California Institute of Technology

California Institute of Technology
Founded in 1891 as Throop University, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech for short) explores fundamental concepts in science and engineering. Throughout its history, the Pasadena-based university has broken barriers in research and technology, from its 31 Nobel laureates to the more than 2,000 U.S patents obtained since 1980, which is more than any other university on a per-capita basis. Additionally, the school is a hotbed of creativity and creation, with 40 to 50 inventions commercially licensed each year and more than 120 start-up companies created by Caltech faculty and students since 1995. Its contributions to science and technology are also famous, as Caltech scientists are credited with the discovery of anti-matter; laying the foundations of molecular biology; the birth of modern earthquake science; establishing the recommended daily requirements for human nutrition; acknowledging the left brain/right brain concept; and pioneering aerospace technology, to name just a few. Caltech has a strong science and engineering focus, pioneering the fields of molecular biology, geochemistry, aerospace, earthquake engineering, and astrophysics. There are nearly 30 programs at the undergraduate and graduate level from which to choose. No matter the course of study, the education includes the basic sciences, humanities, and social science, as well as three or more terms of physical education. Students will also find opportunities to study abroad, conduct hands-on research, and gain clinical experience. Caltech is also home to more than 500 scientists and engineers who conduct research in earth, planetary, astrophysical, and technology studies, including through the school’s renowned Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the nerve center of America’s robotic space program. Caltech is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. It has held this distinction since 1949, and was most-recently reaffirmed for accreditation in July 2010. The next review process will begin in spring 2018.

Stanford University

Stanford University
Stanford University is a world-renowned research and teaching institution in the heart of Silicon Valley, about 30 miles from San Francisco. It was founded in 1891 as a coeducational, nondenominational institution – a rarity at the time – that was concerned with producing “cultured and useful citizens.” Today, human health, the environment and sustainability, international affairs, and the arts are key areas of study. The university consistently is recognized as one of the top institutions in the country, with U.S. News & World Report ranking it in the top five among national universities in its 2012 edition of the “Best Colleges” list. Stanford looks for students who exhibit energy, curiosity, and a love of learning – and its programs reflect the same. There are seven schools from which to study, including Earth Sciences, Engineering, and Humanities and Sciences, which offer undergraduate programs, and Business, Education, Law, and Medicine, which offer both undergraduate and graduate programs. An undergraduate education at Stanford is well-rounded, with classes in English, math, laboratory science, a foreign language, and history or social studies. When it comes time, there are nearly 100 majors and concentrations from which to choose. Many students also become involved faculty research or their own projects, or spend time off campus studying aboard or interning. Its graduate department offers more than 90 departments and programs of study. Stanford University has been regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges since 1949. It also holds specialized accreditation from these associations: American Bar Association; American Psychological Association; Liaison Committee on Medical Education; and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. For undergraduate admissions, Stanford uses the Common Application, as well as its own Stanford Supplement. Students must also submit their high school transcript, SAT or ACT plus writing scores, two teacher evaluations, and the Common Application essay. Supplementary credentials are strongly discouraged except for noted exceptions, including the arts supplement. Admission is only offered for the fall term. For graduate admissions, applicants must submit transcripts from every postsecondary institution attended for at least one year, a statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, and GRE scores from within the past five years. Additional requirements may also vary by department.

Amherst College

Amherst College
Founded in 1821, Amherst College is a national liberal arts university that has a strong commitment to diversity, intellectual freedom, and rigorous academics. A member of Five Colleges, Incorporated, a nonprofit educational consortium, Amherst gives students the opportunity to enrich their education and take courses at surrounding colleges like Smith, Mount Holyoke, and Hampshire as well as the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. It is also unique in that it is a need-blind college, admitting students without regard to financial aid and guaranteeing admitted students with financial aid equal to financial need. Ranked second among national liberal arts colleges in 2012 by U.S. News & World Report, it’s not surprising that this institution has many notable alumni, including four Nobel laureates, many Pulitzer Prize winners, and a U.S. president. At Amherst, students can receive an undergraduate education in the arts, social sciences, sciences, and humanities. Students can earn a Bachelor of Arts in 36 fields of study or create their own interdisciplinary major. It has one of the oldest American studies departments in the country and was the first college to offer an undergraduate major in neuroscience. Amherst programs are unique in that they have open curriculum without core or general education requirements, emphasize community-based learning opportunities, and encourage students to participate in colloquia and special seminars. In addition to degrees, Amherst participates in the Five Colleges program to give students the opportunity to take advantage of 11 certificate programs, two shared departments, and four centers for specialized study. Amherst is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. Amherst is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as one of the more selective institutions and gives more weight to academic transcripts, standardized test scores, and recommendations. Amherst follows a semester-based academic calendar in which first-time freshmen must apply for the fall by the early decision (November 15th) or regular decision (January 1st) deadline, while transfer students can apply for the fall or spring semesters by March 1st or November 1st. First-year applicants are required to submit a completed common application, their high school transcript, SAT or ACT scores, two teacher evaluations, a supplement essay, and the Amherst supplement to the common application. Transfer applicants must have earned at least 30 college credits and be in good standing with prior institutions with a minimum 3.5 GPA. Along with an application, they must submit a high school transcript, college transcript, an essay or personal statement, three essays, and three recommendation letters.

