The George Washington University – where the world is at your fingertips

Imagine having your college commencement ceremony with students from all over the US and 130 other countries around the world on the National Mall. This is an honor experienced only by graduates of The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. During your time as an undergraduate, you would have had behind the scenes access to the Smithsonian, museums, the Library of Congress, US Capitol and other national treasures. You probably also had top political officials and other influential leaders serve as a guest speaker or visiting professor in at least one of your courses. 

 

Established in 1821 by an act of Congress to fulfill George Washington’s dream of having a national university in D.C, GW has two campuses – one in Foggy Bottom on Pennsylvania Avenue and the Mount Vernon campus near Georgetown. Students live and take classes on both campuses and travel between on the “Vern Express” shuttle which runs 24/7 during the academic year. 

 

Here are a few quick facts about GW:

Acceptance: 43%

Freshman retention: 88%

Freshmen out of state: 99%

Most popular majors: international affairs, political science, finanace

4-year Graduation rate: 79%; 6-year: 85%

Student Community Diversity: 7.6% Black, 11% Latino, 11% International

 

Housing: 61% of students live in campus housing, which is required for the first 3 years. Rising juniors, however, can enter a lottery that grants a limited number of exemptions. Some of the most popular places to live off campus are in Foggy Bottom, Dupont Circle and Georgetown. 

 

The university meal plan allows students to dine at both on-campus cafes and more than 100 off-campus vendors with a great variety of options including food trucks and nicer, sit down restaurants. Being in the middle of an urban campus can raise concern; the campus offers many services to ensure security on campus. 

 

Academics: All GW undergrads are required to complete a 19-credit core curriculum with courses in writing, natural or physical sciences, math or statistics, social science, and the humanities, as well as 2 writing-in-the-disciplines courses. During the first year, all students take a University Writing course. 

 

GW offers an honors program and a number of accelerated undergraduate/graduate degree options. The workload is described as heavy but also not as competitive as one might expect. 52% of classes have fewer than 20 students. Professors teach lectures and seminars while TAs lead discussions or labs. Students who wish to study abroad will find more than 300 programs available in more than 60 countries; 31% of GW students take advantage of this opportunity. 

 

The Center of Career Services connects students with more than 12,000 internships, which includes opportunities on Capitol Hill, the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian and many other local organizations. Volunteering is also a big thing at GW. More than 70 courses combine academics and service work in the D.C. community. 

 

Similar colleges to consider: Boston University, NYU, Northeastern, UMiami (FL)

 

Social: With everything to do in D.C., no student should ever be bored. 15% and 19% of women, respectively “go Greek” and there are 475 on-campus student organizations students can join. The most popular annual events are the Fall Fest and Spring Fling carnivals, which feature free food and well-known musical performers. Every 4 years, GW has its own Inaugural Ball to celebrate the swearing in of the new President. 

 

For students who want to venture further off campus, popular road trips include Ocean City, Maryland and Virginia Beach. Philadelphia and New York City are accessible by bus or train, which is a plus because most GW students don’t have cars. 

 

While GW doesn’t have a football team, their 27 varsity teams play in the Division I Atlantic 10 Conference. Men’s and women’s basketball teams regularly make NCAA appearances, and women’s basketball and gymnastics, and men’s swimming and diving teams and water polo have been recent conference champions. 20% of students play sports recreationally in 25 intramural and 34 club sports. The mascot for the Colonials resembles a certain Founding Father, however there is also an unofficial mascot – the hippopotamus. 

 

Financial: GWU has a fixed rate-plan that guarantees that tuition will not increase for up to 5 years of full-time undergraduate study. GWU offers need-based aid, as well as non-need based merit scholarships and 175 athletic scholarships. The average percent of need met is 93%, with 81% being fully met. Although the tuition and fees are $83,000, the average financial aid package is $42,000. 66% of students receive some type of financial aid.

Rensselaer – a technical university that thrives on collaboration

Studying in high-tech studio classrooms where students work on team projects and collaborate to solve real-world problems is what students can expect when attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The 275-acre campus set on a bluff overlooking Troy, New York features a mix of classical ivy-covered buildings as well as modern research facilities. Speaking of research…it is a big part of what goes on at RPI. The Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies houses more than 400 researchers who work in such areas as regenerative medicine, bioinformatics, biocatalysis, and metabolic engineering.

