The holidays are in full swing around the College Right offices so, this month, we’d like to introduce you to a school that makes us feel all warm and fuzzy. Not only does it reside in a place that looks like it belongs in a holiday movie, but it also represents all of the wonderful ideals that the holiday season brings.
Located atop a hill, overlooking picturesque Westminster, Maryland, McDaniel College is unique in location and values. It was founded in the mid-19th century and has gained a reputation for being inclusive and welcoming in regards to its admissions. Since its doors opened, the school has wanted to provide a diverse and equal opportunity atmosphere. In fact, it was the first coeducational institution south of the Mason-Dixon Line in the United States. It also puts an emphasis on first-generation college student admissions. So although the school is quite selective, it still has that “more-the-merrier” spirit.
As a small, private liberal arts college, McDaniel is all about a student’s unique personal experience. The school wants its students to create an educational plan that works for them. As their website states, “Don’t see a major course of study that appeals to you? Self-design your own.” And with only around 1,600 students, the class sizes stay consistently small, letting students and professors work hand-in-hand on many research and class projects. It was even named as one of forty “Colleges That Change Lives” by author Loren Pope who wrote the book with same name.
And if you’re a student who loves that small town feel, but still wants big town opportunities, don’t fear. Westminster is just thirty minutes from Baltimore and an hour from Washington DC. And for those wanting to go even further, McDaniel College also has a satellite college in Budapest! Just make sure you bring us back some matryoshka dolls! (the tiny wooden dolls hidden inside of other wooden dolls. But, I bet you already knew that.)
For more information about McDaniel College, visit their website at www.mcdaniel.edu. And have a safe and happy holiday from all of us at College Right!
