Underrated gems. Colleges that are never mentioned on CC but are really fantastic

Parents Forum
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@privatebanker , I have never been to the campus, just read about it and seen pics/videos. I will see it for the first time in August. My H and S went to accepted student weekend. My H said he would go there if he could–sand and water, pelicans and flamingos, beautiful weather, hammocks, kayaks and paddleboards, bare feet, bikes and skateboards, etc.

My H was also very impressed that on a Sunday night, so many professors were at the event, milling around and speaking with parents and students. He said the students he spoke with or overheard were all very engaged with their studies and talking about research or study abroad programs they were participating in. The vibe was both chill and academic at the same time.

My S was looking for nice weather, strong study abroad, an option to major in Creative Writing (though he is still considering History and Literature as well–a lot of double majors at Eckerd it seems so I think he could combine), out of state. Apparently the average Eckerd student travels 1000 miles to attend!

One big thing that attracted him to the school is the pet policy. After first semester you may bring a pet under 40 pounds to live with you in the dorms. Dog, cat, hedgehog, bird, snake, lizard, rabbit, etc. He is unsure yet if he will bring his cat but he has the option which is nice. They have had this policy for decades and it seems to work for them.

As an FYI, the school is on a 4:1:4 schedule. The first year you have a 3 week Autumn Term in August where you take one class and get acclimated to college life. Only freshman on campus at this time. The rest of the years there is a 3 week January term. It appears many students go abroad for these though you don’t have to. From what I gather it is not unusual for students to have multiple study abroad experiences of varying lengths.

These are just quick impressions, someone like @Creekland would know more than me!

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University of Tampa has made major strides in the past few years. We’ve lived in Tampa for 26 years. Like the city itself, the school has come alive. Used to be one main central building (marquee building turned into the Henry Plant museum but still houses classes, admin, etc.) Has grown from approx 4k to 8k students since we’ve been here. I remember they had a housing crisis which led to kids staying in hotels but that’s all been remedied by several brand new tower dorms that are beautiful. The facilities have all had a facelift. School is right on the river, which didn’t used to mean much, but now the city has developed the River Walk . Very pretty area literally in downtown Tampa. Tons of festivals (typically very other weekend). The city is starting to get a cool vibe and it’s all right there for UT kids (literally a walk across a short bridge).

S played several baseball tournaments at their complex and it’s first rate. D2 sports but a very strong baseball program -kids get drafted virtually every yr - have won the D2 College World Series a few times.

Believe it has a decent business school. Know some kids in the performing arts program.

When my wife and I are downtown (at a festival or Performing Arts Center usually), we frequently comment how pretty the area has become and that UT would be a pretty cool place to attend college.

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Wow. I want to go too! I really like the mini session for frosh. My own d was shocked at the pace and it would have been a good warm up.

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@Trixy34 Clarkson is well known for engineering where I live and great and fun hockey program too.

St Lawrence has always been a destination in our area from the top boarding schools and day schools. All alums I know are very proud of their time there and the resources they had. Never been in person. Many send their own children which says a lot to me.

Great additions!

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@rickle1 Lead banker on an IPO I worked on 20 years ago was a UTampa grad. Dynamic and talented are understatements. She wore her school colors with pride.

