Colorado College (CC)

Under the "strongly immersive approach to education" at Colorado College, students take life 3.5 weeks at a time as part of a unique Block Plan. There's just one intensive class per block, followed by a 4.5 day break. Eight blocks later, students have an academic year under their belts, along with a slight feeling of invincibility: "The classes are very challenging, but after cramming in a semester's worth of calculus in four weeks, you basically feel like you can conquer anything." As an added benefit, professors are only teaching one class at a time, which "[does] away with student anonymity" and offers "more opportunities for growth." One student confides that "In my last block the professor was spending the whole morning [and] afternoon-and evening-with us!" Students appreciate the "immersion in a dynamic array of intellectual endeavors," which "[fosters] excellent discussion and intellectual growth." Whether learning a language on an "intense and exhausting" schedule or studying rock formations on a weeklong hiking trip, students "feel fully invested in each class I take here." Blocks also allow students to tailor their schedules to easily include hobbies, "internship opportunities," and rehearsals, with the college ensuring a "great support system and connections" to do so. In "pursuing excellence through diverse and rich viewpoints," students obtain excellent "preparation for post-graduation," aided by the "ability to study off campus or abroad." This is not to say that students roam completely wild; all must complete broad all-college requirements and take part in a First-Year Program, designed to show students how to explore different disciplines and find their focus (or focuses). "I have been amazed at the extent to which the block plan allows each student to delve into their course material," says one happy student.

Colorado College's emphasis on curiosity and learning draws a smart crowd that is "largely involved with their community, environment and academics," so much so that it sometimes seems that "almost everyone was a valedictorian or salutatorian." Most agree that "everyone here is very intelligent" and "very vocal about their opinions"; these can surface at any time, such as during "intellectual discussion about our impact on nature while rock climbing." Students "are usually very accepting and friendly" and have the opportunity to have deeper discourse through the Breaking Bread program, wherein faculty or staff members invite students to their home or an off-site location to engage in conversation. Generally speaking, "CC students have passion for academic and outdoor pursuits," and "the typical student is well-traveled, intelligent...quirky, outdoorsy, and a bit of a hipster." Regardless of background or future path, students say that "the shared values of intellectual engagement, physical and mental health, passion, and a sense of adventure define Colorado College's spirit."

The chunks of time afforded by the "focused study" at Colorado College has everyone "working diligently, so that free time can be appreciated to its fullest." Students say that nearby Pikes Peak is "a constant reminder about how beautiful of a state we are in" and note that "outdoor activities are a big thing here." That said, "people are pretty accepting [of] what you like doing for fun," (and note a lack of peer pressure) the range of which often includes "slacklining, doing homework in the sun, and playing guitar on the lawn all happen when it's nice out. Sledding and skiing down campus hills, snowball fights, and fire pits happen in the winter." With all of this going on right outside their doors (all are required to live on campus for their first three years), students say that "you really don't have to leave campus if you don't want to," but those that do want to get a little bit of city favor can head to downtown Colorado Springs, which "is only about a 10-minute walk from campus, and there are many interesting restaurants to dine at for special occasions or a fun night out." As one student puts it, "The common slang is 'you do you.'"