Warren Wilson College. Asheville, NC
There’s a lot of good things one can list about Warren Wilson. It’s in Asheville, one of the most gorgeous towns in North Carolina. It’s a 2018 Fisk College Guide “Best Buy” school (base tuition is much lower here than most private colleges). And it’s also one of the few schools that has an integrated service and work program as part of its curriculum. Their mission is to provide a distinctive education that combines academics, work, and service in a learning community committed to environmental responsibility, cross- cultural understanding, and the common good.
Warren Wilson does not take sustainability lightly. Many schools talk about the need for taking care of the environment, stewardship, and ecological responsibility, but this school actually recognizes that sustainability is fundamental to the way that people relate to their world spiritually, socially, culturally, and economically. They see their decisions about the environment as choices that affect the quality of life for their students today and the generations to come. In 2000, the school signed the Talloires Declaration in which they pledged to create an “institutional culture of sustainability.” They are recognized by the National Wildlife Federation, the Association of Sustainability in Higher Education, and Sierra magazine.
While Warren Wilson is an excellent small liberal arts college where students can learn anything, their two standout programs are their writing program and their environmental studies programs. The creative writing program is a stand alone program, with visiting writers, writers-in-residence, top faculty, and the ability to also work in the English department and theater departments as well. Warren Wilson also offers an outstanding MFA in writing as well. Whether it’s fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, a major, or a minor, you can pursue your writing here in the stunning surroundings of Asheville. Along the way they will intern in the community, learning about a writer’s role in the world, and developing their craft along the way. The program culminates in a capstone project, finishing their time at the school with a 40 page piece or collection that includes a critical introduction to their works.
Environmental Studies and related fields are the other reason people are drawn to Warren Wilson. Students can pursue several fields here: Environmental Chemistry, Sustainable Agriculture, Conservation Biology, Environmental Education, Sustainable Forestry, and Environmental Policy are all part of the Environmental Studies program and the Honors Program. You can get a BA, BS, or a minor in any of these fields while studying there. As a student working in this field at Warren Wilson, undergraduate research is a requirement. Each student is matched with a faculty advisor who will work with her through the last three semesters of her time there. He will take three classes in which he does extensive research, develops a project of her own, gains proficiency with data analysis, collection methods, and data visualization, and then finally produces a capstone project based on his research. Each student is also required to present her findings to the rest of the students. He may apply for honors if he wishes to do so,
One of the most unique aspects of Warren Wilson is what they call the Triad. At Warren Wilson, they believe strongly that there are three aspects to a good education: academics, service, and work. These three parts of the Triad are essential to the education of a student at Warren Wilson and are considered to be essential for future success. As part of their education, joining a work crew, volunteering in the community or as part of study abroad, integrating their academics with hands on learning, creates students who do not just know things, but also understand how they work, and how to do them as well.
Warren Wilson is one of the federally recognized work colleges in the US and so all the work the students do is paid ($7.25/hour). That money goes back into their student accounts and is used to defray the cost of attendance. Students are the ones who perform essential duties for the school, working between 10 and 20 hours each week and performing tasks such as installing plumbing, harvesting timber, building the EcoDorm, athletic training, information systems, engaging in archaeology, working in the blacksmith shop, organic gardening, student publications, Environmental and Social Justice center, recycling, carpentry, library, farming, art department, food and dining, local foods, residence life, and their preschool program. Students run much of their own programming and are able to use this learning in their studies and later on in their lives after they graduate.
Service is the third pillar of the Triad. Just as important as the academics and the work, the Center for Community Engagement partners with over 50 other programs so that students can engage in service learning in ways that directly connect to their passions in their academics and their lives. There are four basic components students will get out of community service at Warren Wilson:
So what is it like to live at Warren Wilson? First years live together in one of two dorms. One of the two allows small caged pets if you are so inclined. Some dorms are quiet and some are themed. You can choose to live in the EcoDorm (entirely built by students with an incredibly low footprint). Suites, single gender, and cooperative living as well as healthy living options are also available.
Warren Wilson fields a variety of teams including men and women’s basketball, cross country, soccer, swimming, and cycling. They also have a variety of club and intramural sports which range from ultimate frisbee to canoeing and kayaking, archery to timbersports. Enjoy cheering on the Owls or play for them by going online and choosing “recruit me.”
There are many things you can do for fun at Warren Wilson. Go backpacking, climb a mountain, go caving, snowboarding, surfing, or camping. The equipment rental is included in your student fees. Write for the student publications: fiction, nonfiction, journalism, poetry. Get involved in their award winning theater programs. Cook organic food, work on the farm or garden, design a menu for your house, or feed people. Practice martial arts, join the physics club, become a fire spinner, or dance. If you have an interest in something, you can do it here.
So, is Warren Wilson the school for you? It’s small, only 650 students which means it’s smaller than WAHS, so you have to be ok working with the same group of folks all the time. They’re a niche school so they are getting applications largely from folks for whom this and schools like this are their first choice schools. Don’t be fooled by the 82% acceptance rate. They still want their students to be a 3.5 (unweighted) GPA for the most part. It’s an SAT optional school, so if your scores are not amazing but your academic record is, then that’s a bonus. It’s extremely liberal. If you’re not, you won’t fit in here.
Pros:
Cons
There’s a lot of good things one can list about Warren Wilson. It’s in Asheville, one of the most gorgeous towns in North Carolina. It’s a 2018 Fisk College Guide “Best Buy” school (base tuition is much lower here than most private colleges). And it’s also one of the few schools that has an integrated service and work program as part of its curriculum. Their mission is to provide a distinctive education that combines academics, work, and service in a learning community committed to environmental responsibility, cross- cultural understanding, and the common good.
