Stepping up…

WESTMINSTER DEBATE SOCIETY

A step towards what..??

By: Aiman Amjad

Hello dear friends and acquaintances from WSC, it is a real delight to contribute in our own school magazine. The main purpose of voicing out this topic relating to our newly born debating camp is to recruit more and more students in this worthwhile activity—-DEBATING.

Q: What is debating..??

Is it just exciting your over-excited nerves? Calming down your hyper activity by means of your “voice”? Or is it building a profound level of confidence in one’s personality so that the fear factor regarding ‘facing the world’ is no more…?? To tell you all the truth, it is a mixture of all these 3 perspectives.

Debating helps to gain a level in one’s character which enables a person to speak out reasonably and knowledgeably in front of an audience. An audience which can be your parents, siblings, a bunch of friends in a group or maybe even spectators watching you standing over a podium delivering a speech.

As I mentioned before, the main aim is to enhance the confidence level in a human being which due to many reasons is absent in most of the youth today. What might be those very reasons, I think you as the reader knows them better than anyone else. But personally, I would like to pin-point out a few.

• Suppression by parents if you ask them to compete in a particular competition because of academic reasons. They would like you to devote your time to your studies and stay ignorant of all the extra-curricular activities.
• Suppression faced by most students via “peer-pressure”. The fear that your friends will ‘laugh’ at you is going to kill you in the end TRUST ME ON THIS. Mostly guys face this type of pressure but girls are a no less victim.
• Shyness to stand in front of an audience.

And many more forms of phobias. Some of the people reading this article would agree with me and some might be willing to refute. But here’s another aspect of life which debating offers to your unconscious mind.

The vital ability to be tolerant of other people’s opinions. To understand things from various different perspectives so that by the end of a healthy long discussion, you feel that you have gained something. You listen to your points being reprimanded by the opposite team and you are patient enough to reply only when your turn comes. It gives potency to one’s character as an individual and helps develop a good society as a whole.

Try to be an asset for the society rather than being a liability by turning into a person who is dependent on other people for making his/her decisions. Have the confidence in you. Have the guts to support your point-of-view. And of course have the patience to learn and rectify your mistakes.

I shall end the topic now, as I myself feel I am ‘dragging” the stuff. *grins*

So people DO COME TO THE DEBATING CLASS. From 2.40pm to 4.00pm. It’s fun yaar… just come and see Sehrish Ejaz dramatizing a very teeny weeny idea into a Godzilla type monster. Come and see Mohammad Ali terrorizing the whole debating participants into the mouse-hole by his aggressive ‘looks’. Come to hear Sheharyaar Asad’s booming voice and to listen to his ‘so-called sarcasm’ which turns out to be quite freaky by the time he’s done with it *grins again*. Come and enjoy Ameera’s colloquial language while debating and her usage of hands and actions to make sure Ahmed Qureshi (you know the A-3 person =D) is not teasing her. And of course come and see Ahmed Qureshi himself who is our ‘paid clown’ to liven up the mood even if we are talking about a serious topic like ‘capital punishment’. =D

We would definitely like you to join our fraternity. Don’t worry, if you’re a chicken, the best chickens make the best debaters (according to our coach). We shall make thee a brave heart very soon. *smiles*

So who’s up for it???

SMAMUN

Ode to… SMAMUN? (Osama Malik)

The Independence Day couldn’t have been a better choice to start off the much-anticipated Saint Mary’s Model United Nations (SMAMUN). The global village, essentially a display of the cultures and practices of the representative countries, turned out to be a competition about who could be more noisy and savage(we were literally eating leaves :p)

However, after the wild night, the events of the next day were very disciplined and decorous (ahem ahem). Meticulously clean and sleep-deprived students reached the grounds of Saint Mary’s in time for the first committee session just to discover that punctuality is not always the best policy: the sessions started an hour later than the actual time. Now, anyone who thought that his hind was in trouble for sitting through a painstakingly three-hour-session, was in for a surprise: the delegates abused the power of the ‘Point of Privilege’, running out to the meet at the cafeteria after every half an hour; wanna-be Jim Carreys kept making lame jokes at the Chair, and lovers kept bandying ‘Working Papers’ (yeah right :p) between themselves. Oh and speaking of boring, it was always on the request of the Director that an ‘Entertainment Session’ was started, be it after fifteen minutes after the start of the session or thirty minutes after the end of the break.

Charming, isn’t it?

Oh I completely forgot to mention the speeches…clearly because there weren’t much of them (lol).

