The admissions folks from
Sierra Nevada College have visited us a few times and this week I was able to visit the campus. Located two blocks from Lake Tahoe in Incline Village, Nevada, tiny Sierra Nevada (500 students) is a perfect spot for a serious student who wants to maximize time with professors, get individual attention and take full advantage of the outdoor splendor of Lake Tahoe. Drawing professors from UC and Ivy League campuses who want to focus on teaching undergraduates, Sierra Nevada delivers on the promise of interaction with professors. The most popular academic program is the major in Interdisciplinary Studies, where students integrate their coursework across the disciplines to create a more independent academic plan. Creative writing, business (ski resort management is a major), environmental science and teacher preparation are also particularly notable programs.
Despite the fact that juniors and seniors mostly live off campus, everyone seems to know each other - walking around campus, students were greeting my admissions staff (non-student) tour guide as a friend. The President teaches an economics class. Since this is Lake Tahoe, students tend to take their outdoor activities seriously, supported by an active Outdoor Adventure program and championship Ski and Snowboard Teams with plans to field official rock climbing and mountain biking teams. There are even equipment lockers in the dorms for those bulky skis and boards.
