I recently visited Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, where I toured campus and spoke with the admissions office about the latest trends in admissions. Here are some takeaways from my visit:
· Although a “university” in name, Wesleyan, or “Wes,” is a de facto liberal arts college of just over 3,000 undergraduates and only 200 graduate students. As with many liberal arts colleges, it is 100% residential, and students enjoy small classes, ample research opportunities and an outstanding degree of personalized attention from faculty. Wesleyan’s slightly large size for a liberal arts college, flexible curriculum and strength in the arts help distinguish it from many of its peers.
· Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of Hamilton, wrote In the Heights while a sophomore at Wesleyan, and the school continues to be known for its strong (and portfolio-optional) arts programs. Outside of the classroom, there are also abundant opportunities in the arts any student can participate in, from a 24-hour playwrighting festival to music ensembles like the Mazel Tones (Wesleyan is 20% Jewish) to regular foreign, indie and documentary screenings at the college’s 400-seat film theater.
· At Wesleyan, it’s OK to come in undecided. The college likes students eager to explore their academic options and learn across disciplines, which the school’s relatively flexible curriculum facilitates. Given that flexibility, over half of students double major, and one in five even triple major. 75% of classes are under 25 students.
· The architecturally eclectic campus, located just under 30 minutes south of Hartford, is about a 10-15 minute walk from one end to the other.
· The student body is collaborative and supportive. Around 1/3 of students participate in athletics in some capacity (whether PE, intramural, club or D3), and athletes and non-athletes have a reputation for mixing seamlessly. The housing model is an intentional one of “progressive independence,” as students take on more responsibility and independent-style living with each year.
· Despite Wesleyan’s artsy vibe, computer science is a popular major, and a new design engineering program just launched this year. Students studying the natural sciences (including psychology and math) are eligible for a free 4+1 master’s degree.
· Students have lifetime access to the career center, which features a unique winter break program where students have the opportunity to do informational interviews with alumni.
I recently visited the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut, where I toured campus and spoke with the admissions office about the latest trends in admissions. Here are some takeaways from my visit:
· The University of Connecticut has seen a surge in applications, especially out-of-state applications (40% of students come from outside CT), in recent years. A scenic campus, robust school spirit and strong programs, particularly in STEM, draw students to Storrs.
· Located in rural CT (the university makes its own ice cream from campus cows), UConn created its own artificial “downtown,” a walkable, European-like agglomeration of buildings 10 minutes from the center of campus where students congregate. The four-acre campus is relatively walkable, and a shuttle also provides transit.
· Famed for its basketball teams (the Huskies have won 25 national championships), UConn is a place where students crowd into the Harry Gampel Pavilion to cheer on their winning teams. In part owing to the school’s rural location, students tend to be very involved in their 700+ student organizations. Greek life only draws 13% of students.
· UConn is most known for its strengths in STEM, including engineering, computer science, business and health. The computer science major features a cybersecurity track (hackathons are held on campus), and multiple makerspaces (open to all students) are located throughout campus. A concentration in entrepreneurship is available to business students, but non-business students can still take a course in entrepreneurship and benefit from UConn’s Worth Institute for Entrepreneurship. Opportunities to become involved and research are also bountiful.
· While UConn has just under 20,000 undergrads, its “learning communities” offer freshmen a more intimate feel. These faculty-led themed communities allow students with a common interest or background to take classes and engage in activities together and receive support from sophomore mentors and faculty. Many are residential communities, and each has its own dedicated space where students can gather. Entrance into one of these communities is not guaranteed, however: because space is limited, there is a lottery and waitlist, with only 35% of students participating.
· Introductory courses are large lectures. In addition to its learning communities, however, UConn provides extensive support to help students meet any challenges. Most freshman participate in First Year Experience courses, small seminars of 19 students that help them successfully transition to college life. Peer mentors are bountiful, and the Academic Achievement Center provides individualized academic advising, in-classroom coaching to teach students key study strategies during critical times of the semester, as well as additional layers of academic support. Career advising ensures all new students are on LinkedIn by Thanksgiving.
I recently visited Eastern Connecticut State University in Windham, Connecticut, where I toured campus and spoke with the admissions office about the latest trends in admissions. Here are some takeaways from my visit:
· Eastern Connecticut State University belongs to a rare breed of institutions: public liberal arts colleges. With 3,300 undergraduates and almost no graduate students, ECSU is also slightly larger than the typical liberal arts college, joining a small class of schools like Wesleyan and Colgate. Robust investment in undergraduate education and a sleek residential campus help define the undergraduate experience.
· The average class size is 21, with a cap of 40 and many courses closer to 10-15 students. Courses are discussion based and focus on active learning rather than lecturing. There are ample undergraduate research opportunities and extensive faculty mentoring.
· The curriculum emphasizes the liberal arts, writing, collaborative projects and service-/community-based learning. The largest majors are psychology and business. All psychology students complete an individual research project while receiving structured, one-on-one support from departmental faculty, with many students presenting their research at the New England Psychological Association. Students can also take advantage of an annual global field course.
· Some majors require internships, and both the career center and faculty help students secure them. Career education is also built into the curriculum.
