“Hope College is situated in Holland, Michigan, the cutest town straight out of a Hallmark movie and 14 minutes from the beaches of Lake Michigan, ”writes our latest College Spotlight contributor. Read about the sense of community and tradition that drew Kylie to this midwest college.
The 2019-2020 Common App essay prompts will be the same as last year. What was Class of 2019’s most popular pick? “Topic of your choice.”
Find out what the prompts are for 2019-2020.
Interested in STEM, a small campus surrounded by 4 accessible colleges in southern California? Check out our College Spotlight on Harvey Mudd College.
If you like mild winters, close proximity to a music hub, cowboy boots, and top-notch education, then check out our latest student College Spotlight on Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
Read our January 2019 College Expert Newsletter.
Here are the topics in this month’s newsletter.
Read our December 2018 College Expert Newsletter.
Here are the topics in this month’s newsletter.
An invitation to a wedding in Napa Valley opened up the opportunity to tour colleges in the Bay Area. So in October of 2018, I was able to spend three nights in Palo Alto and visit 5 colleges. Every day was 75 and sunny. We loved Palo Alto with all the amazing restaurants, outdoor activities, and of course, the tech companies in Silicon Valley. Visiting Stanford was the highlight of the trip.
Located on the edge of Palo Alto, the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanford University’s vast campus houses seven schools (Humanities and Sciences; Engineering; Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences; Business; Law; Education; and Medicine), eighteen research centers and institutes, twenty libraries, several sports stadiums, art museums, a hospital, a golf course, a concert hall, and a shopping mall. Stanford has more than 16,000 students, about 7,000 of which are undergraduates. The Stanford community currently boasts 17 Nobel laureates. Stanford is big on both academics and sports; the Cardinal have won 130 national championships and 115 NCAA championships.
Stanford University sits on more than 8,000 beautiful acres in California’s Bay Area. Its campus borders Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Mountain View. The closest airports are in San Jose, 15 miles to the south, and San Francisco, 35 miles to the north. Palo Alto is known as the “Birthplace of the Silicon Valley,” since it is where the Hewlett Packard Corporation was launched. Palo Alto is a wealthy town with a population of 66,000 people, and it has a plethora of wonderful restaurants and shops.
Most students walk or bike to class; Stanford is a very bicycle-friendly university. Students can also keep cars on campus. About a quarter of Stanford students belong to the one of 15 fraternities or 14 sororities on campus. There are more 600 student organizations on campus, including publications, religious organizations, political groups, community service clubs, ethnic/cultural organizations, and LGBT organizations. A cappella groups, Taiko, and the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band are very popular.
All undergraduates are guaranteed four years of on-campus housing, and most undergrads choose to live on campus. After freshman year, many students try to live in one of the row houses. Some of the row houses have themes, such as the French House and the Italian House. Houses are either self-op (meaning they are run by the university and a personal chef cooks the meals) or co-op (meaning the student residents manage the house and cook the meals). Other options for housing include apartments and suites, fraternity and sorority houses, and traditional dormitories. Students living in dorms use their ID cards to purchase meals in dining halls, which offer all-you-can-eat food buffets with unlimited trips through the food service lines.
Tresidder Memorial Union offers fast food options and a Starbucks. There are also several wonderful restaurants on campus, including The Axe and Palm (specializing in burgers) and the Stanford Coffee House (called “the CoHo”), which has live music.
Stanford takes a holistic approach to admissions, and real people review each application, so there are no cutoffs for test scores or GPA. Admissions places most emphasis on transcripts and the degree to which students have challenged themselves academically by taking hard classes. When reviewing applications, admissions officer want to see that students have taken full advantage of the educational opportunities at their high school. Admissions reps are assigned to specific regions, and they get to know the high schools in their region very well; they know what each high school offers in terms of advanced and AP classes. Extracurricular activities are also important for admissions, but admissions prefers deep commitment to a few special interests over broad, superficial involvement. If students submit SAT subject tests scores, it’s best to have one subject in the liberal arts (i.e. literature, world history, US history, or a foreign language).
