Colleges that emphasize service (by their students, not for admission).

Parents Forum
1

<p>My son, a rising Senior, has visited a few colleges now, and finally some preferences are starting to emerge. One is study abroad, but I tell him that you can study abroad no matter what college you go to, although some colleges make it easier than others.</p>

<p>The other is service. The strongest preference he has voiced so far is for an emphasis on service to the underprivileged. He's a science brain, so this is somewhat unexpected; I thought he would be most impressed by state-of-the-art laboratories and Nobel-Prize-winning professors, but no. And I want to encourage this.</p>

<p>The two schools that have impressed him more than others are Notre Dame and DePaul. What other schools should I encourage him to consider, schools that emphasize service to the community, to the poor, to foreigners in troubled lands, etc.?</p>

2

<p>Wake Forest. Their motto is “Pro Humantaite” and they have a Volunteer Service Corps. They also have a HUGE Study Abroad Program, over 2/3 of their students go abroad once. They also have scholarship funds within the Volunteer Service Corp to study abroad to some poor regions and help out.</p>

3

<p>Villanova does a lot with community service because of their Augustinian traditions. It’s one of my favorite things about Villanova!</p>

4

<p>Elmira College in New York not only encourages, but requires that its students do some community service. Sixty hours is the minimum hours required to graduate there.</p>

5

<p>I think Guilford College,a Quaker school, is service oriented.</p>

6

<p>Cornell College in Iowa separates their dorm assignments by service choices. Interesting concept. The way I read it is that each dorm agrees upon a year long service project.</p>

7

<p>Grinnell is also such a school and has great science programs and facilities.</p>

8

<p>I would add the University of Dayton to the list.</p>

9

<p>Check out the Kinney program at Rhodes.</p>

10

<p>Rollins College, Earlham, Harvard all emphasize service for the sake of giving back to the community.</p>

11

<p>If he likes DePaul how about looking at Loyola Chocago at the same time? Very service oriented, and has campuses in Rome and Beijing. Many other study abroad programs as well.</p>

12

<p>Guilford College participates in the Bonner Scholars program. Bonner Scholars receive work-study pay for jobs in local non-profit organizations, and participate in various service projects during school holidays. Read up on Guilford and other colleges and universities involved with the Bonner Foundation at [About</a> the Bonner Foundation](<a href=“http://www.bonner.org/]About”>http://www.bonner.org/)</p>

13

<p>Might take a look at Duke and the Duke Engage program</p>

14

<p>If he is a little “left of center” he can look at Warren Wilson College in Asheville. One of a few colleges with a service and work requirement for graduation. They have a fall break and spring break so their students can go on service trips.
Study abroad for a semester or over break is the norm.
Very small school but with their share of science geeks.</p>

15

<p>Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. I will look into them.</p>

<p>I think nearly every college has service programs that students can choose to get involved in. My question is about colleges that make service a focal point of the college experience. What impressed my son about Notre Dame and DePaul was that service was not just mentioned as one of the many things that students can do; it was the centerpiece of their presentations. Which other schools have that level of emphasis? (Of the ones noted above, Loyola and Warren Wilson seem to fit the bill.)</p>

16

<p>William and Mary’s Sharpe Scholars exemplify the school’s support of service. Great sciences, also.</p>

17

<p>Tulane University. After Hurricane Katrina, Tulane instituted a 20 hour community service requirement. This is incorporated into all disciplines and it is fulfilled as an (ungraded) add on to specific classes. It’s a way to both give back and participate in the rebuilding of New Orleans and a wonderful opportunity for the students.</p>

<p>Many students dedicated to community service are choosing to apply to Tulane as a result of the emphasis on the service requirement and the opportunity to help rebuild the city.</p>

18

<p>I second Tulane. It requires a number of service-learning courses for graduation. In addition, student-run volunteer programs are very popular there.</p>

19

<p>Just google Rhodes College + community service. I think you’ll find that service is the tie that binds. 4/5 Rhodes students are involved and it is stressed everywhere- scholarships, programs, leadership training. It was evident to my D from the first visit on that it was not just “lip-service”.;)</p>

20

<p>Check out any of the 28 Jesuit colleges or universitites (like Loyola Chicago which you have mentioned). They all espouse a philosophy of developing their students as “men and women for others” and their campus life will offer many opportunities for such service.</p>

<p>In fact, they also encourage post graduate volunteer service as well through Jesuit Volunteer Corps.
Depending on wherever in the country you student wishes to go, you should be able to find a Jesuit college to consider.</p>