· 85% of freshmen live on campus, and only 35% of students commute. Each residence hall is equipped with a gym. Given the quiet, small-town location (cows abound), students take part in the many campus activities run by student organizations, cheer on ECSU teams at D3 athletic events and take advantage of local movie theaters and parks. There is no Greek life.
· Out-of-state students enjoy nearly identical tuition to in-state students, and students admitted to the honors program receive a scholarship for full tuition and fees, along with access to an honors living learning community, colloquia and directed research courses.
The stunning 2016 Fine Arts Instructional Center features three performance spaces, studios and classrooms.
I recently visited Washington University in St. Louis in Missouri, where I toured campus and spoke with the admissions office about the latest trends in admissions. Here are some takeaways from my visit:
· Washington University in St. Louis, or “WashU” for short, is one of the nation’s leading universities. A mid-sized, private institution with roughly 8,000 undergraduate and 8,000 graduate students, WashU combines high-level academics with a collaborative, supportive community characterized by Midwestern kindness, plush amenities and an urban backdrop.
· Although well known for its strengths in premed, biomedical engineering and computer science, WashU offers a range of programs in the arts & sciences, engineering and design and visual art. A special interdisciplinary program, Beyond Boundaries, allows a small cohort of students to explore a specific intellectual interest through a variety of disciplines.
· The average class size is 24, and only 3-5% of classes have 150+ students (typically intro courses in psychology, chemistry and other popular majors).
· Premeds benefit from the extensive opportunities available at St. Louis’s many medical schools and hospitals, including WashU’s renowned med school and Barnes Jewish Hospital. Research in all subjects is available to students starting freshman year. A new public heath major and minor are in the works.
· Although students are admitted to one division, many students double major, which can be done across divisions.
· All first-year business students participate in a small, cohort-based introductory business course in which they are assigned a real consulting case for a major company. The business school is globally focused (60% of students study abroad), and its new Bauer Leaders Academy will help students hone their leadership skills. Students can minor in the business of the arts or sports, as well as gain hands-on experience working at the multiple student-run businesses on campus.
· Co-ops are available for engineering students. Boeing, with its local footprint in the St. Louis area, is a popular destination.
· WashU is located in an upscale, suburban neighborhood replete with a movie theater, bars, restaurants and thrift shops. Students can also use either of the two metro stops on campus to head into downtown.
· 15% of students participate in Greek life. There are a range of student clubs and performing arts groups, and many students volunteer in St. Louis. There is robust school spirit, and the D3 football games are well attended.
· WashU students enjoy some of the best housing, food and amenities of any college in the US. Freshman live in South 40, a residential portion of campus that looks like an upscale ski resort and features large, modern dorms and multiple singles. On-campus dining options include a restaurant and pub, and, unsurprisingly for anyone who visits, the Princeton Review has rated the school #1 in the country for food and #3 for dorms.
I recently visited Saint Louis University in Saint Louis, Missouri, where I toured campus and spoke with the admissions office about the latest trends in admissions. Here are some takeaways from my visit:
· Saint Louis University, also known as SLU (“slew”), is a private, mid-sized Jesuit university with 8,437 undergraduates and around 5,000 graduate students. It was founded in 1818, making it the first university west of the Mississippi.
· Despite its urban location, SLU features a self-contained campus centered around a walking path that runs the length of campus (somewhat similar to the University of Pennsylvania), with the bustling downtown right outside its gates. Many of Saint Louis’s attractions are within walking distance, including Forest Park, the largest urban park in the United States (it offers free admission to its zoo, ice rink, science center and museum). Students are required to live on campus their first two years.
· Unsurprisingly for a Jesuit university, Saint Louis University has a strong ethos of service, social justice and advocacy. Minors offered include urban poverty and Ignatian service, and immigration, criminal justice reform and environmentalism are all popular causes among students.
· While SLU is Catholic, half of its students are not, and there are student organizations for Muslim, Hindu and Jewish students (the latter share a Hillel with Wash U). The university has a number of initiatives to support students who are part of the LGBTQ community, as well as gender inclusive housing. The university core includes a required course in philosophy and theology, but students can choose to study any religion for the theology requirement.
· The average class size is 26, and there are ample research opportunities for undergrads. Applied, experiential learning is popular, and there is strong emphasis on collaboration and community.
· Healthcare is a notable strength at SLU, which offers programs in public health, pharmacy, physician assistantships, nutrition and dietetics, speech, language and hearing sciences, occupational therapy and physical therapy. Premeds benefit from SLU’s medical campus a few miles away, as well as the many medical institutions and hospitals in Saint Louis. All SLU undergrads who meet the medical school’s average GPA and MCAT benchmarks are guaranteed an interview.
· SLU also has a campus in Madrid, where students in a variety of SLU programs can elect to spend their first year.
· SLU has Division I athletics, with soccer and basketball being the most popular sports. Professional sports fans can also enjoy Blues and Cardinals games in downtown Saint Louis.
· 20% of students participate in Greek life, which is very focused on service. There are no traditional Greek houses (although sophomores can live in a Greek dorm where different chapters each get their own floor), and there is extensive mixing between Greek and non-Greek students.
· Almost 1,000 employers visit campus annually. Students have gone on to work at Boeing, NASA, the Red Cross, GE, Edward Jones and Deloitte.