| Featured College: Marlborough College By: Alleliah Nuguid Marlboro College is one of a kind. You would expect no less from a school with the Fighting Dead Tree as its official mascot. Marlboro College, established in 1946, has a student body of only 330 and is located in the rural town of Marlboro, Vermont. Marlboro College began as two old farms and became an academically rigorous institution and a hidden gem among liberal arts colleges. At Marlboro, there are no distrib- ution requirements to fulfill. Students are responsible for directing their education under something called the Plan of Concentration, which is a self-designed project that spans students’ final two years of study. Students are encouraged to take courses in many different areas during freshman and sophomore year, but junior and senior years are largely devoted to the Plan. Sky, a rising junior, is impressed with the students that this educational system attracts: “In my two years at Marlboro, I have never once had a class where the other students were disengaged or did not care about the material.” The average class size is 10 students, which makes it much easier than at other colleges to foster relationships with professors. The professors and faculty view the students as individuals and want them to succeed, from the application process in one’s senior year of high school to the culmination of the Plan in one’s senior year at Marlboro. What do Marlboro students, who live in a town with a population of 978, do for fun? They find it in their surroundings or they make it themselves. Outdoor sports are popular, as there is an outdoor program funded by the college. There are opportunities to go kayaking, whitewater rafting, skiing and more. According to Sky, there is always something to do, be it a dance party, an open mic night, or a music festival. Most students write a thesis for the Plan of Concentration. Due to this kind of experience, 68% of Marlboro alumni go on to graduate school. The top three frequently attended graduate schools are Antioch New England, Harvard, and Yale. The total cost of a year at Marlboro, including tuition, room and board, is $41,700. But don’t be scared off by the sticker price-80% of students receive financial aid and there are merit scholarships available. Marlboro is not for everyone, though. This goes for any college, but be sure to do your research. Students who prefer more structure within the curriculum may thrive elsewhere. Also, the small size of both the school and the town of Marlboro can serve as a challenge. As a biology major, Sky doesn’t have access to huge research labs, but the faculty helps as much as it can. “Sometimes it would be nice to have the easy way, but one thing about Marlboro is that nothing here is easy,” says Sky. “Achieving at Marlboro takes hard work, dedication and commitment.” For more information about Marlboro College, visit http://www.marlboro. edu/. |
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