Guilford Again Among ‘Colleges That Change Lives’
Guilford has been included in the fourth edition of “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges.”
“Guilford is a haven for students interested in linking their education with their social concerns,” the guide’s chapter on Guilford begins. “Service and community rank high among students’ and professors’ values, inspired by the college’s Quaker roots.”
The first editions of the book were written by Loren Pope, who died in 2008. For the latest edition, Hilary Masell Oswald toured the schools, conducted in-depth interviews and built on the original to create a completely updated work.
Along with a commitment to service, the book cites community spirit and close relationships between students and faculty among the benefits of attending Guilford. The Center for Principled Problem Solving and the Bonner Center for Community and Service Learning are highlighted.
“There’s a sense here of knowing the student as human and individual,” English Professor Carolyn Beard Whitlow told the guide. “This is the institution I wish I had attended.”
The guide also praises Guilford’s 340-acre campus, calling it “a perfect backdrop for a place that embraces the Quaker values of simplicity, equality, peace, and integrity.” An anonymous student is quoted as saying, “I’ve never felt more at home anywhere. I like that the campus reflects who we are. We’re about substance, not anything flashy.”
Guilford has been in the guide since it was originally published in 1996. More than 150,000 copies of the book have been sold.
“If you want a piece of paper to get you a job, you can go somewhere less demanding and probably less expensive,” the Guilford chapter concludes. “But if you want a vocation, a shift in your soul, Guilford is a great choice.”
