UC San Diego

Greetings From the Campus of….UC San Diego!

Just as UC Santa Cruz sits within a forest of Redwood trees, UC San Diego is within a forest of Eucalyptus trees, providing much needed shade from the hot Southern California sun. Another option is the beach which borders one side of campus and students can take surfing for credit as a recreation class. Certain dorm rooms provide “killer” views of the ocean.

Students would enjoy fun in the sun more, if they weren’t so focused on academics. UCSD is a “hardworking, smart campus” and students spend a great deal of time in the modern library that looks like a space ship and provides views across campus. There is a serious emphasis on research in all disciplines, starting as early as freshman year. UCSD is particularly known for the sciences and many majors in Biology and Computer Science are “impacted” meaning that there are more students who want to major in these fields than there are slots available. In these cases one is admitted to a pre-major program and must compete academically for entrance into the major. Pre-med studies are very popular and UCSD is the #1 school in the country for Neuroscience.

Students are guaranteed two years of on-campus housing. They live in one of six residential/academic “colleges” or neighborhoods. Students rank their preference for each college based on its “philosophy” and general education requirements. For example, the Eleanor Roosevelt College (ERC) stresses “developing world citizens through scholarship, leadership and service.” Requirements include six quarters of the “Making of the Modern world” course and activities include language conversation tables in the dining hall, a celebration of a different culture each quarter, and international affairs discussion groups. In contrast, the John Muir college “celebrates the independent spirit” and the environment. Residence in a college is unrelated to a student’s major.

For fun, students participate in over 400 clubs, such as the DJ and Disc spinning club that broadcasts tunes all day at the Price Center, the state of the art student center with a movie theater and billiards room. Or, they can relax in the all-student-run Student Center or host their own radio or tv show. They also enjoy the spring Sun God festival with headliner bands and campus traditions such as the roof-top watermelon drop as a physics experiment. For a very large university, students “feel well-treated and taken care of” by the school.

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University of Denver (DU)

Greetings From the Campus Of…. University of Denver (DU)

(originally written 4/17/09 during a spring snow storm) It was 70 degrees all week, then rainy and cool yesterday, and now a snowstorm! The snow just makes the campus even more beautiful. The DU campus is in an ideal location: eight miles south of Denver in a residential area and one hour from the ski slopes. The campus buildings are a mix of historical and modern, evoking that “university” feel.

Students seem genuinely happy to be here. Actually, they don’t want to leave. More than one senior at the student information session lamented their upcoming graduation. The students seem to be a very involved, and also a very friendly bunch. Each one listed a vast number of extracurricular and service activities. Many were a part of the Pioneer Leadership Program, a program that requires a separate application and results in a minor in Leadership Studies. All had studied abroad, as 74% of the students do. The university heavily advocates the experience and subsidizes any programs more costly than DU tuition. Most of the student panel was part of the Alpine Club, the most popular club on campus, which organizes outdoor activities, including trips to the nearby mountains.

The students described DU as a “work hard, play hard” kind of school. The school is selective with an average GPA of 3.7 and the SAT mid-range from 1120-1320. Business majors are quite popular and opportunities for internships in Denver are plenty and easily accessible from the on-campus light rail stop. The Korbell School of International Studies is also well-respected with many popular majors. The Lamont School of Music has a world-class facility and many classes are open to non-music majors. The six-week interterm winter break also provides opportunities for internships or service learning classes, some international.

DU is not a place for students looking for a big sports school. While their Division I, National Championship Hockey team replaces the void of a football team, as does their National Championship Ski Team, students otherwise need to create their own school spirit. Most students do so by living on or near campus in abundant housing options and becoming very involved.

The student course load seems manageable with plenty of time for a well-balanced college experience. Most students graduate in 4 years, even if they wish they could stay longer.

Please visit my photo album at http://picasaweb.google.com/maritasurace/UniversityOfDenverDU#

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University of Colorado - Colorado Springs

Greetings From the Campus Of….. UC Colorado Springs!