I’m glad to go to SMAMUN, not because I finally won something, but because I would’ve missed the great performance of Call the band, which kept us on our toes till the end. Not to mention all the crazy stuff we did during the breaks: going to Cinepax to see two movies in a row, playing mini-golf, riding the ark at Pepsi Jungle, dropping at McDonalds for a McFlurry every opportunity we got, and doing some stuff which I best not mention .

So if you’re going to SMAMUN, make sure you have party-poppers, some jokes to share with your committee, and if out of obligation, some research too :p.

Trip

 

Murree Trip.. by Sana Shahzad

The school decided to take the A-Level students on a trip before they started studying(or hibernating!). The idea itself was very exciting, since a trip to Murree in February meant playing in the snow.

On the morning of 3rd February, we all assembled at the college waiting anxiously to depart. Our bags stuffed with jackets, gloves and extra pair of socks [in some case cases even medicines too] we were finally on our way to Murree.

The usual boredom on the way to murree was drowned in chit chat, laughter and the Indian songs mostly sung by zainab in her self proclaimed sweet voice. And whoa!! We reached our destination, Bhurban.

As many of us were with empty tummies (to avoid car sickness) it was decided to have food first. Everybody rushed towards the tables already laden with varieties of delicious food, from the mouth watering biryani, the garma garam rotis with curry and delicious desserts that made me lick my fingers.

The real fun was about to start when we were finally permitted to go outside in the snow. Yayyy!!

The hotels garden all covered with leveled, silverish white snow, gave a pleasing effect. Throwing snowballs at each other and entering into an imperceptible competition of who gets more of the snow balls, was entertaining. We lay on the snow, took a ride on our self made snow slide (though the bruises made by hard rock concealed under the snow, still hurt!).

Fun in snow is incomplete without a snowman. But unfortunately we couldn’t complete one as by the time we finished laying down the foundations of our potential snowman, our hands had become numb. We took a number of pictures too taking full advantage of the scenic beauty that was around us.

However, the happier the time the faster it goes and it was time for us to leave…sighs!

By the time we were climbing on our coasters the snowflakes has begun to fall again and this was when the adventurous part started. We had only covered few miles when our coasters started to slip on the roads scattered with snow. At last after a struggle of four hours we finally managed to escape the impolite weather. It was 8pm now and the roads were completely silent. The real adventure was still waiting. When we were about to take turn towards the route which leads straight to Islamabad another hurdle came our way. THE ROAD WAS BLOCKED! Yes, due to a truck accident which has then turned turtle we could not go further. And how long will it take for the traffic to start again? NOT BEFORE THE MORNING was the reply we got.

The role played by Sir Allah bakhsh’s in this panicky situation, is always going to be a part of my memory. I still remember vividly, the way he calmed down our parents and the responsibility he showed while taking us to the mess (thanks to Taimur’s uncle who arranged an accommodation for us) was tremendous.

The scene at the mess (now I come to think of it) was hilarious. The only small electrical heater we had in our room was covered with our wet socks and shoes, all waiting to dry. There was not a single person who was not whining about his dead cell phones battery. How can I forget the way we yearned to grab the cleanest blanket, the way we broke into an argument during this blanket QABZA mission. Very few of us slept that night, as most of them spent there night shivering and listening to Madam Rebecca’s high pitched snores: D

Aaah!!  This one night’s memory is always going to cherish me. Though I sympathize with guys who spent there night jam packed in one single room and with only two heaters available.

Next morning the first thing we knew was to get out of this trap as soon as possible. We were lucky enough to flee the harsh weather conditions as snow falling started again, this time with an addition of light breeze.

All good things come to an end. I experienced the same feeling in Murree. Staying for more than a day there under constant tension, the white snow all around was getting on my nerves. When finally on our way back to Islamabad, the sight of it with colours all around was more than a relief.

A trip to murree is something amidst the huge bundle of memories which I have collected from my college. It was my first college trip outside the city and it surely became the best one. All thanks to Sir Raheel for planning this trip and giving us an opportunity to make it best times.

 

 

 

 

Opinion

Deep in sugar flavoured Sheesha. By Fatima tuz Zahra

Shisha is arabic, from the persian word shishe ( meaning glass), which is a fancy word for hooka. the Hooka has survived and evolved for 400 years in a number of countries, and its so luring that not only are they practiced in the middle east and Asia but they have migrated to UK, US, Canada, Mexico even Newzealand.

