A quality education, outstanding faculty, close faculty-student collaboration, and a tradition of excellence in music and the arts unmatched by any other college of its size. Lawrence students know that to be true, but what do others say?
Lawrence is included in every major national guide to quality colleges. Here's what some of those guidebooks say about Lawrence.
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U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges, 2007 Edition |
Lawrence University was ranked 53rd in the "Best Liberal Arts Colleges" category, which is comprised of 215 of the nation's leading liberal arts colleges. This was the eighth consecutive year Lawrence has been included among the top quarter of institutions in the magazine's national liberal arts category. Lawrence was Wisconsin’s top-ranked institution in the category.
In addition, Lawrence was again cited in U.S. News' distinctive "First-Year Experiences" category for its signature curricular program, Freshman Studies. Lawrence has been included in the first-year experiences list every year since 2001 when U.S. News first introduced its "Programs to Look For" feature. The first-year experiences list is one of eight specialized categories the magazine uses to highlight what it calls "outstanding examples of academic programs that are believed to lead to student success." The specialized categories are not distinguished by institutional size or type, but include those cited as "stellar examples" most frequently in a survey of college presidents, chief academic officers and deans of admission. Institutions featured in the special categories are identified alphabetically rather than by a numerical ranking. Lawrence joined Duke, Princeton and Stanford universities, among other institutions, that were cited for distinctive first-year programs.
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The Fiske Guide to Colleges 2007 |
In its ranking of the forty-three colleges and universities in the nation that are deemed "Best Buys" -- based on the quality of their academic offerings in relation to the cost of attendance -- The Fiske Guide listed Lawrence University as one of only twenty-three "best buy" private colleges. The guide calls these institutions "remarkable educational opportunities at a relatively modest cost." Here is what else the guide has to say about Lawrence.
"One of two small colleges in the nation that combines the liberal arts with a first-rate music conservatory."
"Lawrence University is an unpretentious school that appeals to both the left and right side of students' brains. For those with an analytical bent, there is Lawrence's uncommon laser physics program. More creative types can take advantage of the school's highly regarded Conservatory of Music, one of only two to reside at a small liberal arts college."
"Lawrence's campus is on a wooded bluff above the Fox River, perfect for long walks, jogging, or simply meditating underneath the trees. The pristine eighty-four-acre campus reflects several architectural styles of the past 150 years, including classical revival, 1920s Georgian-inspired, and 1950s and 1960s institutional, unified by their limestone color."
"The second coeducational college established in the nation, Lawrence was founded to educate German immigrants and Native Americans. While coeducation was shocking, innovators at Lawrence didn't stop there. More than fifty years ago, administrators introduced the Freshman Studies program, a required two-term course focusing primarily on the great works of art, music, and literature of primarily the Western tradition."
"'Music is the unifying theme at Lawrence,' says one student. 'Almost everybody plays it or studies it or likes to listen to it and talk about it.' A five-year program allows students to earn two degrees -- one in music and one in another subject. Overall, however, the most popular major is biology, followed by music performance and history. Students are encouraged to spend at least one of the year's three terms off campus. Lawrence is known for its London Study Center ... In all, forty off-campus programs are available."
"Lawrence students appreciate their professors' expertise and experience. They say faculty members are accessible and highly encouraging of intellectual curiosity while still showing compassion for all of students' needs. 'Their dedication to students is unsurpassed, and it is rare when students do not meet with their professors outside of class,' a senior physics major says. Because of the three-term calendar, the academic climate is intimate and intense. 'We are constantly conscious of our academic performance and take our classes very seriously,' confides a sophomore. Students choose their own faculty advisors and meet with them at least once a term. The system gets top-notch reviews from students."
"With its outstanding liberal arts curriculum, knowledgeable and caring faculty, and an administration that treats students like adults, all tucked into a charming country setting, Lawrence University is easily one of the best little known schools in the country. And for students with a musical ear, Lawrence's symphony of offerings sounds especially pleasant."
