Looking Beyond the Rankings

College Search & Lists
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<p>When looking up information for a newsletter I do, I’m always impressed with the variety of programs and opportunities available if you just take a little time to look. So I’ve decided to do a quick summary of the highlights of the schools I reviewed this week. I’m not saying that these are great schools for everyone but they could be for the right kid.</p>

<p>Duquesne in Pennsylvania offers a five-year Bachelor/Masters in Social and Public Policy. Through its Cyril H. Wecht Institute of Forensic Science and Law, students can get a certificate or Masters in Forensic Science and Law, a certificate in forensic nursing, or a Master of Science in Nursing on the forensic track. Watch out for costs, however, 16% of freshman had non-federal students loans with an average of over $11,000.</p>

<p>Simmons College is a women’s college in Boston. It offers a 3-1 program for a Bachelors and Masters in Social Work, Library Information Science, or Public Policy depending on your undergraduate major. The Center for the Study of Children’s Literature offers a Masters in Children’s Literature. Unfortunately, 21% of freshman have non-federal loans for an average of over $16,000.</p>

<p>Bluffton University in Ohio offers three-year degree programs in Business Administration, Economics, Information Technology, Marketing, Music, English, History, Art, Spanish, and Writing.</p>

<p>Truman University in Missouri is a public Liberal Arts College with a Phi Beta Kappa Chapter. As part of their capstone project, students compile a Liberal Arts Portfolio. The TruScholars Program provides full-time summer research opportunities for up to 25 undergraduates. The total cost of attendance for out-of-state students is less than $25,000.</p>

<p>Millsaps College in Mississippi has its own Biocultural Reserve in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Its pre-health programs include a Medical Mentoring Program and summer research fellowships. You can get a five-year MBA even if you don’t major in business as an undergraduate but go through the Major Plus program. The Heritage Program covers the history of ideas that have shaped the world over two semesters and counts for four courses.</p>

<p>All of these schools accept at least 50% of their applicants and have at least a 50% graduation rate. You can get a list of 50-50 college here. [Do</a> It Yourself College Rankings](<a href=“http://diycollegerankings.com/]Do”>http://diycollegerankings.com/)</p>

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<p>Arcadia University has MAPS which are majors that require an academic year of study abroad. These includes Global Media Studies, Global Legal Studies, Sports Psychology, and Sports Management. It offers study abroad as part of its First Year Experience. They have several study centers abroad including Italy where it is certified by the Italian authorities for higher education. Their accelerated three-year degree programs include study abroad and an internship. </p>

<p>Lake Forest College has a summer research program after 1st year where participants live and work and participate in weekly colloquium. Offers 3 year degree option in philosophy, communication and Dual-degree programs in Law and International Studies. </p>

<p>Champlain College students can launch a business while earning their degree with BYOBiz program. Princeton Review rates it as a top ten undergraduate game design program, part of the The Game Studio at Champlain college. The college is also designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education by the NSA and Department of Homeland Security. Upside-Down curriculum that allows you to start taking classes in your major in your first year.</p>

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<p>I found three colleges especially interesting last week in my 50-50 College Profiles. Iowa State University, as you would expect, has some very impressive agricultural related programs including its BioCentury Research Farm which has integrated research and demonstration for biomass production and processing. But they have more than just agriculture. Majors in the College of Design, including Architecture, Graphic Design, and Landscape Architecture, can take a semester abroad in its Rome Program. Iowa State offers various undergraduate summer research opportunities including a 10 week program in Wind Energy Science, Engineering, and Policy. Undergraduates can participate in over 80 learning communities including Business Learning Teams, Microbiology, and Music.</p>

<p>Hope College is a Christian Liberal Arts college in Holland, Michigan. Undergraduates can do summer research through the Summer Hope Academic Research Program (SHARP.) The Mellon Foundation Scholars Program in the Arts and Humanities includes a junior project which can be useful when applying to graduate programs. The college has a unique Phelps Scholar program for promoting diversity.</p>

<p>Birmingham Southern College is a Liberal Arts College in Birmingham, Alabama were students can do undergraduate research through Vail College Fellows program. The college offers Foreign Languages Across the Curriculum in Spanish, French and German in areas such as Astronomy, Biology, and Music. The BSC Entrepreneurial Scholars Program includes an internship as well as a capstone project. Birmingham Southern also has majors and internships in Urban Environmental Studies.</p>