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Eckerd is known for their great mentor/student relationships, focus on collaborative learning, student/mentor research, marine science, (largest number of NOAA Hollings Scholars in the US), youngest school with a Phi Beta Kappa Program, environmental studies, study abroad programs, Writers in Paradise series, Ford Apprentice Scholars, Sea Semester, Senior Capstone, Peace Corps Prep Program, Coast Guard approved Search and Rescue, active Hillel program, and Makers Space. Well integrated academic and student life program. Student run organizations, including requesting and operating their own budgets. Award winning newspaper. There are new programs, BFA, endowed theater/film, animal studies. New visual arts center, renovated to new- natural sciences buildings. Five year old James Center for Molecular and Life Sciences, and the GalbraithMarine science building. There is a theater and Eckerd also serves as home base for a local theater company. There is a sailing center and an active Waterfront facility with sailboats, kayaks, paddleboards, and fishing gear that is free for students along with lessons. It is a very close community, strong emphasis for social justice, environment, sustainability programs, green buildings. The atmosphere is welcoming to all. There is a new office of Advocacy and Gender Justice. It is a live and let live vibe. The school is also known for their International Studies programs with a goal of having every student experience at least one study abroad program in their 4 years. (Active fundraising for scholarships for that program). Generous merit and financial aid offered. Autumn term is unique for freshman. They, the RA’s and student mentors are the only ones ones on campus for 3 weeks in August prior to the start of school. They take a college course every morning and have dorm, team building events and scheduled events in the St. Pete area. Each student is given a mentor who will teach that Autumn class as well as teach their year long Human Experience class. The students in each group stay together for the year. They usually bond very well during this time. In senior year, they try to bring these same groups together for their Senior Capstone course. It is a Division III school. @bearpanther, welcome to the Eckerd family. We have 2 children who are grads. You may be interested in joining the Eckerd College Facebook page!

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@privatebanker Golf buddy of mine is a Partner at a regional CPA firm. Attended Furman. He spends his days advising closely held to medium size company’s C - Suite on M&A activities. Great school in the south.

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New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech) in Socorro, NM.

For anyone interested in STEM (or technical communication or management of technical fields) this is great small college. (~1600 undergrads + 600 graduate students) Consistently ranked as a “Best Value” college, Tech is considered very strong in physics & materials engineering. Tech offers the only explosive materials bachelor’s program in the US. Tech also has strong programs in petroleum engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science and geology. Tech ranked #15 in the nation for colleges whose graduates who obtained PhDs in science and engineering and #1 among public colleges (according the National Science Foundation).

Some other cool things— Tech shares it campus with NRAO (National Radio Astronomy Observatory), has its own private 18 hole golf course and owns a volcano observatory atop Mt Erebus in Antartica. And the most popular club on campus? Bellydancing.

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Transylvania University in Lexington, KY is a fine LAC. Small, about 960 students, with a good academic reputation. Lexington is a great town and the students go to UK sporting events and the Kentucky Derby for fun. Centre and Berea seem to get most of the attention on CC, but Transy deserves a look as well.

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@WayOutWestMom You made my day. Exactly the type of info and detail I was hoping for originally. What an interesting school and excellent insight. The observatory. The golf golf course. And the majors - especially some specialty areas.

If you’re a road builder and engineer how employable would you be immediately with the explosives major. Or for mining or architectural demolition.

Wow. What a great opportunity some student. And New Mexico is an outdoors person paradise.

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I aslo loved Lycoming! Small school but a nice sized town, and decent merit for the average student. Big D3 sports.

Castleton in VT was also a beautiful campus. Too rural for S17, but Amtrak across the street, good D3 sports, seemed like down to earth, friendly kids when we there. Not sure what’s majors are best, but despite being small, it’s a public school so the OOS cost isn’t crazy and there was merit for those with a 3.0 and up.

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Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA. Gorgeous campus. A small, all women’s LAC undergrad (coed grad school) excellent nursing program with a 98% first time NCLEX pass rate last year, strong forensic science program. All sophomores travel over spring break through the Sophomore Expedition, a travel/service trip, free of charge. This year they went to Athens, Greece and the year before Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A good number of first gen students. Excellent merit aid. Part of the LVAIC consortium with Muhlenberg, Lehigh, Lafayette, Moravian and DeSales.

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@123France that sounds like a real hidden gem. And those pass rates for nursing boards is outstanding. A young woman interested in nursing or forsensics- with that travel program and lac atmosphere sounds like a real opportunity for many.

The only time I’ve heard of it was either the Hun School or another college choice videos. I wondered where it was and they back story.

Awesome addition.

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@marrast I sounds like a nice school. If you didn’t highlight it I would have thought it was located in Europe. lol.

