding enables you to see issues and events from cultural perspectives different from your own;
and social responsibility shows you how to transform knowledge into action as you strive to make the
world a better place to live for yourself and future generations.
What's more, Pitzer requires fewer general education courses than most other colleges, so you get to
take more of the courses that appeal to your individual interests. You can also choose among a range of
courses that connect classroom learning to real-world experience, whether it's working inside a labor
union, assisting with a faculty member's research, advising a neighboring city about economic
development, or helping underprivileged children prepare for a future that includes college. Such
experiences help you grasp the deeper implications of your actions and how your education at Pitzer
prepares you to make a difference in society.
Pitzer offers an intimate academic and social community alongside access to the resources of a larger
university through membership in The Claremont Colleges, and students are allowed to cross-register at
the other Claremont Colleges. This opportunity greatly enhances the range of courses available to
students. The total enrollment of all the colleges is about 7,300 students.
In addition, Pitzer has completed phase one of a three-phase residence hall construction project in
which we expect to become, upon its completion, the only college in the nation to have all Gold LEED
certified buildings by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Though the '60s-style academic buildings on the campus of Pitzer College "are not too visually
appealing, progressive learning" and academic flexibility abound. "People have to take courses in a
couple of key areas, but within those areas the specific courses are not dictated," explains a history
major. As a result, you can chart your own course "within enough of a structure to ensure everyone gets
a real liberal arts education." Students can also take courses at the "four other amazing colleges" that
make up the Claremont Colleges consortium. "It's a great mix of a classic college experience and a small
liberal arts oasis." Classes are "discussion-oriented" and "writing-based." Pitzer's professors are "really
great at being accessible outside of class whether you want to talk about things related to the class, or
anything else under the sun." "They are fascinating, helpful, warm people, who often have a wicked
sense of humor," beams an art history major. While it can be difficult to determine "who is actually in
charge of what," the "friendly" administration "makes sure the students play a real part" in everything
from planning new construction to faculty tenure. Overall, Pitzer students seem extremely happy with
their academic experience. "Pitzer is my own little utopia," confides a sociology major. "It just sucks I'm
graduating."
72
SAT:
% Submitting Score: 38%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 608 - 693
Math Middle 50%: 588 - 680
73
Colorado College
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
5:58 PM
Student Faculty Ratio: 9.9:1
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,000
The unique thing about small, "intimate" and "intensive" Colorado College is the Block Plan. The school
year here is broken into eight three-and-a-half-week chunks. Students take just one course during each
block. "Taking one class at a time allows you to devote all of your time to it," explains an English major.
Classes average about 15 students and typically last for 3 hours each morning, though "there are some
classes with labs in the afternoon." Students love the "personalized" nature of the program and the
flexibility it offers. Double majors are frequent, almost normal. Internships are profuse. Studying abroad
is very easy. "Many students" spend time abroad for a single block or for consecutive blocks in places
such as China, Costa Rica, India, and Russia. There are also semesters in Washington, D.C. and Chicago.
However, the Block Plan is also a pressure-packed situation. Work piles up quickly in every class.
"Sciences are very tough." "Forget about getting sick, even for a day." The "super-duper" administration
at CC is "very interested in student input." The full-time faculty is generally stellar. "Your professors
know you by name and remember you." They "genuinely care about each of their students," and they
are "always available" outside of class. Visiting professors can be another story, though. They often
"don't seem to understand how the system works and tend to either give way too much work or hardly
any at all."
SAT:
% Submitting Score:56%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 620 - 710
Math Middle 50%: 620 - 710
Writing Middle 50%: 610 - 710
74
Bard
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,873
Student Faculty Ratio: 9:1
Bard Students Say...
