<p>This fall, I've done plenty of research on a lot of different schools in the process of sending in my applications. There's a lot of really neat programs that I discovered along the way, but I was surprised over break when I started applying to some more schools when I found some other really neat but REALLY obscure programs I thought deserved more spotlight. I'm curious to see what programs have you guys learned about that you wish you had known about earlier that others might benefit from knowing about earlier on in their college search.
Mine personally was the joint degree programme at William and Mary with St. Andrews in Scotland (in case you aren't familiar w/ this university, its the fourth best in the UK, and Prince William and Kate Middleton went and met there). You end up being an alumni of both GREAT schools, dividing your time between W&M and St. Andrews. I personally think that there really isn't a better program out there if you want to study abroad for a significant amount of time and study econ, international relations, history, or English.</p>
<p>For the curious, here's the link to W&M's blog posts about the program:
W&M</a> Blogs St Andrews</p>
<p>These only would’ve helped me if I had known I wanted to go into public health/statistics or a health-related field before I went to college - which I didn’t. But:</p>
<p>-American University’s [BA</a> in Public Health](<a href=“http://www.american.edu/cas/public-health/BA.cfm]BA”>BA in Public Health | American University, Washington, DC), especially given its location in DC and the opportunity to double-major or minor in one of American’s other great areas, like their quantitative methods minor. They also have a 3-year program in community health: [Public</a> Health Three-Year Cohort Program | American University, Washington, DC](<a href=“http://www.american.edu/cas/public-health/cohort-program.cfm]Public”>http://www.american.edu/cas/public-health/cohort-program.cfm)</p>
<p>-Tufts’ [second</a> major in community health](<a href=“Homepage | Department of Community Health”>Homepage | Department of Community Health)</p>
<p>-The [David</a> Quantitative Social Science Scholars Program](<a href=“http://www.cmu.edu/hss/qsss/]David”>QSSS - Quantitative Social Science Scholars Program - Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Carnegie Mellon University) at Carnegie Mellon</p>
<p>-Emory’s [BA/MSPH</a> program in biostatistics](<a href=“http://www.sph.emory.edu/cms/departments_centers/bios/degree_programs/ba-msph.html]BA/MSPH”>http://www.sph.emory.edu/cms/departments_centers/bios/degree_programs/ba-msph.html)</p>
<p>These are just general programs, but for students who are sure they want to study a non romance language, such as Chinese, Arabic, etc, in depth, they should consider one of the language flagship schools <a href=“http://www.thelanguageflagship.org/overviewn[/url]”>http://www.thelanguageflagship.org/overviewn</a> All of the schools on the list have outstanding programs for that specific language, and students will become fluent by the end of their studies. </p>
<p>For students interested in Asia, who want a LAC near a city, University of Puget Sound, known for its great merit scholarships, offers a Pacific Rim Study Abroad program. Details can be found here [Pacific</a> Rim/Asia Study-Travel Program - University of Puget Sound](<a href=“http://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/departments-and-programs/undergraduate/asian-studies/pac-rim/]Pacific”>http://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/departments-and-programs/undergraduate/asian-studies/pac-rim/)</p>
<p>If you’re interested in political science, Willamette University in Salem, Oregon should be a top consideration. The school is literally across the street from the Oregon state capitol, and many classes feature guest lectures by state assembly members. Internships are common, and Portland is only about an hour away by train (there’s a train stop close to campus).</p>
<p>I think most schools these days make an effort to offer unique and/or differentiating programs. I can name ‘special’ programs at every single college and university (and there are over a dozen) within an hour of my home. To list all the unique programs for every school is simply impossible. Not that attempting to publicize those you know of is a bad idea - it’s just that it’s too broad a topic and to be really useful, you’d need to break it down into categories (like julliet did for heath statistics).</p>
<p>That William andMary program sounds intriguing</p>
<p>^ I thought it was at least worth applying to, it also has reduced tuiton b/c St. Andrews tuition is lower than W&M’s. Tuition if you’re accepted for both W&M and St. Andrews is only $30,000 (OOS and IS), so if money’s an issue and you’d be paying full $40,000 elsewhere, it’s an interesting alternative. </p>
