Earlier this summer I had the opportunity to visit a few colleges in Nevada while I was in town for the Super-ACAC conference. A bus load of college counselors from all over the Western United States woke up early to tour college campuses before the conference started. Here is my take on one of the colleges we visited that day.
Sierra Nevada College (SNC)
Location: Incline Village, Nevada, just two blocks from Lake Tahoe
Type of Institution: Private, liberal arts college. SNC is the only private, non-profit four-year college in the state of Nevada.
SNC offers a total of 35 undergraduate majors. Majors fall under the following categories: Business, Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Science & Technology. With small class sizes, students will have the opportunity for extensive in-class participation. In addition, research is required for every undergraduate major. SNC focuses on liberal arts, professional preparedness, entrepreneurial thinking, and sustainability. Professors at the university are not just professors, many have vast experience in their fields. Some programs of note include:
Campus and Surrounding Area
The campus is beautiful, and much of the campus looks like a ski resort. During the winter, it will be cold with snow on the ground but there is also a lot of sunshine throughout the years The campus is a mix of older and newer buildings. Located just a few blocks from Lake Tahoe, it is a great location for students who like the outdoors. Hiking, paddleboarding, and skiing are just some of the many outdoor activities students enjoy. Incline Village is a quaint town with a lot of charm, but the campus is also conveniently located close to South Lake Tahoe, Reno, and Truckee, California. Residence halls are typical size for a dorm room, but do offer a bathroom in each room. I found the additional storage lockers available in the residence halls for outdoor equipment, such as skis and snowboards, quite unique. The library is small, but big enough for the small student population at SNC. Every building on campus offers beautiful views of the wooded campus.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Overall Impression
I found Sierra Nevada College very friendly and welcoming. Faculty and staff were knowledgeable and willing to help any way they could. SNC is a great place for students who enjoy the outdoors. In addition to all of the great extracurricular opportunities, many classes offer outdoor experiences as well. While the price tag may seem expensive, the college does offer generous financial aid packages, especially for students who have done well academically. It’s a great college campus and could be a great fit for students who are looking for personal attention, year round outdoor activities, and four seasons.
To see all of the photos I took on my college visit, check out the my Flickr album for Sierra Nevada College.
Students applying to college can feel a lot of stress. For students who have been in a bit of trouble during their high school career, they may feel even more stress. Many college applications, including the Common Application, ask students about disciplinary violations. Applications ask students to be honest about any disciplinary issue they may have had, but many students are scared to share their history.
College counselors receive many questions about the disciplinary questions. An example of a question a student may ask is, “Do I really have to tell them about the time I was suspended freshman year? I haven’t been in trouble since and have done great academically.” Students are very scared their disciplinary issue will have a negative affect on their chance of admission. While it is true many colleges have used disciplinary violations to make admissions decisions, it is not always a deal breaker.
If you have had a disciplinary infraction during your high school career, here are some tips on how to handle it.
Some infractions will be seen as more serious than others. Academic dishonesty or violence, especially if there has been a pattern, could be a deal breaker at some colleges. If the infractions are more serious, it could affect the admissions decision. Students can be proactive and contact the admissions office to ask for a meeting to discuss the issue. Some colleges will be open to the idea, while others will not. The willingness to discuss the issue can show the admissions officer maturity. It also can show the admissions officer that you have learned from your mistakes and will not do it again. However, with more serious offenses, students should have some safety colleges on their list and be prepared to discuss the infraction with every college on their list.
College admissions committees do look at disciplinary violations. However, many colleges know students sometimes make poor choices. A minor infraction probably will not make a difference at many colleges, especially if students can show they have learned from their mistakes and they have not continued the behavior. While it can be scary to share your history, by owning your mistakes and taking responsibility, colleges will see maturity and integrity.
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