Leslie's College Search

Colgate - Pictures

Colgate - Basic Information

Hamilton, NY

Ranked #21 - National Liberal Arts Colleges (US News)

Total undergrad enrollment: 2,825

47% male/53% female

Application deadline - Jan. 15
Early action deadline - Nov. 15
Application fee: $60

Acceptance rate: 31.5%
Early decision acceptance rate: 56%

Range SAT Critical Reading: 620-720
Range SAT Math: 630-710
Range ACT Composite: 29-32

Required standardized tests: either SAT or ACT
Admissions interview: neither required/recommended
SAT subject tests: optional
Common App
Tuition and fees: $41,870
Room and board: $10,190

40% in fraternities, 40% in sororities

Most popular majors: economics, English language and literature, history, political science and government, and sociology

Average freshman retention rate: 94.2%

NCAA I

Colgate - PROS

Academics

• More than 20 off-campus study programs led by Colgate faculty
• Student-faculty ratio - 10:1
• 60% of classes have less than 20 students
• Great professors that care
• University recently completed a $52 million renovation to the library and opened a new interdisciplinary science center.
• Ranked #16 - best classroom experience
• Ranked #18 - best college library

Student Life

• Colgate's Outdoor Education Program offers a number of outdoor opportunities
• Students required to live on campus for their first three years
• Athletic scholarships
• Skiing - 45 minutes away
• Ranked #3 - most beautiful campus

Colgate - CONS

• Really small town
• Small student body
• Hard if you don't have a car
• Not very diverse
• Cold
• No merit scholarships

Boston College - Pictures

Boston College - Basic Information

Chestnut Hill, MA

Ranked #31 - National Universities (US News)

Total undergrad enrollment: 9,171

48% male/52% female

Application deadline - Jan. 1
Early action deadline - Nov. 1
Application fee: $70

Acceptance rate: 30.1%
Early decision acceptance rate: 44.4%

Range SAT Critical Reading: 610-710
Range SAT Math: 630-720
Range SAT Writing: 620-710
Range ACT Composite: 27-31

Required standardized tests: either SAT or ACT
Admissions interview: -
SAT subject tests: 2
Common App
Tuition and fees: $40,542
Room and board: $12,082

No fraternities, sororities

Most popular majors: communication studies, economics, English language/literature, finance, and history

Average freshman retention rate: 95.2%

NCAA I

Boston College - PROS

Academics

• Great professors
• Honors program
• Merit scholarships averaging $15,259, athletic awards
• Strong programs - internships and study abroad 
• Boston College pairs students with faculty advisors in their major field who are available for consultation regarding curriculum, research opportunities, and other academic issues. 
• Each of the four undergraduate divisions at Boston College offers its own honors program.
• Almost 40 percent of undergraduates engage in an international academic experience by the time they graduate.
• Presidential Scholars Program - about 15 students applying Early Action will receive full tuition scholarships for four years. Each summer, these students participate in fully funded programs focused on service, foreign study and travel, and career preparation

Student Life

• There are more than 200 academic, pre-professional, religious, fine art, athletic, government and political, media, and multicultural clubs and organizations on campus.
• 80% of students live on campus
• Tons of colleges nearby - allows for a different scene once in a while, it's easy to meet kids from BU, Harvard, Emerson, Northeastern, etc.
• Great location
• Gorgeous campus
• Bus/subway system
• BC's reputation as a hardcore party school is diminishing
• Volunteer work is huge
• Music Guild sponsors professional concerts throughout the year
• Facilities equipped with Steinways and Yamahas
• Great sports
• Ranked #18 - great college towns 
• Among the musical groups, students find a gospel choir and a pep band, a capella groups and jazz ensembles.
• Housing styles range from traditional doubles to 8-person suites, high-rise apartments to townhouses. 
• Special interest housing - including honors, multicultural, quiet, and substance free living areas - is available for students who desire a unique residential experience.
• Over spring break, more than 600 students travel throughout the Appalachian Mountain Range and 300 students travel to third-world countries in Central America and the Caribbean to serve those less fortunate.

