Great Colleges Featured in the 2008 Weekly Spotlights

The Best Colleges May Be Ones You Haven't Heard of Yet

By Allen Grove, About.com Guide

DavidOaks / Wikipedia

Location: Kirksville, Missouri
What Makes it Special?: amazing value for both in-state and out-of-state students; public university with feel of a small private liberal arts college; average class size of 24; Phi Beta Kappa membership for strong liberal arts curriculum
Blog Spotlight from July 31, 2008
Truman State University Profile
Discuss Truman State University in the College Admissions Forum

photo courtesy of Elon University / Office of University Relations

Location: Elon, North Carolina
What Makes it Special?: top-rated student engagement through study abroad, internships, and volunteer work; lower cost than most private universities; balances the feel of a small liberal arts college with the breadth of a comprehensive university and the excitement of Division I athletics
Blog Spotlight from July 25, 2008
Elon University Profile
Discuss Elon University in the College Admissions Forum

Mllerustad / Flickr

Location: Claremont, California
What Makes it Special?: highly-ranked women's college and liberal arts college; excellent residence halls and dining; member of Phi Beta Kappa; great balance of supportive small-school environment with all the resources of the Claremont College Consortium
Blog Spotlight from July 18, 2008
Scripps College College Profile
Discuss Scripps College in the College Admissions Forum

Daniel Edwins / Wikimedia Commons

Location: Northfield, Minnesota
What Makes it Special?: impressive number of Peace Corps members, Rhodes Scholars and Fulbright Scholars; strengths in music, math and the sciences; good financial aid; member of Phi Beta Kappa
Blog Spotlight from July 11, 2008
St. Olaf College College Profile
Discuss St. Olaf College in the College Admissions Forum

Mr.Scholastic / Flickr

Location: Bronxville, New York
What Makes it Special?: amazing 6 to 1 student / faculty ratio; application process does not consider standardized test scores; quaint campus with feel of a European village; for faculty, teaching is valued much more than research
Blog Spotlight from July 4, 2008
Sarah Lawrence College Profile
Discuss Sarah Lawrence College in the College Admissions Forum

hyku / Flickr

Location: Athens, Georgia
What Makes it Special?: great balance of large university and small college experience; small classes with high-achieving students; many travel opportunities
Blog Spotlight from June 27, 2008
University of Georgia Profile
Discuss the University of Georgia Honors Program in the College Admissions Forum

Courtesy of Matt Orton

Location: Montevallo, Alabama
What Makes it Special?: small liberal arts college feeling with inexpensive state tuition; beautiful historic campus; strong student-faculty interaction
Blog Spotlight from June 20, 2008
University of Montevallo Profile
Discuss the University of Montevallo in the College Admissions Forum

Arwcheek / Wikimedia Commons

Location: Danville, Kentucky
What Makes it Special?: "Centre Commitment" guarantees students an internship, study abroad, and 4-year graduation; good financial aid; 11 to 1 student / faculty ratio; member of Phi Beta Kappa
Blog Spotlight from June 13, 2008
Centre College Profile
Discuss Centre College in the College Admissions Forum

marcus941 / Flickr

Location: Sarasota, Florida
What Makes it Special?: students get written evaluations rather than grades; emphasis on independent study; beach front property; small college with low state tuition
Blog Spotlight from June 6, 2008
New College of Florida Profile
Discuss New College of Florida in the College Admissions Forum