Current student at a school on the list here. I've never heard of anyone doing it outside of the Dartmouth engineering program; aside from that, if people spend time away from campus, they'll just go abroad

I went to Wellesley in the 90's and I know many people who took advantage of this program. It was awesome.

I know couples who met during one of these exchanges — including one couple that's been married 40 years!

I think it sounds fun for a confident and curious person to experience college life at a different campus - especially if the campus is single sex or small, it may be fun to experience Dartmouth or someplace bigger. You could also choose a college campus where you have a high school friend or relative attending if that eases things a bit.

Anonymous wrote:If you’re a male, can you use this to attend Smith or Wellesley?

yes

Anonymous wrote:I know people who did this 30 years ago. There were (very popular) men at Wellesley for their junior year.

I think this is why it started way back when (1960's, maybe even before). Many of these schools were single sex then and it was a way to meet people of the opposite sex. I've met women who went to Dartmouth for a term for that reason (Dartmouth didn't go co-ed until 1972). They allowed women exchange students in the summer term initially but then allowed it during the school year for a few years before going co-ed.

If you’re a male, can you use this to attend Smith or Wellesley?

I went to Williams and became friends with two girls who did it junior year. Both ended up transferring to Williams for their senior year. Don’t know if it was a fluke and had not heard of any senior transfers before, but both had been unhappy at all women’s colleges.

Ugh. this sounds awful.

I know people who did this 30 years ago. There were (very popular) men at Wellesley for their junior year.

Anonymous wrote:Is this new?

Why would you leave your friends?be solo/someplace new such a short period of time? Would others from this college be going with you?

NP

Not new. Decades old program which few use. Usually a solo venture without college friends. New experience typically means new personal growth.

Small schools can feel claustrophobic & suffocating which is why so many do junior year abroad.

Anonymous wrote:Is this new?

Why would you leave your friends?be solo/someplace new such a short period of time? Would others from this college be going with you?

This has been around forever. Think of it like study abroad, but domestic. I think the idea is to be able to take classes which aren’t offered at your home school.

Is this new?

Why would you leave your friends?be solo/someplace new such a short period of time? Would others from this college be going with you?

It's pretty cool that if you get admitted to any one of these LACs, you can participate in the 12 College Exchange and spend a semester or a full year studying at one of the other participating campuses. Some big names here.

"The Twelve College Exchange Program gives qualified students the opportunity to spend a year or a semester at one of the participating institutions. It is a residential exchange, and all students are expected to live on campus and to observe the social and academic regulations of the host institution."

Participating Institutions

Amherst College
Bowdoin College
Connecticut College (including the O'Neill National Theater Institute)
Dartmouth College (including the Dartmouth-Thayer Dual Degree in Engineering program)
Mount Holyoke
Smith College
Trinity College
Vassar College
Wellesley College
Wesleyan University
Wheaton College
Williams/Mystic Seaport Program in Maritime Studies