<p>It IS an interesting school, just wasn’t close enough for my kids. It’s about 2 hours to skiing in Summit County in good traffic and weather give or take (90 some miles). If you are a weekend skier then it works out. If you want to be able to head out for a few runs after class to clear your head, not so much. My oldest really liked the concept of the block plan, but I think the only other 2 schools with block plans are Cornell (in Iowa) and one other - maybe St. John’s…</p>
<p>momofthreeboys makes some good points.
By all means visit any schools you are seriously considering. Middlebury’s ski area (which the college owns) is indeed closer to the school (though Colorado College gives you that 4-day break between schedule “blocks”.) I was up to the base at Middlebury last October. It’s small. Compared to New England areas, Rocky Mountain runs would tend to be longer and wider (the mountains being much bigger). Weather conditions could be very different, too. Colorado gets a LOT of sunshine. Vermont is more bitterly cold. Burlington in January: 10F average low - 27F average high. Colorado Springs in January: 14F average low - 42F average high. </p>
<p>I liked the Middlebury campus and facilities better than the Colorado College campus and facilities (though both are in gorgeous settings), but my kid far preferred the social atmosphere at CC. “Intellectual hippie jock” seems to a common type there (which sorta fits my son.) </p>
<p>The only other “block plan” school I know about is Cornell College. It’s in Iowa, so the skiing and surfing is probably not too great.</p>
<p>Colorado College is right at the foot of Pikes Peak (look up from various points on campus and wowie it is in your face) but you do have to drive to get to major ski areas, as momofthreeboys says. Nevertheless, kids there seem to do a whole lot of skiing and I assume snowboarding. </p>
<p>Also hiking and other outdoor stuff. As a “bonding” experience during orientation week, you go off in teams into the mountains, divided up into groups according to fitness and experience levels. Another great thing about the block plan is that you can go off to do field work in botany, archeology, envi sci or whatever for a week without having to worry about interference from other classes (because you only take one at a time).</p>
<p>Thanks. Hopefully I’ll be able to visit colleges in this upcoming year</p>