For Colleges That Change Lives: 44 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges (Penguin Books), Masell Oswald conducted all new school tours and in-depth interviews, and built on Pope’s original work to create a more expansive work. The book is organized into five geographic regions (Northeast, South, Midwest, Southwest, Northwest). Each profile includes admissions standards as well as relevant statistics including where the school ranks in post-graduate grants and fellowships, what percentage of students go on to graduate school or further education, distinguishing facts about the curriculum, percentage of professors who have terminal degrees in their field, and what activities are available to students and what they’re likely to do on weekends.

Ursinus’s chapter quotes Pope:

“Ursinus is a star of the first magnitude in the small galaxy of colleges that change lives.”

It goes on to state that of the student population, “each has his or her own tale of transformation.” The book notes a growth in students’ skills and self-confidence during four years at Ursinus, “how their aspirations rise, and how their perspectives broaden.” And it praises Ursinus professors: “The dedication to teaching is legendary.” It notes that students have in common, “civility, character, and an eagerness to learn” and declares that “rigor matters.”

---

About Colleges that Change Lives (CTCL)

CTCL is dedicated to the advancement and support of a student-centered college search process. More About CTCL

The non-profit CTCL is made up of the schools listed in the third edition of the book. To support parents, students, and counselors who are unable to attend our events, the CTCL web site provides information, news and resources, which address current issues in higher education as well as common misperceptions about the college search process.