I recently visited The Cooper Union in Manhattan, where I toured the Albert Nerken School of Engineering. Here are some takeaways from my visit:

· Located downtown right by Astor Place, Cooper Union hosts undergraduate schools in art, architecture and engineering. While the art and architecture programs are hosted in the historical Foundation Building facing Astor Place, the engineering school is located down the block at Cooper’s sleek, modern 41 Cooper Square building, which opened in 2009.

· Although Cooper is no longer free, every undergraduate receives a half-tuition scholarship as well as any need-based aid for which they qualify.

· Cooper is made up primarily of 891 undergraduates, 490 of whom are in the engineering program.

· The engineering school offers majors in chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical and general engineering, as well as minors in computer science, math, chemistry and the humanities. It is generally easy for engineering students here to change their major early on. All students are required to take four humanities courses in their first two years, a project-based general engineering course in which they collaborate with students from across engineering disciplines, and a computer science course.

· The Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Program allows students to work on large-scale, interdisciplinary projects over several semesters while receiving faculty mentorship and opportunities for professional research.

· Engineering students can study abroad during the summer, conducting research in a lab or working on engineering-focused humanitarian projects across the globe.

· Intro classes have around 30 students, but class sizes eventually reach as small as 5-10 students. The engineering curriculum is rigorous, but students find support through resources like peer tutoring, office hours and a collaborative student body.

· Freshman housing is guaranteed. Cooper owns one dorm a few blocks up from campus, which features apartment-style singles, co-ed floors, social spaces with ping pong tables and the like and a cafe downstairs. 83% of freshman live in the dorm, and sometimes a few rooms are available for upperclassmen. Everyone else commutes to campus, with many local students saving money by living at home with their families.

· While there is one fraternity on campus, Cooper is not known for being a party school. The workload is heavy, and students often socialize at the library or while working on collaborative projects at 41 Cooper Square. The building houses a lounge, a small cafe, an art gallery where students display their work, and an outdoor terrace and garden (managed by the student gardening club). Other popular activities include going out in the city, partaking in one of the 60 student clubs, such as orchestra, a cappella groups, engineering competition teams or club sports, and hanging out in the dorm. There are designated club hours each week when no classes or office hours are held so that students don’t have to worry about missing club meetings.

· Engineering students mingle with art and architecture students through clubs, gen ed courses, electives, shared housing and joint research projects.

· A number of Cooper student organizations share space and/or members with NYU and The New School, including Hillel, the Black Student Union, and various professional societies.

· Students have access to extensive state-of-the-art engineering facilities at 41 Cooper Square, including a motor sports lab where students design, build and race a car each year, a fluid hydraulics lab that mimics seismic activity, a vibration and acoustics lab and many more major-specific labs.

I recently visited Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, where I toured campus and spoke with the admissions office about the latest trends in admissions. Here are some takeaways from my visit:

· Furman University, although a university in name, is a de facto liberal arts college of just under 2,300 undergraduates and a handful of graduate students. Located on a scenic 750 acre campus set against a mountainous backdrop outside of downtown Greenville, Furman has its own lake, golf course (to which students have access), Zen garden and eco cabin where students can opt to live sustainably right alongside the lake.

· Furman students are actively involved in their campus community, with most participating in two-to-three different student organizations. Students are required to live on campus all four years, and concerts, performances, basketball games and other events all draw students on the weekend. 26% of students participate in Greek life, which is relatively non-exclusive and very focused on service. There are no Greek houses on or off campus, but Greek students can live in a dorm hall affiliated with their fraternity or sorority sophomore year. The campus climate is less conservative than at some neighboring Southern colleges, such as Wofford.

· Because the campus is so spread out, it’s easiest for students to have cars.

· Students can venture into downtown Greenville, which features a walkable urban core, upscale restaurants, a theater where Broadway shows performance, a Saturday farmers market and a large sports stadium.

· Furman’s First Gen Alliance supports first gen students on campus, and a number of Furman faculty were first gen themselves. There is a Student Diversity Council on campus, as well as a variety of diversity-related student organizations in which students can get involved.

· Furman hosts 18 Div I sports teams, and 13.4% of students are athletes.

· The average class size is 14, and professors have a reputation for being deeply invested in students. 90% of students intern, research and/or study abroad, and the university helps connect students to a database of internship opportunities from employers with whom Furman has relationships.

· There are over 70 areas of study, and students on campus have a wide range of majors and interests. Business and education are both popular, and the business program has five tracks students can choose from, including one in international marketing. It’s easy for all students to double major and/or minor.

· While most students are from the South, students come from 47 states and 43 countries, and around 15% of students come from outside the South, particularly the Northeast.