 

Here are a few quick facts about RPI:

Acceptance: 57%

Freshman retention: 91%

Freshmen out of state: 67%

Most popular majors: engineering, computer science, business/management

4-year Graduation rate: 74%; 6-year: 87%

Student Community Diversity: 4% Black, 9.5% Latino, 15% International

 

Housing: Fifty-seven percent of students live in university housing. Freshmen and sophomores are required to live in the residence halls where they will reside in small, tight-knit student communities. Most upperclassmen choose to move into less expensive off-campus apartments. As far as the food goes, the dining halls get lukewarm reviews from students. 

 

Academics: In order to graduate, students must complete coursework in the humanities, social sciences and physical, life and engineering sciences as well as 30 credits in their major and two communication-intensive courses (one of which has to be a writing-intensive course). When students get to their junior and senior years, they will find that their courses are self-paced and they will have the opportunity to take on paid positions helping with faculty research. RPI also offers co-op programs in more than a dozen fields which help students earn money and credits. 

 

RPI’s Lally School of Management combines the latest technical applications with the elements of a business school. Entrepreneurship is one of RPI’s specialties; aspiring entrepreneurs from all majors can participate in a business incubator program – a support system for start-up companies run by RPI students and alumni. 

 

Students in the information technology program select one of 20 concentrations, ranging from cognitive science to economics. The quality of the humanities and social sciences is related to their applicability to technical fields. Students also have the option to enter a 7-year dual degree program in medicine, a 6-year program in law or 5- and 6-year programs in business sciences or engineering. 

 

Unlike many engineering schools, Rensselaer encourages undergrads to participate in some sort of international study, internship or service-learning experience. RPI offers programs in more than 15 countries on four continents. 

 

The Advising and Learning Center gets high ratings from students for their drop-in tutoring services – good news for any student who needs a little extra help. For students looking for smaller class sizes, they will find that over half of RPI’s classes enroll fewer than 20 students. Most of the professors at RPI have spent multiple years in the industry before coming back to teach, which means students are being assigned projects that are relevant to their studies.

 

Similar colleges to consider: MIT, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, Worcester Polytechnic

 

Social: Weekend options at RPI include sporting events, live entertainment, concerts, movies and half a dozen local pubs. Students also participate in celebrations in Greek houses and off-campus apartments. Albany is just a half hour drive away, for students looking for a larger nightlife scene. 

 

Troy is not a traditional college town, but it does have good places to eat and beautiful parks, and students can take advantage of the free shuttle buses that run regularly to downtown. For more scenic excursions, the Berkshires, Catskills, Adirondacks, Lake George, Lake Placid, the Saranac Lakes, Montreal or Boston are not too far from campus. 

 

Athletics at RPI revolve around ice hockey, which are the only teams that play in Division I. One of the biggest weekends of the year is Big Red Freakout, which involves activities to cheer on “Big Red” (aka the hockey teams). The other athletic teams at RPI play in Division III with the football, baseball, men’s and women’s basketball and women’s field hockey teams being the most successful. Students also have more than 200 student-fun extracurricular clubs to choose from. 

 

Financial: Rensselaer offers both need-based and non need-based financial aid, as well as 41 athletic scholarships for men’s and women’s ice hockey. The average percent of need met is 12%, with 66% being fully met. Although the tuition and fees are $78,000, the average financial aid package is $33,100. 87% of students receive some type of financial aid. 

Oglethorpe – small liberal arts college with big city connection

“Education should help students make both a living and a life.” This is the guiding principle of Oglethorpe University, which was founded in 1835 and named for the founder of the state of Georgia, James Edward Oglethorpe. 

Oglethorpe’s 118-acre campus is located in Brookhaven, a popular inner suburb of Atlanta. If you think you may have seen parts of this picturesque campus with its Gothic architecture before, you probably have – Oglethorpe has been the backdrop for several movies and TV shows. Students will enjoy walking (or going for a run) through its beautiful, wooded terrain. 