University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania
Founded in 1740, the University of Pennsylvania ranks 5th in the nation, according to the 2012 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” list. Founded by Benjamin Franklin, Penn has 12 schools. Four offer undergraduate studies, and the other eight offer only graduate studies. The school has a total enrollment of almost 25,000 students, and almost 10,000 of these students are undergraduates. Penn has more than 300 clubs and organizations, which range from political action groups to performing arts organizations to student publications. The university boasts more than 25 NCAA Division I sports teams that compete in the Ivy League, and more than 600 undergraduates participate in study abroad programs in 50 countries every year. Research also plays a substantial role at the university, which has 165 centers and institutes. The university continues to be recognized for its achievements in both research and education. Penn offers a combination of liberal arts course work and pre-professional programs through its 12 schools. Its four undergraduate schools include the School of Arts and Sciences, the largest, followed by the Wharton School, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the School of Nursing. The most popular major at Penn is finance, offered within Wharton, a top-ranked undergraduate business school. Other popular majors include economics, history, and political science and government. Penn also offers interdisciplinary programs and courses through different departments or schools, such as the Fisher Program in Management and Technology and the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business. Penn’s 12 graduate schools include highly ranked programs in its Wharton School, School of Education, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Law School, and School of Medicine. Online programs are offered through Penn’s College of Liberal and Professional Studies, within the School of Arts and Sciences. They include live lectures and interactive discussion, supplemented by assignments, threaded discussions, and office hours. Penn has been accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education since 1921. Several programs have also received accreditation from specialized agencies, such as the Committee on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation.

Williams College

ams College
With funding from Colonel Ephraim Williams Jr. of the Massachusetts provincial forces, Williams College was founded in 1793. This private, liberal arts college was an exclusively male institution until coeducation was adopted in 1970. U.S. News & World Report ranked Williams College as the No. 1 national liberal arts college in their “2012 Best Colleges” report. Williams College offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs from 25 departments divided into three academic divisions: languages and the arts, social studies, and science and mathematics. The two graduate programs are Master of Arts in Policy Economics and Master of Arts in the History of Art. They offer a large number of undergraduate degree programs in areas such as geosciences, chemistry, political economy, religion, and environmental studies. Williams College also offers several programs that focus on cultural and language studies, such as Asian studies, Latin, Greek, Jewish studies, Russian, and Africana studies. Williams College gained accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Commission on Institutions of Higher Education, in 1929. The NEASC is a nationally recognized regional accrediting organization. Williams College is very selective when admitting students and states that they only accept about 20% of applicants. Applicants are required to pay a $65 application fee and submit a Common Application, the Williams Supplement form, either their SAT results along with two SAT subject tests or their ACT results along with the ACT Writing Test, two letters of recommendation from past teachers, and a secondary school report completed by the applicant’s guidance counselor. If the program you are applying for has additional requirements, your admissions contact will let you know.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Founded in 1861, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is consistently ranked as one of the best universities in the nation and the world. In the 2012 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” list, MIT ranked as No. 5 in the nation. Quacquarelli Symonds, an organization specializing in education and study abroad, ranked MIT the No. 3 best university worldwide. The same organization ranked MIT’s engineering program No. 1 in the world. Located in Cambridge, Mass., the university is just across the Charles River from downtown Boston. Enrollment stands at more than 4,000 undergraduates and 6,500 graduate students. The school primarily educates students in disciplines related to science and technology. It also offers more than 450 student groups, ranging from ethnic and cultural associations to activism groups and media organizations. Approximately 40% of the student body studies, volunteers, or interns abroad during their time at MIT. MIT offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees through seven schools. Fields of study include architecture, management, science, humanities, arts, and social sciences. MIT also offers interdisciplinary programs, such as the Media Arts and Sciences Freshman Program, which exposes students to the intersection of technology, communication, and expression. MIT offers 32 undergraduate majors, the most popular of which are engineering, computer science, and the biological and biomedical sciences. Among its graduate schools are the highly ranked School of Engineering and Sloan School of Management, in addition to strong programs in economics, psychology, biology, chemistry, earth sciences, physics, and mathematics. MIT also makes a portion of course materials available on the web for other instructors and motivated self-learners. The initiative, MIT OpenCourseWare, makes these materials available free of charge to any user, anywhere. MIT is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. It has been accredited by this agency since 1929. MIT’s early action deadline is November 1, and the regular action deadline is January 1. Applicants must submit an application, letters of recommendation, official transcript(s), and test scores, along with the non-refundable application fee. Interviews are also strongly recommended. MIT’s regular acceptance rate is 10.1%, and its early acceptance rate is 10.4%. MIT’s application consists of two components. The first part requests biographical information and the second requests essays, academic information, and information on extracurricular activities.