The Nov. 1 EA/ED deadline is just weeks away. How is your application coming? If you’re feeling behind or stressed, don’t worry! We know this is a crazy month and have scheduled Jam Sessions every Sunday throughout October and into November. Join us this weekend from 10-2 at THE EAGAN COMMUNITY CENTER. If you can’t make it, reach out to Sue, Ryan or your essay expert with questions. We’re here to help! #collegeexpert #collegeapplications #yougotthis
Welcome to our friends from @northcedaracademy! Thanks for making the trek from Ladysmith, Wisconsin to attend our College Expert jam session Sunday. We love the energy of a full house, and we were glad to have you join us! See you again soon! #collegeexpert #northcedaracademy #collegeexpertjamsession
North Cedar Academy friends at Jam session
I was excited to drive to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to meet with my students who are there and revisit Augustana. My visit to Augustana University showed me just how much this affordable, private, Norwegian-heritage liberal arts college has to offer. As the largest private university in the state, Augustana retains a strong alumni network and an enthusiastic “Augie” student body.
Often flying under the radar, Augustana may be of particular interest to those looking for a strong liberal arts education, more than 100 possible majors and minors, and is situated in a vibrant community not too far from home. I was thrilled to discover that Augustana University, with its 2000 undergrads, provides opportunities galore in this fast-growing city of Sioux Falls, which has a population of 250,000 people. Because Augustana is the only college in the city, notable local companies like Sanford Medical and Avera Medical benefit not only the town, but also the college in many ways, providing opportunities for internships, practicum’s, employment, etc.
An easy 4-hour drive from the Twin Cities, Sioux Falls is a cultural hub with a robust arts and theater community. Attracting top Broadway shows and musicians, Sioux Falls always has something going on. I stayed by the river and Falls Park, where 26 miles of biking and hiking trails surround the city. What I liked best about Sioux Falls, aside from the excellent restaurants and scenery, were the friendly people.
Froiland Science Complex
Augustana is known for its excellent undergraduate programs, all taught by professors. This liberal arts school requires students to complete a broad core curriculum, while also offering more than 100 undergraduate majors and minors to choose from.
“Inspired by the Lutheran scholarly tradition, students’ academic journey at Augustana University begins with an integrative First-Year Seminar. It continues through a broad liberal arts education in the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. Along the way, students will be challenged to examine thoroughly life’s foundational questions through conversation and academic inquiry as they explore faith, engage in service, and achieve an education of enduring worth.”
Pendulum in Froiland Science Complex
Standout programs include nursing, health sciences, pre-professional, and computer science, as well as more unique majors in sign language, data science and bioinformatics, among others. The huge medical community in Sioux Falls makes it an ideal place for health science students to explore the ample job opportunities. Augustana also offers some unique graduate studies programs in areas such as Master of Genetic Counseling in conjunction with Sanford Medical.
Also of note is the Civitas Honors Program, for those looking to enhance their education both academically and civically. “The Civitas Honors program at Augustana is centered on exploring the nature and characteristics of citizenship; at Augustana University, in the United States, and as part of a global community.” Civitas students also have the option to incorporate study and/or research abroad into their final vocation projects.
If engineering is your goal, Augustana has an excellent dual-degree engineering program. After earning a B.A. from Augustana in a major of their choice, students will then earn a degree in their chosen engineering specialty from either Columbia University (for a B.S. degree), or Washington University in St. Louis (where students can choose from a mix of bachelors and masters degree options).
Game Day
Augustana students are smart and outgoing, and enjoy being involved in activities. The competitive Division II athletic program is part of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Approximately 25 percent of students participate in athletics, but there is also no shortage of club and intramural sports on campus as well. The Augustana Vikings have top-notch facilities, including the new Sanford Fieldhouse, Elmen Center (basketball, volleyball and wrestling), Bowden Field (softball), Ronken Field (baseball), and Howard Wood Field (track and field), among others.
