Lawrence University - Great College Advice

When is best time to visit a college campus

Jared Hobson — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:41:14 +0000

As an independent college consultant, I’m asked all the time my opinion on the best time to visit a college campus. My usual answer is, “Whenever you can.” There are pros and cons to visiting a campus at every time of year. But some of my favorite visits have been in the middle of the winter–especially on campuses where the weather can be quite cold. On a recent visit to Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, I took a few moments to explain why wintertime can be the best time to visit a university.

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Transcript

I’m here now on the campus of Lawrence University up in Appleton, Wisconsin. You know a lot of people ask me, “What is the best time to visit a college campus? Is it summer time? Is it spring break, fall break?” Actually, I think probably the best time to visit Appleton, Wisconsin is in the winter because it’s really cold. And it will give you a better sense of what the campus life is really like while students are here on the campus and in session.

Despite the cold this is a really, really vibrant, active place. You see students walking across campus. They’re not afraid of the cold; they’re dressed for the cold. Okay, maybe a few of them are wearing, you know, a little bit too skimpy outfits, they’re parents might be, you know, a little bit upset. But they all deal with the weather.
So, one of the best times to come visit a college campus is when students are in session, and wintertime can be great. Especially in these cold places, you’ll get a better sense of what really happens here.

Mark Montgomery
Expert Educational Consultant

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Science at Small Liberal Arts Schools

Jared Hobson — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:02:56 +0000

After attending a presentation by Connecticut College, Knox College, Lawrence University, Lewis and Clark College and Occidental College, Katherine and Cara discuss the benefits of majoring in science at a small liberal arts institution. Watch the video below or read the summary for more information.

So, what are the benefits to studying science at a liberal arts college vs. a large research institution? Read below for the highlights of Cara and Katherine’s discussion.
Research Opportunities
Students who are thinking about going into the sciences, particularly those that want to be pre-med, traditionally think that they need to attend a large research institution in order to get the research experience experince they are looking for. But I think what we learned today is that there a lot of small liberal arts schools out there that really do provide the hands on research opportunities that students need. Also there is not a lot of competition at these schools for research opportunities so it really is available to a wide-variety of students who attend that school.
Excellent Professors
Professors often come from top research institutions to smaller liberal arts colleges to get that interaction with the undergraduates. They often want their offices right next to the research labs where their students are going to be working so that they can check in with them.
No Graduate Students
Another benefit is that often times at a small liberal arts school there are no graduate students. It is specifically an undergraduate focused education so that means you are not taught by graduate students, you are being taught directly from professors. You are also not competing with graduate students again for those hands-on research opportunities.
Katherine Price and Cara Ray

The post Science at Small Liberal Arts Schools first appeared on Great College Advice.

Holiday Music Concerts on Campus

Jared Hobson — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:36:19 +0000

I received a message from Lawrence University today with a musical holiday greeting. It’s the Lawrence University Orchestra playing a very un-Christmas-like tune (Hoedown, by Aaron Copeland).
Have a look. Notice the smiles on the faces of the players. A toe-tappin’ good time.

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