W&J earns spot on The Princeton Review’s Best Northeastern College list

Created: December 21, 2017  |  Last Updated: January 14, 2020  |  Category:   |  Tagged:

WASHINGTON, PA (Dec. 21, 2017)—What makes a college great? And how do you know you’re making the right choice?

For international business, German and Spanish triple-major Laurel Sipe ’20, it was the study abroad options and Magellan Project program that attracted her to Washington & Jefferson College (W&J). Blynn Shideler saw the opportunity to personalize his education and is now in his fourth year of the 3-2 engineering program partnership between W&J and Columbia University.

“W&J gave me a global education and got me into an Ivy League school,” said Blynn, who’s just completed his first semester at Columbia. “The amazing thing is, my story is not uncommon. I miss the Friday nights at W&J when I would listen to students share stories of their time around the world. The availability of such opportunities made my W&J education, in some ways, more valuable than my Columbia education. Best of all, thanks to W&J, I get to have both.”

Opportunities available to students exist both in and out of the classroom. Political Science major Jonathan Weese ’19 uncovered his own skill for writing while taking an array of classes as part of the liberal arts approach to a well-rounded education. Ashtyn Sparrow ’20, a French major on the pre-health track, has taken advantage of the alumni mentoring network to seek advice from a retired doctor in Florida, Mike Spiegelman ’64, who she’s been in regular email contact with for several months.

“W&J really pushes you to be your best self,” Ashtyn said. “Your classes teach you so much and really give you independence. It’s a place where if you don’t love what you’re doing, you have the room to figure out what you want to do.”

None of the four students were surprised to learn that W&J has been recognized by the Princeton Review, not only on its Best 382 Colleges list, but also as one of the Best Northeastern colleges in the United States. Schools are ranked by academics, extracurriculars, and quality of life, among other factors.

Having a supportive faculty was one of the major factors the students believe W&J earns these top marks.

“I have personally appreciated and benefitted from the wisdom and advice of my professors. I am a much better undergraduate student because my teachers show passion and continue to inspire students like me,” Jonathan said.

All of these aspects make W&J a unique place to learn, and the perfect environment for hardworking students who want a comprehensive education.

“We really foster curiosity here. The College allows students to branch out beyond what would normally be possible,” Laurel said. “Seeing how much I’ve been able to develop personal relationships with professors and how much I’ve been able to grow here—I couldn’t have done this anywhere else.”

About Washington & Jefferson College

Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work. For more information about W&J, visit washjeff.dev, or call 888-W-AND-JAY.

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