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<p>Spring Hill College is a small Jesuit College in Mobile, Alabama. You can experience social justice travel at its Italy Center in Bologna. They have established a new LEAP Program for freshman that focuses on Five LEAP Themes to build community.</p>

<p>The Missouri University of Science and Technology is a public institution located in Rolla, Missouri with 15 accredited undergraduate engineering programs. Mining majors and explosive engineering minors gain hands on experience with a university operated experimental mine. Students interested in nuclear engineering have access to the on-campus nuclear research reactor for students. The university offers a variety of opportunities for undergraduate research.</p>

<p>Seattle University offers an International Development Internship Program that places students in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Students in the College of Business and Economics can participate in the Undergraduate Leadership Development Program. The Matteo Ricci College offers a unique program in the humanities including degrees in Leadership and Teaching.</p>

<p>All 50-50 Colleges accept at least 50% of their applicants and have at least a 50% graduation rate. <a href=“http://diycollegerankings.com/2012/03/28/50-50-college-listing-intro/[/url]”>http://diycollegerankings.com/2012/03/28/50-50-college-listing-intro/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Thanks for continuing to post all this info Sadilly. It’s nice to see some relatively unknown schools that perform well.</p>

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<p>Glad you appreciate it. After looking at a lot of these schools, I just think it’s such a shame that you can only choose/attend one college. There are so many interesting things going on.</p>

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<p>Lycoming College is a Liberal Arts College in Pennsylvania. The Institute for Management Studies provides a hands-on approach to business education with special international programs. Students interested in the environment can do internships and study projects with the Clean Water Institute. The Center for the Study of Community and Economy allows students to produce original, applied research.</p>

<p>Linfield College is a small, all undergraduate college in Oregon. It has a January Term that offers study abroad opportunities. Linfield was one of the country’s top producers of Fulbright scholars in 2006 and 2010, with 22 scholarships awarded in the last 12 years (six in the past two years). Students can participate in the Linfield Research Institute which has promoted student and faculty research since 1955.</p>

<p>Towson is a public university just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. The university offers several unique undergraduate programs including degrees in forensic chemistry and e-Business. The College of Business and Economics offers a MentHER Program for women interested in business. The university has a School of Emerging Technologies to ensure research, development, and application of new technologies as part of student coursework.</p>

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<p>Rollins College is a Liberal Arts College in Florida. It has a strong International Learning program including a London Internship and Australian Studies Program. Students benefit from public lectures and visiting experts at the Winter Park Institute. Students in the Student-Faculty Collaborative Scholarship Program are expected to complete graduate level research and produce a peer-reviewed publication.</p>

<p>Sonoma State University in California contains the Hutchins School of Liberal Studies which offers an integrated humanities program as an alternative to the General Education requirements. The Wine Business Institute offers a BS in Wine Business Strategies. Students in anthropology, archaeology, local history, and ethnography gain hands-on experiences in the Anthropological Studies Center. The Center for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Analysis provides students with the opportunity to work on research and service contracts.</p>

<p>The University of Idaho offers a BS in PGA Golf Management. Undergraduate research is supported through the Student Grant Program. The university also sponsors the McClure Center Lectures on Science and Public Policy and the William Edgar Borah Outlawry of War Foundation. The Environmental Biotechnology Institute offers students hands-on opportunities in the areas of microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and environmental and biomedical biotechnology.</p>

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<p>Loyola University is a Jesuit institution in Maryland. The Sellinger Scholars program is an honors program for business administration. The School of Education has the oldest Montessori Institute accredited training center in North America. The Hauber Fellowships offers summer research in the sciences along with housing and a stipend. The Center for the Humanities funds summer fellowships for scholarly or creative projects in the humanities for undergraduates.</p>

<p>Pittsburg State University in Kansas offers business students Jungle Journeys to develop professional and personal skills for success. Students in the College of Technology benefit from the Kansas Technology Center which allows hands-on learning on the most up-to-date equipment.</p>

<p>Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is a small engineering school in Indiana. The Home for Environmentally Responsible Engineering program is open to all freshman of all majors and includes a living-learning community. The Independent Project/Research Opportunities Program provides funding and resources for student research including humanities and social science projects. Robotics is offered as a multidisciplinary minor to improve students’ ability to work on multidisciplinary teams.</p>

