Deep Springs College for the Ladies?

Parents Forum
1

<p>Hi! I'm posting this here because an internet search didn't turn up very much and I'm hoping you guys have heard of something like this.</p>

<p>Deep Springs is an all-male college in the Nevada Desert, where a select group of boys (men?) go to study liberal arts and work on a ranch for two years. The program has a strong leadership/community service focus. A friend of mine has applied for this fall.</p>

<p>I'm wondering if there are any similar colleges (or even gap year opportunities/retreats) for females---a place to go to contemplate big issues, work hard physically, and plan a life. Is there something in another country? A kibbutz? A retreat? A college in another culture? Or something in the US?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Check out NOLS - not just for females, but certainly open to them.
They have semester courses as well as their shorter trips.
My D's college friend spent last semester in Patagonia with NOLS.
Apparently the trip was unbelievable. I've heard wonderful things from others about this organization, as well.</p>

<p>edit: NOLS=National Outdoor Leadership School</p>

3

<p>There are indeed other colleges like Deep Springs, although none just for females. They're called work colleges, and you can find out more about them through the Work College Consortium. Deep Springs is actually an associate member of the WCC. Like Deep Springs the member colleges of the WCC ask students to contribute work hours towards the operation of the college/facilities, and the expectation that all students will contribute is an integral part of their educational philosophy. Here's the link to the Work College Consortium's website so you can learn more:
<a href="http://www.workcolleges.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.workcolleges.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>"Ladies"? Is that what female college applicants are called?</p>

5

<p>Thanks so much ASAP and Carolyn. NOLS and the Work Colleges look very interesting. :)</p>

<p>Do you know anything else about programs that might have a stronger emphasis on community, something like a commune with a liberal arts curriculum? I was thinking of something like St. John's crossed with a kibbutz, which is what Deep Springs seems like.</p>

<p>And, yeah, I call them ladies. It was a toss up between girls and women, so I chose the formal approach. :P</p>

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<p>NOLS doesn't limit enrollment to young adults. I'm seriously considering signing up after I shoo my son off to college.</p>

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<p>Thomas Aquinas College, California. Small community--about 350. Great Books curriculum. Lots of contemplation. Ladies and Gentlemen. Not a work school, but some do work/study.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the information. Silly me, I just found this on the Deep Springs website. I guess I should have found it earlier, but I thought I'd post it up here in case anyone searches for this post later:</p>

<p>You might want to look at Antioch College in Ohio, Berea College in Kentucky, the College of the Atlantic in Maine, the Evergreen State College in Washington, Prescott College in Arizona, Shimer College in Illinois, Warren Wilson College in North Carolina, and Western Washington University's Fairhaven College.</p>

<p>None of them seem to share the philosophical approach of Deep Springs, unfortunately.</p>