Not only has it introduced itself in foreign soils but has also won the hearts of a considerable number of the people, so much so that it peacefully exhales smoke amongst the toughest critics, and yet somehow neutrally remains a trend.

So why should we complain? Simple. We are following the trend. They (as in the foreigners) complain, and have published countless studies and research papers, branding the hooka as worst than smoking. But to no avail, people are unable to resist its poetic appeal, the sheer history and drama behind it, the image it portrays of rich,lazy luxury the fact that we mere mortals are indulging in what the great Mughals, the pashas, sultans and other powerful and romantic, long gone figures reveled in, either that or because its shinny since, fish are attracted to shiny objects maybe humans are no different.
So why are we fussing over the elegant, slim and elaborately painted Shisha/ Hooka? Before we start laborously pondering this, we must know how it works. The jar at the bottom of the hookah is filled with water sufficient to submerge a few centimeters of the body tube, which is sealed tightly to it. Tobacco is placed inside the bowl at the top of the hookah and a burning charcoal is placed on top of the tobacco. When one inhales via the hose, air is pulled through the coal and into the bowl. The air, hot from the charcoal, roasts the tobacco, producing smoke. This smoke passes down through the body tube, which extends into the water in the jar. It bubbles up through the water and fills the top part of the jar, to which the hose is attached. When a smoker inhales from the hose, smoke passes into the lungs, and the change in pressure in the jar pulls more air through the charcoal, continuing the process.
The main reason why people perceive it as almost harmless is because of the great purificating power of water, which is the source of all life and the lustre of the world, its healing and protective properties have long been estabillished in myths, fables and fairy tales, and there is where the catch lies, it is possible only in fantasy, because realistically speaking water does not have the abillity to break down the smoke particles and extract the “bad stuff” leaving only the “good stuff” unless water performs some complex procedure, which scientists have been kept in the dark about, on only shisha tobacco. So it is reasonable to say that it is a misconception, that Shisha is safe, bolstered by the shop keepers and our own desire to believe it. Even if common sence leaves ground for the rejection of this argument, statistics and medical facts don’t, referring to the World Health Organistaion advisory after one hour of inhaling Shisha it exposes the user to 100-200 times the volume of smoke inhalled from a cigerette.
Even though Shisha seems simple, it was invented 400 years ago after all, its side affects and after affects are complicated. Water, our misconstrued white knight whose shield bars the entry of “bad stuff” from our castle, actually polishes our enemy’s armour and gives them a pat on the back and tells them where the back door is located. Sheesha can cause lung infection, coughing, respiratory illness, tuberculosis, as well as cancer, and because smoke passes through water it stays for a longer period of time in the lungs and hence it is more dangerous than smoking. The smoke itself after passing through water contains a high level of toxins including carbonmonoxide, heavy metals and other carcinogens. And if that wasn’t enough our ‘water knight’ presents us with rose tinted glasses so that we can’t percieve the danger possed by Shisha since the moisture induced makes the smoke less irritating and gives us a false sence of security and hence reducing concerns about the health affects. Also there is Tar to be considered because as tobacco burns tar is produced and the quality of coal used and the hygene factors, can we really be sure that the Hookas have been cleaned properly, and that on the surface may not seem like such a big deal but consider the sharing of the Hooka between people poses a risk of TB, herpes, flu, meningitis and hepatitis transmission. and like cigeretts it also affects passive smokers.

