Choosing the Right College Curriculum–How Much Choice Is Right For You?

I recently toured several colleges in New England, including Amherst and Hampshire Colleges in Massachusetts, and Bennington and Marlboro Colleges in Vermont.  These visits brought home the fact that students do have choices in the sorts of curriculum they would like to form the core of their academic experience in college.

The core of college is the curriculum, after all.  I mean, the residence halls, the athletic facilities, and the free massages are all nice, of course.  But this is school, not a resort.  So it makes sense to think about the kind of curricular structure is right for you.

This short video explains the “Open Curriculum” of Amherst College, and compares it to the more structured–but still very individually directed–academic structures of Bennington and Marlboro Colleges. 



Mark Montgomery
College Consultant

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Marlboro: Quirky, Offbeat, Intellectually Serious Community

I recently visited Marlboro College in southern Vermont.  Many colleges claim to be unique.  Marlboro merits the label.

With only 320 students, Marlboro attracts students who want to take charge of their own intellectual development, who want to live in a quiet, rustic environment, and who are serious about getting involved in a tight-knit community.

Here’s a short video that summarizes my visit.



Mark Montgomery
Educational Consultant


Technorati Tags: Marlboro, College, Vermont, liberal arts, independent, academic, plan, faculty, admission, application, Bennington, arts, dance, Del.icio.us Tags: Marlboro, College, Vermont, liberal arts, independent, academic, plan, faculty, admission, application, Bennington, arts, dance,