(Originally written 4/15/09) It is known locally as UCCS. It has traditionally been a commuter school, but it is rapidly changing. It is currently known as one of the fastest growing campuses in CO – currently at 8000 students, but their master plan is to grow to 10,000 students in the next few years. Construction is rampant on campus – a new 1200 seat Events Center for their men’s basketball team, a renovated Dwyer Hall, a brand new Mechanical Engineering/Physics/Chemistry building, and the recently completed Recreation Center, which was designed based on student input, and includes large whirlpool hot tubs and a water slide. All of these amenities look out over the city of Colorado Springs, the beautiful Garden of the Gods geological site nearby, and the stunning Pike’s Peak visible from every corner of campus.

900 students currently live on campus, mostly freshmen, and housing is first-come first serve. More on-campus housing is planned and shuttle buses bring in students from just-off campus apartments and the commuter parking lots. The freshmen housing is in a ski lodge theme, with a cozy fireplace in their very nice cafeteria. Students here are for the most part serious about their studies. There are 140 clubs, including the SnowRiders Club, and 2 frats/2 sororities. While students actively participate, it is overall a quiet and conservative school.

Admission averages a 3.3-3.4 GPA and 23-24 ACT, with slightly higher requirements for Engineering (25 ACT) and Nursing. The essay is optional, but it will always help, especially for Nursing, which is competitive. Business and Engineering (a nationally top-ranked program) are the most popular majors. UCCS also has a very unique PGA certified Golf Management major as well as a Sports Management major that works with the nearby US Olympic Committee training center.

Overall, UCCS is a rapidly growing, up-and-coming school with a stunning location. It is still small enough where the teachers really want to get to know the students and the students really want to learn. Only 6% of students tend to be from out of state, and they offer the WUE tuition to western state students, except for Nursing majors.

Please visit my photo album at http://picasaweb.google.com/maritasurace/UniversityOfColoradoColoradoSprings# and my web site at http://www.collegeapplicationadvisors.com/

Regis University

Greetings From the Campus Of…..Regis University!

(Originally written on 4/16/09 on a rainy day) Regis is “a hidden gem” in a residential area of Denver. There is an Adult Education center and a Graduate Health Sciences program, but its core is a small, private Jesuit Catholic school of 1800 undergraduates. It is a pretty and compact campus, with several historical buildings as well as brand new ones like the recently completed science center. The students are very friendly, many coming from private or parochial schools, and they all seem to know each other. There is an easy feel to life on the campus, with music from the school radio station blasting out over the quad and in the student center. Reminders of upcoming events are posted everywhere, as the administration keeps the students busy with 30-40 organized activities per semester, including bus trips to the nearby mountains. Students also frequently take the free bus into downtown Denver for professional sporting events or dance clubs. Sixty percent of students live on campus in dorms or on-campus upper-class apartments.

The motto of the school is “How Ought We Live?” and students are encouraged to figure out what this means to them before graduation. There is a strong writing focus in all classes. There are core requirements, including a full year of religion, although it may be fulfilled through studies of world religions. Most students are Catholic although not all are actively practicing and some are questioning their faith. This is a safe place to do so. The most popular majors are Biology, Neuroscience and Nursing, as well as Communications. Students can become very close to their teachers, as they take a keen interest in them as individuals. Overall, Regis is a nurturing environment and students seem happy.

Please visit my photo album at http://picasaweb.google.com/maritasurace/RegisUniversityDenver# and my website at http://www.collegeapplicationadvisors.com/

Colorado School of the Mines

Greetings From the Campus of Colorado School of the Mines….in Golden, CO!

(originally written 4/16/09 on a rainy day) You know you’re not in Denver anymore when you reach Golden – it’s a small town of 17,000 residents, surrounded by beautiful foothill mountains – a world away from downtown Denver, which is only 20 minutes away. The Coors Brewery plant in town further adds to the ambiance. It’s been there since the late 1800’s, the location chosen for the natural spring water from the foothills. Mines student traditionally celebrate their 21st birthday with a free plant tour, followed by the free beer samples.