Harvard University

Harvard University
Harvard University is a nationally and internationally renowned Ivy League institution with a long history of academic excellence. Established in 1636, the university is also the oldest institution of higher learning in the nation. Harvard’s 20,000 students include undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. These students are known for being some of the best and brightest from the U.S. and around the world, and have gone on to become heads of state in their various countries (including the President of the United States); chief justices; researchers; humanitarians and activists; distinguished authors, actors, directors, and musicians; Academy Award and Oscar winners; and more. The university’s faculty are also distinguished, with 44 current and former faculty members being Nobel laureates and many faculty members earning the Pulitzer Prize over the years in categories like nonfiction, fiction, poetry, history, and biography. Finally, Harvard continues to top rankings lists in the U.S. and internationally. Harvard offers a wide variety of programs through its schools of business, design, public health, government, education, divinity, law, medicine, dentistry, engineering and applied sciences, and more. Undergraduate degree programs are diverse, and include chemical and physical biology, environmental science and public policy, folklore and mythology, religion, social studies, and more. Harvard Business School offers a well-regarded two-year residential MBA program, more than 80 executive education programs, and eight full-time doctoral programs that lead to either a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) or a Ph.D. Through Harvard Extension School, the university offers evening and online classes that are designed to meet the needs of adult students, as well as degrees and professional certificates that blend on-campus and online course requirements. These online programs include an Associate of Arts and a Bachelor of Liberal Arts, as well as master’s degrees in biotechnology, information technology, journalism, various liberal arts, management, mathematics for teaching, museum studies, and sustainability and environmental management. Harvard University has been regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education since 1929. The university also holds specialized accreditation for specific programs from the following accreditors: American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar; American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation; American Psychological Association, Committee on Accreditation; Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools; Council on Education for Public Health; and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.

The College of William & Mary

The College of William & Mary
The charter for a “perpetual College of Divinity, Philosophy, Languages, and other good Arts and Sciences” was signed by King William III and Queen Mary II of England in 1693, establishing the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va. as the second-oldest college in America. The college severed ties with Britain in 1776, became state-supported in 1906, and coeducational in 1918. The first Greek-letter society, Phi Beta Kappa, was established at William & Mary in 1776, as well as the first student honor code and the first school of law in America. George Washington received his surveyor’s license through the College and served as the school’s first American chancellor. Presidents Thomas Jefferson, John Tyler, and James Monroe received their undergraduate educations at William & Mary. U.S. News & World Report’s 2012 “Best Colleges” list ranks William & Mary 33rd in the “National Universities” category, 6th in the “Top Public Schools” category, and 8th in the “Best Undergraduate Teaching” category. Other notable alumni include former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, actress Glenn Close, and comedians Jon Stewart and Patton Oswalt. The university’s five schools — Arts & Sciences, the Mason School of Business, the School of Education, the School of Marine Science, and the William & Mary Law School — administer 35 undergraduate departments and programs, including Africana studies, American studies, computer science, economics, military science, literary and cultural studies, sociology, and women’s studies. These five schools also offer 12 graduate programs and professional degree programs in business, education, law, and marine science. William & Mary sponsors more than 30 study abroad programs in 23 countries. The hallmark of a William & Mary education, as stated by the university website, is the “high level of student engagement which often translates into independent or faculty-mentored student research projects.” Students are expected to contribute to research efforts, and participating students are invited to share their results in an annual Honors Colloquium. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has accredited the College of William & Mary since July 1921. The American Bar Association has accredited the Marshall-Wythe School of Law since January 1932, and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education has accredited the baccalaureate and graduate programs of teachers and other professional personnel for elementary and secondary schools since January 1973.

