Lawrence University

Lawrence University is a small, private liberal arts college located on the banks of the Fox River near downtown Appleton, Wisconsin. Its current enrollment is about 1,500 students from 47 states and more than 45 countries. The school's liberal arts program, conservatory of music, and the option of individualized study that allows students to create their own majors is taught by a faculty of 91% full-time professors, which means few graduate students lead classes. Lawrence characterizes its approach as "engaged learning," in which students actively participate in all classes through problem solving, effective communication, collaboration, and adaptability to a rapidly changing world. Lawrentians are notorious for active participation in class, and the university warns applicants that there is little room for passive lectures. Students can choose to learn outside of the main campus in Appleton, and take courses in one of the two other locations, either the Bjorklunden campus, two hours northeast of Appleton and off the coast of Lake Michigan, or the London Centre across the pond. Students have their first opportunity to engage through freshman studies class, a Lawrence tradition for some 70 years. All incoming Lawrentians are required to take the class, with a maximum of 15 students, which engages discussion and introduces students to academic writing and research.