A Carrolling We Will Go

I must admit that I am predisposed to like any school whose colors include purple, so I was smiling when we were greeted by friendly Carroll College reps in purple polo shirts.

Embraced by the rolling hills of Helena, Montana, Carroll College  is an unabashedly Catholic college with just under 1500 undergraduate students. 65% of the student body is Catholic, and the majority of the non-Catholic students are Christian. Catholic ministry and principles are an integral part of the educational experience, and all students take at least two theology and two philosophy courses.

 Besides the beautiful surroundings, charming town of Helena and great personal attention students get from professors, the biggest draw for Carroll is the strength of its academics in the sciences. Pre-med is the most popular program and approx 85% of the students who apply to med school get in. It’s important to note that the attrition rate out of biology and other pre-med majors is high, and Carroll advisors do a good job of helping students who switch majors find a better fit niche.  Many opt for public health or non-profit management as an alternate major. The nursing program is very strong and priority into the major is given to Carroll students. Undergrads must complete the pre-req courses before applying to the nursing major, which has room for 40 students per year. The pre-reqs usually take one year, and those who are accepted can complete their nursing degree in three more years. The nursing labs are well-equipped and students are already doing clinical rotations by the second semester of the program. Carroll is well connected within the local community, and nursing grads do well in the job market.

Carroll takes a decidedly practical approach to education, in keeping with their motto (which roughly translates) “Not for school alone, but for life.”  Math majors learn applied mathematics and must choose a concentration such as biology, chemistry, engineering, computer science, or business. It’s interesting to note that for a small school, Carroll has consistently ranked in the top ten of the International Mathematics Modeling competition, against powerhouse schools like MIT, Harvey Mudd and Cornell. Engineering majors (and others) can participate in Engineers Without Borders. The school club partners with professional mentors and is doing water projects in both Mexico and Guatemala. Majors can earn a degree in Civil Engineering, or add a concentration in Civil Engineering and the Environment, or Civil Engineering and Public Health. A decided advantage for Carroll grads when they hit the job market is the campus-wide emphasis on verbal and written communications skills, including individual and group public speaking. All students participate in their freshman year in the Alpha seminar, which consists of 18 students and one professor who is the student advisor for the year. This discussion-based program includes a commonly read book (for fall 2011 it is “Let the Great World Spin”) and short readings that raise moral and philosophical questions to stretch student thinking.

A truly distinct major for which Carroll is a national leader is Anthrozoology (formerly known as Human/Animal Bond). This major includes aspects of psychology, science and hands-on work with either dogs or horses to train and use them in therapeutic applications with humans.  For example, a student might train a service dog to work with a diabetic patient and wake him in the night if his blood sugar gets dangerously low (possible because the smell of the patient’s sweat changes). Students working with horses can intern at the nearby Mount Eagle stables which helps autistic children through hippo (equine) therapy. Students graduate from the program and the animals they trained also get a graduation ceremony!

Internships are not required for all majors, however every student I met had done at least two. Carroll grads are very successful in the local community and these alumni give current Carroll students plenty of internship opportunities.  Since Helena is the state capitol, students have excellent access to the legislature and state agencies, and they definitely take advantage of internships related to government and public policy. One student, when asked how she found out about her internship, said, “My professor called me on my cell phone and gave me a name and number to call.” This did not appear to be an unusual circumstance as most students said their professors had referred them to their internship and “talked them up” with the company prior to the interview. That’s an example of networking at its finest.

Carroll is a residential college. Students live in campus freshman year in a common dorm (Guadalupe), and sophomore year in St. Charles (a dorm and academic building referred to on campus as the “Harry Potter Building” because of its resemblance to Hogwarts). Upperclassmen may choose to stay on campus, and many do because Trinity Hall offers apartment-style suites that are very appealing. Helena has a wide variety of housing, from the swank mansion district (definitely worth seeing if you come to visit the school) to reasonably priced homes for lease. The public bus system is free to students and those who do live off campus tend to stay within ten minutes of the school.  

Extra-curricular opportunities and school traditions help the student body bond and have plenty of fun in between study sessions. Unusual traditions include a slip ‘n slide down Guadalupe hill, and an annual etiquette dinner which ensures students will know what to do if taken to lunch or dinner on a job interview. Charlie’s Film Festival draws lots of entries of student made films. The biggest club on campus is CAMP (Carroll Adventure and Mountaineering Program) which is no surprise when you consider the all-season outdoor recreational opportunities inherent to Montana.

Carroll College competes in NAIA (athletics) and their football team has had great success. The campus stadium is gorgeous and games are a big community draw. Nearby Montana Tech is their arch rival. Although there is a lot of campus pride related to athletics, the president of the college was quick to point out that their most winning team is forensics (speech and debate) with 22 Championship titles.

If you are looking for a small Catholic college with high academic standards, studious peers, academic, emotional and spiritual support systems, and outdoor adventures, then Carroll should definitely be on your list of possibilities ( www.carroll.edu).