High school record is most important when considering applications at Augustana. Merit scholarships are plentiful for qualified students, and applications are accepted through the Common Application. According to the Augustana.edu website, an average student profile looks like the following:
Science Class
Graduation
Tuition for the 2018-1019 academic year at Augustana is $25,500, and this amount increases approximately 3 percent each year. Additional expenses not included in annual tuition amount include housing and meals, books and supplies, transportation and personal expenses.
New concert hall
Don’t miss these opportunities to connect with your colleges!
Read our September 2018 College Expert Newsletter.
Here are the topics in this month’s newsletter.
Looking for a small women’s college in southern California? Read Arianna’s Freshman year update blog about Scripps College.
Scripps campus
Love skiing, rock or ice climbing, and the great outdoors? Check out the Freshman Year Update Spotlight on Montana State University.
Friend of mine climbing at Bear Canyon, a 20 minute drive from campus.
Dear Class of 2018,
Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your college planning journey. Congratulations and all the best as you go off to college. Please keep in touch and let us know how your freshman year goes. Enjoy the summer!
Sue, Ryan, and the College Expert Team
Did you know University of Manitoba has reciprocity with Minnesota? Read this Spotlight to learn more about how affordable it is to attend this university just 7 hours north of the Twin Cities.
The Class of 2018 embraced the application process with excitement, diligence, and flexibility. When the Common Application went live on August 1st, our students worked hard, supported each other and wrote some of the best essays we have ever seen! Being proactive, nearly 100% of our students applied either early decision, early action, priority, or rolling decision, and that speaks volumes of the hard work and focus this class has.
Drawing on vast knowledge and experience, the College Expert team recommended an eclectic mix of colleges, many of which were unfamiliar to our clients or which our clients would not have considered without a comprehensive discussion. One-hundred percent of our students will attend a four year college in the fall because of our philosophy of finding the the right fit. We’re proud to unveil the Class of 2018 College Expert statistics:
Our Class of 2018 students will matriculate to colleges across the country in 29 different states! This includes Ivy League, engineering schools, music conservatories, small liberal arts colleges, research universities, Big Ten schools, and colleges with in-state tuition. We strived to help families find ways to afford college tuition, and we were overjoyed with the resulting merit scholarships, grants, and aid.
We also experienced notable firsts. One of our students was accepted into the highly competitive University of Minnesota BA/MD Scholars Program and another student received the prestigious Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars Program at University of Notre Dame. Other firsts are Ithaca College, Seattle University, Point Loma Nazarene University, Rice University, and Harvey Mudd College. These are just some examples of the variety of the right fit colleges for a diverse and amazing class.
Our 2018 statistics reflect a stellar group of students who want to experience the world and build upon their knowledge. We were honored to prepare them for the next chapter in their lives. We thank you for making this year extraordinary and meaningful. We wish our seniors all the best with the journey ahead and hope to keep in touch.
Here is the list of colleges our students will be attending:
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A message from three of our College Expert seniors.
We took a College Expert picture at Senior Day today. Thanks for helping us all get into such amazing colleges!!!
Bowdoin College is a small, liberal arts college known for academic rigor and is one of the impressive and highly selective NESCAC colleges. (The New England Small College Athletic Conference.) Bowdoin has a diverse student body, made up of approximately 1,800 students from all over the world, 189 full-time faculty members, and a 9:1 student/faculty ratio.
Nestled in the picturesque small New England town of Brunswick, Maine, is Bowdoin College. An easy 2-hour drive from Boston, and a mere 45-minutes from Portland, Maine, Bowdoin boasts a challenging curriculum designed to encourage students to learn, contribute and explore. The beautiful outdoor areas in and around Brunswick are not taken for granted by the active and curious students at Bowdoin.
At the core of Bowdoin College, is the idea that a student’s education should be focused on working toward a “common good.” Bowdoin College challenges its students to make an impact, in any number of ways, to benefit the “common good.” They view education is a privilege, and with that privilege comes responsibility. During my information session at Bowdoin, I had the strong sense that each and every person is valued and respected as a member of the Bowdoin community.