The School of the Mines is a serious Engineering, Science and Math school. It does still have a mining major, but that is the least popular. It is mostly known for Engineering, Math and the Sciences. For those students interested in Geology – this is the place to go. It also has an Economics/Business major, but this is mostly used as a minor; students in this major also need to complete the set core year of engineering classes. The Engineering majors (electrical, civil, mechanical) are the most popular and most women (30% of students) tend to go for the chemical and bio-chemical engineering majors. There are humanities requirements to round things out, but there are no majors in them. Graduates are so popular, with excellent job placement, that the career center has a waiting list for companies who want to come on campus to recruit.

When considering the School of the Mines, “work ethic” is the most important element to determine fit. This is a school for kids who can get themselves up in the morning to go to class on time, balance ski temptations with hours of homework, and proactively seek the abundant tutoring help and recognize when they need it. The school seeks kids who will work hard. They are willing to provide as much support as needed for them to succeed, but the student must fundamentally have a strong work ethic. A secondary element is an outside interest – it can be anything (an outdoors-type interest is a plus), but the school does not want kids who will just sit in their room and study. They want a dynamic community of students who “are not nerds” but students who will interact with each other, lead organizations, and participate in club events like the cardboard canoe races on the creek or robotics competitions. It’s not an easy school to get into – a 3.75 average GPA, 27/28 ACT, or 670 SAT math.

The School of the Mines is also a school about “tradition.” It has existed since the late 1800’s Colorado Gold Mining days. Each freshman must bring a 10 pound rock from their home to the school. During orientation, there is a ceremony where they climb nearby Mt. Zion, to place their rock on the school’s “M,” which they subsequently whitewash. Upon graduation, they re-climb Mt. Zion to claim a rock to take away with them. People say you can identify Mines alumi by the symbolic hardhat on their shelf and the whitewashed rock used as their office doorstop. Students also receive additional perks such as use of the forgery in the basement to work on personal projects. A brand new recreation center includes a rock climbing wall and a hot tub.

The School of the Mines is a place for students who are serious about their academics, want to go to school with like-minded people, but know how to have fun too.

Please visit my photo album at http://picasaweb.google.com/maritasurace/ColoradoSchoolOfTheMines# and my website at http://www.collegeapplicationadvisors.com/

Colorado College

Greetings From the Campus of….Colorado College in Colorado Springs, CO!

(originally written 4/14/09) Colorado College - CC for short - is a well-known liberal arts college in the Rocky Mountain region. The school is comprised of about 2000 undergrads and is highly selective. CC is known for its very unique academic “Block Plan” in which students study only one subject at a time for 3.5 weeks, and then get 4.5 days off, still resulting in 8 college classes per year. The Block Plan has benefits in that students don’t need to cram for multiple finals, each class is over quickly, and it allows for very unique opportunities such as classes in other countries or field study classes around the southwest. Usually classes meet from 9am-12 and then students can expect several hours of homework or lab work for that class, and sometimes a writing assignment. Popular majors include the sciences for pre-med, (chemistry, biology, neuroscience), geology and economics. A brand new Performing Arts center has recently boosted interest in the Performing and Visual Arts majors.

CC is an island of liberalism in the traditionally conservative town of Colorado Springs. Many of the classes are interdisciplinary, teach students to question, and the students themselves tend to be free spirits who are very into the outdoors. While some students may venture into downtown Colorado Springs for the tempered nightlife, most prefer to stay near campus and attend the senior off-campus parties. Many don’t party at all because it may impede their ability to get up early to catch the fresh snow at nearby ski resorts, mountain bike along the trails, or study. In general, there is a “work hard, play hard” ethic. The students are conscious of their academics because in the very small classes, participation will significantly affect their grade – there is no skipping of classes. Overall, this is a school for students who are genuinely interested in learning.

CC is overall extremely supportive of students, and subsidizes many activities including club-sponsored trips to ski resorts or southwest camping/mountain biking trips. The college also keeps students quite busy with on-campus activities. The campus is beautiful with a mix of historical buildings and dorms still in use (students must live on campus for 3 years). The views of Pikes Peak (14,000 feet) and the surrounding mountains are stunning. Colorado College will provide an excellent education to those who can afford it at almost $50k/year, as well survive the academic rigor.

Please visit my photo album at http://picasaweb.google.com/maritasurace/ColoradoCollege# and my web site at http://www.collegeapplicationadvisors.com/

University of Colorado - Boulder

Greetings from the Campus of ….University of Colorado at Boulder!

