On Tuesday, March 18 at 7:00pm, Harriton parents, students, and teachers gathered in the LGI to hear dynamic leader, Maria Furtado, speak about her organization, Colleges That Change Lives.

Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL) was founded in 1998 by New York Times education editor, Loren Pope, who had written a book of the same title. The organization’s goal is to help students find a college that cultivates a lifelong love of learning and provides a foundation for a successful and fulfilling life beyond college.

CTCL profiles a list of 44 colleges, which meet specific criteria defined by Loren Pope. The late Mr. Pope eschewed the Ivy League in favor of these lesser-known colleges. He determined that two important elements were essential for success: “a familial sense of communal enterprise that gets students heavily involved in cooperative rather than competitive learning. And, a faculty of scholars who are devoted to undergraduate teaching.”

The colleges profiled by CTCL are all small liberal arts colleges with admission rates of 45 percent or more. The higher rate of admission ensures a good mix of students and a less competitive atmosphere. Some distinguishing attributes of these colleges include a low student to faculty ratio; commitment to undergraduate learning; a living environment that is primarily residential, emphasizing community, personal growth, participation, and involvement; and smaller student enrollments that allow students to be recognized as individuals.

For those who are interested in a more in depth presentation, Ms. Furtado extended an invitation to the college fairs CTCL will host this Spring in Teaneck, New Jersey and in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia. Representatives from forty of the colleges will have nine minutes each, in which they will talk about their respective institutions.

CTCL offers a fresh, optimistic, and wise perspective on the college search process—a path many Harriton students navigate each school year. For more information about Colleges That Change Lives, visit CTCL.org.