“Our focus is on the education of the whole person, so Bowdoin graduates can ‘be at home in all lands and all ages.’” Says Dean Tim Foster, quoting a passage from “The Offer of the College” – a 100-year-old philosophy still relevant to today’s students. Students applying to Bowdoin should read “The Offer,” and think about which aspect of the statement they relate to or agree with most.
Students seeking a liberal education at Bowdoin prepare for a life of purpose through appreciation of cultural and societal differences in our globally connected world, where everyone has value, and deserves respect.
Bowdoin offers more than 40 majors, as well as undergraduate fellowship opportunities for research. As part of the curriculum, students complete at least one full-credit course in each of five distribution areas along with a first-year seminar in their first two years of study, declaring a major in spring of the sophomore year. The flexible nature of the distribution requirements and ample support from student advisors, make it easy for students to come in as “undecided” and discover a career path that fits their individual interests. For graduation, students complete a minimum of thirty-two courses, leaving ample room for exploration in the curriculum.
As an integral part of Brunswick, Bowdoin opens its doors to the community by offering the unique opportunity for residents to audit classes.
Students participate in any number of clubs and organizations on campus and in the community. During my visit, our student-speaker recommended students join three things, and get involved. He joined curling, outing club, glee club and a satirical newspaper.
All first year students will live in one of eight first year residence halls, also known as “bricks,” on the central campus.
After first year, upperclass students can choose one of several options:
Bowdoin is considered to be a “little Ivy” and is very selective with under a 15% acceptance rate. Bowdoin is looking for students who will make a difference in the world.
Common application or Coalition application required
Hint: contact Bowdoin rep early to set up
Attention rising seniors! It’s not too early to think about summer activities to get a jump on the college search. Here are the top 10 things to consider courtesy of the IECA. Click here for PDF.
Interested in studying International Relations, Political Science, Pre-Law, or Communications and be at the heart of our nation’s capital? Read this College Spotlight on American University located in Washington, D.C. to get a freshman’s perspective on life at the Capital.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to pay for college courtesy of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). Click on this link https://link.iecaonline.com/financial-aid-flyer to download the PDF.
In September 2017, I had the pleasure of visiting Dartmouth College, the smallest and most intimate of the Ivys, located in Hanover, New Hampshire, and just a two-hour drive from Boston. Dartmouth was founded before the Revolutionary War in 1769 and offers idyllic New England charm, a great college-town atmosphere, academic rigor, and many outlets for social life. Like many of the northeastern schools I have visited, Dartmouth will also appeal to the winter and nature-loving spirit of Minnesota natives. The college owns two nearby mountains, a ski mountain and ski lodge, and the Appalachian Trail runs right through the town. Students at Dartmouth embrace the outdoors and all four seasons, and are offered many different opportunities to engage with both the liberal arts and the natural world. The College runs its own organic farm three miles from campus and operates an observatory for stargazing.
For those looking for the large lecture hall-style college experience, Dartmouth is not likely the school for you. But for those interested in developing close relationships with other students and professors, who learn best working through discussion in small groups, Dartmouth College is an excellent choice.
With just 4,200 students, Dartmouth specializes in small discussion classes with an average class size under twenty. All classes are taught by world-renowned professors who are the leaders in their fields, and seek to enable students to discover material on their own rather than “cover” the material in a more traditional, lecture-based setting. The small size allows Dartmouth to focus on providing a first-class undergraduate education that nurtures the development of well-rounded, articulate, and engaged citizens. Dartmouth is on a quarter system, which allows for very flexible scheduling and helps students select their courses within the year-round academic calendar.
Known as the “D-Plan,” Dartmouth allows students to customize their academic calendar by registering for four, ten-week terms out of the twelve terms offered throughout the year. The flexible academic calendar allows students to pursue outside work, service, and study abroad opportunities while completing their degrees in four years. Note, the D-Plan may be challenging for students who require more structure and depends on students establishing a four-year plan (and sticking to it) to ensure all requirements are met.
