Colleges That Change Lives
On May 24th or May 25th, learn more about a distinctive group of colleges and universities. The program begins with a panel discussion designed to encourage students to make the college search process a well-informed journey that leads to the best possible choice. A college fair follows.
Time: 7pm
Place: New York's Hotel Pennsylvania
Why These Schools
When acclaimed education writer Loren Pope first set out to share with students, families, and counselors his thoughts about colleges, his goal was to provide insights that would allow people to make more informed choices. Too often college choices are made based on false perceptions, misinformation, or a lack of information—and these uninformed choices have led to higher dropout, transfer, and failure rates in higher education. After much research, Mr. Pope began championing a small group of less well-known colleges for their life-changing success with students. These 40 colleges and universities—two public and 38 private from 24 states and with enrollments ranging from 350 to 4,000—were recognized in the book Colleges That Change Lives.
The CTCL schools are a group of distinctive colleges and universities, each of which is unique in its own right. But, as Pope notes in the book,
"These schools share two essential elements: a familial sense of communal enterprise that gets students heavily involved in cooperative rather than competitive learning, and a faculty of scholars devoted to helping young people develop their powers, mentors who often become their valued friends."
This dynamic group of schools also share some other common attributes that have led to their distinction as colleges that change lives:
- Low student-to-faculty ratios that foster collaboration, engaged learning, and personal attention. Classes are taught by professors, not TAs.
- A commitment to undergraduate education that focuses on the liberal arts and sciences. Opportunities for undergraduate research are prevalent.
- A living and learning environment that is primarily residential and emphasizes the benefits of community, personal growth, participation, and involvement.
- Smaller student enrollments that allow students to be known and recognized as individuals.
- Out-of-classroom learning opportunities that provide students with an added perspective about themselves, their interests, and the global community. Participation in internships, study abroad, service to others, and special interest activities is common and expected.
- Holistic admission policies including several with "test-optional" applications for admission. These schools take into consideration everything about an applicant—not just their numbers on an application.
- Alumni networks that help graduates with professional and career development opportunities as well as foster lifelong friendships based on an involved and engaged undergraduate student experience.
