04/22/2022
Ohio Colleges Tour, Pt 1: Case Western Reserve, Cleveland Institute of Art, Wooster, Oberlin, Kenyon
It was such a treat to get back on the road and visit college campuses again. The pandemic curbed so much of what people around the world enjoyed. For me, as an independent college consultant, one of the activities that I really missed most was the ability to visit colleges. These trips and time with students, faculty, and admissions officers are vital for me. Having the opportunity to take a deep dive into all that a college has to offer really helps me create a personalized college list for each individual student. After all, finding the best fit college is what our mission is all about!
The 9 colleges I visited along with seven of my colleagues ranged from a big state school to a little arts and design institute. Here are a few of the highlights from this eclectic group of schools.
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Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH)
Midsized private college with four undergraduate schools: the College of Arts and Sciences, the Case School of Engineering, the Bolton School of Nursing, and the Weatherhead School of Management.
- Despite having four undergrad schools, all students are admitted through a single-door admission policy. This allows students to explore multiple areas of interest prior to deciding upon their major.
- 81% of students do undergrad research.
- CWRU has strong relationships with local businesses, such as Cleveland Clinic, Goodyear, Progressive, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, multiple professional sports franchises, and numerous COOP programs for engineering students.
Fun Fact: The Peter B. Lewis Building, designed by Frank Gehry, is home to the Weatherhead School of Management and features undulating walls similar to those of Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain.
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Cleveland Institute of Art (Cleveland, OH)
Premier college of art and design offering 13 majors.
- Students begin their career in the Foundation program, designed to introduce them to all of the highly selective majors while building the skills necessary to be successful in any discipline.
- 100% of students earn credit through internships or courses that connect them with projects outside the Institute.
Fun Fact: CIA offers a few unique majors such as Transportation Design and Life Sciences Illustration.
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College of Wooster (Wooster, OH)
Small private liberal arts college.
- The Independent Study (IS) required of all seniors lets students explore subjects they’re passionate about with one-on-one faculty guidance. Each student receives a highly coveted Tootsie Roll upon completion of this project.
- From the first freshman seminar to the final day when seniors hand in their theses, the college paves each student’s path to independence.
Fun Fact: Since 2002, U.S. News has asked college presidents, provosts, and deans to nominate schools with outstanding undergraduate research opportunities and stellar senior capstone projects. Only two schools have been named on both lists every year: Wooster and Princeton.
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Oberlin College (Oberlin, OH)
Oberlin College and Conservatory is comprised of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Conservatory of Music, which offers Bachelor of Music degrees and a number of master’s programs and is regarded as one of the best undergraduate music schools in the country.
- There are no academic requisites for freshmen, but general education requirements include proficiency in writing and math and coursework in arts and humanities, natural sciences and math, social and behavioral sciences, and cultural diversity.
- Oberlin was the first American college to accept women and minorities, and it was a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Fun Fact: For $5 each, students can rent up to two works of art for a semester by artists such as Picasso and Toulouse-Lautrec through the Art Rental program.
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Kenyon College (Gambier, OH)
Kenyon provides students with an accessible and pure liberal arts experience that rivals those of leading East Coast institutions.
-Known for its world-class English Writing and Theater departments. Alums such as Paul Newman and E.L. Doctorow returned often to campus to mentor students in these areas of interest.
- Kenyon’s swimming and diving teams dominate Division III competition, with the men’s team having won 34 national titles, and the women's team capturing the 2022 crown this month. So, for those who want to compete at a high level and challenge for national championships, look at a place like this.
Fun Fact: On Matriculation Day each October, after a formal ceremony, freshmen sign a book that contains the signatures of virtually every Kenyon student since the early 1800s. One can expect nothing less from a place so steeped in tradition.
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Stay tuned for part 2 of our tour of college campuses in the state of Ohio!
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