At Dartmouth, students are encouraged to explore a range of courses, with the understanding that the jobs of tomorrow have yet to be created. Dartmouth also offers a number of experiential learning programs that combine classroom instruction with off-campus travel and research, and highly encourages students to register for multiple study abroad experiences. Many end up studying abroad three to four times during their undergraduate careers to improve language skills and pursue more in-depth knowledge of a particular topic. Dartmouth’s Institute for Arctic Studies offers interdisciplinary courses for students to take part in polar research or even participate in the student exchange program with the University of Greenland. Students are allowed to take some classes at Tuck Business School.
Dartmouth admissions staff is looking for students who are:
Approachable, Collaborative, Independent, Passionate, Curious, Engaged, and Adventurous. They also prize students that desire lifelong learning, and view Dartmouth as only the first step in this direction.
Dartmouth is committed to ensuring students receive the financial aid they need, and even offers free tuition to families making under $100,000 a year. In order to fulfill their goal of keeping student loans down, Dartmouth offers only need-based scholarships. Families should spend a half hour working with the net price calculator to get an idea for their likely family contribution. After applying, students will be contacted for an interview with local Dartmouth alumni, and are highly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.
Though a small school, Dartmouth features a very active Greek Life and levels of school spirit that rival the larger Ivys and state schools. Like Hogwarts, Dartmouth is also on the House system. Students move into houses as freshmen and remain with the same group through their undergraduate career. Despite its small size, Dartmouth offers activities for students with many different interests including a main stage theater production every term, 35 varsity teams, and even burling (log ruling). As freshmen, hundreds of Dartmouth students participate in the “first-year trips” program across New Hampshire and Vermont, choosing from both service trips or recreation-based trips exploring the nearby White Mountains.
Many students describe the campus and local community as a bit of an isolated bubble, but love it for this quality. Students who are smart, academically motivated, and seek the company of a community of scholars would thrive at Dartmouth. Students who are social and enjoy the outdoors through the changing seasons will also be happy here.
Wondering what colleges think about high school students using independent college counselors like us at College Expert? Here’s a blog by Tulane University’s Director of Admissions about this very topic. So You Are Using an Independent Counselor
This is an excellent article about how “parents can help their kids navigate the pressures of their digital lives — without pulling the plug on the positives.”
Social Media and Teen Anxiety
Class of 2021 picture. Each color shirt is a different dorm.
I had the pleasure of touring the Middlebury campus with admissions counselor Margo Graham, who is a Minnesota native. This is a beautiful college campus located in a gorgeous and peaceful New England setting in small town Vermont.
Founded in 1766, the town of Middlebury was burned to the ground during the Revolutionary War in 1778. As the town rebuilt from the fire, Middlebury College rose from the ashes, and was established in 1800. Today, the town of Middlebury is a cute, upscale town of just over 8,000, with a classic new england look and feel. Students can walk into town from campus and enjoy places to eat, shop, and explore the local arts scene. And the town loves its students right back, regularly attending the sporting events and music and theater performances at the College. Middlebury professors also tend to live in town and are a big part of the community. The closest airport is in Burlington, Vermont, just under an hour north of town. This college will appeal to Minnesotans who love snow! The area is surrounded by two different ski areas as well as a great system of cross-country ski trails. The Bread Loaf writers’ conferences held in August draws emerging poets and fiction writers to Middlebury every year for a series of workshops with established writers. The Conferences also offer a series of public readings and lectures, which draw students, professors, and community members.
Reflecting the College’s commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable living, the environmental sciences and STEM fields are huge at Middlebury. Many students involved in the computer science program go on to jobs in Silicon Valley, and 85% of students applying to medical school are accepted. Students involved in music will find many different ensembles to choose from, or may want to audition for the winter term musical, which always sells out. The school’s language programs are also a big draw, both for students and outside scholars. Language learners travel to Middlebury for its summer language schools offering eleven languages, and Middlebury students enroll in high numbers at the College’s forty language immersion programs abroad. Language learners on campus can select from ten different languages, and join a language table in the lunchroom for casual conversation practice or apply to live in a language house on campus for further immersion. In addition to a range of summer course offerings, including travel-oriented courses at sites across the US, Middlebury also offers a winter term with a wide variety of courses to choose from. Students can expect to develop close relationships with their professors, who are very dedicated to their students and the community. Because there are no graduate students, professors often ask students to collaborate on research projects and papers, which can provide students with valuable hands-on experience.
