I recently visited Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, where I toured campus and spoke with the admissions office about the latest trends in admissions. Here are some takeaways from my visit:

· Famous for its music programs and strategic location atop Music Row in Nashville, Belmont University has undergone rapid growth, nearly quadrupling in size over the past twenty years. Although music business is still the most popular major among Belmont’s 9,000 undergraduates, the university hosts a range of undergrad degree programs in nursing, the liberal arts, business, physical therapy, architecture, interior design, fashion design and more.

· Originally a Southern Baptist institution, Belmont is now an ecumenical, “Christ-centered” university. Although a majority of students are Christian, there is no chapel requirement (although no classes are scheduled during weekly services, which are well attended), there are a variety of identity-based clubs (Belmont just hired its first rabbi), and students who are not religious report feeling comfortable on campus.

· Belmont emphasizes experiential learning and real-world experience. 72% of students intern or complete a field experience, and Belmont offers immersive semesters in LA, NYC and Atlanta that combine internships (often with Belmont alums) with Belmont coursework and housing. An innovation lab on campus supports entrepreneurship, and there have been 800 businesses started by Belmont alums.

· Belmont offers a supply chain management track for business majors, capitalizing on Amazon’s Nashville headquarters.

· Given the relatively small number of graduate students at Belmont, there are many research opportunities for undergrads. Premeds will also stand to benefit from Belmont’s new medical school.

· Most classes are under 20 students, and the maximum class size is 35.

· Thanks in part to its extensive growth over the past two decades, many of Belmont’s facilities are new and have a modern, upscale feel.

· Belmont students are frequently described as kind, collaborative, involved, creative, entrepreneurial and very service oriented. 13% participate in Greek life, which has a strong emphasis on philanthropy and leadership development. 75% come from out-of-state (all 50 states are represented).

· One way Belmont encourages students to get involved is through its Well Core, which requires students to attend 50 hours-worth of various events across campus divided into 10 categories (cultural, environmental, social, service, spiritual, occupational, financial, emotional, physical, intellectual).

I recently visited Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, where I toured campus and spoke with the admissions office about the latest trends in admissions. Here are some takeaways from my visit:

· Fisk is one of America’s premier Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), having graduated illustrious alumni like W.E.B. DuBois, John Lewis, Ida B. Wells, Diane Nash and Nikki Giovanni. It is located in North Nashville, the city’s historic black cultural hub.

· With 900 undergrads and only 30-50 graduate students, Fisk is a de facto liberal arts colleges where faculty are deeply invested in students and the “Fisk Family” provides a tight-knit, welcoming and inclusive environment. The average class size is 15 (there are no large lectures) and students come from across the country. 90% are African American, while a small percentage are not of African descent, including some international and white students (3%). Two-thirds of students live on campus, and a new co-ed, suite-style dorm is opening soon. 70% of students are female.

· Given its location in Music City (a moniker given to Nashville by the Queen of England after hearing Fisk’s famed, Grammy-winning Jubilee Singers perform), music is the most popular major on campus, which is dotted with over 20 baby grand pianos. Students can also pursue a concentration in Music Business offered through a partnership with neighboring Belmont University.

· Biology is also popular, and Fisk offers a BS/MD program with Meharry Medical College next door. Many students also major in business and computer science, with over half of students interning at elite corporations.

· A new career center building helps connect students to internships at organizations like Cravath, Swaine & Moore (which has a historical partnership with Fisk), Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Google, Apple, Deloitte, Microsoft and Warner Music.

· Additional partnerships include a 3+2 engineering program with Vanderbilt and Case Western, as well as a BA/MBA program with Vanderbilt. Top students can also join Fisk’s W.E.B. DuBois Honor Program to special perks.

· One of Fisk’s unofficial mottos is “good trouble,” taken from alumnus John Lewis, and Fisk is defined by its ongoing commitment to service and activism. There is a day of service built into freshman orientation and a full-ride scholarship available to students who have demonstrated an extensive commitment to service.

· Student life is rich and varied. Around 50% of students participate in Greek life (Fisk hosts 8 of the 9 “Divine Nine”), and while there is no football team, basketball, volleyball, golf, gymnastic, cheer and dance provide athletic teams for students to rally around. There are many active student clubs and organizations, including the popular Out:Loud LGBTQ+ club.

I recently visited Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where I toured campus and spoke with the admissions office about the latest trends in admissions. Here are some takeaways from my visit:

· A mid-sized, private university with just over 7,000 undergrads, Vanderbilt has risen fast in popularity to become one of the most selective colleges in the United States. While Vanderbilt offers rigorous, high-powered academics, it emphasizes balance as well as student collaboration. Nearly all students reside on campus four years, an experience Vanderbilt views as essential to growth and learning.

· Vanderbilt houses four undergraduate schools: Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Music and Education. Once admitted, students have the flexibility to double or triple major across all four schools. Each college has general education requirements, but there are flexible ways to fulfill them.

· 80% of classes have 30 students or less. Undergraduate research is accessible and popular (60% participate), and all undergrads are required to complete a culminating, student-driven project, whether a thesis, internship or civic engagement project. Many majors require internships, which departments often help students secure, and some are available for academic credit. Experiential learning is generally emphasized.

· All freshmen live together in one of ten houses on the Commons portion of campus. Each house has an attached faculty member, and most dorms feature faculty-in-residence. Like Yale, Vanderbilt offers residential colleges that feature classrooms, dining, programming and live-in faculty. 30% of undergrads reside in residential colleges, but Vanderbilt is building more to move toward a full residential college system.