Warren Wilson does not take sustainability lightly. Many schools talk about the need for taking care of the environment, stewardship, and ecological responsibility, but this school actually recognizes that sustainability is fundamental to the way that people relate to their world spiritually, socially, culturally, and economically. They see their decisions about the environment as choices that affect the quality of life for their students today and the generations to come. In 2000, the school signed the Talloires Declaration in which they pledged to create an “institutional culture of sustainability.” They are recognized by the National Wildlife Federation, the Association of Sustainability in Higher Education, and Sierra magazine.
While Warren Wilson is an excellent small liberal arts college where students can learn anything, their two standout programs are their writing program and their environmental studies programs. The creative writing program is a stand alone program, with visiting writers, writers-in-residence, top faculty, and the ability to also work in the English department and theater departments as well. Warren Wilson also offers an outstanding MFA in writing as well. Whether it’s fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, a major, or a minor, you can pursue your writing here in the stunning surroundings of Asheville. Along the way they will intern in the community, learning about a writer’s role in the world, and developing their craft along the way. The program culminates in a capstone project, finishing their time at the school with a 40 page piece or collection that includes a critical introduction to their works.
Environmental Studies and related fields are the other reason people are drawn to Warren Wilson. Students can pursue several fields here: Environmental Chemistry, Sustainable Agriculture, Conservation Biology, Environmental Education, Sustainable Forestry, and Environmental Policy are all part of the Environmental Studies program and the Honors Program. You can get a BA, BS, or a minor in any of these fields while studying there. As a student working in this field at Warren Wilson, undergraduate research is a requirement. Each student is matched with a faculty advisor who will work with her through the last three semesters of her time there. He will take three classes in which he does extensive research, develops a project of her own, gains proficiency with data analysis, collection methods, and data visualization, and then finally produces a capstone project based on his research. Each student is also required to present her findings to the rest of the students. He may apply for honors if he wishes to do so,
One of the most unique aspects of Warren Wilson is what they call the Triad. At Warren Wilson, they believe strongly that there are three aspects to a good education: academics, service, and work. These three parts of the Triad are essential to the education of a student at Warren Wilson and are considered to be essential for future success. As part of their education, joining a work crew, volunteering in the community or as part of study abroad, integrating their academics with hands on learning, creates students who do not just know things, but also understand how they work, and how to do them as well.
Warren Wilson is one of the federally recognized work colleges in the US and so all the work the students do is paid ($7.25/hour). That money goes back into their student accounts and is used to defray the cost of attendance. Students are the ones who perform essential duties for the school, working between 10 and 20 hours each week and performing tasks such as installing plumbing, harvesting timber, building the EcoDorm, athletic training, information systems, engaging in archaeology, working in the blacksmith shop, organic gardening, student publications, Environmental and Social Justice center, recycling, carpentry, library, farming, art department, food and dining, local foods, residence life, and their preschool program. Students run much of their own programming and are able to use this learning in their studies and later on in their lives after they graduate.
Service is the third pillar of the Triad. Just as important as the academics and the work, the Center for Community Engagement partners with over 50 other programs so that students can engage in service learning in ways that directly connect to their passions in their academics and their lives. There are four basic components students will get out of community service at Warren Wilson:
- Self Knowledge
- Understanding of Complex Issues
- Collaboration and Community Impact
- Commitment to Community Engagement
So what is it like to live at Warren Wilson? First years live together in one of two dorms. One of the two allows small caged pets if you are so inclined. Some dorms are quiet and some are themed. You can choose to live in the EcoDorm (entirely built by students with an incredibly low footprint). Suites, single gender, and cooperative living as well as healthy living options are also available.
Warren Wilson fields a variety of teams including men and women’s basketball, cross country, soccer, swimming, and cycling. They also have a variety of club and intramural sports which range from ultimate frisbee to canoeing and kayaking, archery to timbersports. Enjoy cheering on the Owls or play for them by going online and choosing “recruit me.”
There are many things you can do for fun at Warren Wilson. Go backpacking, climb a mountain, go caving, snowboarding, surfing, or camping. The equipment rental is included in your student fees. Write for the student publications: fiction, nonfiction, journalism, poetry. Get involved in their award winning theater programs. Cook organic food, work on the farm or garden, design a menu for your house, or feed people. Practice martial arts, join the physics club, become a fire spinner, or dance. If you have an interest in something, you can do it here.
So, is Warren Wilson the school for you? It’s small, only 650 students which means it’s smaller than WAHS, so you have to be ok working with the same group of folks all the time. They’re a niche school so they are getting applications largely from folks for whom this and schools like this are their first choice schools. Don’t be fooled by the 82% acceptance rate. They still want their students to be a 3.5 (unweighted) GPA for the most part. It’s an SAT optional school, so if your scores are not amazing but your academic record is, then that’s a bonus. It’s extremely liberal. If you’re not, you won’t fit in here.
Pros:
- The Triad will mean you have an amazingly well rounded education
- It’s pretty affordable because of the work part
- Asheville, North Carolina is incredibly gorgeous
- Sustainability is a real way of life here
- Writing program is amazing at this school
Cons
- It’s small (also a pro) which can be difficult for some
- Definitely a school with a mission
- You’ll work really hard here because of the Triad
- No Greek life here
- Sports are NSCAA not NCAA