But Shisha has evolved in a way that cigerettes have not evolved, like any consumer brand it comes in different flavours ofcoarse. Some of the flavours are vanilla, coconut, rose, jasmine, honey, strawberry, watermelon, mint, cherry, orange, raspberry, apple, apricot, chocolate, licorice, coffee, grape, peach, cola, bubblegum, pineapple and others and we can get even more complex flavours by blending. The immediate question that comes to mind is that these things are available freely and naturally so, why? That is very simple we believe in efficiency we do not want to over exert our jaws with the process of crushing and chewing, and then we want to spare our bodies the tediousness of digestion, so we find a shorter and more efficient way of enjoying the flavours, by cutting out the work of jaws and digestion, and besides it is a delicacy like poisonous spiders it doesn’t need to make sense.
Like any controversial trend there is a safer way to reduce the risk. The level of impact on a smoker’s health is linked to the set-up and components of the hookah . A hookah only utilizing the basic components is believe to have much harsher health consequences than one set-up properly and with various safety devices installed: Since the tobacco in a hookah is roasted as opposed to burned, the density and temperature of the tobacco is paramount to ensure a safer quality of smoke The use of a nicotine filter at some stage of the smoke cycle, preferably in the hose, may reduce health risks Hookahs can also be smoked with tobacco-free flavours These contain Sugar Cane Bagasse with no tobacco, nicotine or tar. This new method of smoking is aimed at replacing tobacco and eliminates its negative health effects but this needs to be properly searced into. But we must be practical do you realloy think that the shop keepers are going to go to all that trouble for our health, when their customers are happy with what they have?
So, should you continue the delicacy of shisha or not? Honestly it depends on how soon you want to die and of what, every person inevitably digs his own grave though it may not be only shisha’s sword point that makes him fall into it. The sole purpose of this article is not to condemn or acquite Shisha but to illluminate it,as being full of risk, so you can now puff out your chest and swagger a little and proclaim that you have lived on the dangerous side and have come out unscathed. But know this that The shisha smoker may inhale as much smoke during one session as a cigarette smoker would inhale consuming 100 or more cigarettes. Well now at least you know that you have been duped into believing that shisha is harmless and you can continue with all the gruesome facts in front of you, and simply say “i’m killing time” or “only once in a blue moon” or “let me live my life” or “hey, i’m not doing drugs!”. Or you may get an ephiphany and swear off it for the rest of your life. Decisions, decisions…

Trends

Big hair is not just for the 80s anymore! By Nadia Tariq

It’s true, the more ridiculous your hairstyle, the cooler you appear to be. You ask for examples, just check out all the guys. They really do give hair its meaning. Some guys have it rounded on the back and jammed, rough hair all tousled around, and what do you know, the girls love it!

Not convinced? Some dudes have it bad, like their hair resembles large tarantulas and are pretty much impossible to untangle, but they are still fawned over by deprived teens. Some guys’ spikes died six weeks ago, but no one really noticed because of the great eyebrow explosion in front of their heads; and of course the most famous style “the spikes”, which frankly resemble antennas coming out of their skulls.
So I rest my case in saying that weirder really has become the new status quo. This is a new kind of complexity explosion.

Hopes for the future

Spaced Out..(Osama Malik)

Funny but true, when I was a kid, I aspired to be an astronaut. I suppose that for the kid my age, the image of astronauts in their silver suits sitting in front of multi-colored panel must have looked super cool. You have to be the brightest of the bright in order to be the few among the whole humanity to travel where only a handful have ever been to. However, after I have discovered my inability to understand Physics, and after having watched 2001: The Space Odyssey and found out that being an astronaut means having to exercise by running on the boring looking circle track and live on a quiet ship with very few other human for a very long time, my desire just burned out. For me, my childish dream was not powerful enough to make me overcome my own limited calculation ability and my country’s extremely slow, or no development in space program.

Even more ironically, after having witnessed a few space shutters’ explosions, I came to doubt the worthiness of space development. To put it bluntly, the money put into space development programs could and should have saved millions who have died of famine during the past century. Why waste trillions of dollars on the search of something so unpredictable when development on some areas that can directly rescue humanity is underfunded? Apparently, more people are having the same doubts as I do. NASA’s struggle to raise more funds in the era in which the idea of man on the moon is not so exciting anymore is a good proof of how development in space is receiving less priority. However, having heard the arguments from my scientist friends that without such a long-term, high-concept development in science, human’s culture and evolution as the dominant specie on this planet will cease to develop, my perception on the issue, once again, shifted. Should it shut itself from outer space by halting scientific research on space, our planet will be just like Burma and China’ s during the period after the 2^nd world war, ignorant of outer changes and thus left behind in the system of the universe. Scientists pursuing space development may be a dreamer, but it is these dreamers who over the years have been responsible for making us evolve, making us learn and grow because they are the ones who dare to take the risks and put all their life’s effort and energy to prove that their dream can materialize. After all, as the wise said, those who have no dream, have nothing.

Well, after taking in the scientists argument, I feel that after I have lost my youth, my ability to dream is drastically limited and I have become one of those short-sighted, unimaginative people with vision that goes only as far as the bottom line of their budget book. In the end, the scientists who try to prove things objectively end up being the biggest dreamer when it comes to issues concerning space.

The problem that I then want to ask is to what extent we should compromise the resources that should be used to solve our current problems to be utilized to pursue these dreams, as both sides have its own arguments and importance. Indeed, what we need is the model that can narrow gap and reach more understanding on both sides’ stance. It is hard, of course, to make it the positive sum game. Some suggestions would be to adapt the technology used in space development to solve other world’s problems, making the space development be more reachable and beneficial, and promote the benefits of reaching out and develop our world’s culture as a whole, basically to normal people and those economists.