20 years ago I had a colleague who went to Muhlenberg. I was so far away from the college awareness scene- I honestly had introduced her in a meeting and mentioned her having been educated in Germany. Yes, I am not that bright. Lucky I can do a little math.

We still laugh about it and I’m embarrassed now learning how wonderful and how well known it is to the world.

New England is a bit of a bubble. I need to get out more.

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Here’s a shout-out to the schools in Michigan that rarely get a mention here.

Kalamazoo College has appeared in this thread along with Kettering (both very worthy!) but there are so many more. Calvin and Hillsdale serve particular niches - a Christian conservative (Calvin) or political conservative (Hillsdale) will find a lot to love. Hope College is a great LAC with a (slightly) less conservative vibe.

Then you have Albion, Adrian, Alma - more of a happy medium. Adrian has incredible athletics (DIII) for a school its size (for example: varsity figure/synchronized skating)…Albion has a varsity equestrian team, the Ford Institute for Public Policy is well regarded, and what a lovely traditional campus.

These schools don’t carry the high sticker price of LACs in more glamorous locations (Hillsdale is an amazing bargain - 26k/yr. tuition) plus they tend to be very generous with aid.

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@oneofthosemoms Seconding the mention of Hope College in Holland, MI. My D is an incoming freshman. She got generous merit aid and a paid summer research position for this summer doing physics research. COA before aid is about 46K.

Although people may associate Hope with conservative Dutch Protestantism, it also has a significant Catholic contingent and now has a full time Catholic priest.

https://hope.edu/news/2017/campus-life/saint-benedict-institute-hires-priest-chaplain-to-serve-hope-college-catholics.html.

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Montana State in Bozeman. Solid engineering school, skiing close, cool college town, and very affordable.

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I always thought Montana States location was ideal for the student looking for the big sky type experience. Skiing hiking and fishing lifestyle paired with a wonderful opportunity for bs or ba at a Low cost.

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Love this thread. As a PA resident, I can say that there are a lot of fantastic colleges in my state that fly under the radar on CC. Many have already been mentioned. One that I would add is Lebanon Valley College. I think that the only thread about it on CC is mine. :smile:

http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/2039248-lebanon-valley-college.html#latest

Another one would be LaSalle University in Philly. Doesn’t get a lot of love I would imagine because the surrounding area can appear a bit rough. It’s a well-respected Catholic college with a strong nursing program, among others.

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For the right kid, Kenyon could be perfect! It’s definitely not for everyone as it’s in the middle of farm country. And actually, alot of the food served comes from local farms and orchards.

The campus… To quote my S19 “I think I went thru a portal at Platform 9 3/4 to get here!” He absolutely loves it!!
You have Columbus an hour away & a small town of necessities a 5 minute shuttle ride away. Plus, there’s a 2 block by 2 block village smack in the middle of campus w/ various small eateries and such.
Facilities are a little behind the times, but there are major things happening!! Of course the KAC is spectacular, but they are also in the middle of building a whole new library & just completed a brand new English Quad. They also just started new soccer fields and updates to the baseball facilities/field.

One really cool thing that’s a little different… alot of the campus buildings aren’t buildings at all but instead they are renovated homes!!

The list of famous alumni is utterly ridiculous, particularly in film and publishing.
Paul Newman
Rutherford B Hayes
John Green (Turtles All the Way Down, et al)
Allison Janney (West Wing, et al)
Josh Radnor (How I met You Mother)
Bill Watterson (Calvin & Hobbes)
Leopoldo Lopez (mayor of Caracas currently on house arrest)
Johnathan Winters (actor)
Laura Hillenbrand (Seabisquit, Unbroken)
Shaka Smart (UT-Austin head mens basketball coach)
Tommy Vietor (Pod save America… GREAT podcast, btw!!)
William Rhenquist
Nicholas Petricca (Walk the Moon)
Ransom Riggs (Home for Peculiar Children)
Wendy Macleod (playwright)