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!


Technorati Tags: college, admission, selection, application, visit, tour, Millsaps, Jackson, Mississippi Del.icio.us Tags: college, admission, selection, application, visit, tour, Millsaps, Jackson, Mississippi

Liberal Arts Colleges and Teacher-Student Interaction

I love visiting colleges. I learn stuff on campuses. Every once in a while I’m surprised by a conversation I have with folks.

I was recently on the campus of Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi.  Just being on that campus was surprising enough:  it’s truly a hidden gem in an unlikely location.

As I do on most campuses, I try to meet with a professor or two.  The admissions office set me up with one professor, who just plumb forgot about our meeting.  So I met up with another one at the spur of the moment.  He allowed me to record some of our conversation on the topic of how students and faculty interact at Millsaps, and at liberal arts colleges in general.

This professor shared a couple of anecdotes that knocked my socks off. As you watch, you’re going to think this was all a set-up.  I assure you, none of this was rehearsed or planned.  He was just supplying some evidence that students and teachers at Millsaps really do develop some tight bonds.

Have a look for yourself.

Mark Montgomery
College Consultant


Technorati Tags: admission, college application, college selection, Millsaps, Jackson, Mississippi, liberal arts, professor, student, wedding Del.icio.us Tags: admission, college application, college selection, Millsaps, Jackson, Mississippi, liberal arts, professor, student, wedding

Millsaps College–Distinctive Features and Admissions Priorities

I recently visited Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, to find out for myself why this small, liberal arts college is included in Loren Pope’s book, 40 Colleges That Change Lives.  I was able to spend some time talking to the director of admission, Mr. Mathew Cox.

This short video highlights three distinctive features of Millsaps.  It’s a wonderful place.

Mark Montgomery
College Consultant

Technorati Tags: college, liberal arts, admission, small, selection, choose, choice, decision, Millsaps, Jackson, Mississippi Del.icio.us Tags: college, liberal arts, admission, small, selection, choose, choice, decision, Millsaps, Jackson, Mississippi

High GPA or Rigorous Courses? Think Academic Preparedness

As a college consultant, I continue to receive many questions about which is better: taking easier classes and getting a high GPA, or risk losing a few tenths of a point by taking rigorous classes.

I’ve started asking others their opinion on this matter. When I was at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, last week, I asked Mathew A. Cox, the Dean of Enrollment Management, how he would advise students.


It’s sometimes disappointing that in this whole admissions frenzy we lose sight of the goal. It’s about learning. It’s about training the mind. It’s about acquiring and using knowledge to solve the world’s pressing problems.

Mark Montgomery
College Counselor