The sophisticated believes that the development in sciences, the pursuit of the dream, is the answer, but the undeveloped believes that the harmony with nature, the inward looking and solving day-to-day problem is the way to go. The distribution of resources is always imbalance; the developed are consuming more and more resources and getting more and more threatening to the undeveloped world that are getting fiercer as their place and position in the world hierarchy is being endangered. Should the imbalance continue, a clash will emerge and will result in a new balance, either the coexistence of the two worlds under some compromises, or if the result is devastating, a new world. In any way, a new balance will be reached, and those who brought about the balance will be those who do not belong to any side, those with the eyes clear enough to compromise the conflicting coexistence with not too much pains on any sides. Often, the balancers are us children, the youth, member of the sophisticated but not yet consumed by the value of the world and who have deep interest in the undeveloped.

Astrology

Astrology 101(Amal Shakeel)

Hello readers! Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Amal Shakeel and welcome to the fascinating world of astrology and horoscopes. From this time onwards I’ll be providing all you guys with your horoscopes and going to take you a little further in the world of astrology……..I hope all this proves to be really helpful and interesting for all of you.
Alright lets first take a look at what astrology is.
Astrology is the study of how events on Earth are influenced by the Sun, Moon, stars and planets. The word astrology comes from the Greek word astrologia, which literally means star study.
And now lets see what exactly are horoscopes. Technically, it’s the term astrologers use for a chart showing the relative positions of the stars and planets at a specific time. But for most people, a horoscope is the forecast astrologers make based on that chart. The word horoscope comes from the Greek word horoskopos, which literally means hour watcher.
Okay guys now to start off, we will be having Leo horoscope for this month since it is the months of Leos. So all you Leos out there watch out for your horoscopes and some interesting information related to your zodiac sign.
Leo!!!!24^th July till 23^rd August

Fifth sign of the zodiac

Your element: Fire
Your ruling planet: The Sun
Your lucky color: Yellow
Your stone: Gold

Your fire is the fire of high summer. It is incandescent, burning, and absolute. You do not accept, except with great pain, emotional mediocrity, half-measures, or half-hearted relationships. Passion must burn within you for you to find complete fulfillment. You have a great need to be loved, appreciated, and popular. Without this, you feel yourself entirely lost, abandoned, and very alone.

You are very flirtatious and you love jewelry. You have a great need to be popular and admired. Often your personal magnetism and your charm help you in this, but when this is no longer the case you suffer deeply. You always set your standards high. Some of your personal qualities favor success but when you encounter difficult obstacles you still have not learned how to surmount them.

To feel truly happy, you would need to succeed all the time. You have the capacity to do this, but your flaws occasionally hinder you at the first sign of trouble. Therefore, you hide yourself in silence and nothing you do can help.

Your temperament pushes you into situations where you have to “save face”, which does you more harm than good. You don’t manage to be perfectly lucid, or to look issues clearly as they are. You cut yourself off from others and since you hate solitude, you don’t see the chances which life can offer you. In these situations your ascendant plays an important role. It helps you to extricate yourself. The Lion which you are can easily manage to straighten its mane.

College Majors

Choosing the perfect major!(Maha Kamal)

A-Level Freshmen:

After weeks of frenzied search, you’ve finally arrived at the school of your choice- Westminster. I hope that your two years here turn out to be the most exciting, albeit challenging years of your lives.

Some of you might know exactly what you want to do in your life and would have already chosen your A-Level subjects. However, the majority of you must be daunted by the cornucopia of choices, from Accounting and Business to Biology and Physics. To make the whole process a bit easier for you, here are some tips on how to make the best choices.

Seniors and graduated class:

Choosing a major in college might be one of the most important decisions a student makes, but you needn’t lose sleep over it. This article will demystify the whole procedure.

• Begin by asking yourself a few simple questions:

Which subjects do you enjoy in school?

What comes easily to you as compared to other students?

What type of school work interests you?

• Examine what you value in work.

Do you have an innate desire to help others? Are you able to work well under pressure? What kind of skills do you have? Are you adept at public-speaking? Would you like a stable job or would you enjoy being on the move? Once you’ve examined different careers, explore different paths professionals take to get there. Honestly consider your options. Are you interested in being a lawyer but have little rhetoric skills? Do you have little biology skills but are you thinking of becoming a surgeon just because it looks cool on Grey’s Anatomy? Be realistic about whether or not you are really passionate about the subjects you want to study?

