College Spotlight: Warren Wilson College
I had the pleasure of visiting Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina on a gorgeous fall day last week. WWC is one of the Colleges that Change Lives and also has the unique distinction of being one of eight colleges in the United States designated as a Work College. Every student who calls Warren Wilson home is assigned to one of over 85 work crews, and money earned is applied to tuition. Work opportunities are as diverse as the student body with job titles ranging from 3D Art Studio Assistant to Blacksmith to Forestry Crew Member. Community service is also an important element of a Warren Wilson education, and all students are required to complete at least 100 hours prior to graduation.
The students I met were proud to be contributing to their school through their work and equally engaged in their academic and social lives at the school. Learning by doing is a consistent theme at Warren Wilson, and graduates have a variety of tangible skills in their toolkit as they pursue graduate school or enter the workforce. Sustainability is another major emphasis in the culture of Warren Wilson, and students take full advantage of the opportunity to explore the beautiful natural setting of the forests and mountains surrounding campus.
Although Warren Wilson is firmly rooted in the liberal arts, the sciences are strong, and students can choose majors such as Conservation Biology, Ecological Forestry, and Environmental Policy & Justice in addition to more traditional choices. Business, Social Sciences, Fine Arts, and Humanities majors are also popular with interesting options such as Outdoor Leadership, Photography & Media Arts, and Art Therapy.
Warren Wilson has an extremely small student body with under 600 students, but for those looking for a hands-on, immersive experience in a beautiful setting, it’s worth a close look. WWC also offers generous financial aid packages, and students whose families earn less than $125,000 per year can be considered for one of twenty-five full-tuition scholarships through the Milepost One program.