(originally written 4/13/09) First, let’s get the terminology straight… it’s called CU Boulder (the reason being that they didn’t want the UC abbreviation to be confused with the UC’s in CA. Other CO schools follow this tradition such as University of Denver - DU). The campus is absolutely “stunning”, and it is at the base of the Flat Iron Mountains. The newer side of campus is all Tuscan-style sandstone architecture and it blends in well with the older part of campus dating from the early 1900’s. It almost reminded me of an east coast college, if it wasn’t for the soaring mountains nearby. There are sprawling lawns and stately buildings and you definitely feel like you are at a very important and academic University.

The campus seems surprisingly compact, despite its documented 600 acres, with the freshmen dorms conveniently located near classrooms and the all-important Buffs football stadium. Stories abound about the incredible school spirit at home games with a filled 50,000+ fan stadium, and Ralphie, the live buffalo mascot (“Go Buffs” – get it?). Her handlers try to parade/charge her around the stadium as close to the opposing football team as possible to intimidate them before the start of the game!

Both students and alumni love CU with a passion. What’s not to love? It’s a beautiful campus located in a vibrant city, less than 2 hours from the popular ski resorts, and at the base of stunning mountains. Students do admit that the ski resorts are a bit of a distraction and many students will commit at least every Saturday to the slopes. The weekend “ski bus” helps, as do rides from friends. (One side note: many of the guys at CU have that “snowboarder look;” the girls are overall attractive.) Other popular outdoor activities include hiking, mountain biking (with trails leading into the mountains), rock climbing and white water rafting.

CU prides itself on its research as well as many outstanding programs such as Engineering, the Sciences, Aeronautics (18 astronaut alumni), Business and Journalism. Admitted students tend to be in the 3.3 to 3.9 GPA range, with a slightly higher GPA of 3.5 for Business and Engineering.

Boulder is an exciting town, with many upperclassmen preferring to move to off-campus housing on “the Hill,” which is also the very active “college town area” just across from campus. Older students also frequent the bars on Pearl Street in downtown Boulder and sometimes the night before a big game the marching band will do a playing bar tour. Pearl Street reflects the general liberalism of Boulder and the campus; Boulder is not a town for conservatives or the timid. A student told me that while some people do come to CU Boulder primarily to party and ski, most students take their academics seriously and get a lot out of their education.

Please view my photo album at http://picasaweb.google.com/maritasurace/UniversityOfColoradoBoulder# and visit my website at http://www.collegeapplicationadvisors.com/

Colorado State University - Ft. Collins

Greetings from the Campus of…Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO!

(originally written 4/13/09)

CSU is just a “nice” school. Fort Collins is a medium-sized, bucolic, historical town and students and residents alike just love living there. Most upperclassmen prefer to live in easy-to-find, off-campus student rental houses and apartments. There seems to be an easy relationship between students and residents as CSU overall does not seem to be a big partying crowd. Students of age enjoy the bars in the “college town” area of Old Town Fort Collins, but this is not a defining characteristic of the school. Most students are focused on their studies, and community service is a big part of the character of the school. The dominant form of transportation in the town and on campus is by bicycle, so you better enjoy riding your bike! If not, an excellent bus system will get you to/from campus, although cars are allowed for everyone. Freshmen are required to live on campus and dormitory options vary. Honors College and Engineering College students have the option of living in the Living/Learning communities in the brand new, environmentally green-built Academic Village.

The very large, sprawling campus is comprised of an eclectic myriad of buildings, from the horribly 70’s style era Arts & Sciences building that holds many of the required large General Ed freshmen lecture halls to architecturally beautiful new buildings including the new library, computer science building, and a new visual and performing arts center. In the “old” part of campus, from the days when CSU was known as the Agricultural and Mechanical (A&M) University, is the beautiful “oval” area with the many majestic buildings from the early 1900’s. It is an area where many students like to relax or play Frisbee on the lawn, as well as attend classes. There is also a beautiful lagoon, with sloping lawns, where many students like to study. The lagoon also hosts summer concerts for the town.

