The Best Colleges/Universities that You May Not Know About

[barbino]

Berea College - Berea, KY

Another America's Best College Buy, Berea does not charge tuition. Students from Appalachia & other areas with economic need can be found here in a living/learning environment. Founded in 1855, it has approx. 1,550 undergraduates. This is another academically rigorous program, offering 32 majors. The college gives each student a laptop. Berea sponsors an Education Abroad program. Each student works about 10+ hours a week in addition to his/her academic program as Berea is one of the colleges in the Works Colleges Consortium. Berea has the distinction of being the first coeducational and interracial college in the South (college website). The small-town campus is one of the little gems of Appalachia. Berea's mission includes serving the people of Appalachia and its communities.

[barbino]

Centre College - Danville, KY

Site of the 2000 Vice-Presidential debate (Lieberman/Cheney) and selected as the site for the upcoming 2012 Vice-Presidential debate, Centre is an outstanding liberal arts college. It is ranked #42 in National Liberal Arts Colleges by U. S. News. Centre is also ranked #1 in the U.S. for the percentage of alumni that give gifts (college website). Founded in 1819, the 2011-12 enrollment was approx. 1,300. Centre is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, This is one of the oldest campuses in the country and several of the historically significant buildings have undergone restoration/historic preservation.

The only required courses for all students are the Humanities sequence. Centre's reputation and a mention of its politically aligned alumni was put into the U.S. Congressional Record in November, 2010. The college promotes study abroad. There are currently 4 national fraternities and 4 NPC sororities at Centre.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by barbino

Berea College - Berea, KY

Another America's Best College Buy, Berea does not charge tuition. Students from Appalachia & other areas with economic need can be found here in a living/learning environment. Founded in 1855, it has approx. 1,550 undergraduates. This is another academically rigorous program, offering 32 majors. The college gives each student a laptop. Berea sponsors an Education Abroad program. Each student works about 10+ hours a week in addition to his/her academic program as Berea is one of the colleges in the Works Colleges Consortium. Berea has the distinction of being the first coeducational and interracial college in the South (college website). The small-town campus is one of the little gems of Appalachia. Berea's mission includes serving the people of Appalachia and its communities.

I just want to add... They have a student run hotel/restaurant and a store where goods that are handmade by the students are sold. We're not talking arts and crafts things. We're talking really well made incredible wood crafts, furniture, ceramics, etc. We ate at the restaurant and the food was fantastic. Now the last time I was there was probably 25 years ago, but I was so impressed. It is through this store, hotel and restaurant that they can continue having a tuition free college.

Craft store site: https://bereacollegecrafts.com/
Hotel/restaurant: http://www.boonetavernhotel.com/

I think I need to go there again, in fact. I loved that place.

[barbino]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I just want to add... They have a student run hotel/restaurant and a store where goods that are handmade by the students are sold. We're not talking arts and crafts things. We're talking really well made incredible wood crafts, furniture, ceramics, etc. We ate at the restaurant and the food was fantastic. Now the last time I was there was probably 25 years ago, but I was so impressed. It is through this store, hotel and restaurant that they can continue having a tuition free college.

Craft store site: https://bereacollegecrafts.com/
Hotel/restaurant: http://www.boonetavernhotel.com/

I think I need to go there again, in fact. I loved that place.

AGDee-
It's been over 30 years since I have been there, but I had a similar impression. My big sis & her Sigma Chi husband moved there after graduation and came to get me to show me Berea. I forgot about the restaurant but remember the store - the quality of the crafts/artwork was pretty amazing. It's one of the places in KY that I've always wanted to visit again. We'll have to stay at the hotel- I never made the connection with the name of the hotel & Berea College.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by barbino

AGDee-
It's been over 30 years since I have been there, but I had a similar impression. My big sis & her Sigma Chi husband moved there after graduation and came to get me to show me Berea. I forgot about the restaurant but remember the store - the quality of the crafts/artwork was pretty amazing.

My parents always had a broom from there on the hearth. We have it now -- it must be 50+ years old, and it is beautiful.

[barbino]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

My parents always had a broom from there on the hearth. We have it now -- it must be 50+ years old, and it is beautiful.

Berea College & the town is a special place. It's the #1 arts & crafts town in KY, and it is really growing. Now I want to go there & buy things for the house. I'll have to wait until we can go & spend a fair amount of cash. The store website indicates that you can order things, though.

I can't believe that I never made the connection between the restaurant/ hotel and the college. I always thought that Boone's Tavern was just another reason to visit Berea. There ae so many really good Southern- style restaurants around Kentucky. I've been in back in Chicago too long.

[barbino]

I can edit again! Thank you!
College of the Atlantic - Bar Harbor, ME

This is a small private liberal arts college by the ocean. Founded in 1969, this alternative college allows its students to design their own curriculum, so each student's program is individualized and interdisciplinary. All of the approx. 350 students have human ecology as their major because this college is exceptionally concerned with environmental and ecological issues.
Students at COA are taught to "think out of the box." COA is a Maine Sea Grant college program so students can study & work with marine life. Princeton Review cited COA in its Best Colleges book. The college is committed to sustainability both on its campus and throughout the global community.
The campus is known for its beauty (it is located near Arcadia National Park). COA offers two degrees: the Bachelor of Arts and the Master of Philosophy; in human ecology.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by barbino

Berea College & the town is a special place. It's the #1 arts & crafts town in KY, and it is really growing. Now I want to go there & buy things for the house. I'll have to wait until we can go & spend a fair amount of cash. The store website indicates that you can order things, though.

I can't believe that I never made the connection between the restaurant/hotel and the college. I always thought that Boone's Tavern was just another reason to visit Berea. There ae so many really good Southern - style restaurants around Kentucky. I've been in back in Chicago too long.

Word!