College Visits the Week of October 28, 2013

With an undergraduate enrollment of 16,137, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the world. BU’s 10 undergraduate schools and colleges offer over 250 majors.  It has an urban campus and its strongest programs include business, social sciences, natural sciences, journalism, communications, music, and engineering. The Terriers compete in NCAA Div. 1.

Boston University

Located in Dudley, Massachusetts, Nichols College is a small undergraduate business college with an enrollment of 1,202 students.  Nichols offers students a BS in Business Administration or a BA in Liberal Arts.  Students may also be admitted into an honors program or a 5 year accelerated BS/MBA program.

Nichols College

Haverford College is a small, highly-selective (US News) liberal arts college located in Haverford, PA just 10 miles outside of Philly. Haverford students (1,200 enrollment) have a unique arrangement with Bryn Mawr College, an all women’s college harking back to the days when Haverford was all male. Students from either college may not only take classes at either school, but may also eat in either dining hall and live in either school’s dorms.  Cross registration for classes also extends to nearby Swarthmore and University of Pennsylvania.  Haverford is known for its strong honor code which permeates all aspects of student life. The “Fords” compete in NCAA Div. III and have the only varsity cricket team in the nation.

Haverford College

UCLA receives more applications than any other school in the nation and undergraduate enrollment is 27,199.  Ninety-seven percent of incoming freshman ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school (The College Board).  Film and Television, a top major at UCLA has formerly only accepted students at junior status but beginning in Fall, 2014, this program will start accepting freshmen.  Other strong programs include music, engineering, journalism, biology, psychology, and economics. The Bruins compete in NCAA Div. I.

UCLA

With close to 30,000 undergrads and located in popular Seattle, University of Washington is one of the West Coasts premier public universities.  “UDub” has strong programs in all the life sciences, business, engineering, psychology, English, environmental studies, and art.  The Huskies compete in NCAA Div. I.

University of Washington

The US Army is a key component of the U.S. Armed Forces, providing land forces wherever and whenever they are required. Working in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Defense, the Army trains and equips soldiers and creates leaders to rapidly respond when they are called upon to serve the United States of America.  There are many different ways for men and women to have distinguished careers within the US Army, including The National Guard, Army Reserve and civilian service.

Fiske calls University of Iowa a “budget Ivy League” school.  Located in Iowa City, and with an undergraduate enrollment of just under 20,000, University of Iowa is most well known for its creative writing program and Writer’s Workshop which has graduated notable authors Jane Smiley and John Irving. Other strong programs include theater, music, business, space physics, and paleontology.  The Hawkeyes compete in the NCAA Div. I Big Ten.

University of Iowa

A “most selective” (US News) university, Emory has a suburban campus located near downtown Atlanta with an undergraduate enrollment of 7,441.  Emory is known for its great pre-professional programs including its Bachelor of Business Administration in the Goizueta Business School, and strong programs in biology, psychology, and nursing.  Candidates looking for a slightly less selective entry into Emory should check out Emory’s smaller campus at Oxford College, a two-year liberal arts college that feeds into Emory’s main program.  Emory competes in NCAA Div. III and has a thriving Greek community.

Emory University

Questions?  

Please contact Elise Aries in the College and Career Center 818-889-1262 ext. 375 or email: ahsccc@lvusd.org

College Visits the Week of October 21, 2013

Durham University is located in North East England, about 3 hours from London and was established in 1832.  It houses 16 colleges and has a total student enrollment of 15,500.  Durham offers over 200 undergraduate degree programs and is ranked 80th in the World University Rankings.  Although steeped in history, Durham was one of the first universities to admit women (1890). US applicants must meet rigorous minimum entry requirements in order to apply.

Durham University

Ohio Wesleyan University is a small liberal arts college located in Delaware, Ohio, a large town on the outskirts of Columbus. With a student enrollment of 1,829, Ohio Wesleyan is known for its solid pre-professional programs.  Strong programs include zoology, microbiology, economics and management, and the social sciences.  Most students are also involved in community service learning. The “Battling Bishops” compete in NCAA Div. III.

Ohio Wesleyan University

Located in Savannah, Georgia with satellite locations in Atlanta, Lacoste, France and Hong Kong, Savannah College of Art and Design offers a BA or BFA in over 40 majors to 11,000 students from all 50 states and around the world.  Majors include everything from advertising and architecture to film and television, graphic design, game design, illustration, and photography.

Savannah College of Art and Design

Ninety miles north of Pittsburgh lies Allegheny College, a small liberal arts school offering a strong, traditional college life.  Founded in 1815, Allegheny is steeped in tradition and has a vibrant Greek community.  Popular majors include International Studies, Economics, the Sciences, and Psychology.  Allegheny competes in Div. III North Coast Athletic Conference.