Middlebury College prides itself on its interdisciplinary programs and majors, and encourages students to experience a breadth of different experiences across the departments. Study abroad is also a popular option, with over 50% of juniors studying in over forty different foreign countries each year. Those prospective students set on experiencing Greek life need not apply, there is none of that here. Instead, students keep busy with recreational activities in the area, clubs, and College-sponsored sports. Middlebury is part of the New England Small College Athletic Conference or NESCAC, and about 60% of students are involved in sports. 43% of students receive financial aid to attend through need-blind scholarships. Though a small school of 2,450 students, the student body is quite diverse, representing seventy different countries, and students from all fifty states.
Middlebury College uses the Common App and Coalition App, and has a flexible scale for test scores. Taking a more holistic approach to admissions, Middlebury admissions is looking for students with a clear passion, strong character, desire to make a difference. If you are considering a gap year, Middlebury supports a model where students can choose to begin their first year in February rather than September. Affectionately termed “Febs,” Middlebury has found these students are more likely to assume leadership roles on campus and perform better academically.
Minnesota kids not trying to run away from winter weather would be very happy here! People are friendly, and they embrace and enjoy the winter. Students concerned for sustainability and environmental issues will likely be proud to attend this 100% carbon neutral institution. The majority of the school is also heated and cooled by the biomass gasification plant, which runs on locally-sourced wood chips rather than fuel oil. The city is generally quite liberal-leaning, but more conservatively-minded folks are certainly also welcome.
Here is our latest College Spotlight – University of Washington. Read about Mimi’s experience “rushing” to join a sorority and her academic advice for freshman year.
At College Expert, Ryan and I are honored to help students find the best matches between their personalities and campus cultures. Extensive research, college visits, and conferences enable us to put our fingers on the pulse of future happiness. We are experts at helping students develop academic, testing, and activities plans for high school.
Recently, in response to the new focus colleges are putting on the importance of personal qualities, we’ve added “character development” to our repertoire of discussions with students and parents. How does the concept relate to college admissions and beyond? For good reason, the Independent Educational Consultants Association’s Top 12 List identifies personal characteristics in the same league as demonstrated leadership and intellectual curiosity. While it’s an abstract topic to start, we find that many students are intrigued to have the conversation. And even those who experience an initial reaction of “Oh, no…something more to add to my busy schedule” do come around.
The highly-selective colleges, in particular, are “turning the tide” away from an emphasis on personal success by seeking students who make meaningful, ethical contributions to the common good. Harvard has much to say about this topic, including: “How open are you to new ideas and people? What about your maturity, character, leadership, self-confidence, warmth of personality, sense of humor, energy, concern for others, and grace under pressure?”
Duke’s website is crystal clear about what Admissions is seeking in a candidate: “Duke offers a multitude of opportunities to its undergraduates. We’re looking for students ready to respond to those opportunities intelligently, creatively and enthusiastically. We like ambition and curiosity, talent and persistence, energy and humanity…We especially appreciate students who love thinking hard about things and who like to make a difference in the world.”
And then there’s Boston College: “In selecting students, our admission staff looks for demonstrated evidence of academic ability, intellectual curiosity, strength of character, motivation, creativity, energy, and promise for personal growth and development. We also carefully consider recommendations by counselors and teachers, the required writing samples, and extracurricular activities”
How do we encourage our students to think about character-building in high school? First, we inform our clients of the priority that colleges place on the concept. Then, at every meeting, we touch on character development as part of the college planning agenda.
