A College That Changes Lives

[warriordaughter]

<p>A bit late, but Hillsdale was one of forty liberal arts colleges profiled in the 2012 edition of the famed guide “Colleges That Change Lives.” The guide emphasizes “hidden gems” that make powerful impacts on their students. Some especially insightful quotes from the book’s profile of Hillsdale:</p>

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Hillsdale’s rigor is legendary . . . Several students mention the jolt of their fall semester freshman year. The reading load is heavy; writing is central to all disciplines. A senior remembers his first two weeks with a mixture of pain and awe: “I did horribly in some of my classes. I got a paper back and it didn’t even have a grade on it. My professor said, ‘Please come see me. You’ll have to start over.’ I went to the guy in the room next to mine and said, ‘This is crazy.’ But I saw in the upperclassmen such wisdom and excitement. I wanted that too, so I stayed. The academic challenge at Hillsdale made me grow more than any other experience in my life. There’s a common thread here that no one can quite explain, but we talk about how much the academic program has influenced us.”

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Dr. Justin Jackson, an English professor, speaks for his colleagues: "Students will do what you ask them to do. It is still very surprising to me. You can keep setting the standards higher and higher and they will try to achieve, and not simply for the grades. They’re engaged in an intellectual pursuit, and eventually, almost all of them let the pursuit, not the grade, be the prize. My colleagues at other schools long for this type of teaching experience.

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The irony of Hillsdale is that in embracing its independence and teaching a classical curriculum, it looks like a renegade in higher education. Its status perhaps has more to say about higher education than about Hillsdale in particular: In an era when many colleges and universities don’t ask much of their undergraduates, letting them pass off half-baked ideas as college-level work, little Hillsdale stands out. It asks students to examine the biggest ideas in human history, and when they cultivate their own opinions and ideas, their teachers smile and say, “Okay. Now prove it.” And they can.

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<p>Read more: <a href=“Hillsdale College – Colleges That Change Lives”>http://ctcl.org/colleges/hillsdale&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[DrGoogle]

<p>I read the 2007 version, I wonder how much has it changed since. Which new schools were added?</p>

[warriordaughter]

<p>^I own the 2007 edition as well. In the 2012 edition, Hampshire, Antioch, Hiram, and Evergreen State have been removed, although they are still part of the organization and are still listed on the website. This is speculation on my part, but I do know that Antioch suffered major financial issues since the last edition and even shut down temporarily-- maybe Hiram and Evergreen State have struggled as well? Hampshire seems to be doing well, though.</p>

<p>Those four schools were replaced by Hillsdale, St. Mary’s of California, Willamette, and Puget Sound. I am a huge fan of Willamette (and obviously, Hillsdale ) so I am glad those two at least were added.</p>

[DrGoogle]

<p>Glad to know, is the St. Mary’s of California near LA? I thought there is another one in North Cal but not sure. Good to know about Hillsdale, you are a great addition to the school. I’m very impressed with your college search.</p>

[warriordaughter]

<p>Thanks DrGoogle! St. Mary’s of California is in North California (Bay Area I believe). There is a women’s college called Mount St. Mary’s in LA, not too far from my home, but it is not a CTCL.</p>