Allegheny College

With 58,404 undergraduates (72,254 total students), Arizona State University is the nation’s largest university.  Hurray for Barrett’s Honors College, a highly regarded residential college of 1,700 students with its own living and learning community, classrooms, dining hall, and fitness center.  ASU’s main campus is in Tempe but it has a total of 4 campuses within the Phoenix area.  ASU offers over 275 majors in a total of 15 schools and colleges including the renowned Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and the School of Sustainability which was the first degree-granting institution of sustainability in the nation.  ASU competes in NCAA Div. I.

Arizona State University

Located in Tucson, University of Arizona has an undergraduate enrollment of 27,234 and offers over 160 degree programs in over 20 colleges.  Clear nights help to make its astronomy program one of the nation’s best as does its 176-inch telescope. According to Fiske, UA has one of the largest and most selective honors programs in the country which features smaller classes and significant research opportunities. UA’s Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques Center (SALT) leads the nation in empowering students with learning/attention challenges.  The Wildcats compete in NCAA Div. I.

University of Arizona

Founded in 1831 and considered a “most selective (US News)” liberal arts college, Wesleyan University is located in Middletown Connecticut and has 2,870 undergrads.  Over 900 courses are offered in 44 major fields of study with a student-faculty ratio of 9:1.  In 2012, The Hollywood Reporter ranked Wesleyan’s film studies department the 7th best in the world.  The Cardinals compete in NCAA Div. 1.

Wesleyan University

Interested in going to school in Israel? At IDC-Herzliya, students can get a BA in Business, Government, Psychology, or Communications in only 3 years through programs taught entirely in English.  Founded in 1994, IDC-Herzliya is the first private college in Israel.  A world-renowned faculty at its Raphael Recanati International School teaches students from 82 countries.  Additionally, IDC has exchange programs with 40 universities throughout the world.

IDC Herzliya

Paul Mitchell the School is a cosmetology school located in the Sherman Oaks Galleria offering classes in hair design, skin care, make up, nail artistry, sales and marketing.

Paul Mitchell the School

Bordered by the Pacific, UCSB has an undergraduate enrollment of 18,315 students.  UCSB’s strongest programs are the sciences as well as a notably strong accounting program. The College of Creative Studies allows UCSB students to major in the sciences, math, art, and literature, with a program tailored  to individual students’ strengths and goals while working closely with their faculty advisors.  Students rigorously explore their field while they engage in research usually reserved for graduate students.  As the headquarters of UC’s Education Abroad Program, students can study abroad at any of 100 host universities worldwide. The Gauchos compete in NCAA Div. I.

UCSB

Questions?  

Please contact Elise Aries in the College and Career Center 818-889-1262 ext. 375 or email: ahsccc@lvusd.org

College Visits the Week of October 14, 2013

Located in Ithaca, NY, one of America’s top college towns (also home to Cornell University), Ithaca College overlooks Cayuga Lake and is home to 6,400 undergraduates.  It offers over 100 undergraduate degree programs and has a highly notable school of communications and broadcasting as well as a strong music school with an interesting sound recording major where students are required to work (for pay) at Ithaca’s own recording services studio.  Student’s also run the college’s TV station, 2 radio stations, 2 magazines, and a weekly newspaper, all of which have won top national honors.

Ithaca College

Cal Lutheran University, a private university with an undergraduate enrollment of 2,804, is located in Thousand Oaks. As a Lutheran university, students are required to take two religion courses as part of the core curriculum but students represent many faiths. CLU offers undergrads 36 majors, 34 minors, and 7 pre-professional programs including a BS in Exercise Science, an interdisciplinary program that prepares students for the fields of allied health, human movement, and physical education.  CLU competes in NCAA Div. III.

Cal Lutheran University

Everything about the University of Minnesota is big.  The undergraduate enrollment is 34,469.  The campus spans 1,204 acres crossing the “Mighty Mississippi”.  Students can choose from over 140 majors in 7 schools with notably strong programs in engineering and management information systems.  There are 600 student organizations and the “Golden Gophers” compete in the Big Ten, of course. U of M has a “Four Year Graduation Plan” which guarantees that students will be able to get all of their classes needed for graduation in 4 years or the university will pay for the extra credits.  One small thing, the out-of-state total cost of attendance is a relatively small $31,794 (including books and personal expenses).

University of Minnesota

Named for the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice, Louis Dembitz Brandeis, Brandeis University is a highly selective university (US News-“most selective”) located just outside Boston with an undergraduate enrollment of 3,341 students. Known equally for excellence in the sciences and global studies, Brandeis is also known for its outstanding Near Eastern and Judaic studies as it houses the largest faculty in the field outside Israel.  Although over half its students are Jewish, Brandeis is committed to diversity and social justice as demonstrated by its many chapels and designated prayer spaces for its Catholic, Protestant, and Muslim students. 

Brandeis University

Located in the small city of Fort Collins at the foothills of the Rockies, Colorado State University is a public university with an undergraduate enrollment of 21,000.  CSU offers 60 undergraduate majors and strong programs include prevet and the STEM fields. The CSU Rams compete in Div. I-A.