Here is a handful of ideas:
Ryan and I view our similar roles as that of guides—helping students navigate through an enjoyable secondary school journey while evolving into the best possible applicants. Character-building is not just for college applications, but rather, for the goal of becoming long-term contributors to society.
The University of Vermont (UVM) is located in Burlington, Vermont. With a population of 60,000, Burlington is both the largest city in Vermont, and the least populous U.S. city to be a state’s largest city! But it is really an ideal size for those looking for outdoor activities and things to do in town. Burlington has much to offer nature lovers, as well as those just looking for a leisurely brunch. The beautiful freshwater Lake Champlain, just a fifteen-minute walk from campus, will be a familiar sight for students from Minnesota, while the nearby mountains offer some exciting elevation and hiking trials. Burlington is known for its summer recreation activities, including boating, swimming, and camping. UVM offers many outdoors clubs, including the Outing club which sponsors camping trips, kayaking and other outdoor adventures.
Burlington’s artsy vibe may remind some of Minneapolis’ uptown neighborhood. The city has over 100 places to eat, including amazing gluten-free options. The Church Street district, located right next to campus, is where you’ll find constant activity, people, dogs, fun restaurants, music stores, shopping, and live music every night.
Though Burlington has a very warm, hometown feel, 75% of UVM students are from out of state. To cater to the out-of-towners, the city has an international airport with good connections. It is also very close to many major urban centers when the city starts to feel like a small town: five hours from New York City, four hours from Boston, and just two hours from Montreal, Canada.
This public land grant university was founded in 1791 by Ira Allen. With a student body of around 10,992, an average class size of thirty, and 98% professor-taught classes, UVM feels more like a small liberal arts college than a large state school. Academically, the school is known for its strong and innovative programs in environmental science, engineering, psychology, pre-law, and business. It also has a teaching hospital directly on campus connected to the nursing, pre-med and health sciences programs. UVM also proudly fosters learning experiences outside the classroom, that unite the local and the global, including a variety of environmental research projects. Over 90% of seniors are involved in either undergraduate research, experiential learning, or internship opportunities, and over 99 service-learning based courses are offered.
UVM accepts 68% of applicants. Admission is based on an ACT range of 27 to 32. To get accepted into the Honors program, the ACT range will need to be between 32 to 34. (UVM also super scores both the ACT and SAT). Admissions decisions focus on rigor of classes in addition to the GPA, but require a 3.41 GPA. UVM accepts both the Common and Coalition Apps. Students are also required to create an admissions portal to add additional information. The total cost of UVM is $50,000 annually for out of state students, with merit-based scholarships available up to $18,000.
UVM offers a range of activities, clubs, and resources that will appeal to the sports fan to the artist. At the Living/Learning Center, students can join the Pottery or Photography Co-op for a small membership fee to gain access to special equipment and materials, or apply to join the Arts Initiative, which UVM students with artists across the state of Vermont and socially-engaged art projects. At the Living/Learning Center, you will also find an art gallery and the Rhythm and Brews Coffeehouse, which sponsors a weekly open mic night. Sports fans will soon get acquainted with the UVM mascot: Rally the Catamount. The catamount, for those interested, is a wildcat. The UVM Catamounts basketball team have occasionally found their way into the NCAAP tournament, but hockey games are always packed with students. Only 8% of students are involved in Greek life. This is an active Greek community, but quite small. Overall, students are friendly, politically involved, interested in community work, and environmentally conscious.
This is a great option for students from Minnesota—with similar weather, natural beauty, and things to do outside. Students who embrace winter weather will be particularly happy here, and the Stowe ski hill is close by. But though the outdoors are spectacular, being outdoorsy is not a requirement. UVM is also an excellent choice for students looking for an adventure and trying to find their passion, who are open to exploring new ideas and experiences. The city remains quite liberal, very eco-friendly, and politically-engaged. Bernie Sanders was the mayor of Burlington from 1981-1990 and it shows: Burlington offers its own municipal broadband/cable service and city-owned power company. Students who are dog-lovers would also be happy here, there are dogs everywhere!
