Choosing The Right College School Spotlight: Christopher Newport University Written by Emily Toffelmireon August 3rd, 2020 I came to College Coach after working for many years in college admissions and high school counseling. As a school counselor, I assisted students in the college application process and wrote hundreds of letters of recommendation, while also helping them and their families cope with any emotional, social, and academic concerns throughout the year. I transitioned from the high school setting to the admissions office when I joined the University of Southern California as an assistant director, reading freshmen and transfer applications and collaborating on admission decisions for over 150 majors, including the liberal arts, engineering, business, cinema, and the fine and performing arts. I subsequently took on the role of senior assistant director in the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, where I coordinated the division's Mork, Stamps, Trustee, Presidential and Dean's merit scholarship selection process, as well as recruitment publications and outreach, and traveled everywhere from Honolulu to Miami presenting to and interviewing hundreds of applicants each year. Learn More About Emily choosing the right college, college lists, There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. As such, we are highlighting a new college each week in our School Spotlight series. Check out the college below, along with the other posts in our series, and you may just stumble upon your dream school! School Spotlight: Christopher Newport University Newport News, VA Originally founded as a public, two-year extension of the College of William & Mary, Christopher Newport University became a full-fledged university in 1992. Since then, CNU has undergone exponential growth, thanks to the hundreds of millions of dollars spent in new construction in the last couple of decades. The campus now boasts an arts center (designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei), a state-of-the-art student union, and a spacious library. CNU enrolls 4,900 students, of which fewer than 100 are graduate students. That means CNU offers an undergraduate-focused education AND has a relatively small student body for a public university, a great combination for those looking for a close-knit campus and affordability. While 93 percent of students hail from VA, all first-, second-, and third-year students are required to live on campus, giving the university a decidedly residential feel. CNU offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Music, but the three most popular majors are communication studies, psychology, and biology. Outside of academics, students can become active in any of the 200+ student clubs, or join the university’s robust Greek life. Looking to get off campus? Colonial Williamsburg (20 minutes) and Virginia Beach (45 minutes) are just a short drive away. Image Credit: Top, Courtesy of Christopher Newport University Related Resources Read | Posted on March 26th, 2024 California Colleges and Universities: A Treasure Trove of Opportunities Read | Posted on March 5th, 2024 The Top 3 Campus Safety Myths Read | Posted on March 1st, 2024 Celebrating International Women’s Day: Is a Women’s College Right for You?