Boston College - CONS

• Housing - lottery
• Not very diverse
• Weather
• Overly-selective volunteer organizations

Middlebury - Pictures

Middlebury - Basic Information

Middlebury, VT

Ranked #4 - National Liberal Arts Colleges (US News)

Total undergrad enrollment: 2,482

49% male/51% female

Application deadline - Jan. 1
Early decision deadline - Nov. 1
Application fee: $65

Acceptance rate: 20.5%

Range SAT Critical Reading: 650-750
Range SAT Math: 650-740
Range SAT Writing: 650-730
Range ACT Composite: 29-33

Required standardized tests: either SAT or ACT
Admissions interview: neither required/recommended
SAT subject tests: optional
Rolling admissions
Common App
Comprehensive fee: $52,500

No fraternities, sororities

Most popular majors: ethnic/cultural studies, economics, English language/literature, environmental studies, political science and government

Average freshman retention rate: 95.8%

NCAA III

Middlebury - PROS

Academics

• Student-faculty ratio - 9:1
• 70% of classes have fewer than 20 students
• Between June and August, Middlebury banishes English from its campus and hundreds of students live, learn, and think only in their chosen language
• Has campuses in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, China and Uruguay
• Superb professors
• No merit/athletic scholarships
• Excellent foreign language programs
• Ranked #8 - best classroom experience
• Ranked #1 - professors get high marks
• Ranked #16 - best career/job placement services

Student Life

• Skiing
• 140 organizations
• Muggle Quidditch
• Winter Carnival - ski competition/music
• All freshman are assigned to one of five Commons
• 97% of students live on campus
• Beautiful campus
• Nice dorms
• Ranked #14 - best campus food
• Cute town
• Montreal - 3 hrs away, Boston - 4, NYC - 5
• Large intramural program
• Very safe town
• Athletic, outdoorsy, intelligent student body
• Ranked #4 - school runs like butter
• Ranked #8 - best quality of life

Middlebury - CONS

• Small student body
• LONG winter
• Can feel like a bubble
• Transportation on and off campus
• Administration complaints
• French and Spanish languages are supposed to be less than stellar
• Workload
• Lacking social scene

Whitman - Pictures

Whitman - Basic Information

Walla Walla, WA

Ranked #38 - National Liberal Arts Colleges (US News)

Total undergrad enrollment: 1,515

42% male/58% female

Application deadline - Jan. 15
Early decision deadline - Nov. 15
Application fee: $50

Acceptance rate: 43.8%
Early decision acceptance rate: 72%

Range SAT Critical Reading: 620-730
Range SAT Math: 620-700
Range SAT Writing: 610-700
Range ACT Composite: 27-32

Required standardized tests: either SAT or ACT
Admissions interview: recommended

Tuition and fees: $38,770
Room and board: $9,720


42.3% in fraternities, 39% in sororities
Most popular majors: biology, English language and literature, philosophy, political science and government, and psychology

Average freshman retention rate: 93.5%

NCAA III

Whitman - PROS

Academics

• Student-faculty ratio - 10:1
• 70% of classes have fewer than 20 students
• Lack of TA's
• Ranked #9 - best classroom experience
• Ranked #20 - most accessible professors
• Ranked #12 - best college library
• Has 3-2 or 3-3 programs in engineering and computer science (with the University of Washington, Caltech, Columbia, Washington University, and Duke), international studies and international business (Monterey Institute of International Studies)
• Students may also pursue teacher certification through partnerships with the University of Puget Sound

Student Life

• More than 100 student clubs/organizations
• Indoor rock climbing facility
• Student outdoor program coordinates just-for-fun recreation trips
• Portland, Oregon - 4 hours away, Seattle - 4.5 hours away
• Hiking, biking, kayaking
• Ranked #8 - school runs like butter
• Ranked #17 - happiest students
• Ranked #20 - dorms like palaces
• Ranked #12 - best quality of life
• Good weather

Whitman - CONS

• "Bubble"
• Not very much diversity
• Small small community
• Everybody knows everybody

Williams - Pictures

Williams - Basic Information

Williamstown, MA


Ranked #1 - National Liberal Arts Colleges (US News)

Total undergrad enrollment: 2,067

48% male/52% female

Application deadline - Jan. 1
Early decision deadline - Nov. 10
Application fee: $65

Acceptance rate: 20.4%
Early decision acceptance rate: 36%

Range SAT Critical Reading: 670-760
Range SAT Math: 670-760
Range ACT Composite: 29-33

Required standardized tests: either SAT or ACT
Admissions interview: neither required/recommended
SAT subject tests: 2
Common App
Tuition and fees: $41,434
Room and board: $10,906

No fraternities/sororities

Most popular majors: biology, economics, English language and literature, political science and government, and psychology

Average freshman retention rate: 97.2%

NCAA III

Williams - PROS

Academics

• Student-faculty ratio - 7:1
• 70% of classes have fewer than 20 students
• Ranked #10 - best classroom experience
• Ranked #7 - most accessible professors
• Surprisingly non-competitive environment
• Great faculty

Student Life

• Many unique student activities
• Residence halls
• Traditions
• 93% of students live on campus
• Ranked #18 - school runs like butter
• Beautiful campus
• Skiing, cycling, and backpacking
• A capella groups
• Intramurals are popular
• New York City - five hours away