As I visit colleges and universities, I like to share about some of the interesting programs I uncover - unique offerings that might be of interest to prospective students as they work to find colleges that best match up with their goals and interests. Here are a few shout-outs:
State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill - This small public college with approximately 1,800 students has a 903-acre rural campus; that’s about ½ acre per student! They have a number of unique programs - like Therapeutic Horsemanship, Canine Training, Applied Fermentation, Histologic Technician, Floriculture/Floristry Operations, and Fisheries & Aquaculture. The campus has the usual college classrooms and science labs, but also has a farm with an equestrian center and a 200-cow dairy facility, agricultural engineering laboratories, a USDA-approved meat laboratory, a student-run restaurant, state-of-the-art greenhouses, and a 40,000-gallon cold-water fish hatchery.
Hollins University in Roanoke, VA - This small private women’s college is known for their writing programs and Pulitzer Prize winning alumni. About 900 students attend Hollins and each completes at least one internship before graduation. Students have the accelerated option of completing many of the degree programs in only three years, thereby saving time and money. Hollins has field study programs in Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Panama,Â
Peru, Tanzania, Turks and Caicos. They also offer an interesting certificate program in Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums.
Norfolk State University in VA - This HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) serves about 6,000 students with more than 65 programs. They have a unique cybersecurity pipeline initiative with a variety of related bachelors and masters degrees, dedicated cybersecurity complex, research centers, and labs, and cyber scholarships through the National Science Foundation. Norfolk also offers one of only five accredited optical engineering programs in the country (the only one offered at a HBCU) and has an Optical Society Club. There’s also a Genetics Society club and a Beekeeper club - how cool is that? Not to mention their bowling alley and women’s bowling team… and that students can relax at nearby Virginia Beach on the weekends.
University of North Carolina - Asheville - This small public university with approximately 3,000 students is located in a foodie city with an artsy vibe, many theaters, restaurants, and creative studios, as well as in the backyard of mountains, forests, and rivers. Some of the university’s unique areas of study include New Media, Mechatronics, Atmospheric Sciences, Jazz & Contemporary Music, and Ancient Mediterranean Studies. They have a focus on intentionality with dedicated faculty mentors guiding each student through their academic journey. During my visit, I also noticed that they care a lot about sustainability - with their recycling, composting, and many unique initiatives like the bee motel, three student-managed gardens, a seed library, a university carbon neutral commitment, week-long Greenfest each semester, an annual farm-to-table dinner on the quad, free bike rentals/many bike paths, Green buildings, and more!
Guilford College in Greensboro, NC - This small private college with approximately 1,500 students has a rich history with Quaker roots and social responsibility. In addition to more traditional majors, and not surprisingly, they have majors in Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution, Community & Justice Studies, Quaker Studies, and Principled Problem Solving. The beautiful historical campus has a student-run coffee shop, art kilns and workshops for all students, and their own farm which serves as a student learning laboratory producing fresh produce (more than 10,000 pounds yearly) for use in the campus dining hall and for the community through local farmer’s markets. I found my meals at this dining hall to be delicious, with the absolute best options for variety, tastiness, and gf/vegan/vegetarian options! Students can also recharge by visiting the adjacent Guilford Woods, a 240-acre old growth forest with trails and a champion Tulip tree which stands as a marker to the Underground Railroad operations here which date back to before the 1800s. Finally, Guilford College is part of a consortium which offers students access to even more resources locally.
There is a lot to consider when selecting a college and learning about the unique programs offered can be very helpful. Confident College Planning guides students and families in the process of finding colleges which best meet their personal needs and interests so that the student will be most successful. Our services include planning discussions for exploring majors, making college lists and college visits, and individualized attention for essay editing, application review and tracking, scholarship research, and funding strategies. Contact me at nancy@confidentcollegeplanning.com for a discussion on what I can do for you!
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