<p>If you guys want to make your posts more useful, specify which programs are useful for which types of study, which most of you already have. I know there’s plenty of special programs, these are just ones normal students who haven’t done a lot of research on their schools might not know about. I think it takes far too long in some instances to find these programs on your own, so whatever you guys can think of, write it out and link the website. This is meant to be a resource for kids who will want more from their college experience but don’t necessarily have the time, motivation or guidance to know to go looking for those opportunities. </p>
<p>Great info guys, keep it rolling!</p>
<p>The University of Southern California offers an interdisciplinary degree for those who have a strong interest in the arts. The major can be found in USC’s School of Dramatic Arts. It is a B.A. in Visual and Performing Arts Studies. This degree includes courses in the USC School of Cinematic Arts, School of Dramatic Arts, Thornton School of Music and the Roski School of Fine Arts. For more information the website is: <a href=“http://www.theatre.usc.edu%5B/url%5D”>www.theatre.usc.edu</a> .</p>
<p>The USC Marshall School of Business is offering a new degree which includes study in three countries. It is called the World Bachelor in Business. This program involves a year at the USC Marshall School of Business, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and a year at Universita Bocconi in Milan. Students select the university for their fourth year among those three. A detailed description of courses, goals and experiences can be found on the website: <a href=“http://www.wbb.usc.edu%5B/url%5D”>www.wbb.usc.edu</a> . The program is limited to 45 students.</p>
<p>UCSB’s College of Creative Studies</p>
<p>@gonnabefamous So does that mean you need to apply to both schools before starting college if you want reduced tuition.</p>
<p>If you apply via the Common App, you would apply to William and Mary, and then on the supplement, you would have to upload a 1500-2000 word essay response to this question:
As a candidate for the Joint Degree Programme, please provide an additional 1500-2000 word essay outlining why you are pursuing this Joint Degree option in the following academic area
You choose either history, economics, international relations, or English as your area of study, which you are then restricted to I think. You have the option of applying ED to William and Mary and being considered for the Joint Degree Programme during the RD round like everyone else, which obliges you to attend regardless of whether or not you get into the Joint Degree Programme, applying JUST to the Joint Degree Programme, which means if you aren’t admitted, then you do not have the option of attending William and Mary, or applying to both in the regular decision round (and then of course there’s the option of not applying at all!).
It notes that when you apply to the Joint Degree Programme, your information may be shared with St. Andrews, which is only fair, seeing as they’re accepting you too, albeit in a round about way.
The program works both ways, you can apply to St. Andrews and go through a similar process (I can’t speak personally as to what you have to do if you apply for their Joint Degree Programme, but I’d assume the application process would be the same, seeing as its the same program, just the other way around) to become part of their Joint Degree Programme. </p>
<p>Sorry about the length here, I’m assuming you’re pretty interested! The essay for this is rather long, so I wouldn’t advise starting your application two days before the deadline like I did! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!</p>
<p>Anyone have any others?</p>
<p>Ithaca College offers 10 full rides, including a Mac laptop, room, board, fees, tuition, in the Park School of Communications. [Park</a> Scholar Program - Ithaca College](<a href=“http://www.ithaca.edu/parkscholars/]Park”>The Park Scholar Program | Ithaca College) </p>
<p>[Roy</a> H. Park School of Communications - Ithaca College](<a href=“Roy H. Park School of Communications | Ithaca College”>Roy H. Park School of Communications | Ithaca College)</p>
<p>University of Montana Wilderness and Civilization Program
[Wilderness</a> and Civilization Program](<a href=“Wilderness and Civilization”>Wilderness and Civilization)</p>
<p>Montana State major in Snow Science
[Snow</a> Science](<a href=“http://www.montana.edu/wwwes/programs/snow.htm]Snow”>http://www.montana.edu/wwwes/programs/snow.htm)</p>
<p>Ag Engineering at Iowa State and be a part of this student club
[url=<a href=“http://www.stuorg.iastate.edu/powerpullers/cykotic.html]Cykotic[/url”>http://www.stuorg.iastate.edu/powerpullers/cykotic.html]Cykotic[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design have a 5 year dual degree program where you earn a BA from Brown and a BFA from RISD. You alternate residence between the adjacent campuses.</p>