America's Best Colleges for B Students. Tamra B. Orr
Website: http://www.annamaria.edu
From the College
“Rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition of higher education, Anna Maria College is maintained and operated in conformity with the values of the Judeo-Christian tradition and in keeping with the ideals of its foundresses, the Sisters of Saint Anne. These ideals, which reflect the development of the total human being, also include increasing access to quality education, educational innovation and respect for practical skills.
Noteworthy highlights for Anna Maria College include: recognition for inclusion in the 2016-2017 Guide to Colleges of Distinction; specific program accreditation for nursing, social work, music therapy and music; approval from the Massachusetts Office of Emergency Medical Services and Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education teacher licensure in visual art, music, history, English, early childhood and elementary education.
Campus Setting
Anna Maria is a church-affiliated, liberal arts college. Its 192-acre campus is set on the grounds of a 19th century estate, eight miles from Worcester. A four-year private institution, Anna Maria offers campus facilities including: art gallery · art studio classrooms · dark room. The college provides on-campus housing with 498 units that can accommodate 838 students. Housing options include: coed dorms · special housing for disabled students. Recreation and sports facilities include: baseball complex · field · gymnasium · tennis courts.
Student Life and Activities
Over half of the students (60 percent) live off campus, but social life is active. Students also appreciate Worcester’s big nightlife. On campus, students gather in the Spiritwoods Pub and the dorm lobby; off campus, Sooney’s Restaurant, Ralph’s Diner and the Tipperary Pub are popular. Favorite activities include men’s soccer games, basketball games, Spring Weekend, the Variety Show and productions by the Drama and New England Theater Company. Anna Maria College has 25 official student organizations. The Ski Club, the Drama Club, the History Club and intramural sports are influential. Anna Maria College is a member of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference, Eastern Collegiate Football Conference.
ANNA MARIA COLLEGE
Highlights
Anna Maria College
Paxton, MA (Pop. 4,806)
Location: Rural
Four-year private
Founded: 1946
Website: http://www.annamaria.edu
Students
Total enrollment: 1,468
Undergrads: 1,128
Part-time students: 28%
From out-of-state: 37%
Male/Female: 39%/61%
Live on-campus: 60%
Off-campus employment rating: Good
Caucasian: 68%
African American: 10%
Hispanic: 8%
Asian: 2%
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0%
Native American: 0%
Mixed (2+ ethnicities): 2%
International: 0%
Academics
Calendar: Semester
Student/faculty ratio: 11:1
Class size 9 or fewer: 31%
Class size 10-29: 66%
Class size 30-49: 3%
Class size 50-99: -
Class size 100 or more: -
Returning freshmen: 61%
Six-year graduation rate: 48%
Most Popular Majors
Criminal justice
Academics and Learning Environment
Anna Maria College has 38 full-time and no part-time faculty members, offering a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1. The most common course size is 10 to 19 students. Anna Maria College offers 71 majors with the most popular being criminal justice and least popular being Spanish, English and art therapy. The school has a general core requirement. Cooperative education is not offered. All first-year students must maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher to avoid academic probation and a minimum overall GPA is required to graduate. Other special academic programs that would appeal to a B student: self-designed majors · pass/fail grading option · independent study · double majors · dual degrees · accelerated study · internships · distance learning certificate programs.
B Student Support and Success
Anna Maria College offers an $8,000 scholarship based upon involvement in the high school community and the community at large. Anna Maria does not require minimum scores on the SAT. In addition, the admissions department states that there are many B and C students who are highly involved in their high school and are welcomed at Anna Maria.
Anna Maria College provides a variety of support programs including dedicated guidance for: academic · career · personal · psychological. Recognizing that some students may need extra preparation, Anna Maria offers remedial courses in: reading · writing · math · study skills. The average freshman year GPA is 3.0, and 61 percent of freshmen students return for their sophomore year.
Support for Students with Learning Disabilities
Students with learning disabilities may take advantage of specific support programs, including individual or small group tutorials. If necessary, the college will grant additional time to students with learning disabilities to complete their degree. Also, a lightened course load may be granted. LD students may find additional support through the following programs: tutors · learning center · untimed tests · extended time for tests · exam on tape or computer · note-taking services · proofreading services · reading machines · tape recorders · priority registration · priority seating · waiver of foreign language degree requirement. Individual or small group tutorials are also available to students, as is an advisor/advocate from the LD program.
How to Get Admitted
For admissions decisions, non-academic factors considered: interview · extracurricular activities · special talents, interests and abilities · character/personal qualities · volunteer work · work experience · state of residency · alumni relationship. A high school diploma is required, although a GED is also accepted for admissions consideration. SAT or ACT test scores are considered if submitted, but not required. SAT Subject Test scores are not required. According to the admissions office: Minimum combined SAT score of 900, rank in top half of secondary school class and minimum 2.5 GPA recommended. Academic unit: 4 English, 3 Math, 3 Science, 1 Social Studies, 2 Foreign Language.
How to Pay for College
To apply for financial aid, students should submit the following: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) · state aid form. Anna Maria College participates in the Federal Work Study program. Need-based aid programs include: scholarships and grants · general need-based awards · Federal Pell grants · state, college-based and private scholarships and grants · Federal Nursing scholarships · United Negro College Fund. Non-need-based aid programs include: scholarships and grants · general need-based awards · state scholarships and grants · special achievements and activities awards.