Overall, CSU evokes a sense of friendliness, happiness, ease of life and commitment to academics. To the west is a beautiful mountain view. During the day, students were studying all over campus – in the library, the student center, or out on the lawn. By the afternoon, they filled the vast, intramural fields to play sports. They spoke of the many concerts and other fun nightly activities available on campus or in town – no one seemed bored. Skiing is two hours away, so it is not as much as a distraction as it may be at schools closer to Denver. Greek life is also a significant part of CSU for the 7% of students who are interested. The Greeks take their role on campus seriously and focus on community service and philanthropy. In general, CSU Fort Collins seems like a nice, safe place for a quality education.

Please view my photo album at http://picasaweb.google.com/maritasurace/ColoradoStateUniversityFortCollins02# and visit my web site at http://www.collegeapplicationadvisors.com/

Greetings From Colorado!

(originally written 4/17/09)

Welcome to my tour of Colorado schools – 7 colleges in 5 days – let’s go! This is my first time in CO, other than flying through the airport. First, the weather here varies crazily, going from snow to 70 degrees and back within a few days, plus all temperatures in between. A common phrase is that “if you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes.” Secondly, most of the popular cities are “a mile high,” which means they are closer to the sun. It’s easy to get sun-burnt with the 300+ sunny days per year, the air is surprisingly dry like a desert town, and the altitude can make physical activity an extra oxygen challenge, but you get used to it. Third, the snowy mountains are actually about 1-2 hours away – up in Vail, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, etc. The way some Colorado students talk, you’d think they walk out of their dorms and right onto the ski slopes – not so! However they do head to the slopes at crazy early morning hours to catch the first ski run or organize their classes for long weekends. Finally, there is the unbelievable stunning beauty of the surrounding mountains – the kind that makes you feel alive and in wonderment of the earth. If you haven’t yet visited Colorado – you should.

University of Arizona

Greetings From the Campus of….. University of Arizona!

(originally written 2/16/09) UofA is just two hours south of Phoenix, in the medium-sized city of Tucson. The UA campus is beautiful, with the historic Old Main building from 1885, its expansive grass mall traversing the 380 acre campus, and the many architecturally pleasing red-brick and stately buildings. UA definitely has more of a desert feel, from the landscaping to the ever-present sense of dryness. Students combat this dryness by hanging out on “4th Street,” just off campus. I was quite surprised though, that this “college town” measures only two blocks. Many upperclassmen live and hang out in downtown Tucson, a few miles away. Freshmen students have 21 dorms from which to choose.

A great deal of Tucson social life revolves around the university (festivals, art shows, concerts). School spirit is also pervasive here, with ASU being their main rival. The USS Arizona bell is rung in the Main Quad Bell Tower after each victory and the fight song was sung as part of my campus tour.

UA is known as a top research university. The Engineering department alone has 18 majors! Statistics for admittance vary by school and program, but in general, students have a 3.36 GPA and 1100 SAT scores. Astronomy and Aerospace are top programs. There is an Honors College (3.9 GPA/1340 SAT) that allows for priority class registration. Freshmen classes can be quite large, (as in ASU also), but class size diminishes with upper-level classes.

The University of Arizona seems to have a “prestige factor” over ASU, despite similar admit statistics. Students considering either Arizona school should definitely visit both to best determine fit. They are both excellent schools.

View my photo album at http://picasaweb.google.com/maritasurace/UniversityOfArizona# and please visit my web site at www.CollegeApplicationAdvisors.com

Arizona State University - Tempe Campus

Greetings From the Campus Of…. Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ!

(Originally written 2/12/09) It’s a beautiful day here, as always, I’m told (300+ sunny days per year). The campus is abuzz about their win over UCLA in basketball last night – the Sun Devils’ school spirit is pervasive. Good thing that the opposing team’s fans didn’t make it up to “paint the A” on the mountain due to the ASU club camping overnight to guard its traditional gold color.

I’ve spent over two hours walking around the Tempe campus, as it is 642 acres huge and bustling with almost 50,000 undergrads. I’d say it’s somewhere between “active” and “comfortably crowded” but there seems to be just enough space for everyone. Many of the required housing freshman dorms are “eclectic-looking” from the outside, but nicely refurbished and large on the inside. Some freshmen dorms are new. New “just off-campus” upperclassmen student apartments are highly desirable.

