Unique College Programs You May Want to Know About (Part II of a Three Part Series)

Shining a spotlight on some unique programs offered at specific colleges or universities could arouse interest in students who otherwise might not have considered such choices. While preparing for college is a time of reflection, it also could be a time of reluctance, especially when you are swamped with a massive amount of view books from colleges seeking to garner your favor. Where to begin then?  Enjoy the second part in a series about colleges and universities that may have something different to offer - something you just might be interested in.

The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia is set in a idyllic town dotted with quaint shops,  scenic vistas and brimming with historical architecture.  The college invokes a sense of pride and is spirited both academically and athletically.  But did you know that William and Mary offers a joint degree with  St. Andrews University in Scotland so that you could be an alumnus of both of these amazing institutions? You can divide your time among both schools and truly immerse yourself in the concept of study abroad while enjoying  areas of interest such as economics, international relations, history or English.

The University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington  offers a phenomenal experience  for those with an interest in Asian studies.  According to its site, “Once every three years, a group of students venture out into the world for nine months of rigorous academic and personal inquiry.  Visiting eight Asian nations, the group engages in a vast multicultural experience that forces them to confront novel systems of culture, economics, politics, religion and philosophy.”  The Pacific Rim/Asian Study-Travel  Program is unique in its ability to transcend the study abroad experience by providing  a first-hand  approach to understanding diversity.  Additionally, the university is known for its outstanding merit scholarships.

Brown University in Liberal Medical Education, Providence, Rhode Island  is different  than the Flex-Med program offered through the Mt. Sinai program mentioned in the first part of this series.  While it is neither an accelerated program nor admits transfer students, it does however  provide a great breadth of course selection through its open curriculum.  There are one hundred departmental or interdepartmental programs from which to choose!  Students may pursue interests in a varied amount of subjects (humanities, social or natural sciences).  Moreover, the eight year program (four years of undergraduate study and four years of professional study) is quite selective,  admitting only 50 students. In contrast to the Flex-Med program at Mt.Sinai which accepts students coming from any universities, Brown’s eight year program only accepts from the pool of its incoming undergraduates. Lastly, both programs forgo the MCAT’s.

Long Island University, Southampton, New York  has a long-standing program that appeals to the sea-faring student.  During a particular semester, twenty sophomore students set sail on a boat fated for colorful ports.  Typically marine science students are very enthusiastic about this offering. Departing Harvey Gamage in Boston, Massachusetts on an October day, the students embark to learn about Maritime History or Literature on the sea.

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