7 of Our Best College Cousins

Our college planning mission is to connect students to the schools where they’ll thrive. We educate students and families about what it takes to navigate admissions processes and college success. We help them tell their stories in a compelling and honest way. Students, in general, often achieve a sense of control and execute a plan with intentionality and clarity.

Short of working with our college planning department, our College Cousins series has become one of our most popular tools in helping students and families identify that fit that is just right. They are clear, fun, informative, and well-researched, and we’re so lucky to have Beth Provinse pull them together for us. Some will be familiar to those who have researched the college landscape: unsurprisingly, our take on Williams and Amherst gets a lot of interest, for example. Other comparisons highlight hidden surprises. Our partners are frequently surprised that students who like American University may want to consider University of Denver.

Without further ado, here are 7 of our favorite College Cousins:

1. Amherst College and Williams College

You’ve no doubt heard the old sayings, which assert that “good things come in small packages” and “less is more.” In this feature, we take a look at two schools that are indeed smaller in size but that take a back seat to no one in terms of the opportunities and quality of education they offer. Amherst and Williams are unquestionably two of the finest schools in the U.S., and the top spots in rankings for liberal arts schools that they routinely garner are proof of that claim. Read more…

2. Syracuse & University of Pittsburgh

Students at both universities can round out their college experience with a host of activities in the form of on-campus clubs and organizations. When not studying, SU students can engage with one of the 300-plus organizations that offer activities from a cappella to Zipped Magazine, and the elite of SU’s Orangemen and Orangewomen are continuing the university’s long tradition of athletic excellence. Syracuse has enjoyed success in several sports but none more so than basketball. SU’s athletic department proudly posts the university’s cumulative (and impressive) .690 record of wins in basketball since 1900. Read more…

3. CalTech & MIT

We know these universities as world famous and tops in their fields, but both had long struggles to achieve their present status. Both opened their doors in the last half of the 19^th century, during a period of time we refer to as the Second Industrial Revolution, years that created a growing need for trained scientists and engineers. As private institutions, however, they didn’t receive state government funding, and in their early years, that made keeping the doors open a real challenge for both. It wasn’t until the world wars of the 20^th century produced an unending need for scientists and engineers that these schools found the solid footing that positioned them for the longstanding success they enjoy today. Read more…

4. Denison and Trinity

For some, the quintessential college experience is characterized by a quality education gained in a special kind of atmosphere – the kind typified by Denison University and Trinity College. At both schools, a strong emphasis on student involvement is reflected in the many campus clubs, intermural sports, and opportunities for civic engagement. These are colleges that want students to be on the frontlines, not on the sidelines or in the stands. Read more…

5. UNC and UVA

For two universities that are so well known and in the public eye, it is perhaps curious that each has a bit of a head-scratcher for a nickname. After all, what in the world is a “tar heel”? And what’s a “wahoo,” for that matter? Okay, here’s the scoop. The term “tar heel” dates to before the Civil War, when it was used as a derogatory term for low wage earners who worked in the North Carolina tar fields. Read more…

6. University of Delaware & University of Maryland

The University of Delaware and the University of Maryland, two large mid-Atlantic universities, are both well known by name, but there’s a lot about them that you might not know. These are two large state universities, both located in small cities that are adjacent to more populous ones. Of course, both campuses have active social scenes and innumerable activities available for students. Maryland’s Division I sports teams are nationally known, and Delaware also offers many athletic options for its students. Both universities take pride in their somewhat atypical mascots that, in both cases, pay homage to their state’s history. Read more…

7. AU & University of Denver

It’s all about creating paths to success. By accepting students into their institutions, colleges and universities are making an investment in the future success of those students. AU and DU are good examples of universities that have extensive academic support resources across the board, all designed to provide help wherever needed. There’s something for everyone. After all, over the course of four years of rigorous academics, who among us wouldn’t encounter something that would warrant a helping hand? Read more…