Students come to Bard seeking "a liberal arts college with a left-leaning student body of creative
thinkers who are all actively interested in political and social activism and learning/academia for its own
sake," and "we find it," they tell us. Those yearning for "an atmosphere of curious individuals striving for
knowledge," a place where "there are intelligent discussions both inside and outside the classroom" will
find a home at this small liberal arts school in the scenic Hudson Valley. All students start their
educations here building a solid grounding, starting with a three-week orientation and intensive
communication and research workshop, followed by the year-long freshman seminar that is a survey of
history's "great ideas." As one student observes, "The curriculum at Bard is set up to give students a
broad foundation of knowledge," a foundation they get to test when completing their senior project in
their final year. As at many elite small schools, "The administration and professors are amazingly
accessible. A simple e-mail can get you an appointment with the dean of students, and the professors
encourage students to ask for help or to discuss any ideas they may have." Students aren't coddled,
however; writes one, "One reason that the school doesn't run as 'smoothly' [as other schools] is that this
place isn't about handing life's jewels to everyone. All the students must put some effort into their work
to get the real payoff. It's a bit like real life in that manner." As one student puts it, "Bard, more than any
other school, is what you make of it. If you wish to make a big splash, the school will provide you with
the proper equipment (large boulders, diving boards etc.). It is up to you, though, to take advantage of
it."
SAT:
% Submitting Score: 80%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 680 - 740
Math Middle 50%: 650 - 690
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Bryn Mawr
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
4:34 PM
Student Faculty Ratio: 8:1
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,287
Bryn Mawr College is "a community of women scholars" that offers "an amazing, intense, multifaceted,"
and "pretty tough" academic experience. Coursework "can be stressful, especially around midterms and
final times, but in the end it's worth it." The faculty is mostly stellar. "One of the main things I love about
Bryn Mawr is the personal relationships formed over the years with the professors," boasts a chemistry
major. "Anywhere you go to school you will have some bad teachers and some boring classes, and Bryn
Mawr is no exception," relates a junior, "but overall I have been extremely impressed with and
challenged by the classes I have taken at my college." The highly popular administration is "here for the
students' success." "Bryn Mawr is an extremely autonomous place where students are given a lot of
freedom to do as they please." "If you need something and you go to the right people, you can pretty
much make it happen." Additionally, students can take courses at nearby Haverford, Swarthmore, and
Penn. And upon graduation, Mawrters can take advantage of a loyal network of alumnae who "are doing
amazing things and have a really strong connection to the school."
Pasted from <http://www.princetonreview.com/schools/college/CollegeAcademics.aspx?iid=1023824>
SAT:
% Submitting Score: 89%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 620 - 730
Math Middle 50%: 580 - 680
Writing Middle 50%: 620 - 710
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Pomona
Student Faculty Ratio: 8:1
Pasted from <http://www.princetonreview.com/PomonaCollege.aspx>
Pomona has much to boast about, including powerhouse academics, state-of-the-art facilities, and a
cushy endowment, raves one student. A fellow student describes Pomona as "the best place on earth
for a solid, well-rounded, and liberal-tilted education where students pitch each other into fountains on
their birthdays." While students are impressed with the "good faculty-to-student ratio," "small class
sizes," and access to "a wealth of academic resources and extracurricular opportunities" as part of the
Claremont University Consortium, Pomona students reserve their highest compliments for their
professors who "are actually glad to be teaching, rather than merely putting up with the teaching so
they can research." "It is not uncommon to receive detailed comments on assignments and personal emails from professors." One student unequivocally declares, "The professors are the soul of my
academic experience." "The school really does run like butter," and "staff and administration really do
make an attempt to cater to every student." Students are also impressed by how the school is "making
some really amazing efforts at promoting gender, race, sexual, ethnic, and cultural consciousness."
Students are generally satisfied with the "very visible" administration, although they admit it "gets
bogged down in bureaucracy a bit sometimes."
Pomona is like the lovechild of a summer camp and a real college. With its "California chill infused with a
little East Coast neurosis," Pomona provides a "quality of life that is truly sublime." Everyone agrees,
"the sunshine and palm trees make it difficult to stay in a bad mood for too long, even during finals."
Another student more abstractly describes the Pomona experience as "climbing academic cliffs with a
large group of friends pushing you up from behind holding large jars of marshmallow creme." "The
sponsor program, a system where freshmen are housed in sponsor 'groups' with two sophomore
advisors, is great because you have a group of friends the moment you set foot on campus." Students
also love the "really great quirky Pomona-sponsored traditions" including "Death by Chocolate (recently
renamed Chocolate for Change) where Pomona brings in literally tons of chocolate for its students." One
student also recalls "during finals the student government brought in 20 puppies to the lawn at the
campus center for students to play with and relieve stress." While some students refer to Claremont as
a "beautiful bubble where people reciprocally learn and get along," others point out "life inside the
bubble is fantastic, but we don't get that many diverse opinions or experiences here." "However, with
Scripps, Pitzer, Claremont McKenna, and Harvey Mudd only a quick walk away, you can definitely find a
place to fit in."