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

· Clemson is a public university of nearly 23,000 undergraduates located in its small namesake town. Originally founded as an agricultural college, Clemson remains a powerhouse in agricultural studies and is best-known for its strengths in STEM, especially engineering. Business is also very popular. Both engineering and business students start in a general engineering or business curriculum before specializing in their chosen major.

· Pre-vet students will benefit from the new veterinary college, as well as the abundant supply of large animals in the area.

· Other programs of note include the architecture major, which does not require a portfolio for admission, and the new BS degree in automotive engineering, the first in the nation. Automative engineers will spend their first two years at Clemson’s main campus, then finish their studies at Clemson’s International Center for Automotive Research (ICAR) in Greenville, near companies like BMW, Bosch and Michelin.

· All Clemson students are eligible to participate in co-ops where they work full-time in their field for credit one semester, and the career center consistently rates as one of the top in the nation. Clemson has partnerships with GE in Greenville and multiple corporations across the US.

· The average class size is 27, and only 5% of courses have more than 100 students.

· While the campus is large, all classroom buildings are located within a seven-minute walk of each other. Housing is guaranteed for freshmen, after which point most students move into off-campus housing nearby.

· Campus is directly adjacent to the scenic Lake Hartwell, and the Blue Ridge Mountains are only 30 minutes away. School spirit is robust and football games are huge events. Greek life is non-residential and less pronounced than at some other Southern state schools.

· Similar to some other Southern schools, application deadlines run a little earlier than typical: the Early Action deadline has historically been October 15. Around half of students come from out-of-state.

I recently visited Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where I toured campus and spoke with the admissions office about the latest trends in admissions. Here are some takeaways from my visit:

· Wofford is a private liberal arts college of around 1,800 students located in the small city of Spartanburg. Well-known as a premed destination, Wofford offers 100+ hours shadowing a different medical specialty each week at Spartanburg Regional Hospital, as well as robust premed advising and visits to campus by three South Carolina medical schools each year. 

· Students in all majors benefit from small class sizes of around 20 students, close faculty-student relationships, and a tight-knit community. All freshmen receive a a faculty advisor, staff advisor, peer advisor and personal librarian, and all freshmen are required to take a course from career services. 

· Greek life is popular, with 50% of students participating. Greek organizations, which are non-residential and non-exclusive, host campus parties in the Greek Village, supervised by campus security. Outside of Greek life, students participate in a range of on-campus events, from ice cream socials to concerts, DI football and basketball games and church services. 90% of students live on campus all four years. 

· Wofford is Methodist-affiliated, but students from all religious backgrounds are welcome. Most students are actively Christian. Politically, the student body leans conservative. 

· Wofford follows a 4-1-4 academic calendar: students are required to complete a one-month “interim” semester in January where they can take classes on campus or partake in travel courses, internships or research. BMW is located nearby and a popular for internships. 

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

· The South’s premier liberal arts college, Davidson is a highly selective institution just thirty minutes outside of Charlotte. The campus community is tight-knit, supportive and highly collaborative. Small class sizes and engaged faculty ensure that students received extensive individualized attention.

· All students sign Davidson’s honor code, which helps create a climate of trust among students and faculty. As a result, students report feeling comfortable leaving laptops unattended for hours in the library and know that if they lose their wallet on campus, someone is likely to return it to them.

· Davidson prizes interdisciplinary learning, and completing interdisciplinary projects in courses – like designing a musical instrument in a physics class – is encouraged. Students can also design their own major through the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies (CIS). Other unique programming includes a public health major and the Hurt Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which provides students from any major with a mentor and grant to develop a business idea. The Davidson in Washington program offers a guest-speaker-driven summer course in DC, led by a Davidson professor, alongside an internship.

· Greek life is relatively popular, as well as non-exclusive. There are no sororities, but 70-75% of women join “eating houses” similar to Princeton’s eating clubs: non-residential dining communities that foster community and host social events. 30-40% of men join fraternities, which tend to also have their own chef and are non-residential. Campus police supervise fraternity parties to ensure safety. There is also robust social life outside the Greek system: students spend weekends participating in fun events at the student union, attending student performances, going to concerts, partying in the dorms and exploring Charlotte.

· Davidson owns a 110 acre waterfront property under 10 minutes from campus – “Lake Campus” – that provides students with various recreational activities and includes a beach, volleyball courts, picnic areas, a boat ramp, swimming access and green space.

· Despite being a small liberal arts college, Davidson fields 21 DI athletic teams, and around a quarter of enrolled students are athletes.

· The college is located alongside downtown Davidson’s tiny Main Street in a layout that feels reminiscent of Princeton. Town residents welcome freshmen each year by baking them cakes for the Cake Race, and it’s not uncommon for residents to invite students over to dinner.

· Like Dartmouth, Davidson requires applicants to submit a peer letter of recommendation.