When I visited this small liberal arts college in Salem, Virginia, I was intrigued by their unique Intellectual Inquiry curriculum which allows students to mix and match topics of their own interest to bring learning to life while mastering the core competencies of the liberal arts. Interesting examples shared by our tour guide included learning about chemistry through baking and exploring marketing as mind reading.
I was further impressed when I heard more about Roanoke College’s focus on helping students explore their abilities, interests, and values to identify what they care deeply about, what they do well, how they relate to others, and how they can make a meaningful contribution to society. More than just earning a degree, the Roanoke faculty and staff are guiding students to get to know themselves, learn about the world while trying new things, and then make a plan to pursue a purposeful journey. This feels right on target as in our post-pandemic days it seems that more and more people (of all ages) have a renewed focus on pursuing a purposeful life.
Approximately 2,000 students (from 43 states and 31 countries) attend this beautiful 80-acre campus not far from the Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian Trail. Students engage in real-world experiences like internships, studying away from campus, service learning, and research, as they pursue programs within 101 areas of study. The campus felt like a very supportive community and the students I met were happily engaged in a variety of clubs, sports, service work, the honors program, fellowships, and outdoor adventures activities. Another bonus is that Roanoke College just lowered their tuition $13,000 annually for all students starting with this Fall 2022 term! Their financial aid packages include need-based aid, merit-based scholarships, and selective talent programs, which help to make this a more affordable private college option for a variety of students. Perhaps you’d like to see it for yourself; in which case a campus visit during the junior or senior high school year will earn prospective students a $1,000 visit grant when they enroll at Roanoke College.
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 and universities which best meet their personal needs and interests so that the student will be most successful. Our services include planning discussions for exploring majors, strategizing for 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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