Top 05 Unusual United States Colleges

When you think of college, you probably imagine big classes, lots of papers and labs, and hanging out with friends in dorm rooms. What you don't think about is dropping out of high school, doing manual labor, or spending the winter on boats in Antarctica. College is not usually reminded of meditation, mindfulness, or milking cows. However, there are people in the United States who can say that these are the things that make up their university memories. From Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service to the enlightened cheetah of Naropa University, here are ten exceptional colleges in the United States.

1. Evergreen State College

The fact that their mascot is a Judith named Speedy isn't the only thing unusual about this college. Evergreen, which is located in Olympia, Washington, understands that students' interests change and thus allows each student to design their own academic plan. They can take whatever classes they are interested in at that time and not have to worry about completing the requirements for their major because there are no prerequisites for completing a bachelor's degree. The upper classes have more freedom. Each junior and senior geologist has an "Individual Learning Agreement" and creates their own program, including developing their own curriculum.

Although Evergreen uses a letter grading system, it relies heavily on narrative assessments that are given at the end of the course during meetings with the professor and individual students. Students must also complete the assessment themselves. In addition to professor and student evaluations, an academic statement also appears in student records. Each student is required to write down their goals and interests when they arrive on campus, and then revisit the essay each year until the final paper is submitted during their final year.

2. Alverno College

This all-female Catholic school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and has about 2,605 students. Like Evergreen State, Alverno College gives its students a narrative assessment, but unlike Geoducks, Alverno students do not receive a letter grade at all. The school is based on what they call the "Eight Core Competencies," which include skills such as social interaction, active citizenship, and aesthetic engagement. They believe in not only preparing their students for the real world, but treating them as if they were there from the start. As part of this realistic, non-degree approach, each student is required to complete an internship during the four years they are studying. They are each expected to devote 8-12 hours per week to training and attending the same seminar. The school offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Nursing for undergraduate study.

3. Antioch College

The entire campus runs on solar power and nearly 30% of the food served in their dining hall is grown by students on campus. The college promotes the saying “learning is doing” and believes that the best way to get educated is to experience the world first-hand, not by wasting four years in a classroom.  

4. Web Institute

The Webb Institute is located in Glen Cove, New York and is a place for students who know exactly what field they want to go into. It offers exactly one academic option: a double major in Naval Engineering and Naval Engineering. The order and amount of courses each student takes during each semester is arranged for them. The institute has a student-faculty ratio of 7:1, which is not difficult to achieve since there are only 80 undergraduates. In addition, each participating student receives a full tuition fee. Along with classes and a designated study area, each student is required to participate in what Webb calls "winter work." During January and February, students leave class and go to work as welders in shipyards, crew on boats, or designers in an office. Students travel all over the world for winter work and have been to places like Antarctica, Finland, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. The current employment rate after graduation is 100%.

5. St. John's College

This college seems ordinary at first glance, until you consider that no majors are offered and every student is required to learn the ancient Greek language. Saint John's has two campuses, one in Santa Fe and the other in Annapolis, each with about 500 undergraduate students. Each "Johnny" student is required to take four years of seminars, mathematics, and language (two years of ancient Greek and two years of French), two years of laboratory science and two years of music lessons. Classes are small and teachers are described as teachers. With classes from one or two to 15, they care more about helping students than teaching. In their spare time, students can join clubs such as Euclid's Alternative Professors group or work out in the Igleheart Gymnasium.