Washington College
300 Washington Avenue
Chestertown, MD 21620-1197
(800) 422-1782 ext.7700
adm_off@washcoll.edu
http://www. washcoll.edu
ENROLLMENT
Undergraduates:
Full-time:
550 men/850 women
Part-time:
21 men/35 women
Graduate School:
28 men/41 women
FRESHMAN ADMISSION
PROFILE
Number who applied:
2,100
Number accepted:
1,200
Number enrolled:
310
Average SAT scores:
V 580 M 570
Average GPA:
3.40
Freshman retention rate:
89%
2006-2007 COSTS:
Tuition:
$26,990
Room and Board:
$7,000
Fees, books, misc.:
$1,750
FINANCIAL AID:
Freshmen receiving aid:
85%
Average financial aid package:
$15,000
FACULTY:
Full-time:
86
Part-time:
54
Ph.D.:
95%
Student-faculty ratio:
12:1
Washington College
300 Washington Avenue
Chestertown, Maryland 21620-1197
Washington College offers students personalized
attention and academic opportunities specifically
modeled to student interests.
College Description / Campus Visit
Founded in 1782, Washington College is the tenth-oldest college in the United States. George Washington, for whom the College was named, was an early benefactor and member of the College's Board of Visitors and Governors. Today, the College is one of the few nationally recognized selective liberal arts institutions with an enrollment of fewer than 1,400 students. The rural campus on Maryland's Eastern Shore is ideally situated 90 minutes from Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. The intimacy of a small-college environment, the tradition of a challenging liberal arts curriculum, and the relaxed informality characteristic of the Chesapeake Bay region continue to exert their influence on the College and all who come to it. Although most students come from the Northeast, international students and students from other regions of the country are enrolled in numbers sufficient to add geographic diversity to the student body.
Academic Life
An innovative curriculum emphasizes academic investigation and interactive learning. Collaborating with faculty on important research, students use sophisticated scientific laboratory equipment usually reserved for graduate students at other schools, and then present their findings at professional meetings or publish their work in professional journals. Internships in fields from art to medicine to politics enrich the undergraduate experience.
The College's four-course plan is intended to broaden and deepen a student's education by providing for intensive study and by encouraging individual responsibility for learning. Candidates for a degree complete 32 semester courses and a "senior obligation," the capstone of their studies that might take the form of a research project, thesis, dramatic or musical production, or writing portfolio.
Washington College offers a nationally renowned creative writing program and awards an annual literary prize--the Sophie Kerr Prize--to a graduating senior showing literary promise. The College takes advantage of its proximity to the Chesapeake Bay in offering an environmental studies program, has developed extensive study abroad opportunities, and offers an outstanding behavioral neuroscience program.
Campus Life
Washington College is small enough that students can have a real impact on campus life, whether they launch a student publication, lead a campus club, volunteer with Target Tutoring, or join the Riverside Players. It's easy for students to become involved and there's lots to choose from: REC and club sports, performing arts, student government, community service and special interest clubs, recreational activities, and social organizations. On weekends, students might attend a play or concert in Baltimore, go to a reading at the Lit House, help plant marsh grasses with Terra Firma, rehearse a show, or sail the Chester River.
Eighty percent of all students live in residence halls; special interest housing is available for students in the sciences, foreign languages, international studies, creative arts, mathematics, and Greek organizations. On-site resident assistants are trained to help students make positive choices in the transition to adulthood.
The new science building
Facilities and Resources / Campus Map
Washington College offers several academic resources to help students achieve their greatest potential, most notably their faculty advisers who guide them through the liberal arts and sciences curriculum. The Centers for Career Development, Computing, International Programs, Math, Study Skills, and Writing are staffed with professionals who can help students make the most of their academic experience. Miller Library offers a full range of library services, and a sophisticated computing network links students with professors and offers direct access to the Internet. The Johnson Lifetime Fitness Center offers a variety of sports and recreational facilities, including a field house, racquetball courts, weight training and conditioning room, and an aerobics studio. The O'Neill Literary House, with its own letterpress room and writers' garrets, is a magnet for student writers and dozens of visiting writers and editors each year. The new Science Center will be finished in January, 2005.
Sports / Varsity Athletics
Athletics and academics are a winning combination at Washington College, where 60 percent of all students engage in NCAA Division III competition, club sports, or recreational activities. The College offers intercollegiate competition in ten sports for women and in eight sports for men, as well as a co-ed sailing program. Men's lacrosse is the highest-profile sport, with 21 appearances in NCAA post-season play and the 1998 national title. The men's tennis team captured two national titles in four years-1994 and 1997. The 1997 women's field hockey team made its second consecutive appearance in NCAA post-season play. With the Chester River so close, rowing is hugely popular, as well. The new Schottland Tennis Center is the finest in the Centennial Conference.
Financial Aid / Scholarships
Washington College offers several types of financial aid to help full-time students meet their college expenses. College-sponsored tuition scholarships, tuition grants, work/study, and low-interest loans are available to those who demonstrate financial need and who meet the College's admission criteria. For students who show exceptional academic promise, the College also offers merit-based academic tuition scholarships. A unique program awards four-year, $40,000 scholarships to accepted applicants who are members of the National Honor Society or Cum Laude Society. Nearly 86% of all Washington College students receive some form of financial aid.
Admission Requirements
As a selective national liberal arts college, Washington College admits applicants on the basis of scholastic achievement, personal characteristics, and overall potential for success in a collegiate environment. High school students should complete a college-preparatory program, including a minimum of four years of English, four of social studies, three of mathematics, three of science, and two of a foreign language. SAT I or ACT scores and two teacher recommendations are also required. While interviews are not required for admission, interested students are encouraged to visit the campus.
Regular admission candidates who submit an application by February 15 receive priority consideration in the admission process. Transfer students are accepted with or without the A.A. degree, and applicants with above-average records are encouraged to apply. International students should mail appropriate academic transcripts to the College early in the admissions process. If English is not the first language, international students must submit TOEFL scores (500 or above) or complete level 109 at an ELS Language Center. For international students, submission of SAT I or ACT results is recommended, but not required.