Here are a few quick facts about Oglethorpe:

Acceptance: 86%

Freshman retention: 77%

Freshmen out of state: 13%

Most popular majors: business administration, psychology, communications, biology

4-year graduation rate: 39%; 6-year: 50%

Student Community Diversity: 26.5% Black, 12% Latino, 9% International

 

Housing: Fifty-nine percent of all Oglethorpe students live on campus in one of seven residence halls. Most rooms are large suites with private bathrooms, but some singles are available. Many students live in Atlanta and commute to campus. The dining hall offers a variety of standard options like pizza, burgers, sandwiches and a salad bar, as well as Mongolian grill and some vegan options. 

 

Academics: All students take the interdisciplinary Core Curriculum program – all classes are sequenced and taken at a specific point in a student’s college career. This program provides a model for integrating information and acquiring knowledge. Students must take several liberal arts and sciences courses that help further develop students’ ability to reason, read and speak effectively. Classes are rigorous and generally small in size – 55% of classes at Oglethorpe have fewer than 20 students. 

Engineering students can take advantage of dual-degree programs with Auburn, Georgia Tech and several others. Oglethorpe’s Compass advising program guides students through all aspects of their first year. A_LAB (Atlanta Laboratory for Learning) coordinates many opportunities for students, including internships, research, service and study abroad programs. Ten percent of Oglethorpe students sign up for one of a variety of study abroad programs. 

 

Similar colleges to consider: Berry, Agnes Scott, Birmingham-Southern, Emory

 

Social: Some weekends students stay on campus and other weekends the campus is pretty much deserted. When students are on campus, there is a strong Greek life scene, with 41% of men and 59% of women pledging, respectively. 

Oglethorpe Day is one of the most popular on-campus events, where the college celebrates its origins with activities such as a tug-of-war between students and faculty. There is a strong nightlife scene with plenty of bars, clubs and cafes within 10 minutes of campus, and many students also frequent the other nearby college campuses to socialize. And of course, Atlanta offers plenty to do with arts, professional sports, and entertainment, including Six Flags theme park. 

Popular road trips include going to Savannah for St. Patrick’s Day and New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Florida is another popular destination any time of year. For the outdoorsy student, activities include hiking at nearby Stone Mountain and boating and swimming at Lake Lanier.

Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels compete in Division III sports. The men’s golf team makes frequent NCAA Tournament appearances, and men’s soccer and women’s basketball are recent Southern Athletic Association champions. Basketball games versus nearby rival Emory are among the most popular. 

 

Financial: Oglethorpe has strong socioeconomic diversity with 43% of students receiving a Pell Grant. Every admitted student who completes the FAFSA receives a $1,000 grant, regardless of financial need. 

Oglethorpe offers both need-based and non need-based merit aid. The average percent of need met is 80%, with 21% being fully met. Although the tuition and fees are $62,600, the average financial aid package is $38,800. 90% of students receive some type of financial aid.

Morehouse College – an HBCU where strong academics meet a strong alumni network

Morehouse College is the only historically black 4-year liberal arts college for men and has an impressive roster of alumni,  including Reverend Martin Luther King Jr, Spike Lee and Samuel L. Jackson. Founded in 1867, this campus features 42 buildings (many of which are historic) on 61 acres near downtown Atlanta. Known as the most prestigious of the HBCU’s, one of Morehouse’s cornerstones is a strong alumni network ready to help with jobs and other opportunities. 

 

Here are a few quick facts about Morehouse:

4-year Graduation rate: 33%, 6-year: 54%

Acceptance: 31%

Freshman retention: 85%

Freshmen out of state: 74% 

Most popular majors: business administration, biology, social sciences

Student Community Diversity: 95% Black, 0.5% Latino, 1% International

 

Housing: Students are required to live on campus their first three years, while seniors find their own off-campus housing. Students recommend Graves Hall for freshmen, which is Morehouse’s oldest dorm, built in 1889. Meal plans are required, which not everyone is thrilled about, but dining services has recently expanded to include more fast-food options and a coffee shop. 