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In Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College, 2006 |
Lawrence University is convinced that quality of high school curriculum and performance within that curriculum are better indicators of academic success than test scores. As such, Lawrence does not require applicants to submit standardized test scores for admission or scholarship.Lawrence is the only nationally recognized college of the liberal arts and sciences with a conservatory of music devoted exclusively to the education of undergraduates. By the time they graduate, more than 90% of Lawrence students have worked one-on-one with a faculty member participating in an independent study or studio class, assisting with faculty research, completing an honors. Read More
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The Princeton Review's The Best 357 Colleges, 2005 Edition |
"Students at Lawrence University, a small midwestern school, brag about their 'very strong' and 'nationally known' biology, psychology, and music programs. Other departments are solid, too, although some students worry that the school sometimes ignores its less renowned programs in order to tout its star attractions. Across the board, 'the academics at Lawrence are challenging and the class work is rigorous but fulfilling.' Writes one student, 'Lawrence is tough, but you do get a top-notch education for how hard you work. Because of the school's size, Lawrence's faculty expects each student to do their absolute best rather than fulfilling a general class requirement.' Many departments place a strong emphasis on writing skills; students note approvingly that the school provides 'facilities that assist students with their work, such as the writing lab, where students can go to check their paper before handing it in to the professors.' Professors, students agree, 'are amazing. They are great teachers and wonderful people. They are always available for student questions and concerns, or just to chat.' Administrators are 'very friendly and accessible. The president of the college can often be seen walking through the campus,' and 'the facilities are great.
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Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, January 2004 |
Lawrence was again selected for "The Kiplinger 100," Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine's top choices for Best Values in Private Colleges. The magazine examined 1,300 four-year private colleges and universities to determine which ones best combine academic excellence with generous aid packages and lower total costs. Deemed "the 100 best values in private colleges across the country," the Kiplinger listing included both small liberal arts colleges like Lawrence and major private universities such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, Duke, and Notre Dame. The magazine's methodology for generating the list placed greater weight on quality (accounting for about two-thirds of the final score) than on cost, noting that "The reason is simple: A good value isn't necessarily the college that charges the lowest price."
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The Yale Daily News' The Insider's Guide to the Colleges 2004 |
"Lawrence University, located in Appleton, Wisconsin, has been coeducational since its founding in 1847, making it the second-oldest coed university in the nation. While other schools have followed Lawrence's lead, Lawrence remains one of the leaders in coeducation. It has evolved to offer students diverse academic possibilities within the confines of a close-knit social environment."
"The small student body strongly affects Lawrence academics. Introductory science lectures, for example, usually enroll no more than 60 students, and students cite close relationships with professors as one of the best parts of the Lawrence experience. 'You spend a lot of time with your professors here,' said one sophomore. 'They expect a lot of you.' The close student-faculty relations also provide the opportunity for students to do independent work with faculty members. Despite the small classes, few students experience any major problems enrolling in the classes they want."
"All freshmen must take a two-quarter Freshman Studies, or 'Great Books,' course, typically containing 14 to 19 students. Undergrads consider the course 'the core of [their] common experience at Lawrence.' A wide range of departments receive praise from undergrads. One said the sciences are 'really incredible' at Lawrence, due to the excellent instructors. 'For a school of this size, the science professors are really quite good,' one chemistry major said, adding, 'we have really state-of-the-art science equipment.' Other students praise the English, art, and philosophy departments. Lawrence undergrads refuse to describe their school as intense or stress-filled, despite the rigorous academic offerings. 'Students work hard, and professors expect a lot of their students, but it's definitely not cutthroat,' said one senior. Another student described the academic atmosphere as 'really cooperative.'"
"In addition to a strong liberal arts and sciences program, the university has one of the top music conservatories in the country. Although the 'connie' students only take about one-third of their classes in the college, they participate in Lawrence life in most other ways. Students see the conservatory as a 'very central and defining part of the university,' and even non-musicians feel its presence."
"In general, students describe Lawrence as a very good place to spend four years. 'People say 'hi' all the time,' one student said. 'It's a very comfortable place.' The academics offer students a challenging and stimulating undergraduate experience in a small-size setting. As one undergrad said, 'A lot of the time, they expect the students to provide structure and focus for themselves.' Students with enough initiative often find that at Lawrence they can do just that."
