Tips for Finding an Academically Challenging College

New research suggests that college students aren’t really learning. So how do find a college that will be academically challenging? How do you know if the students at the schools you are visiting are academically engaged?

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Creating a Major

I often work with students who really have no idea what they want to major in when they enter college.  We will do career assessments, research different aspects of an academic department, but sometimes they just can’t narrow it down to one potential career or major.  There is so much pressure (from parents, teachers, society in general) to “know” what you want to be when you grow up, but often times, even grown ups don’t know what they want to be.  That is why I love schools that let students design their own major.
Often times, the students I work with have a hard time nailing down a major because they are interested in so many things.  Art, music, science, law, why would you want to eliminate any of these subjects?  A recent article in the Wall Street Journal highlights some of the 900 colleges and universities that are now offering “individualized majors.”  While the structure of design your own major programs is going to vary from school to school, the opportunity will still allow students to explore their interests in a variety of different subjects or focus on a specific aspect of their chosen field. While many schools offer independent study programs, the opportunity to design your own major goes beyond just one research project.
While some critics of design your own major programs claim that a student-created majors are not as beneficial as traditional majors, as long as student is self-motivated and finds a good faculty advisor, the opportunity to study what you are passionate about is priceless.
Katherine Price
Educational Consultant

Wanna Go To Med School? Forget Science. Major in Liberal Arts.

Most assume that in order to go to medical school, one must major in the sciences. But I tell people all the time that medical schools want interesting, educated, creative human beings. A philosophy major will do just as well, as long as one takes the basic requisites in the sciences (including the dreaded organic chemistry). But it turns out that organic chemistry might even be optional.

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Chinese Students Pursue A True Liberal Arts Education in the USA

A new book written by three Chinese undergraduates now attending liberal arts degrees at American colleges highlights the many advantages of smaller colleges for Chinese students and their families who hope to study in the United States.

The book, written in Chinese, aims to educate Chinese families about schools beyond the Ivy League and the large public universities that tend to be the only ones most Chinese families will consider.

Inside HigherEd offers an interview with the three young authors.  I’m going to have to buy the book!

Mark Montgomery
Educational Consultant in China

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The Advantages of Attending a Small Liberal Arts College

It’s always fun to get mail.

The other day I received a note from the grandfather of one of my clients. He had just dropped off his granddaughter for her freshman year at the University of the South (Sewanee).  The grandfather had never been there before, and he participated in all the orientation activities for new students.  This letter was originally sent to the parents of my client, who were unable to attend the orientation.  As this note (which I have been given permission to reproduce below) indicates, he wasn’t really aware of how different the educational experience at a small college can be–in comparison with larger universities with which he is more familiar.

Rather than editorialize too much, I’ll just let this man’s observations communicate the ways in which a place like Sewanee (or any other similar institution) can be different…and make a difference.

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We were impressed with both sessions of “Parent’s Orientation”. The recurring motif was, “We look out for one another.” Sewanee is a small campus, the Dean told us, and as such, is transparent. It’s difficult to hide. Or misbehave. If a student is goofing off, cutting classes or taking drugs, everyone knows about it in a very short time. And the administration intervenes right away. The student gets a “Come and see me now” letter from the Dean, and a copy goes to the student’s parents. Same for academic problems: if student is cutting classes or struggling, she gets a letter from the Dean, with a copy to the parents. Before the Dean’s involvement, however, there are other remedies.

Above all, Sewanee is a community and each member is encouraged (and required) to contribute to its well-being. In short, they help one another out. Proctors and their assistants in the dorms are there to answer questions and offer advice and encouragement; professors invite students to supper in their homes (in fact, the University Provost, who shared a table with us at the Saturday evening picnic, invited your daughter to Thanksgiving dinner). Student/faculty discussion groups, prayer groups, extra-curricular groups, special interest groups meet weekly; that provides social contact and keeps loners from isolating. Sewanee keeps an eye on its students, going way beyond what large universities (Ohio State, Michigan State, U of Colorado in my experience) do to see to the welfare of their charges.

This atmosphere of camaraderie is emblazoned on the official Sewanee T-shirt: on the back, it reads, “On my own – but not alone.” The Sewanee motto says it all: Ecce quod bonum et quam iucundum habitare fratres in unum. That’s from the 133rd Psalm: “How good and joyful it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” Your daughter is in good hands in a good and gorgeous setting.

[Lest you think I’m showing off by so facilely translating Latin, I copied it from the Sewanee glossary on its website: https://smith2/sewanee/edu/glassary/Glossary –Sewanee.html. The website has all sorts of interesting info, including the description of a small pond where the Sewanee birders hang out, and where you’ll find me the next time I visit].

In addition to the orientations calming parental unease, we learned two things of particular interest. First, the Study Abroad Program is very strong. Students can even attend classes offered by other colleges and universities and still receive Sewanee class credit. Plus, there is financial aid available so students can take advantage of this “transformational opportunity”.

Second, Sewanee alumni are actively involved with the students in a number of ways. They help students find internships (during the summer; also during the Christmas break) and get this: Sewanee has money to pay their internees if the company they’re interning with doesn’t do so (most don’t). Alumni also serve as mentors, helping students find their niche. They also help them find jobs after graduation. Students merely need to check with the on-campus alumni office, make a phone call and say, “Sewanee” to get connected. Sewanee is a tight bunch of folks, more than just “community”.

During his opening remarks, Dean Eric Hartman said Sewanee asks incoming students three questions and, during their four years on campus, helps them find answers. The questions:

Who am I?

What are my gifts?

What is my place in the world?

As the Dean pointed out, the question are apropos throughout life and the answers are always subject to change.

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Clearly the writer was impressed with the sort of education and community that a small college in a rural location can provide.  I was, too.  That’s why I recommended this college to my client.

Which college can I recommend for you?


Mark Montgomery
College Planner and Consultant



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College Admission Visit to Millsaps in Jackson, Mississippi

I spend about 20% of my time touring around the country getting acquainted with colleges.  Millsaps College had been on my list for quite some time, in part because Loren Pope raves about it in “40 Colleges That Change Lives.”

So when a trip to New Orleans to participate in a board retreat for the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) came up, I decided to drive the three hours up to Jackson, Mississippi, to have a look for myself.

Here is some video I took of my tour there.  My tour guide, Philip, was excellent.  And I loved the fact that he is a classics major.  Gotta love kids who love the liberal arts!


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