Willamette University | Alexa Flash Briefing

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, including this week’s School Spotlight, Willamette University. It’s not often you come across a small university that attracts environmental enthusiasts, varsity athletes, globally-minded citizens, and fraternity/sorority members (or a combination of all four!). But at Willamette, one of the 45 Colleges that Change Lives, students can have all this and more. Located in the heart of Oregon’s capital city, Willamette enrolls approximately 1,600 independent thinkers who are eager to engage in small classes, close student-faculty relationships, and a collaborative learning environment. The university supports one undergraduate division – the College of Liberal Arts – but highly motivated students can work towards joint degree programs with the university’s law or business schools. Economics and psychology are two of the university’s most popular majors, but rounding out the top three list is Willamette’s exceptional degree in environmental science. With a special focus on place-based learning and globalization, the environmental science program prepares graduates to become problem solvers and effective leaders in their fields. Volunteering is a common pastime at Willamette, and students can get involved in their local community through programs like Service Saturdays, Take a Break (service-oriented spring break trips), and service learning courses such as Food Justice Practicum. Fun fact: although 42 different states are represented on campus, the bulk of students hail from California, Oregon, and Washington.