Gilmour Academy College Counseling Office

About an hour's drive is the small and charming school of St. John's College located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. St. John's is about as unique of a college as they come. Comprising two campuses-Santa Fe and Annapolis, students can opt to study at either as both campuses provide the same academic and community feel. The Santa Fe campus is intentionally small with just under 300 undergraduate students. No majors can be found at St. John's as all students take courses in a variety of courses and focus on reading the Great Books curriculum or foundational works of literature in Western civilization. Authors include Plato, Homer, and Einstein, for example. Consequently, everyone graduates with a Bachelor's Degree in the Liberal Arts. There are no lectures here as tutors (the name used in place of professors) lead small discussion groups on every reading. This encourages critical and analytical thinking like no other. While academic learning is intense, students unwind by using their location as a playground. Situated 7,300 feet above sea level in the foothills of the Sangria de Cristo mountains, students can enjoy plenty of options for hiking, biking, climbing, and running. With over 300 days of yearly sunshine there is ample time to play outdoors. If you are looking for a school with an abundance of formalized team sports, keep going as St. John's does not participate in NCAA athletics. At best you will find intramural sports to satisfy your interests. Don't let that scare you away as a small population means a very tight and supportive community.

Admissions is moderately selective and testing is optional but there is a good amount of emphasis placed on the writing samples and one's ability to succeed in this unconventional curriculum. If this type of learning excites you and the southwest calls, definitely give St. John's a chance.

Mrs. Stockard spent a few days in New Mexico exploring the University of New Mexico and St. John's University. It's hard to imagine two more diverse schools, just an hour apart, which proves there is a college out there for everyone!

The University of New Mexico (UNM) is a tier 1 Research University located in Albuquerque, NM and serves approximately 18,000 undergraduates. While many campuses in the US feature red or white brick architecture, UNM stays true to its roots and showcases Pueblo-Revival architecture and gorgeous tree-lined spaces.

As a Hispanic Serving Institution, nearly half of the UNM's population is Hispanic. When it comes to academic offerings, the UNM has strong STEM majors, a very well-respected anthropology major, and the James and Gail Ellis School of Business Leadership. A fun fact is that UNM has a tremendous Department of Digital and Fine Arts. Thanks to Albuquerque's partnership with Netflix as a major production hub, the school benefits tremendously from this relationship through internships and hands-on-experiences.

While UNM might be on the smaller side of a major flagship university, there is still plenty to see and do on campus and in the local community. As a Division I school, students fully support their Lobos (Spanish for wolf), especially in basketball. If you are looking to explore Southwestern culture, the city of Albuquerque is a great place to start with its shopping and ethnic cuisine. If the city looks familiar, it might as it was featured in shows like Breaking Bad and Stranger Things.

While the UNM might be out of the box for many of our students, if you are looking to try something truly new in your college experience, this would be the place to start. Don't forget that the city sees nearly 300 days of sunshine a year! Most won't have a problem getting in as the admissions rate stands at over 75% and may be higher for other majors.

The final stop in Arizona required a 1:45 drive down south to Tucson, AZ where the University of Arizona is located. Established as the first public university in Arizona, this university also offers a plethora of majors and educational opportunities for its undergraduate population just shy of 50,000 students. In many ways, it parallels ASU with its academic offerings, designation as a RI research campus and strong honors program for top students. This might be why ASU and UA are such strong rivals both on and off the athletic fields!

The Tucson campus sits on just about half the size of ASU’s Tempe campus but is characterized for red brick architecture in most any building. On the day that Mrs. Stockard visited, the main campus was buzzing with the Tucson Book Festival, the third largest in the USA, attended by well over 130,000 people! Authors from all over the world come to guest lecture and sell books. The gathering was a thing of beauty for any lover of the written word!

The University of Arizona has a very active Greek population that serves about 16% of its student population but athletics does reign supreme, especially men’s basketball. The Wildcats have made it to the NCAA Final Four numerous times, and won a National Championship in 1997. The baseball team can also claim great success, having
secured four national championships during its tenure. When you have year-round warm temperatures and sunshine, practicing and playing becomes much easier on a daily basis and makes for some strong teams!