· While there is no business major (there is a minor), many students with an interest in business major in Human and Organizational Development, housed in the Peabody College of Education and Human Development.

· Despite the strength of the Blair School of Music, non-music majors still have access to a wide range of ensembles, which they can audition for the summer before starting at Vanderbilt.

· Vanderbilt fields DI athletic teams that compete in the SEC.

· 25-30% of students participate in Greek life. Only six students live in each Greek house (and usually only for one year), so most Greek students reside in the dorms.

· On-campus dining is relatively high quality, and The Princeton Review rates Vanderbilt as a having some of the best college food in the country. This is generally in keeping with Vanderbilt’s overall focus on balance and quality of life.

I recently visited Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, where I toured campus and spoke with the admissions office about the latest trends in admissions. Here are some takeaways from my visit:

· With an enrollment of around 2,700 undergrads, Lafayette offers all the benefits of a small liberal arts college while providing a larger community than most peer LACs. It also offers something else uncommon at most liberal arts colleges: engineering programs.

· Although not a major metropolitan area, Easton has a decidedly urban, walkable and architecturally handsome historic downtown at the confluence of the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers. The college is perched on a hill above downtown, and steps built into the hill lead right into the city. The school also has a separate arts campus located in the downtown. Restaurants, music venues, art galleries and a theater are some of the Easton amenities students enjoy. There is also nearby hiking, biking, skiing and other outdoor activities. When looking for something bigger, students can hop on a bus to Philadelphia or New York City, both under two hours away.

· Like most liberal arts colleges, class sizes are small, research readily available and nearly all students live on campus. Upperclassmen can choose from a range of Lafayette-owned “off-campus” housing options, although these are conveniently located right along the border of the small campus.

· Lafayette offers an impressive selection of majors for a liberal arts college, including multiple engineering disciplines, art, theater, interdisciplinary programs and the ability to create your own major. A BA in Engineering Studies is available for students who might want to work in project management or other engineering-adjacent roles. Students do not have to commit to a major coming into Lafayette and have time to explore their options once on campus.

· The academic environment is collaborative, and professors intentionally design their courses to encourage collaboration.

· While there is no business major, students can minor in organizational studies as well as to apply to be a Dyer Fellow at Lafayette’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, where students can find support developing their entrepreneurial ideas.

· Lafayette’s Gateway Externship Program pairs students with college alumni and community members for short externships to help them learn more about different careers.

· Students are not very politically vocal, although there are opportunities for students to get involved in local Easton politics. Athletic events are popular on campus, especially basketball, football and soccer games, and there are 23 DI sport teams. Lafayette has a historic football rivalry with neighboring Lehigh, and each year the big game is preceded by a festive rivalry week and enormous tailgate.

· 33% of students participate in Greek life, which is relatively non-exclusive. While available for those who want it, students not interested in Greek life report still finding ample community and activities at Lafayette. There are over 220 clubs, a host of on-campus events (like poetry readings, comedy skits, movie screenings, music ensemble performances), and frequent students outings into Easton.

I recently visited Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where I toured campus and spoke with the admissions office about the latest trends in admissions. Here are some takeaways from my visit:

· Located in a suburb of Nashville 30 miles from downtown, MTSU enrolls just under 16,000 undergraduates and offers over 180 undergraduate programs. The average class size is 25, and many classes are capped at 20 students.

· Given its proximity to Music City, it’s not surprising that MTSU has the top-rated audio engineering program in the US. The school’s College of Media and Entertainment houses many other standout programs, including animation, recording industry music business and video and film production. Many professors come from industry (which helps students land internships and jobs), and students and faculty have racked up numerous accolades, including 39 Grammys since 2001 and a recent Emmy for a student commercial. Animation alumni have worked on a variety of notable productions, including Netflix’s BoJack Horseman show.

· Aviation is also popular at MTSU. Under the umbrella of aerospace engineering, students can concentrate in aviation, unmanned drones, aviation management, flight dispatch or traditional aerospace engineering. MTSU partners with Delta and Southwest to provide students with mentorships and paths to aviation careers at those airlines. MTSU owns a fleet of 45 DA-40 aircraft just five minutes from campus at the school’s airport.

· Other notable programs include concrete construction engineering, mechatronics, engineering technology, insurance and risk management. The nursing program boasts a 97% NCLEX pass rate, and nursing students complete their clinical hours at Vanderbilt.

· Undergraduate research is emphasized and supported by university grants. Students present their research each year at the campus-wide Scholars Week event. An Honors College offers priority registration, additional advising, smaller honors classes and the option to complete a senior thesis.

· Although primarily a commuter campus, there is on-campus housing for 3,000 students, and students who want it are usually able to secure it. Weekends can be quiet, but students on-campus socialize, take part in weekend club events (there are over 300 student organizations) and enjoy the student union, which features a game room, ping pong table, pool table, air hockey, video games and movie theater. More than 200 concerts take place on campus each year, and Murfreesboro offers bowling, ice skating and additional movie theaters. Outdoor trips are also popular with students.

· LGBTQ students report feeling very welcomed on campus. The Center for Non-Traditional Students offers support and resources for the LGBTQ community, and there is an LGBTQ club that holds events on campus. The university also participates in LGBTQ Safe Space training.

· Greek life is not a big part of the campus experience, with only 9% of students participating.

· There are 17 Div I teams on campus and over 50 intramural sports.