Right now I’m in the process of making my college decision, and I’m choosing between Connecticut College and another (small, liberal arts) school. I’m leaning towards Conn, but I am concerned about the seeming lack of clubs/activities/events and majors. I want to be on a campus where there is lots to do and people are engaged and involved outside of their academics. Is this the case at Conn, or am I correct in my perception that there aren’t a lot of extracurricular activities. Additionally, I am coming in undecided, so I am nervous to go to a school that doesn’t have my major once I figure out what I want to do. Any insight?
You’ve made your decision by now, but in the interest of championing a lesser known LAC, I’ll throw in my two cents to help others.
Connecticut College is very focused on quality of teaching, career development, and undergraduate research (for which it also offers a $3,000 stipend for internships.) It would be difficult to duplicate the kind of attention you’d receive there at 9 students per teacher.
They offer a rich variety of entertaining activities on campus, especially theater, music, and dance. Very strong on social justice, and worthwhile speakers and indie movies.
The science labs not only have sophisticated equipment, use of them is available for students starting with day one. Unlike at many well-equiped but large universities, where you have to compete with graduate students and outside renters. (The latter happens at U of Connecticut, for example.)
Connecticut College prides itself on cooperative self-government: Anything you wanted to change and could drum up support for, you could probably change. Including, I would guess, adding student activities and clubs that you and your cohort felt were missing.
Check out the Wall Street Journal’s ranking. When isolating LACs from universities, ConnColl’s profile emerges quite handsomely among the competitors. That ranking emphasizes things like outcomes and citations.
ConnColl is small, but well-placed on the coast for access to major NE cities. (As opposed to some that are out in the boonies. Fine, if that’s your thing.)
Among posters on CC, it has small but ardent fan base. Yet not as much attention as it deserves, in my opinion.
ED candidates find a 70% acceptance.