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Tired of the same old boring colleges?

© ML Arthur

Do the colleges you hear about bore you? Are you looking for an education that is innovative, different, and unique? This article is the first in a series that will review unique colleges. These colleges are not for everyone, but they might be right for you.

St. John's College (Annapolis, MD and Santa Fe, NM) This college has a unique Great Books program, in which all undergraduates are enrolled. There are no majors, no minors, and very few curriculum choices. Groups of 18-20 students meet in discussion-based classes where they discuss the Great Books; learn French and Greek; study math, physics, and astronomy; learn the fundamentals of classical music; conduct laboratory exercises in physics, biology, and chemistry; pursue independent reading exercises; and attend weekly Friday-evening all-school lectures. The Great Books include Greek classics, medieval writings, religious texts, modern philosophers, English literature, and governmental treatises. Students also participate in student government, campus publications, and extracurricular activities. Theatrical productions, films, musical groups, and parties all occur on campus, as well as intramural athletics. Off-campus competitive athletics are available in rowing, fencing, and croquet. For more information, see http://www.sjca.edu.

Hampshire College (Amherst, MA) If you would like to pursue an education that is self-directed and individual, Hampshire is the place for you. The four to five years that your college experience takes up will be broken up into three stages, called Divisions I, II, and III. In Division I, you will pursue four distribution requirements (which can be fulfilled through a combinations of one or two courses, independent projects, and examination). These requirements include humanities, arts, and cultural studies; natural and physical sciences, social sciences, and cognitive studies. In Division II, you will pursue coursework in your area of interest, along with electives in such areas as foreign language, entrepreneurship, materials design and construction, and physical education. Division III consists of prolonged advanced independent research and righting in a coherent area of study (like child psychology, artists' notebooks, or the ethnobotony of the Connecticut River). If you find the coursework or the activities too limited on this campus of 1100 students, take the free bus to one of the four other colleges and universities in the area (where you can participate in clubs and take more traditional classes at no extra charge). Advanced art studios, intercollegiate athletics, and diverse social life give you things to do in your free time. Student-lead courses during the January break and off-campus fieldwork opportunities let you diversify. And as for where to live: there are traditional dorms AND on-campus group apartments called "mods." For more information, see http://www.hampshire.edu.

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