Colby-Sawyer College - Overview
A Small Community in a Dramatic Setting
Colby-Sawyer College is a small, private liberal arts college which sits amid the sprawling mountains, forests, and lakes of the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region of central New Hampshire. Founded in 1837, the campus features 360-degree scenic views of the countryside, along with Georgian-style brick colonial buildings and a library located in a 200 year-old converted barn. While the setting is rural, Colby-Sawyer is not isolated, due to its location 90 minutes northwest of Boston, 3.5 hours south of Montreal, and 45 minutes from the Manchester, NH, airport.
Focus on the Individual
Colby-Sawyer's small size - only 1,100 undergraduates - enables its students to enjoy an average class size of only 17 students, which in turn fosters individualized attention, a friendly atmosphere, and a challenging but supportive learning environment. And because 90 percent of the students live on campus, there is a strong sense of community.
A "Pathway" through the Liberal Arts
The basis of the Colby-Sawyer academic program is its Liberal Education Program, which aims to develop students' ability to integrate knowledge across disciplines. This goal is achieved through the Pathway Program, which guides students through various interdisciplinary "Exploration Areas" such as environmental literacy, fine and performing arts, global perspectives, wellness, or six other choices. The Pathway Program spans freshman and sophomore years and is offered in lieu of standardized core requirements.
A Variety of Majors - Traditional, Pre-professional, and Specialized
In addition to a strong foundation in interdisciplinary study, Colby-Sawyer provides a mix of Bachelor of Arts degree programs in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and education.
Traditional majors include art history, graphic design, studio art, biology, business administration, English, and psychology.
More specialized majors include options such as athletic training, communication studies, creative writing, environmental science, environmental studies, health studies, history, society and culture, and sport management. New in 2009 is a health studies major. The most popular majors include nursing, exercise science, business, and child development.
Pre-professional options include pre-law, pre-medicine, pre-physical therapy, and pre-veterinary majors.
The Wesson Honors Program
In addition to its undergraduate programs, the school offers several special programs.
The Wesson Honors Program is geared toward students achieving a minimum 3.75 GPA. The program offers a more rigorous selection of courses, and offers its participants the opportunity to take part in the Wesson Honors Program Weekends - annual trips to visit interesting cities around the country such as Seattle, Chicago, and Charleston, South Carolina. Another benefit of the program is eligibility to apply to the college's top academic scholarship of $64,000 (over four years).
Freshman Year Study Abroad Opportunities
Global Beginnings is a first semester freshman study abroad program, which provides classes taught by accompanying Colby-Sawyer professors and all the benefits of cultural immersion. The advantage of offering the program during freshman year is that it takes place before students select majors and participate in internships. The program is open to a limited number of participants, and students from any major can participate, with the exception of nursing majors. The cost, including the travel expense, is equivalent to attending Colby-Sawyer College in the fall.
Certifications and the Associate's Degree
Specialized certifications are also available, such as the Coaching Certificate Program, which can be combined with any associate or bachelor's degree program, and prepares students interested in pursuing careers in coaching or planning to coach athletes part-time.
The college also offers a two-year program of study which culminates in the Associate of Liberal Arts degree.
Financial Aid
There are a number of financial aid options available, including several academic scholarships based on GPA at point of admission; merit awards in fields such as leadership, community service, art, and creative writing; and endowed scholarships for students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in high school or while attending college.
Pre-professional Internship Opportunities
Colby-Sawyer College encourages every student to successfully complete at least one internship, and as a result, 98 percent of Colby-Sawyer graduates have completed a student internship in their major. In addition, an average of 23 percent of students are hired by the companies where they complete those internships. After graduation, 98 percent were employed within six months of graduation.
Recent internship hosts included companies such as American Express, Boston Ballet, Boston Celtics, CNN, Harvard University Athletic Department, MGM/United Artists Entertainment, New York Stock Exchange, and the United States Senate.
Campus Life
The school's location makes it convenient for outdoor recreation. For example, Mt. Sunapee, a popular ski resort is only twenty minutes from campus, and Colby-Sawyer students get a free season pass.
Division III intercollegiate teams and ski and basketball club teams have been highly successful over the years. Student-run club sports include cross country (co-ed), cycling (co-ed), golf (co-ed), ice hockey (co-ed), the Outing Club (co-ed), rugby (men's and women's teams), snowboarding (co-ed), and softball (women's).
Living options in the 11 residence halls include traditional corridor-style halls, suite- and apartment-style housing, co-ed and single-sex environments, designated quiet areas, an international suite, a scholar suite, and a substance-free hall.