Saint Michael’s again among Princeton Review “Best 381”

Saint Michael’s College is one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduate education, according to The Princeton Review. The education services company again features Saint Michael’s in the new 2017 edition of its flagship college guide, The Best 381 Colleges.

“Saint Michael’s outstanding academics are the chief reason we chose it for this book and we strongly recommend it to applicants,” says Robert Franek, The Princeton Review’s Senior VP-Publisher and author of “The Best 381 Colleges.”

The guide surveys 143,000 students at 381 top colleges to rate their schools on dozens of topics and report on their campus experiences. The survey asks students 80 questions in 62 categories about their school’s academics, administration, college life, fellow students and themselves. The Princeton Review began surveying college students and publishing its findings in 1992.

The Princeton Review does not rank the colleges from 1 to 381 in any category. Instead it uses students’ ratings of their schools to compile 62 ranking lists of top 20 colleges in the book in the various categories. The latest guide places the Colchester liberal arts college in “top 20” rankings for “Best College Radio Station” (#11) and “Town Gown Relations are Great.” (#18).

Quotes from Saint Michael’s students are part of the guide’s profile of the College: “If you’re genuine and true to who you are, you’re bound to do well at Saint Mike’s,” one says. Others emphasize strong academics and personal attention from faculty, the College’s appealing location outside Burlington with great skiing nearby, and the kindness and social awareness found among the student body.

Saint Michael’s College is once again proud to have been included in the Princeton’s Review’s best 380 (or is it 381)”, said Saint Michael’s President John J. Neuhauser. “We take our role of formation seriously, intending that those who graduate after four years will be different people than they were when they arrived.  We pride ourselves on the close interaction between students, faculty, staff and with fellow students and set out to assure that each student grows intellectually, socially and morally in their time here.  To be able to do this in a physically beautiful settling in one of the best college towns in the nation is an added blessing that encourages respect for each other and all of this good earth.

Only about 15 percent of America’s 2,500 four-year colleges are profiled in the guide. Publisher/author Franek says selections are “primarily based on data we collect through our annual surveys of administrators at several hundred four-year colleges. Additionally, we give considerable weight to observations from our school visits, opinions of our staff and our 24-member National College Counselor Advisory Board, and an unparalleled amount of feedback we get from our surveys of students attending these schools. We also keep a wide representation of colleges in the book by region, size, selectivity and character.”

In the “Students Say” section of the 2017 Saint Michael’s profile, the guide’s authors note: “Many [students] tout the strong academics and highlight the education, biology and religions departments in particular.” Another student says, “Small classes help to ensure that you are not just another number in a lecture hall,” while others praise “discussion-based classes” filled with “conscientious students” – “Whether you like it or not, your professor will know your name,” one says. Another adds, “Professors aren’t just professors. They’re lifelong teachers.”

In the campus “life” category, a student calls Burlington “one of the greatest places to be in this part of the country. There is so much to do in such a small, convenient area.” Another notes the many outdoor recreation options and nearby ski resorts. In the “Student Body” section, the “typical student” is described by one student as “environmentally and politically aware and always says Hi!” while another says students “are all different in regards to religions, races, sexual orientations and gender,” and,  “Nearly all students participate in at least one service project during their four years here …. Most students are concerned about the environment and social justice” …. And, students are “very relaxed or the most part and enjoy the outdoors that this great state provides for us.”