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National Survey of Student Engagement, 2003 Report |
The 2003 Report of the National Survey of Student Engagement, co-sponsored by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Pew Forum on Undergraduate Learning, details the results from a nation-wide survey of 185,000 first-year students and seniors at 649 four-year colleges and universities.
The student engagement survey was developed by education assessment experts as an alternative to the U.S. News & World Report "Best Colleges" rankings, which have been criticized for placing too much weight on institutional reputation and selectivity in admissions rather than on actual educational outcomes.
The survey annually provides comparative standards for determining how effectively colleges and universities are contributing to student learning based on five measured benchmarks: level of academic challenge; active and collaborative learning; student-faculty interaction; enriching educational experiences; and a supportive campus environment.
Lawrence scored high on all five benchmarks, regularly outscoring the composite mean for the national comparison group of all colleges and universities participating in the survey. Lawrence placed in the top 20 percent of all institutions in all but one instance and in the top 10 percent for the measures "level of academic challenge" and "enriching educational experiences." Read more
Other Mentions
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The Unofficial, Unbiased Insider's Guide to the 320 Most Interesting Colleges, 2003 Edition (Kaplan Publishing) |
"Lawrence University consists of two schools: an undergraduate liberal arts and sciences college and an undergraduate music conservatory. While Lawrence offers only 37 areas of study, these aren't limited to the typical fare found at most other liberal arts colleges (although the 'liberal arts majors are very good,' says an Iowa guidance counselor); students can major in everything from East Asian Languages and Cultures to Biomedical Ethics to Environmental Studies. Numerous interdisciplinary programs are offered, as are preprofessional co-op opportunities."
"Students say that coursework is rigorous, but that the atmosphere is never cutthroat. The Honor Code at Lawrence is taken seriously: Students pledge that they 'will not unfairly advance their own academic performance nor impede that of others.' It works so well that professors have been known to give students take-home exams, trusting them not to use their textbooks or notes if so instructed. The Honor Code helps to promote a noncompetitive atmosphere among students. 'No one is out there to crush other students [in order] to advance themselves,' says one student. 'This is wonderful because you are able to collaborate and exchange ideas without worrying that you will lose out in the end. "
"The faculty at Lawrence is said to be extremely accessible and supportive. 'You can always go and talk to them about class or life in general,' says one student about his professors. 'They are here for the sake of the students, and everyone realizes that.' Students get a special chance to bond with the faculty during seminars that are held each weekend at Bjorklunden, a 400-acre estate on the shore of Lake Michigan, just two hours north of Lawrence."
"Lawrence is a 'friendly' place, and by and large, students feel good about being there. Says one recent Lawrence grad, 'The students, the faculty, and the campus life and academic environment are all top-notch, and provide for an excellent all-around experience that prepares its students for life, not just a career.' The school's small size helps foster a feeling of community and intimacy. 'At Lawrence, you feel like a part of a family,' comments one student. 'I feel that if I went to a larger school, I would not give as much to the campus as I do here. Each and every person adds to the campus and shapes it into the Lawrence we all know and love."
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The Washington Post, Colleges Worth Considering (April 2003) |
One hundred schools that deserve more attention than they're getting, the "hidden gems" or "lesser known jewels" of higher education. An informal and unscientific survey of guidance counselors and high school teachers compiled by Washington Post Staff Writer Jay Mathews, author of Harvard Schmarvard: Getting Beyond the Ivy League to the College That Is Best for You.
"Lawrence University has only about 1,350 undergraduates who say the campus is socially slow but comfortable, and full of academic challenges. Andrew McNeil, director of college counseling at the Taft School in Watertown, Conn., calls Lawrence 'long on intellectualism and diversity of thinking.'"
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Peterson's Competitive Colleges: Top Colleges for Top Students, 2003-2004 |
"Independence and creativity are highly prized, with more than half of the students participating in off-campus programs and some 90% pursuing independent study with individual faculty members."
"Music, art, the sciences, as well as the traditional liberal arts areas within the humanities and social sciences, are significant strengths within the curriculum. "
"Bright, motivated, curious, and talented students excel at Lawrence."
