Evergreen is located on the Olympic peninsula in a rain forest reserve! It snowed while we were touring there - the first time it had done so in over 10 years. Evergreen is known for its unique curriculum which allows students to create their own major. One class, called a program of study, is taken at a time and is taught by multiple teachers from different disciplines, each looking at the subject from their respective specialties. Study abroad is offered but the impression was not as many students took advantage of it as at some of the private colleges. The buildings were unattractive cement and in the winter weather, did not look the best. A free bus runs every 15 minutes into Olympia, which is just 10 minutes away. Housing on campus was pretty run down and we wondered if many students lived off campus. The average student age was old at 26. Tuition for out of state students was cheap as compared to other schools, just under $30,000. Very hands on teaching supposedly, but in our tour, we never saw much of this, actually, there were very few classes we were shown with students in them. No grades are given but instead, lengthy narrative evaluations are written. They told us that graduate schools get the grades but also like to have the narratives. Evergreen is well known for their media and film departments and the campus radio station, located in the large student union building. Two athletic coaches were in the info session to meet perspective students.
Contributed by the Sandell family. Thank you!
