Overview
A Close-Knit Women's College Offers a Remarkable Campus and Remarkable Success
Sweet Briar is a small, private, women's college in the foothills of central Virginia. Sweet Briar prides itself on being a close-knit community, with a 9:1 student-teacher ratio and an average class size of 12. As a liberal arts college, Sweet Briar places much emphasis on learning in many disciplines, and students take courses that prepare them to be well-versed in written and oral communication, as well as researching and analyzing. A remarkable campus and extensive study-abroad programs further distinguish the college.
The Sweet Briar Promise Contributes to Student Success by Guaranteeing Access to Exciting Opportunities
The success of Sweet Briar College (SBC) students has much to do with their characteristic ambition in combination with the efforts of the college and its faculty. The college's commitment to its students' success is illustrated by the Sweet Briar Promise. The Sweet Briar Promise guarantees students the opportunity to study abroad; participate in internships and/or obtain work experience; conduct independent research; self-design a major; build a customized advising team, including professors from students' majors and professionals and alumnae from their desired career field; and take on leadership roles throughout campus life.
Sweet Briar's Campus of Over 3,000 Acres Provides Both Beauty and Educational Prospects
The Sweet Briar campus is a remarkable 3,250 acres and includes beautiful scenery, miles of trails for riding and exploring, two lakes for research and recreation, nature sanctuaries, and premier riding facilities for the nationally recognized equestrian program. The Sweet Briar campus has been described by observers as the quintessential college campus. In 2008, Sweet Briar's campus was ranked by "Princeton Review" as the Number 1 Most Beautiful Campus in the United States.
Experienced Faculty Members Communicate With Students as Equals in Round-Table Discussions
At Sweet Briar, students learn from a faculty of experts. Ninety-seven percent of faculty members have a Ph.D. or the terminal degree in their field, and all are well-published and well-respected experts. Faculty members are drawn to Sweet Briar because they want to teach and interact with students. As a result, there exists an intimate classroom environment; most classes operate as round-table discussions, allowing students to sit at a table and discuss material on a peer-to-peer level with professors. Thanks to this style of classroom interaction, Sweet Briar graduates have been commended for their superb communication and analytical abilities.
Sweet Briar's Wide Range of Majors and Minors Allows Students to Study Exactly What they Want
Sweet Briar offers over forty majors and minors, as well as the opportunity to create a customized major. Popular majors include biology, business, English, government, and psychology. There are also strong programs, with experienced faculty and exceptional facilities, in chemistry, engineering, creative writing, history, and studio art. It is not uncommon for students to graduate with a major and a minor, a major with two minors, or with a double major.
A Well-Organized, Well-Established Study-Abroad Program Streamlines the Study-Abroad Process
More than 40 percent of Sweet Briar students study abroad before graduating. Sweet Briar owns and operates the Junior Year in France, the oldest study-abroad program in Paris, and the Junior Year in Spain, and maintains formal exchange agreements with universities in Germany, Italy, Japan, and Scotland. Sweet Briar also allows students to go abroad through other university programs and has a full-time study-abroad adviser to help students find an appropriate program and navigate the application and transfer-of-credit process. Recent destinations include China, the Czech Republic, Ireland, New Zealand, Oman, Russia, and South Africa.
Sweet Briar Offers Many Ways to Be Involved, Including Unique Tap Clubs and Varsity Athletics
Sweet Briar has over fifty student clubs and organizations, which range from pre-professional societies to service clubs, interest-based clubs, honorary societies, and Sweet Briar's own creation known as tap clubs. Sweet Briar's distinctive tap clubs are interest-based organizations that choose their members based on particular requirements.
Sweet Briar is a member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, one of the most competitive Division III conferences in the country. Student-athletes work hard to improve individual skills, build teamwork, and develop a goal-oriented attitude, which help them get ahead in life after sports. Sweet Briar varsity sports include field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, and volleyball. Fencing is offered as a club sport.
All Sweet Briar Students Live On Campus in Excellent Facilities, Promoting Unity and Community
Sweet Briar is a residential campus. Students are required to live on campus and are guaranteed housing for all four years of their time at the college. First-year students live together in one of two residence halls to promote class unity. Upper-class women live in one of five residence halls or in one of several independent-living options. The newest independent-living option is the Green Village, opened in August 2009, which provides apartment-style living for 60 students and is being constructed using environmentally-friendly materials.
Sweet Briar Provides Financial Assistance in a Number of Forms to a Large Majority of Students
Sweet Briar is committed to helping families afford college and offers academic scholarships, as well as need-based financial assistance, to students who demonstrate need. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $15,000, depending on a student's academic record. More than 90 percent of Sweet Briar students receive some sort of financial assistance.
High Rankings and Placement Rates Contribute to Sweet Briar's National and International Reputations
Students rate highly their Sweet Briar experience. Sweet Briar was recently recognized as a Best College by "Princeton Review" as being a place where class discussion are encouraged and for having the most beautiful campus; professors "who get high marks"; superior career placement/job services; and the most accessible professors. Within 6 months of graduation, 95 percent of Sweet Briar graduates report being enrolled full-time in a graduate program of choice or employed full-time in a job of interest.
