By Caroline Barry
With college application season underway, consider these nontraditional colleges whose class schedules, grading methods and study abroad programs differ from most universities.
With college application season underway, consider these nontraditional colleges whose class schedules, grading methods and study abroad programs differ from most universities.
Minerva Schools – San Francisco, CA
Education at Minerva is driven by studies abroad. Only the first year is spent building an academic foundation on the campus in San Francisco. The next three years are spent in up to seven international cities, including Istanbul, Buenos Aires, Berlin and Seoul.
Bard Early College at Simon’s Rock – Great Barrington, MA
Bard offers students admission after sophomore or junior year of high school. Liberal arts and sciences degrees are offered in four-year Bachelor of Arts programs, two-year Associate degrees and two specialized five-year dual-degree programs.
Colorado College – Colorado Springs, CO
The Colorado College course schedule is divided into four blocks per semester. Students take one class every day for three and a half weeks. Although the courses are shortened, students learn the same amount of material in one semester as students who take traditional schedules.
Bennington College – Bennington, VT
At Bennington College, students focus their coursework around the Plan Process, in which academic progress is marked by faculty meetings and narrative evaluations rather than grades. During the seven-week Field Work Term, students are required to take jobs or internships related to their academic studies.
Education at Minerva is driven by studies abroad. Only the first year is spent building an academic foundation on the campus in San Francisco. The next three years are spent in up to seven international cities, including Istanbul, Buenos Aires, Berlin and Seoul.
Bard Early College at Simon’s Rock – Great Barrington, MA
Bard offers students admission after sophomore or junior year of high school. Liberal arts and sciences degrees are offered in four-year Bachelor of Arts programs, two-year Associate degrees and two specialized five-year dual-degree programs.
Colorado College – Colorado Springs, CO
The Colorado College course schedule is divided into four blocks per semester. Students take one class every day for three and a half weeks. Although the courses are shortened, students learn the same amount of material in one semester as students who take traditional schedules.
Bennington College – Bennington, VT
At Bennington College, students focus their coursework around the Plan Process, in which academic progress is marked by faculty meetings and narrative evaluations rather than grades. During the seven-week Field Work Term, students are required to take jobs or internships related to their academic studies.