<p>We all know about the Ivy's and Top 20 schools. Instead I'd like to hear from those of you with a favorite hidden gem school. Tell us what school it is and why you think it is so spectacular. I'll start:</p>
<p>GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS COLLEGE, St. Peter, MN</p>
<ul>
<li> Liberal arts school with challenging academics and unique programs with heavy emphasis on the development of writing, speaking and critical thinking skills</li>
<li> By far, the happiest students I have ever talked to personally and heard about (****myprofessor dot com gives it a 4.9 out of 5 on happiness scale)</li>
<li> A tight nit community where students are friendly, very inclusive and accepting</li>
<li> Very positive student-professor relationships </li>
<li> A greek system that hits the sweet spot. Those involved love it but it does not dominate. Can't rush til sophomore year, no houses.</li>
<li> Host of the annual Nobel Conference. Campus wide emphasis on social justice.</li>
<li> Incredible study abroad opportunities (financial aid applies)</li>
<li> Really nice financial aid opportunities for merit & need (#40 Kiplinger Best Value) </li>
<li> Huge variety of on campus dorm/living options</li>
<li> Students not required to live on campus all four years</li>
<li> Very active and fit student body -- great intramural program</li>
<li> Tons of campus activities and students stay on campus. Not a commuter school.</li>
<li> A business program -- a rarity for liberal arts schools</li>
<li> A unique fly-in program for out-of-state prospects</li>
<li> Rated one of the top schools in the country for food/dining</li>
</ul>
<p>^ Yes I have seen Sadilly’s thread. It is good but only focuses on certain programs. I’m looking for all the reasons one particular school is the favorite. i.e. a person would not typically choose a school just because of one program Sadilly cites. Instead they have a list of reasons. This is what I’m curious about.</p>
<p>eh. I’m not sure this thread has any traction - college choices are too subjective. Case in point; we toured Gustavus and our DD thought it atrocious, even after a good friend matriculated there and loved it.</p>
<p>It didn’t move the needle on anything; degree cred, aesthetics, athletics, alum network, college rankings, atmosphere/environment… it’s just “there” These schools are a dime a dozen. Don’t get me wrong, they’re good schools, for the person they fit and who see themselves there. But they are indistinguishable from their peers in every state.</p>
<p>Well, I’ll play: St. Mary’s College of Maryland. It’s a public LAC, described as an all-honors college, not part of U. of Md. system, and an excellent value for somebody looking for the LAC experience.</p>
<p>I’ll play, too. A great LAC that many people don’t know much about (even on CC) is Whitman, in Walla Walla, Washington, which is a beautiful town in eastern Washington’s Wine Country. Here are its Princeton Review rankings this year:</p>
<p>Combines the atmosphere of a big, sports-oriented flagship state university with easy access to an interesting major city (Washington, DC)</p>
<p>Lots of honors and special-interest programs for freshmen and sophomores that help make the huge campus community seem smaller</p>
<p>Substantial numbers of Banneker-Key and other merit scholarships for top in-state students </p>
<p>Easy transportation to other locations on the East Coast, including New York and New Jersey, which is where most of the out-of-staters come from.</p>
<p>Gustavus looked great in its Princeton Review’s review, particularly its academic and quality of life ratings. But when we toured actual campus, we were certainly underwhelmed. Gustavus’ campus was the “Plain Jane” of all the Midwest LACs we toured. Campus’ appearance and facilities were reminscent more of “state regional college” than caliber of its fellow “rural” LACs like Olaf, Beloit, DePauw, Wabash, Grinnell, Olaf, Carleton, etc. Science building and library were below par, overcrowded and worn. Library smelled of mold.</p>
<p>I find myself telling people about the University of Alabama, even though we do not have a family member there, because of what I have learned on CC. Alabama’s guaranteed merit aid, even for OOS students, is an extraordinary opportunity.</p>
<p>The two top Canadian universities, both world-class (equivalent to top US publics, if not quite Berkeley or Michigan then UNC, Wisconsin, UCSD), in vibrant, exciting cities. Completely predictable, numbers-based admissions. No need-based aid for US students, limited merit aid, but “soak the rich” sticker price for foreigners equates to in-state costs at many US public universities. Lots of US students at each. Not for kids who need their hands held – limited on-campus housing, lots of bureaucracy, students allowed to fail – but tremendous opportunities for those who take them. Two family friends who graduated recently (one from each) are in tippy-top US PhD programs in their fields.</p>
<p>It doesn’t get the love the Georgetown and GW get, but for kids with an interest in politics or international relations it’s a great place. </p>
<p>Nice campus in a residential area of Washington DC
Classes are scheduled so it’s easy to have a free day to intern in DC
DC internships are a lot easier to get during the school year - and they have lots of contacts
Honors program and attractive merit scholarships
A special three year Global Scholars program culminating in a BA - for high achievers, includes summer study abroad</p>
<p>Seconding GratefulDad’s recommendation. We toured Whitman this summer and DD is enchanted! And Walla Walla, even though it’s far from a metropolitan center, is a lovely vibrant college town. There are 3 colleges in Walla Walla and seemed to be filled with young people, and wine seekers. (me!me!)</p>
<p>Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC. My son didn’t apply but there was something we found very intriguing about it. It is one of only a few “work colleges” in the U.S., with a shared focus on academics, work, and service. A very cool concept that got us thinking about the purpose of his four years of college.</p>
<p>I’ll play. Santa Clara University. It has very good academic programs (those Jesuits really do higher education well), is a nice size (5000 or less undergrads), has no teaching assistants, has gorgeous and well maintained facilities, is 10 minutes from the San Jose Airport, is right in the Silicon Valley, and has one of the most pleasing year round climates you could imagine.</p>
<p>I’ll bite too. I mentioned Kettering University in another thread. It is primarily an engineering school in Michigan. They have a very unusual co-op program. All students have class for 12 weeks, then work for 12 weeks in a co-op and repeat that cycle. Many of them make enough during their co-op to pay for school. They graduate with real work experience, references, and, oftentimes, a job offer from their co-op company. </p>
<p>From their web site:</p>
<p>Kettering University is ranked #1 for Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (IME) and continues to be ranked in the Top Twenty in the nation in the current edition of “America’s Best Colleges Guide,” which is published by “U.S.News & World Report.” Kettering’s category is Undergraduate Engineering schools, whose highest degree is a bachelor’s or master’s degree.</p>
<h1>1 - Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering</h1>
<h1>2 - Mechanical Engineering</h1>
<h1>16 - Best Regional Universities: Midwest</h1>
<p>Programs To Look For: Internships/Co-operative Education
Kettering’s hands-on cooperative education offers a great way for students to determine whether or not to pursue certain fields. Students develop solid skills in writing resumes, learn how to manage corporate environments and assignments, and develop networking skills that will serve them for their entire career. Students also learn from professionals of diverse backgrounds, which is critical in today’s global economy.</p>
<p>Northeastern in Boston -
-outstanding co-op (for all students - they can live on campus)
-strong honors program
-generous merit scholarships
-international opportunities
-great city access, but campus-y feel</p>
<p>Michigan Tech in the UP of Michigan. Great little tech school specially for engineering that doesn’t get nearly the national attention it should. They have a lot of wilderness and children outreach programs for the students to get local children interested in science.</p>