SAT:
% Submitting Score: 88%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 700 - 780
Math Middle 50%: 690 - 780
Writing Middle 50%: 680 - 770
77
Columbia
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,677
Nestled in Manhattan's upper west side neighborhood and "at the crossroads of the world," Columbia's
campus "itself is an inspiration and a motivation to push and to excel academically." While being "one of
the world's great research universities," the school still manages to feel "closer to a liberal arts college
than a gigantic mega-school." Students are drawn to this "first rate intellectual oasis" for its "holistic
education" and "rich, historic Columbia core curriculum," which "surveys the humanities and the
sciences" and "serves as a knowledge base as well as the connecting thread to all Columbia students."
Another boon is the "high quality" of "thought-provoking" and "brilliant and successful" professors who
are "truly invested in teaching the things they love to their students" but who "will not hold your hand
or check up on you." "It is very, very difficult to get an A here, but it's difficult to do too much worse as
well." Using a "tough love" approach, Columbia "believes in treating its students like adults" and pushes
them toward "independence and self sufficiency" while providing "amazing resources in fields of
networking, research, and internships" that will make everyone "a better citizen of the world." Although
students acknowledge that Columbia's administration "truly cares about its students and the health of
the school," many wish to improve the school's bureaucracy, which is "notoriously difficult to deal with."
"Columbia is as cosmopolitan and entertaining as New York City," sums up one satisfied student.
Provided with "the best of both worlds," students often take advantage of their "secluded and idyllic
green" campus' prime location, which gives them "unparalleled access to all the resources of the
greatest city in the world." Another student boasts that attending Columbia gives you an "easy pass to
the city, whether you are visiting museums for free with a flash of your ID or seeing your application
pushed to the front when applying for amazing internships." The majority of students "venture
downtown at least once a week to see a Broadway show, go to a concert or museum, or just explore."
For those who are not tempted by the "free admission to over 30 museums in New York" or "a meal or
dessert in Chinatown or Little Italy," there are plenty of "campus clubs and activities, including the
fraternity and sorority scenes or on-campus parties." With a campus that "caters to every single person
that comes through its doors," Columbia is "like being in a really rich agar" where students can pursue
whatever they are interested in from "engaging in intellectual conversation" to "getting involved in
politics through student groups on campus to continuing (or discovering) a love for the arts by being a
part of a musical ensemble."
SAT:
% Submitting Score: 97%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 680 - 770
Math Middle 50%: 680 - 780
Writing Middle 50%: 690 - 770
78
Oberlin
Student/Faculty ratio: 9:1
Total Undergraduate Enrollment:
2,839
Oberlin Says...
Academic Programs
In addition to the traditional academic offerings listed above, Oberlin offers a winter term, in which
students complete independent and often self-designed projects, either on or off campus. Projects
include, but are not limited to, research projects, internships, reading projects, arts projects, and
community service. Oberlin is also home to the Experimental College, a series of classes in a huge
variety of traditional and nontraditional subjects. Experimental College classes are taught by all
members of the Oberlin community, including students.
Majors & Degrees Offered
The College of Arts and Sciences and the Conservatory of Music are both on the same campus. The
College offers a Bachelor of Arts in over fifty majors and a Graduate Teacher Education Program; the
Conservatory offers a Bachelor of Music and some Master of Music degrees as well. Oberlin also offers
a unique five-year "Double Degree" program in which a student attends both the College and the
Conservatory and graduates with both the BA and BMus degrees.
Oberlin Students Say...