 

Academics: Morehouse’s academics can be described as competitive and rigorous where classmates strive to do their best, while at the same time supporting their classmates. The general education program includes coursework in four major disciplines (humanities, natural sciences, math and social sciences), as well as “the unique African and African American heritage on which so much of our modern American culture is built.” To that end, the university hosts a series of campuswide assemblies called the Crown Forum presented by community leaders and national figures from different industries. In order to graduate, students must attend 6 presentations per semester for 6 semesters. 

 

Traditionally, STEM fields at Morehouse have been strong, although business and economics have recently risen in prominence. One of Morehouse’s gems is their engineering 3-2 program, which works in conjunction with Georgia Tech and other larger universities. The cinema, television and emerging media studies major is growing in popularity and a new major in Chinese studies is now available. For the student interested in participating in research, there are plenty of opportunities in the sciences, including a research partnership with NASA. 

 

Similar colleges to consider: Davidson, Furman, Howard

 

Social: One of the most celebrated events is homecoming week, which is a joint effort with sister school, Spelman. This event is one of the largest at any of the HBCUs. Morehouse has four fraternities, which attract just 3% of students. Other crowd-drawing events on campus include football games, concerts, movies and religious programs. 

 

The Maroon Tigers compete in Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, with track and field being a recent conference champion. The basketball team has enjoyed some recent success as well. During football season, students road-trip to Hampton, Howard and Tuskegee. 

 

Financial: Morehouse offers need-based merits scholarships and 126 athletic scholarships. Although the tuition and fees are $47,700, the average financial aid package is $28,800. 80% of students receive financial aid.

Get ahead and stay ahead! Get my FREE Toolkit.

DePaul University – a politically liberal Roman Catholic university devoted to experiential learning

DePaul university offers a unique environment to learn and grow, one focused on students gaining field experience before graduation. Though it is the largest Roman Catholic university in the nation, DePaul has a reputation for being politically liberal and diverse. DePaul has two campuses: Lincoln Park is set in a fashionable Chicago neighborhood and houses the colleges of liberal arts and social sciences, science and health, education, and theater and music, while the Loop campus (20 minutes away by “the El”), is home to the colleges of business and communications, digital media, computing, and law, as well as the School for New Learning.

Here are a few quick facts about DePaul:

4-year Graduation rate:58%, 6-year: 71%

Acceptance: 70%

Freshman retention: 83%

Freshmen out of state: 36% 

Most popular majors: accounting, public relations/advertising, finance, psychology

Student Community Diversity: 8% Black, 19% Latino, 3% International

 

Housing: DePaul has traditionally been a commuter school, with only 18% of students living in university housing. Lincoln Park’s campus has 6 co-ed dorms and 6 townhouse and apartment buildings, while the Loop campus boasts a 1,700-student residence hall that includes a rooftop garden, fitness center, as well as music, art, and study rooms. Food choices on campus are limited, especially for students who eat a strictly vegan diet.

DePaul takes safety very seriously. Campus security is visible, patrolling both in cars and on foot. All dorms are accessible only by the swipe of a student ID at two doors (and in some dorms, three).

 

Academics: All freshmen are required to take either Discover Chicago or Explore Chicago to learn more about the city, as well as completing courses in composition and quantitative reasoning. Sophomores all take a course on multiculturalism in the United States, and every DePaul undergraduate participates in an experiential learning program which requires an internship, research, study abroad, or a service-learning experience. The School of Cinematic Arts has a partnership with Cinespace Chicago, the city’s premier movie studio to give students in those programs film and television production experience. Game design and animation are two other popular programs. DePaul offers a 6-year bachelor’s/law degree, as well as a number of other 5-year bachelor’s/master’s programs. 

 

Class sizes are often small; 41% of classes have fewer than 20 students. Professors teach at all levels and clerics teach some courses and celebrate Mass everyday. Mass is optional for students,  and students have the opportunity to join student organizations that represent all different faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds. 

 

Similar colleges to consider: University of Illinois at Chicago, Loyola University Chicago, University of Indiana at Urbana-Champaign

 

Social: It should come as no surprise that with the number of concert venues, sporting events, clubs, restaurants and bars in Chicago (and such a small percentage of students living on campus), that most of the social scene happens away from campus. Fraternities and sororities attract only 5% of men, and 11% of women, respectively. In the warmer months, Lake Michigan is a popular spot, and the annual outdoor Fest concert draws large crowds from both DePaul campuses. 