<p>All 50-50 Colleges accept at least 50% of their applicants and have at least a 50% graduation rate. [50-50</a> College Listing](<a href=“http://diycollegerankings.com/50-50-college-listing-intro/]50-50”>50-50 College List)</p>

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<p>sadilly, this is a gem of a thread. Please, please, please keep these coming!</p>

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<p>Planning on it. I’ve got a list of over 300 that I’m going through so I don’t think I’ll run out of interesting ones any time soon.</p>

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<p>Furman is a Liberal Arts University in South Carolina. Students can attend a assortment of conferences and lecture series at The Riley Institute at Furman. Furman provides a variety research programs through its Furman Advantage & Hipp Fellowship Programs. Students can major in multi-disciplinary majors including Neuroscience, Sustainability Science, and Asian Studies. According to its Common Data Set, the average merit award for freshman with no financial need was $18,012.</p>

<p>Butler University in Indiana sponsors an Annual Undergraduate Research Conference with 30 different institutions participating. Students at Butler can spend a semester in Washington DC or at other colleges in a student exchange program. Its Center for Urban Ecology manages an urban farm which provides internships and research opportunities for students. 21% of freshman have a high school GPA between 3.0 and 3.5. Butler doesn’t list its financial aid section of the Common Data Set (Sorry, I just figure that if they aren’t listing it, it’s probably not a place to go looking for generous financial aid).</p>

<p>East Carolina University offers students accepted into the Honors College a scholarship equal to instate tuition. EC Scholars receive $5,000 a semester as well as an additional $5000 to help support study abroad. The College of Business offers a Living-Learning Community for first-year business students. The Institute for Coastal Science and Policy has funding available for undergraduate students. Students can major in Hospitality Management, Interior Design and Merchandising, and Nutrition Science in the College of Human Ecology.</p>

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<p>The University of Denver supports undergraduate research through its Partners in Scholarship program which includes funding. Cherrington Global Scholars are able to study abroad for the same cost as attending the University of Denver. Students have hands-on learning opportunities through the Mt. Evans Field Station, International Center for Journalism and New Media, and the Meyer-Womble Observatory.</p>

<p>The World Languages and Cultures Program at Drake University in Iowa is structured to have students learn to communicate in the language immediately. The J-Term program offers a variety of opportunities to explore areas students wouldn’t otherwise have time for. The Engaged Citizen Experience brings a variety of speakers and conference to campus. The Principal Financial Group Center for Global Citizenship sponsors a Global Ambassador Program. First-year Journalism and Mass Communication students are required to purchase a video camera and can select from five majors including electronic media or News/Internet.</p>

<p>Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia offers majors in Risk Management and Insurance and Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing in the Haub School of Business. Food Marketing majors can participate in co-op program through the Academy of Food Marketing. The Faith-Justice Institute offers study tour opportunities as part of the study abroad programs and students can also participate in The Washington Center. Saint Joseph’s also has a variety of transfer agreements with local community colleges.</p>

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<p>great info! Butler and Rose Hulman are very well respected in the Midwest.</p>

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<p>Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire is home to the New Hampshire Institute of Politics which provides students with a variety of opportunities. The school also has the Dana Center for the Humanities which is a premier performing arts center. All students take four Humanities courses as freshman and sophomore years in Portraits of Human Greatness. The college has an Undergraduate Research Scholar Program that supports summer research with graduate level faculty mentors the summer before their senior year.</p>

<p>North Central College in Illinois offers study abroad courses during a December term. Students can also participate in a Chicago Term which consists of two classes and an internship. The college supports undergraduate research through various programs including the Richter Independent Study Fellowships of up to $5000. Students can take Verandah courses that provide in-depth discussion between faculty and students without traditional exams and course evaluations. The college also operates a student run radio station.</p>

<p>The University of North Carolina at Ashville is a public liberal arts college. Students in the Integrative Liberal Studies Program take courses that focus on integration and synthesis of knowledge across traditional disciplinary boundaries and participate in enrichment activities. The Great Smokies Writing Program offers free series for area writers to improve their writing. Undergraduate students can work on research projects in the National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center. The university is also the leading undergraduate campus for craft studies programs.</p>

