college - tell me about "the best kept secret" schools - anyone have one?

[Anonymous]

Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA is a wonderful school with less brand name recognition.

Sorry if already mentioned, I didn't wade thru all 20 pages.

[Anonymous]

Just curious, but what characteristics does a college need to be considered a "college that changes lives"? It's such a subjective sentiment, couldn't you argue that any college changes lives?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Centre College, Danville KY

http://www.centre.edu/web/news/2010/forbes_best_in_south.html

Think long and hard before subjecting your kid to this one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious, but what characteristics does a college need to be considered a "college that changes lives"? It's such a subjective sentiment, couldn't you argue that any college changes lives?

I believe that Loren Pope's criteria for such colleges included small classes; focus on the students and not research; ample opportunities for student-led research; ample opportunities for ongoing small-group and one-on-one engagement with professors; and interesting/alternative curriculum approaches that give students the opportunity to learn and grow in various unusual/non-standard sorts of ways.

In general, large research universities do not offer these types of opportunities.

[Anonymous]

This thread is 7 years old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP (again) --

15:43 -- I have heard good things about St Mary's

15:49 - DD is really backing off southern schools. We looked at 2 in Virginia, and she sees them as too into the Greek scene (she is not). She seems to think this will be the case with most southern the schools.

Right now her faves are Kenyon and Oberlin.

What about Dennison? It's outside Columbus. Very small, cute town. DD got accepted, but wanted to stay closer to home. Very nice campus, and they give a lot of merit aid.

[Anonymous]

Mary Washington College

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is 7 years old.

Yeah, but it's useful to those of us starting on this college search. Lots of suggestions here.

[Anonymous]

Mary Washington University is only ok. There are so many other alternatives out there. Nothing wrong with it; just nothing special.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious, but what characteristics does a college need to be considered a "college that changes lives"? It's such a subjective sentiment, couldn't you argue that any college changes lives?

I believe that Loren Pope's criteria for such colleges included small classes; focus on the students and not research; ample opportunities for student-led research; ample opportunities for ongoing small-group and one-on-one engagement with professors; and interesting/alternative curriculum approaches that give students the opportunity to learn and grow in various unusual/non-standard sorts of ways.

In general, large research universities do not offer these types of opportunities.

So basically any small school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious, but what characteristics does a college need to be considered a "college that changes lives"? It's such a subjective sentiment, couldn't you argue that any college changes lives?

I believe that Loren Pope's criteria for such colleges included small classes; focus on the students and not research; ample opportunities for student-led research; ample opportunities for ongoing small-group and one-on-one engagement with professors; and interesting/alternative curriculum approaches that give students the opportunity to learn and grow in various unusual/non-standard sorts of ways.

In general, large research universities do not offer these types of opportunities.

So basically any small school?

I can't speak for Loren Pope (who in any case is deceased), but my alma mater is a SLAC in the NESCAC and I would not say that it offered the above-described experiences. So not, I don't think all small schools fit the Loren Pope criteria for CTCL.

[Anonymous]

Mary Washington, in Fredericksburg. Inexpensive state school, lower cost of living, nice kids, decent academics, not far. Most people don't even know it's there, much less that it's a state school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mary Washington University is only ok. There are so many other alternatives out there. Nothing wrong with it; just nothing special.

There is something special about it. It's a fraction of the cost of most of those other schools.

[Anonymous]

No football games at Mary Washington. Big hole in fall weekends. What do alumni come back for in fall? Homecoming without football? Just seems sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No football games at Mary Washington. Big hole in fall weekends. What do alumni come back for in fall? Homecoming without football? Just seems sad.

This would make it more appealing to DS. He hates football, Greek life, etc. We'll check it out.