Colorado State University

The University of Massachusetts, Amherst is located in Amherst, MA and is just 90 miles from Boston.  Along with Amherst, Smith, Hampshire, and Mt. Holyoke, UMass is part of the Five College Consortium, which allows students to take classes at all member colleges.  UMass offers its 20,000 undergrads 88 majors.  Management and engineering are strong programs and the Center for Student Business offers students the ability to manage nine campus businesses.  The Minutemen compete in NCAA Div. I.

University of Massachusetts

Twenty percent of University of Alabama’s 23,000 undergrads are enrolled in UA’s honors programs which offers students smaller classes, priority registration, and the opportunity to write a senior thesis. Fiske calls UA’s College of Communication and Information Sciences “one of the country’s top communications schools”.  The total cost of attendance for out-of-state students is $37,100 and approximately 22% of undergrads receive merit scholarships averaging almost $10,000.  The Greek system and sports (especially football) are big here.  University of Alabama competes in NCAA Div. I.

University of Alabama

Located in the small town of Pullman, Washington, Washington State University has an undergraduate enrollment of 23,135.  Students can choose from 100 majors in 12 colleges including communications in the Edward R. Murrow (alum) College of Communications where students help run the university’s television and radio station.  Greek life is big with over 40% of students belonging to a fraternity or sorority.  WSU competes in NCAA Div. I.

Washington State University

Questions?  

Please contact Elise Aries in the College and Career Center 818-889-1262 ext. 375 or email: ahsccc@lvusd.org

College Visits the Week of October 7, 2013

Fiske calls Macalester “an international island in the heart of the Great Plains” and describes both its curriculum and politics as “liberal”.  At just under 2,000, Macalester is a small liberal arts college located in St. Paul, Minnesota with strong programs in international studies, economics, natural sciences, and political science.  New majors include international development and media and cultural studies.  US News describes Macalester as “most selective” with only 37% of applicants accepted.  The “Scots” compete in NCAA Div. 3.

Macalester

Gettysburg College

As expected, Gettysburg College is strong in American History with the battlefield in its backyard but it offers much more.  With 2,500 students, Gettysburg is a small liberal arts college in Pennsylvania and part of the Central Pennsylvania Consortiums that allows students to take classes at nearby Franklin & Marshall and Dickinson.  Other strong programs include English, business, the natural sciences, and political science.  Gettysburg competes in NCAA Div. 3.

University of Chicago

University of Chicago is a private university with 5,000 undergrads and a student population of 10,000 in the Chicago community of Hyde Park.  Known for its comprehensive Common Core and academic rigor, strong programs include economics and all the social sciences as well as linguistics, the biological sciences and math.  Undergrads may take classes at any of the university’s graduate and professional schools.  With only 19% of applicants accepted, US News considers U of Chicago “most selective”.  The “Maroons” compete in NCAA Div. 3.

University of Nevada-Reno

University of Nevada-Reno is a large public university with an undergraduate enrollment of 15,000 offering more than 50 undergraduate degrees and 11 undergraduate engineering majors.  The university is home to one of the largest earthquake-simulation labs in the country and specializes in earthquake research.  The Reynolds School of Journalism has produced six Pulitzer Prize winners.  The “Wolf Pack” competes in NCAA Div. I.

Located in the historic Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston, Suffolk University has an undergraduate enrollment of 5,770 and offers over 70 majors. Suffolk is also home to the New England School of Art and Design.  The school competes in the NCAA Division III.

Suffolk University

Located in the small city of Boulder nestled in the scenic Rocky Mountains, the University of Colorado-Boulder enrolls 24,000 undergraduates.  Consistently among the top universities to receive NASA funding, Aerospace Engineering is a strong program along with the sciences, psychology, and music. Varsity teams now compete in the Pac-12 and CU-Boulder’s club sports program is ranked among the nation’s top three for the athletic and academic performance of its teams. 

Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon University is a private Christian university located in Phoenix, Arizona, where more than 6,500 students are currently enrolled. The school offers a variety of undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs in the fields of education, business, fine arts and production, nursing, health care and liberal arts. Grand Canyon University competes in NCAA Div.II. 

Mount St. Mary's

Mount St. Mary’s College is a small, Catholic, women’s college in Los Angeles with an undergraduate enrollment of 2,500 students housed on two campuses, the Chalon campus in the Santa Monica Mountains, home to most of the undergraduates, and the Doheny campus near downtown, home to most of the graduate programs. Undergraduates can choose from 35 different majors and minors. The health professions and related programs are the most popular majors.

George Mason University

Located in Fairfax, Virginia, George Mason University gives students another option for studying in the D.C. area.  It is a public university with over 20,000 undergrads.  Ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top five “up-and-coming” institutions, GMU has strong programs in Economics, Engineering, and Public Policy as well as 74 other degree programs.  The Patriots play in NCAA Div. I.

Questions?  

Please contact Elise Aries in the College and Career Center 818-889-1262 ext. 375 or email: ahsccc@lvusd.org