• Visit your college counsellor.

He/She might me able to guide you by recommending subjects according to your strengths and weaknesses. College counsellors have access to valuable information and resources.

• Test-Drive before finalizing your choice

Try to sit in a few classes to see if the subject is really meant for you. Thoroughly weigh all the pros and cons. Is the subject matter dry but important to what you want to do in life? Does the professor deliver his/her lectures well enough to engage your interest? Would you be able to learn well in a class with a large student-teacher ratio?

For more help, visit http://www.mymajors .com

Colleges

The College Search (Anam Zehra)

A’ level Seniors!

Now that we have graduated to our final year of high school, working on college selections is one of the seemingly endless undertakings to go through. For those of you applying to America, this article will streamline the process for you.

The Basics

The basic steps you’ll need to take are familiarizing yourself with the basic types of college choices, understanding the college application process, and knowing your options once you’ve made your choice.

Choose the Best Fit!

Apparently, a whole lot of people got together one day and decided they would pick the prom king and queen of higher education. But don’t make the mistake of allowing your ultimate college choice to come down to an opinion in a magazine you’ve never read or the outlook of your parents, friends, and teachers on what makes a college great. One of the most difficult things you’ll have to do, in fact, is to gently remind all those well-wishing advisors that you’re not just looking for the best college.

You’re looking for the right college.

Start by making a list of colleges, think of what kind of college you’d like to attend and ask yourself, “What qualities am I looking for in a school?”

Following is a list of the many types of colleges out there, and how to decide which one of them is right for you.

The Ivies

The Ivy League refers to eight schools- Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, Cornell, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Yale- that formed an agreement in 1945 to regulate their football competitions. These days, most people know the Ivies as representing the pinnacle of academic superiority.

These colleges have a diverse student body representing the upper, middle, and lower economic classes from different cultures, races, and nationalities. Less than 30 percent of applicants are admitted every year which results in a highly competitive environment. Add to their stellar reputation a list of alumni who have become leaders in the world of business, politics, and the arts, and teachers who come from the upper echelon of their fields.

The Public Ivies

These public universities are equally selective and among America’s top competitive schools. Their actual benefit lies for those with state residency as the tuition fees then are virtually minimal. For international students, the main advantage is the extremely large campuses and state of the art facilities. Even the largest Ivy League School- Cornell University, with around 14,000 enrolled students- is only one-third the size of the University of Florida. The public Ivies include:

University of California- Berkeley

University of Wisconsin

University of Michigan

University of Florida

University of North Carolina

University of Virginia

University of California- Los Angeles

State University of New York at Binghamton

College of William and Mary

The Flagships

The flagship universities represent the largest and most comprehensive schools in the country. They typically enroll more students than any other four-year colleges and are the focal points of the educational system within their states. This means that they receive the lion’s share of resources, publicity, and money. They often have outstanding athletic programs to complement their educational resources. Campus life brings even more hustle and bustle, with Greek life, intercollegiate athletics, and student activities dominating your out-of-class time.

Because they are so large, the flagship universities are often broken down into smaller units, usually known as colleges. For example, Rutgers University, the flagship of New Jersey, has several specialty colleges within its system, such as Rutgers College, a liberal arts school, and the Mason Gross School of the Arts. If you want to carve out your own niche with small class sizes but still want to feel part of a larger community, attending a small college within a flagship system may be the way to go.

The Liberal Arts Schools

The philosophy behind Liberal Arts Schools is that students and teachers should working closely together in an environment which nurtures critical learning and fosters intellectual curiosity is more important than selecting a major. In fact, some liberal arts colleges don’t even have majors. Or grades. Or course requirements. And if the thought of a lecture hall with 400 students learning rote material frightens you, then you will probably be a good candidate for admission.

There are roughly about 200 liberal arts schools with varying degrees on selectivity. Schools such as Williams College and Swarthmore College accept just a small percentage of applicants. There are other good liberal arts colleges that accept roughly half of applicants, including Trinity College in Connecticut, and Kenyon College in Ohio. Other outstanding liberal arts colleges have even higher acceptance rates. Presbyterian College in South Carolina, Lewis and Clark College in Oregon accept the majority of applicants.

Two-Year Colleges

Some students don’t want to dish out a small fortune for earning a degree. Alternatively, some have no interest in dorm rooms or joining a club. So if “straight forward and to the point” is your motto, then these colleges may be right for you.

To check out college profiles and save the colleges of your interest in an organized manner, visit collegeboard.com.

Good Luck!