The new Barrett Honors College (as in Craig “Intel” Barrett) is on track to open this fall – 9 brand new, environmentally friendly classroom/social/residential buildings (for students with an average 3.8 GPA/1320 SAT’s), plus 4-year guaranteed housing and many other perks and scholarships worth looking into. Besides that, ASU is interested in students from CA with an average 3.4 GPA and SAT’s in the 1100’s range (Critical Reading/Math). The full out-of-state cost is about $26k, comparable to the UC’s and less than private schools. With a rolling admissions process, you can find out if you get in early!

Students rave about the many “opportunities” they have at ASU. This includes a Mill Ave District “college town” social scene, hanging out at Tempe Town Lake (a huge man-made lake just off campus with major concerts in the adjacent park), easy access via light rail to Phoenix, Mesa and Scottsdale for internships, fun nightlife, pro sporting events and golf, as well as classes at the other ASU campuses including West Campus, Polytechnic Campus and Downtown Campus via a shuttle bus.

ASU is definitely worth a look for anyone who doesn’t mind the “warm” Arizona weather. The word “opportunity” best describes this university in terms of majors, internships, research, social life, sports, etc. Overall, students seem very happy.

View my photo album at http://picasaweb.google.com/maritasurace/ArizonaStateUniversityTempeCampus# and please visit my web site at www.CollegeApplicationAdvisors.com

Cal Poly Pomona (CSU)

Greetings From the Campus of .... Cal Poly Pomona, in Pomona, CA

The “mantra” of a Polytechnic school is to “learn by doing.” There is extra emphasis placed on real life projects on campus and internships off-campus. There are 6 polytechnic universities across the U.S. The only two in CA are Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly SLO. Both have great programs in engineering, agriculture, architecture and business.

Cal Poly Pomona has 19,500 undergrads. It is part of the California State University (CSU) system. Current “Impacted” majors include civil engineering, architecture, animal life and health sciences and pre-vet, meaning that applicants need to meet higher standards of admission for these programs.

The University has quite a unique history. It is located on a beautiful ranch donated by W.K. Kellogg (of cereal fame). His mansion and old horse stables are still maintained and used for special events and offices. As part of Kellogg’s ranch deed agreement, the university must maintain his Arabian horses and hold a monthly horse show for the community the first Sunday of each month. Students can also board their own horse on campus for $285/mo. There is an Equine Research Center where students can work.

Cal Poly is also known for continuous participation in the Rose Bowl since 1949 through a shared Cal Poly (San Luis Obispo) float. Anyone can volunteer to work on the float, painstakingly adding each petal and each seed (students work in shifts).

The most popular majors include Civil & Mechanical engineering (16th US ranked Engineering program), business and hotel/restaurant management (85 room Kellogg West hotel and conference center and a student- run fine dining restaurant). There are also unique majors such as the College of Environmental Design and the Lyle Center for (energy/environment) Regenerative Studies. Students who come to Cal Poly Pomona for these top and impacted majors tend to really love the academic programs and the university.

The school tends to “grow on” more local commuter students who attend it as their CSU. The biggest issue for the school is that it is mostly a commuter school (13,000 parking spaces). There are, however, some nice serene areas of campus, such as the rose garden and gazebo, or the Japanese garden, that are quiet study or contemplation spots.

Freshmen housing is not guaranteed, but is highly recommended with 1200 beds, and priority is given to students more than 75 miles away. However, the dorms were built in the 1960’s/70’s. There are also newer residential suites and apartments for upperclassmen – 2300 beds. Most students live off-campus in surrounding cities like West Covina or Chino (10-20 minutes via the freeway) and commute.

Cal Poly Pomona is located in the “Inland Empire” of Southern CA, 15 minutes from the Claremont Colleges, with downtown LA 30 min away, and the beach/mountains are about 1 hour away.

View my photo album at http://picasaweb.google.com/maritasurace/CalPolyPomona#

Scripps College

Greetings From the Campus of ….Scripps College in Claremont, CA!