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pa. was founded in 1864 by the liberal Hicksite branch of the Society of Friends as an institution “under the care of Friends, at which an education may be obtained equal to that of the best institutions of learning in our county,” according to the university’s history. U.S. News & World Report’s 2012 “Best Colleges” list ranks Swarthmore 3rd in the “National Liberal Arts Colleges” category, 2nd in the “Best Undergraduate Teaching” category, and 5th in the “Best Value Schools” category. In addition, former Massachusetts Governor and presidential candidate Michael Dukakis, and Nancy Roman, NASA’s first Chief of Astronomy in the Office of Space Science, attended Swarthmore College. Swarthmore emphasizes the relationship between its students and faculty with small class sizes (an 8 to 1 student-faculty ratio) and an Honors Program based on independent evaluation of a student’s work. Swarthmore offers two degrees: a bachelor of arts, and a bachelor of science in engineering. More than 600 courses are available in more than 50 programs of study including art history, biology, black studies, chemistry, classics, cognitive science, economics, engineering, film and media studies, history, linguistics, peace and conflict studies, psychology, and public policy. As a part of the Tri-College Consortium, students may enroll in courses at nearby Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges. Students may also cross-register for undergraduate courses at the University of Pennsylvania. The Honors Program allows for flexibility of course and project combinations, and examination. Honors candidates are evaluated by external examiners at the end of their senior year who assess the student’s overall level of Honors — Honors, High Honors, or Highest Honors — which appears on the academic record. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has accredited Swarthmore College since January 1921. Swarthmore requires an application and $60 application fee, secondary school transcripts and class rank, standardized tests, essays, two teacher recommendations, and one counselor recommendation. An interview with admissions is recommended but not required. Regular decision deadline is January 1; early decision is due November 15.

Princeton University

Princeton University
Princeton University is the fourth-oldest university in the United States. It was founded in 1746, and has evolved into a private, not-for-profit university dedicated to promoting research, knowledge, and the development of skills to a diverse student body. Around 7,500 students attend Princeton, with more than 1,100 faculty members teaching them. Princeton houses 34 departments and offers undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, and certificate programs. It is considered an Ivy League university, and has a strong history of producing graduates and faculty members that go on to acquire prestigious awards. Three faculty members have won the National Humanities Medal and 17 have won the National Medal of Science. In addition, 14 alumni and 21 faculty and staff members have won Nobel Prize awards. With such distinctive faculty, staff, and alumni, it is clear that Princeton University adheres to a high standard of education. At Princeton, undergraduate students begin their education with general classes that encourage their growth into well-rounded individuals. Students then move on to take courses specific to their major areas of interest. They can choose their concentrations from 34 departments, which include majors in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. The graduate school offers advanced degrees in those fields, with an emphasis on both theory and practice. While enrolled at Princeton, students can earn certificates, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, or doctoral degrees. No matter the level of the degree they choose, all Princeton students will engage in research, seminars, and projects like theses or dissertations. In addition to academic programs, Princeton offers many extracurricular programs that provide cultural, athletic, and social learning opportunities. Princeton University was accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in 1921. Since then, it has continued to offer a high quality of education to its students, and therefore has remained recognized by the accrediting agency. Graduate application requirements vary based on the department, and Princeton’s website provides a list of those requirements. However, prospective graduate students can expect to submit transcripts and proof of bachelor’s degree, the application and associated fees, three letters of recommendation, mid-year grades, a statement of purpose, and a resume. Many departments require the GRE general exam, and some require the GRE subject exams as well. In addition, some programs require prospective students to submit a statement of financial resources. Other requirements are listed on the website.