The University is the primary economic driving factor in Tucson but tourism also brings in a major financial boom. Consequently, there are a multitude of festivals, restaurants and shopping that all explore the local cultural flavor. If you are looking for a large school offering that is a tad bit smaller than their rivals to the north, UA is a wise choice.

Arizona State University was next on the schedule and boasts of being one of the largest public universities in the nation. ASU has four campuses in the metro Phoenix area but Mrs. Stockard’s visit was on the largest campus in Tempe, which houses over 55,000 students! ASU, however, treats all their campuses as distinctive with specific offerings and not branch campuses, which is typical of many public schools, especially here in Ohio.

Tempe houses both graduate programs and undergraduate studies that are more research-based. The Polytechnic campus prepares for professional and technological programs for direct workforce preparation. The West Valley campus is focused on the liberal arts. The Downtown Phoenix campus hones in on majors in nursing, public policy, criminal
justice, journalism and business. There is also a robust on-line learning presence if you are so inclined to go that route in some of your courses. Tempe’s campus is beautiful but expansive, consisting of over 600 acres. What’s not to love when your campus
consists of pedestrian walkways and is surrounded by an arboretum with palm trees galore?

Try not to get mesmerized as one is there for an educational purpose and can take advantage of the nearly 350 college majors or the prestigious Barrett Honors College where a 3.8 and 29 ACT will typically render you a spot along with 7,000 plus of your closest friends. In 2022, ASU was designated as a Hispanic serving institution as nearly 25% of students are of Hispanic descent. If research is important to you, this RI institution spends hundreds of millions of dollars a year and secures close to a billion dollars in external funding.

With big academics comes big extra-curricular options for anyone who is a member of the Sun Devil nation. Sports are clearly a big part of student culture as a member of the DI, Big 12 conference and have secured twenty-four national championships in a myriad of sports. ASU also offers a robust student media department that consists of radio, print and an on-line presence keeping its constituents informed of happenings on campus and the local area.

Sure, ASU can feel a bit overwhelming at first, but for the student who wants to get lost in a sea of opportunities, consider making this campus one to visit. You will not be complaining of the lack of opportunities.

Over spring break, Mrs. Stockard spent time in Arizona touring three very popular options in the Grand Canyon state:

Arizona State University (ASU), the University of Arizona (UA) and Grand Canyon University (GCU). Her first stop was to Grand Canyon University, a private and Christian school located in Phoenix. GCU has an interesting story. For many years it was a for-profit university, but in 2025, after many legal battles, it was granted full non-profit status. If you look at its student population, you might do a double take when you see over 100,000+ students. After a closer look, you will learn most of those students are taking on-line classes. The total in-person student population is closer to 25,000, with about 17,000 residing on campus. GCU offers over 200 bachelors, masters or
doctoral degree programs spanning ten colleges, including business, engineering, nursing, natural sciences, arts, an media. The school also offers a seminary option as well. With its location mere minutes from downtown Phoenix and the Scottsdale area, internships and experiential learning are plentiful.

In 2006 and 2009, GCU spent tens of millions of dollars to improve the facilities, which included new dorms, athletic facilities, and food options. As a result, the student population boomed. A fun fact is that GCU does not have a traditional dining hall on campus. All of their 30+ food options are food court style offerings. GCU also shot to national recognition when their men’s basketball team secured a spot in the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament in 2021, their first time as a DI sport; previously GCU participated at the DII level. GCU also has a roller
hockey team on campus so if you would like to move from the ice to the floor, this might not be a bad option.

While the overall student population might be overwhelming at first, for the student looking to make their home at GCU, you will find a welcoming and walkable environment that caters to all a student’s needs. Warmer temperatures and an abundant amount of sunshine make this an idyllic setting where young adults from all walks of life are making
their way. While it may not have the name recognition like other schools in the state, GCU still deserves a deep dive if your desire to take your college experience out to the Southwest

Mrs. Stockard spent part of her spring break at the state's annual OACAC conference. She sat in on sessions pertaining to 529 plans, college essays, test prep updates, and NIL information, to name a few. This year she also presented with her colleagues from Kent State, OU, Denison and Estrela Consulting on Admissions Counselor Advisory Boards. Such a fun and informative time!