Scripps is home to 860 undergraduate women. The beautiful campus is nestled between Pomona and Harvey Mudd Colleges. You know you’ve arrived at Scripps when you are surrounded by the 1920’s-built white Mediterranean-style architecture, the orange-grove-lined paths, the expansive, rolling lawns and the perfectly manicured hedges. The lounge-chair lined pool in the recreation center is literally jaw-dropping – it is so beautiful.

The college is officially all-women, but men from the other (Five-C) Claremont Colleges may cross-register for classes (and potential dates) and Scripps women may take classes at any of the other 5-C’s. Scripps women seem to appreciate their own area of campus and smaller, home-like dorms. They also seem to appreciate being able to easily wander to adjacent campuses for a more active social life. For a women’s college, it’s the best of both worlds.

Don’t let Scripps fool you; it is quite challenging academically. For Admission, the average weighted GPA is a 3.9 and SAT’s average from the mid-600’s to the low-700’s. Students say that they have to work very hard for an A at Scripps. They do, however, appreciate the close-knit relationship they have with faculty resulting from a small average class size (15). This is furthered through student-faculty dinners, Thanksgiving at the Dean’s house, and other traditions such as afternoon tea.

The goal of Scripps is “to develop women to think clearly and independently and to live courageously and hopefully.” Scripps will push both the mind and the spirit of a teenage girl to develop her into a confident woman in every sense. Academically, Scripps has a multidisciplinary humanities curriculum with a focus on “what it means to be human and have a mind and a voice.” Admitted students tend to be multi-talented and have multiple interests. Many do dual majors and most pursue Masters Degrees.

View my photo album at http://picasaweb.google.com/maritasurace/ScrippsCollege# and please visit my web site at www.CollegeApplicationAdvisors.com

Pitzer College

Greetings from the Campus of Pitzer College in Claremont, CA!

Stepping off the Claremont McKenna campus and onto the Pitzer campus is like leaving a politically “red state” to enter a “blue state”. Pitzer College includes approximately 1000 liberal and very politically, socially, environmentally and artistically conscious students. Students are encouraged to decorate their campus with personal murals. Environmental sustainability is an obvious passion as desert-type landscaping predominates and the newest dorm was built to the highest green-building standards. Students are very active promoting multiple personal causes, as well as having a say in how their school is run. They have a lot of freedom to select classes to fulfill their General Ed requirements, and they very often design their own majors. Students enjoy political and philosophical debates into the night. The social scene is very active.

Some students rave about the academics; others wish the classes were more challenging and take some classes at Pomona. All, however, agree about the wonderful accessibility to Pitzer professors and how easy it is to really get to know them. Academic emphasis is on intercultural understanding – all students are required to learn about a culture other than their own to learn to transcend separating cultural barriers. 72% study abroad. Students are also expected to carry out an activity using their knowledge for the service of others. Admissions looks for students who are “agents of change” and who are passionate about the arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences. The SAT is optional if you are in the top 10% of your class or have an un-weighted GPA of 3.5 in academic subjects.

Pomona College

Greetings From the Campus of Pomona College in Claremont, CA!

Pomona was the first of the Claremont schools to be established in 1887. It was originally conceived to be “the Ivy of the west” on its own, but later joined the consortium. With the largest student body of 1500, it has the most classes and resources. It provides a comprehensive liberal arts curriculum in the arts, humanities, social and natural sciences. Admissions likes well-rounded liberal arts students who can handle both the math/sciences and humanities. The school is highly selective with an admit rate of 16%.

The students reminded me of Stanford students: highly successful, unique students, hand-picked by Admissions to provide a diverse class with a broad range of passionate interests. The personality of a Pomona student is “hard-working and easy-going.” One student noted that after all the competition to get into a school like Pomona, they are encouraged to take some time to relax and explore. Top majors are Economics, English and Biology. 80% go on to grad school within 5 years; many are pre-med. Housing is guaranteed all years and Pomona has an unusual number of single dorm rooms.

It is a great school for someone who has a unique accomplishment, is very outgoing, and is a top student in both the humanities and sciences. Students are happy here with a 99% freshman retention rate.

View my photo album at http://picasaweb.google.com/maritasurace/PomonaCollege02# and visit www.CollegeApplicationAdvisors.com

Claremont McKenna College

Greetings From the Campus of Claremont McKenna College!

