College: University of Puget Sound – http://www.pugetsound.edu/
Location: Tacoma, Washington
Type of Institution: Private liberal arts college
Admissions Advice: UPS is on the Common Application and does require additional writing samples from students. This year UPS is going test-optional. In lieu of sending the SAT or ACT, students can opt to complete two additional short essays to gauge their college readiness.Like other small liberal arts colleges, cultural fit is important as demonstrated through writing and the optional evaluative interview.
Size: 2,600 students, including about 150 graduate students
Most popular majors: Biology, Psychology, Business, International Politics and Economics, Music
Words to describe students I met: Articulate, confident, athletic, laid-back, friendly
Unique academic aspects: UPS fully embraces the Pacific Rim influence in the Pacific Northwest region and has created both a strong Asian Studies program and unique study abroad opportunity called The Pacific Rim/Asia Study-Travel Program (PRAST). Through this program, a small number of students spend 9 months traveling around 8-9 different countries in Asia along with a professor. The program is offered every three years.
Additionally, the UPS Honors Program is very unique and may not be for every student. The program is designed as more of a Great Books curriculum as opposed to simply a chance to take more advanced courses in smaller groups. Students will tackle some difficult texts and will explore deep questions throughout the program. For more information on what to expect, please visit the Honors Program site here.
Unique social/cultural aspects: Music is big on this campus. UPS is known for a strong formal music program, which translates into lots of informal opportunities for students who want to dabble in lessons and performance groups. This site provides a good overview of the opportunities for UPS students and the surrounding community, while more information on a cappella, theater and other music clubs can be found here.
Colleges that seem similar: Whitman College, Claremont McKenna College, Williams College
Concerns about this college: I didn’t notice a ton of diversity during my short couple of hours wandering around campus. I stopped a few students to ask about this (both ethnic and socioeconomic diversity) and got many comments validating my concern, particularly regarding socioeconomic diversity. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the college is not feasible for a low to middle-income student, but that students should expect less diversity in thought when it comes to socioeconomic class. Further research confirms that this is something the college is actively working on through a diversity council.
Overall impressions: This campus is beautiful! I loved the red brick buildings covered in Ivy, mixed in with some modern construction and open green spaces. Students all seemed to be very happy and friendly wandering around campus; my tour guide was stopped by a friend every two minutes on the tour, suggesting a great sense of community here. Seattle students who want a change of pace but don’t want to go too far from home should definitely consider this gem just a short hour drive from the city. It truly feels like its own little world in the middle of a smaller and more manageable town.
Parry College Counseling: College Admissions Blog 