Oberlin College, a school "for laid-back people who enjoy learning and expanding social norms, allows
each and every student to have the undergrad experience for which he or she is looking, all the while
challenging the students to change themselves and the world for the better." Oberlin is a place where
students "focus on learning for learning's sake rather than making money in a career." As one student
explains, "I didn't plan on becoming a scholar when I entered Oberlin.…As fate would have it, I ended
up loving my college classes and professors. Now I hope to be a professor of religion." At Oberlin,
"academics are very highly valued, but balanced with a strong interest in the arts and a commitment to
society." Wags might suggest Oberlin puts the "liberal" in "liberal arts," and the school's staunchest
supporters agree, stressing the school's emphasis on open-mindedness and the belief that "one person
can change the world." Among the school's offerings, "the sciences, English, politics, religion, music,
environmental studies, and East-Asian studies are particularly noteworthy." The presence of a
prestigious music school imbues the entire campus community. One undergrad writes, "Oberlin's
greatest strength is the combination of the college and the conservatory. They are not separated, so
students mix with each other all the time." Professors here-the "heart and soul of the school"-are
dedicated teachers who "treat you more like collaborators and realize that even with their PhDs, they
can learn and grow from you, as well as you from them." They are "excellent instructors and fantastic
people" who are "focused on learning instead of deadlines." Undergrads also appreciate "a cooperative
learning environment" in which "Students bond over studying together for difficult exams."
Admissions Selectivity Rating: 97
SAT: % Submitting Score: 83%
Critical Reading Middle 50%: 640 - 740
Math Middle 50%: 620 - 710
Writing Middle 50%: 640 - 730
79
Average High School GPA: 3.6
% with GPA 3.75 of higher: 38%
% with GPA 3.50 - 3.74: 28%
% with GPA 3.25 - 3.49: 21%
% with GPA 3.0 - 3.24: 9%
% with GPA 2.5 - 2.99: 4%
Students in Top Tenth of HS Class: 69%
Students in Top Quarter of HS Class: 91%
Freshman Student from Public School High Schools: 60%
Total applicants:
7,006
Total applicants who are accepted:
2,288
33%
Total of accepted students who enroll:
768
33%
80
“The Card Game”
Sorting cards into piles and then rank-ordering each card or clustering them…
Got to have / really important
Academic Quality
Intellectual, creative
kids
In a city
Close to a city
( < 1 hour)
In / near a nice town
Good creative expression
programs (theatre, music, art,
…) available for non-majors
Easy, frequent interaction w/
faculty
Variety of classes /
majors
Opportunity for very original,
challenging work (projects,
research, …)
Exposure to top professors &
extra learning opportunities
(lectures, research, trips, …)
Lots of cultural &
fun/goofy extracurricular activities
Far from Seattle
Has strong seasons inc. real
winter (e.g., snow & must
wear a coat
Most people eat in
school cafeteries &
food is good / varied
Multiple colleges nearby -with both social & academic
mingling
Campus is traditional / eclectic
(ivy-covered brick buildings
mixed with striking
architecture
Campus is modern /
urban
81
Ick (or irrelevant)
(near the top is less bad; near the bottom is really bad)
Close to Seattle
Most upper-classmen
live off-campus
Most kids are from
west coast
Most kids are from
east coast
Social activities revolve
around sports
Most kids are from
mid-west
Social activities revolve
around fraternities /
sororities
Drugs & alcohol are a
big part of social
activities
82
Slightly easier to get in (SAT's not
off the charts), but sound &
academically focused
OK, nice to have, not make-or-break
(not really ranked at all—didn’t have time…)
Thesis or senior project required
Thesis or senior project not required
Near a city (< 2 hours)
Really strong academically, but possibly less well-known
Very well-known as a demanding, excellent school (e.g., Ivy, top6 liberal arts)
Social activities around sports happen, but easy to ignore
Campus feel (green, trees, everything close)
Small school & small classes
Social activities around fraternities / sororities happen, but easy
to ignore
Strong core curriculum covering wide variety
Drugs & alcohol happen (of course), but with no pressure and
friendships cut across do / don't do drugs line
Sunny and warm all the time
83
Most people live on campus & dorms are nice
Opportunity for study abroad for credit
Creative, flexible academic structure, e.g.-- 4-4-1, create own
major, inter-disciplinary studies, independent study
Lots of intramural sports and outdoor activities (and assuming
minimal big competitive sports)
Kids are from all over
84