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<p>The University of Kentucky offers pre-veterinary students research and internship opportunities through the Gluck Equine Research Center. The Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering offers engineering students a certificate in Nano-Scale Engineering. College of Business students participate in the departmental Research Experience Program. Students in the College of Arts & Sciences are eligible for international travel grants. First-year students can participate in the Discovery Seminar Program as an alternative to the General Education requirement.</p>

<p>Alfred University in New York offers engineering students a strong co-op program through the Inamori School of Engineering. Students also gain hands-on experience through the Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology and the Center for Environmental and Energy Research. All students have the opportunity to do funded research during the semester or summer through the Alfred Research Grants for Undergraduate Students. The university also hosts the Confucius Institute which promotes Chinese Language and Culture.</p>

<p>Providence College in Rhode Island has a four semester Development of Western Civilization program that is the center of its core curriculum. The college is part of the AICU Rhode Island Language Consortium which means that student can enroll in language courses at other institutions which are not offered Providence College. Student and faculty community service is facilitated through the Feinstein Institute for Public Service. Students can also study in Rome through the Theology Department’s program.</p>

<p>All 50-50 Colleges accept at least 50% of their applicants and have at least a 50% graduation rate. [50-50</a> College Listing](<a href=“http://diycollegerankings.com/50-50-college-listing-intro/]50-50”>50-50 College List)</p>

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<p>The College of Charleston in South Carolina has a School of Languages, Cultures and World affairs which includes International Studies as well as Classics. Marine Biology majors gain hands-on opportunities at the Grice Marine Laboratory including doing undergraduate summer research. Students develop leadership skills at the Ann and Lee Higdon Student Leadership Center through a variety of programs open to all majors including a free annual leadership conference.</p>

<p>At Case Western Reserve University in Ohio nursing students get hands-on experience in a student-run free health clinic. All seniors complete a capstone project as part of the SAGES undergraduate program. The university’s coop program is open to students in engineering, science, management, and accounting. Engineering students can study abroad through the Global Engineering Education Exchange Program or do a paid internship abroad. Business students complete their senior year with the Action Learning Program that involves a community consulting project.</p>

<p>Students at the University St. Thomas in Minnesota can work as research assistants on summer projects in the Center for Applied Mathematics. The university supports a variety of undergraduate research opportunities including a Community-Based Research Program, summer Housing Grants, and Student Travel Grants. Business students participate in start-up projects through the Small Business Institute. Engineering students can study Mechanical and Electric Engineering abroad during the January terms or for a semester in England or Spain.</p>

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<p>The College of Wooster in Ohio has a well established off-campus study program led by Wooster faculty. These include short-term mid-semester programs as well as summer and semester programs. The college has a strong emphasis on undergraduate research. All seniors complete a year-long Independent Study (IS) project. As part of its support of IS, the library reserves over 300 study carrels for seniors. Art or science students have access to dedicated studio space or labs. The Sophomore Research Program allows students to work as paid research assistants to faculty members. The Applied Mathematics Research Experience summer program provides students with practical application of mathematics and computer science. Freshman through Juniors are eligible for the Legal Humanitarian Fellowship which provides a stipend to complete a project.</p>

<p>Students at Wagner College in New York participate in the Wagner Plan which includes experiential learning, an Intermediate Learning Community, and a Senior Program. Freshman take part in a Reflect Tutorial that links field experiences directly to academic coursework. Students can also get hands-on experience through the Civic Innovations Program in area communities and earn a Civic Engagement Certificate. The college sponsors an extensive Academic and Cultural Enrichment program and participates in the New York Semester program.</p>

<p>Centenary College of Louisiana‘s Trek Program is a comprehensive program that develops students’ career, culture, and community skills. The college has a Foreign Language Coordinate Program for Business students. Museum Management students gain hands-on experiences in the on campus Meadows Museum of Art. The college is also home to the Jack London Research Center.</p>

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<p>This is a wonderful thread.</p>

<p>Thanks for mentioning ECU, around NC it has a reputation for just being a party school but it has great programs in science and the arts and it’s all around a great research-level school. </p>

<p>Also, for some reason I thought Case Western was more selective, but I never really researched it.</p>

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<p>This thread really is great for juniors like me who are starting to put together their lists! Thank you, thank you, thank you for taking time to share it! :)</p>