 

DePaul’s Blue Demons compete in the Big East Conference in 15 Division I sports, with men’s basketball being the biggest headliner. Men’s track and field, and women’s basketball, tennis, and softball have all won Big East tournaments recently. While Loyola is DePaul’s oldest rival, the games against Notre Dame draw the largest crowds. 

 

Financial: DePaul offers both need-based, as well as non-need based merit scholarships, and a small number of athletic scholarships. The average percent of need met is 71%, with 14% being fully met. Although the tuition and fees are $61,000, the average financial aid package is $21,100. 91% of students receive scholarships.

Get ahead and stay ahead! Get my FREE Toolkit.

Drexel University – co-op education at its best

If you are more tech-minded and looking to get a leg up on your career, Drexel with its co-op curriculum may be the place for you. Set in one of the now more desirable parts of downtown Philadelphia, Drexel University’s 123-acre, 20-block radius campus is adjacent to UPenn. Students will have their choice of plenty of restaurants, clubs, and places to shop, all accessible with the city’s public transit system. For those who like to stay in shape, how about getting your playlist queued up and heading for the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum like Rocky? 

 

Here are a few quick facts about Drexel:

4-year Graduation rate: not reported, 6-year: 71%

Acceptance: 77%

Freshman retention: 88%

Freshmen out of state: 59% 

Most popular majors: mechanical engineering, computer science, business administration, health professions

Student Community Diversity: 7% Black, 6.7% Latino, 11% International

 

Housing: The majority of freshmen live in one of nine co-ed residence halls while most upperclassmen reside in nearby apartments or fraternities houses. About 22% of the overall undergraduate population lives on campus. There are two main dining centers which serve food that is described as “adequate.” Foodies will be happy to hear that they can often find various food trucks parked around campus to grab a quick lunch. 

 

Students can also feel safer knowing that the dorms, library and physical education center are restricted to students with IDs and Drexel’s campus enforces strict policies to limit the amount of alcohol brought onto campus. 

 

Academics: Drexel is known for its innovative co-op program which combines high-tech academics with paying job opportunities for undergrads. Students alternate between periods of full-time study and full-time employment for their 4-5 year program. This adds up to 6-18 months of job experience, before graduation. In order to achieve this, Drexel operates year-round on a quarter system instead of semesters. Freshman and senior years (of a 5-year program) are completely on campus and the other three remaining years alternate between study and work.

 

All first-year students are required to take courses in English composition, math and two 1-credit courses: one that introduces university resources, and one on civic engagement in the local community. The Drexel Engineering Curriculum integrates math, physics, chemistry and engineering to help ensure students are well-rounded and able to write as well as design. Each freshman is assigned a “personal librarian” to help them best make use of the library’s extensive resources. 

 

Drexel’s professors are praised for their accessibility, and unlike many other universities, teaching assistants only run labs and study sessions. Fifty-five percent of all classes have fewer than 20 students. 

 

Similar colleges to consider: Penn State, Syracuse, University of Pittsburgh, George Washington University

 

Social: Because so many live off campus and there is so much to do in the surrounding city of Philadelphia, campus tends to be a bit deserted on the weekends. Friday-night movies on campus are cheap and dorms often sponsor floor parties. Drexel has a moderate Greek life scene, with 14% of men and 13% of women pledging. 

 

While it can be difficult to get students involved in activities, what with the amount of schoolwork and co-op assignments, Drexel still boasts 18 Division I teams, which compete in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Dragons do not have a football team, but their men’s and women’s basketball, crew, and soccer teams are strong. Do not make the mistake of assuming Drexel’s students don’t have school spirit. They make a show of “sacrificing” blue plastic chickens in demonstrations against their rivals, the University of Delaware Blue Hens. 

 

Financial: Drexel offers need-based financial aid, as well as non need-based merit scholarships, and a small number of athletic scholarships.The average percent of need met is 84%, with 33% being fully met. Although the tuition and fees are $75,000, the average financial aid package is $41,000. 100% of students receive some type of financial and and/or scholarships.

Get ahead and stay ahead! Get my FREE Toolkit.