McDaniel College

Maryland's McDaniel College is a small, private college that takes pride in making its standards for academic excellence achievable to all via an administration and staff that "go above and beyond to accommodate the needs of all the students." Everyone is guaranteed at least two experiential learning opportunities during their time at the college, and students are encouraged to assemble their own platter of courses (from the 650 offered annually) in order to design a fully customizable degree. Additionally, the faculty "will work alongside the students to plan out a custom major or minor that fits their education layout the best." This is exemplified by a January Term course called My Design, where first-year students identify their strengths, interests, and goals. Students also point to the availability of "great academic support," with a Student Outreach Network designed to help at-risk students by connecting them early with the various centers for writing or STEM. That support extends, students note, to students with accessibility needs, and degree offerings include "a powerful and well led ASL program." On a class-by-class basis, professors "know their subjects and they are willing to help with anything you might struggle with." To keep students interested, they ensure that the curriculum "[includes] a diverse array of different teaching methods, such as discussions, lectures, and in-class activities," or "having a backwards-taught class where you learn the material before class then do practice problems in the class." One student recounts, "I had a class with the Sheriff of Carroll County, who gave us new learning approaches with hands-on experience at the Carroll County detention center doing a walk-through as an example." It seems clear to students that McDaniel College will do whatever it takes to help its students.

McDaniel "is a small, tight-knit community, where peers become close both in and out of the classroom" and most everyone seems "to have a clear goal of what they want to do here and how." Agrees one student, "They are very supportive and understanding." Students are also bonded by the fact that around 80 percent of students live on campus, and "are involved not just with the college community but with the broader community." This is all the more impressive given that there are "a multitude of students with their own identities," with one student pointing to "the cinema program and interesting clubs like a witchcraft club, photography, our own chapter of the American Marketing Association, and a lot more." Students are simultaneously "very diverse in personality and very inclusive," and one proudly says that "We are not all interested in the same subjects but [we] support each other in our individual pursuits."

Students find McDaniel College's campus to be so beautiful that they'll find any reason to be outside, whether it's setting up hammocks, socializing, studying, or simply "walking around campus, [which] is very enjoyable because of how nice it is." Many "that go to McDaniel are athletes, and...if you aren't on a sports team you are most likely in some type of club that takes up your time"; there is also "the option where if you don't see a club you can always start it." The school offers a full lineup of programming through its various offices and organizations, "including weekend blitzes once per month where people go out to a sports game or a theme park or an endless amount of places," and after classes are done, "many people participate in small events on campus," which are sponsored by the CEO (Center for Experience & Opportunity), Office of Student Engagement, and student-led clubs.

Students at McDaniel College appreciate that their school’s small size means “everyone gets a chance to be noticed and…explore multiple career opportunities and interests.” Undergraduates enter the workforce having encountered hands-on learning experiences from “dedicated professors” and “countless opportunities to excel within my desired field and career.” The Center for Experience and Opportunity (CEO) offers competitive scholarships and grants to fund innovative business plans, non-profit endeavors, and research proposals that students can parlay into fulfilling careers. The Program in Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers event challenges and mentorships that foster connections with alumni and employers. Students are able to turn relationships into employment opportunities when they follow up on job fair and recruiter introductions by using the Handshake platform and the LinkedIn alumni community. Students point to the long-term benefits provided by “all the events that the school does,” which enable truly meaningful social interactions and “community support from local businesses with guest speakers.” Graduates of McDaniel fare happily in the job market, with a median starting salary of $59,300 according to those surveyed at PayScale.com, and 58 percent reporting feeling their work is making a meaningful impact.