The mission of CMC is to “prep leaders in society, business, government, and all professions.” It is best known for Economics (many business courses), Government, and International Relations majors. They also have a joint science program with Scripps and Pitzer.

The key trait of a CMC student is Leadership. The students “know what they want, know where they’re going and how to get there. They lead while learning and learn about leading.” CMC students are: self-confident, outgoing, energetic, ambitious, optimistic, have a ‘can-do’ spirit and are highly involved. Many students are into intramural athletics. It is a work-hard/play hard school with a stress on teamwork. 70% of students go to grad school within 5 yrs (Law, MBA).

It’s a great school for an involved, social, and highly confident student. This campus seemed to be more “bustling” than the other Claremont Colleges. The tour guide described a very social dorm lifestyle. The acceptance rate is 19% and timid students probably won’t get past admissions. The class mix is currently 56% male, so women have an admissions advantage.

There are unique aspects of the school worth noting. First, is their Anthenaeum Speaker Series where they bring in prominent guests 4 nights/week. The night before I was there, they hosted the former President of Syria. Students even have a chance to dine at the same table with the speaker. Secondly, there is full bi-weekly housekeeping for dorm rooms. How great is that? Finally, there is “afternoon tea” with daily refreshments in the lounge with a classical pianist. The day I visited they had chocolate covered strawberries and rice krispies treats. They obviously take great care of their students.

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Harvey Mudd College

Greetings From the Campus of Harvey Mudd College!

Harvey Mudd specializes in Engineering, Math and the Sciences. Its mission is “to educate scientists who are well versed in technical areas as well as the social sciences.” A minor in the humanities or social sciences is required. A general engineering education is provided. “Students who want to specialize in an engineering field should not apply.” They want “kids who like to drink from a fire hose of knowledge and have superior brain processing power.” 1/3 of the freshman class had Math SAT’s of 800. It is ranked #2 of Undergrad Engineering Schools by USNWR. It is part of the Claremont Colleges Consortium and has 738 students.

Team collaboration is highly stressed and students take their Honor Code very seriously. Students work on 35+ clinic programs per year in groups of 4-5 to solve real world problems. HM students are well aware of the impact their work will have on society and have a great real world appreciation. I was particularly impressed that the faculty seemed very friendly and available - all were in offices with open doors when I toured.

This is a place for “cool” engineers, with a laid-back style, who wear flip-flops, travel by skateboard and love staying up half the night to solve a problem. Most dorms have used furniture, hammocks and fire pits outside for “hanging out.” Harvey Mudd is known on campus for techno-rock and strobe light parties. First semester classes are pass/fail and if a student gets two “high passes” they receive a “Get a Life” letter from the Dean, urging them to relax more. Geeks are welcome and they tend to live in the outer, quieter dorms, but they are outside the typical personality of a Harvey Mudd student.

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The Claremont Colleges

Greetings From the Campuses of The Claremont Colleges!

The Claremont Colleges consist of five liberal arts undergrad schools: Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, Pitzer College, Pomona College and Scripps College. All but Pomona were conceived of and built as a consortium, based on the Oxford model. Each school has its own character and policies, but students can cross-register freely across 2500+ courses and even dual-major. Most schools allow taking up to 1/3 classes at other schools. The 350 acres of campuses adjoin each other and total about 6300 students, with 90% living on campus. The schools are located in Southern California in the beautiful town of Claremont, 35 min/45min from Los Angeles by car/Metrolink train, 1 hour to the beach and 30 min to Mt. Baldy. The most enthusiastic school tradition is Inner Tube Water Polo with a long-standing rivalry between the Pomona/Pitzer team vs. Scripps/Mudd/CMC. The overall Administration’s approach is to encourage “working hard” but also going outside to have fun and relax too. The students seem happy to be there.

It’s great for students who want a highly involved, highly social student body with some diversity in their college experience. It may not be the place for students who want a crowded and bustling campus, as the breadth of the campuses result in a lot of open space. The campuses seemed quiet at times and I wondered, “where is everybody?” They must have been studying. All the schools are highly selective.