Marlboro College

Date: Mar 07 2013
Major: Political Science (This Major's Salary over time)
I have very mixed feelings about this college. Academically, you couldn't ask for better. The academics are very personalized, with the students working one on one with professors to ensure understanding of the material, which is very complex and interesting. Students complete a

Plan of Concentration

in their final academic year, in which they work one-on-one with a professor or two of their choice (provided the professor agrees to work with you; in most cases they will as long as you've taken a class with them) to complete a lengthy and in-depth scholarly research paper on a topic of your choice - any topic of your choice - which will determine which degree(s) you earn. In summation, work is challenging and important, academics are in-depth and personalized, and the student comes out of this college with a firm understanding of a specific topic.

However, the social life is horrid. It's not that there aren't enough parties, if that's what you're into, it's that if you're not into that, too bad. This campus is one big party. People are loud and disruptive, and that's everywhere - loud conversations are both commonplace in the library. I've even experienced someone running laps in one of the library's "quiet rooms". No one has any respect for each other at this campus. People do what they want, when they want, and the administration is for whatever reason afraid to discipline them. Now, the small number of students (currently around 250) does have its benefits - for example, theft is never an issue. But if you are looking for a nice, quiet area to do your work and study, best of luck, especially if you have a bad roommate. Furthermore, if you don't prescribe to the "hippy" lifestyle and argue that order and/or respect for each other is more important than everyone doing whatever they want whenever they want, you could find yourself ostracized by at least some of the students here.

So, expect a mixed bag from this college. The academics are top-notch, and I would suggest this school for anyone who is looking to actually begin a career rather than just go to a four-year daycare; this school also has a huge number of its graduates go on to further education, something like 90%. So, come to this college for the great academics, but understand that, for those four years, your peers will act like children.