<p>wmass11 - you can read that and I’ll throw this in:</p>
<p>CSS is part of an interdisciplinary program called, “The College Program”, that has been in existence since 1959, involving small classes that meet once a week, usually three of them, one in Economics, one in History and one in Government. In between the times that classes (or tutorials, as they are referred to in CSS-speak) meet, students are expected to read tons of assigned material and prepare short papers. You are admitted to the program sophomore year and for the rest of your time at Wesleyan your electives are pretty much at a minimum.</p>
<p>At one time they were taught on a non-graded basis and were considered highly experimental. Nowadays grades are made available for grad school purposes and both COL and CSS, are considered pretty intense academically. They each have their own academic calendar and at one time even had their own dormitories (until about 1980) which led some to call The College Program Wesleyan’s answer to Oxbridge. </p>
<p>Less cloistered now than they once were, COL and CSS still have a distinct character and appeal. I think they appeal to people who don’t need or don’t want a lot of academic advising and who can manage “free” time efficiently. A typical week goes by very fast and the unprepared can fall behind in the reading very easily.</p>