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4000 Mayflower Hill Drive
Waterville, ME 04901-8840
p. 207-859-4000
w. www.colby.edu

Colby College

Waterville, ME

Colby College Rating: 4.6/5 (5 votes)

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Information Summary

Ranks 2nd in Maine and 46th overall
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Colby College Introduction

Colby College sits up on Mayflower Hill like an illustration in a fairytale. Like Baba Yaga’s house on chicken feet, or the gingerbread cottage, something about the campus just screams out to be drawn in pen and ink and printed in a nice leather-bound volume. It is, in good ways and bad, the “Ivory Tower on the Hill.”

The feel of the physical campus is an oft-cited reason current students give for deciding to apply to Colby. One presumes it is also a reason why some high school students choose not to apply. Those who love it say it looks exactly like what a college is supposed to look like. Those who don’t take issue with the cookie-cutter nature of the architecture. The college moved in the 1940s, and, as a result, many of the buildings were built at the same time.

[Colby’s] remote location and small size actually proved to be a tremendous benefit. The professors are caring and inspirational, the location is serene, and the student body is close (maybe since they must huddle together for warmth). A small school created the community I always wanted . . . and allowed me a safe place to become myself.” —Maya Klauber, ’08, English

Waterville, Maine, is unfortunately best described as a failing former mill town. There are hints that a renaissance is just around the corner, but even with that, it will be a while until the town is truly dynamic. Again, some students like the town, its history, and possibilities; others just don’t go there. Geographically, Waterville occupies an enviable position of being both remote and central. Within an hour and a half’s drive are the Maine coast, Sugarloaf (favorite ski mountain of the Colby community), Freeport (where L.L. Bean has its flagship store), and Portland, a small dynamic city of restaurants, art, and live music. Drive another two hours and you’re in Boston. Montreal is also within easy driving distance, and closer than that are the Maine North Woods, western Maine mountains, and more lakes and rivers than there’s time to paddle. On the other hand, it’s possible to go for months without leaving campus. There are events every weekend night, lectures most weeknights, and an astonishing amount of live music.

By the numbers, Colby is very much like its brothers and sisters in the NESCAC league. Classes are small, professors are friendly and interested in being good teachers, and students are intelligent. It’s easy to put Colby students in boxes, and in some ways the school is very cliquey. But, because the school is small, a given student will fall into any number of boxes, which breaks down any attempt to categorize. You end up with biologyloving basketball players, Chinese/physics double majors, and poet lumberjacks (called woodsmen at Colby).

I came to Maine a city person, someone who felt most at home on the subway into Boston or shopping in Manhattan. I thought I’d have a hard time adapting to Waterville, which isn’t what you’d call ‘cosmopolitan.’ I soon learned, though, that there were a lot of other reasons to love central Maine. During my freshman year, I learned to snowshoe, cross-country ski, and downhill ski, and took my first winter hike. Now it’s difficult for me to imagine living in a place with smoggy air and busy streets. ” —Nina Gold, ’09, Psychology

There are definite pros and cons to having a small number of students, almost all of whom live on campus. Secrets stay secret for approximately forty-five seconds, and you have to work pretty hard if you want to avoid an ex. On the other hand, seeing your friends takes very little effort. It is impossible to walk across campus without seeing someone you know well, and while eating alone is always an option, it is almost never the only one.

While Colby concerns itself with fostering diversity of students and opinions, it is hampered by its location, and its size. Forty-eight percent of the student population is from the Northeast, and a sizeable number of those students are from twenty minutes outside of Boston. That said, the other fifty-two percent are from all over. International students make up around ten percent of the population, and they form a real and inclusive community. In addition, Colby admissions works hard to attract students from all around the United States. It is possible at any school to go through four years and never step outside your comfort zone, but it is also possible to make friends from Bulgaria, Belarus, and Brunswick, Maine. Like any school, so much of the Colby experience is what you make of it. Colby may differ from other small liberal arts colleges very little on paper, but it is home to a tight, spirited, unique community. It is not a place to go if you want to spend your weekends clubbing, but if community, access to the mountains, and professors who invite you to their homes all sound important, Colby might just be the right choice.

Food at Colby

Colby is home to three very distinct dining halls and a cash snack bar. Each has its own style and clientele, something that both increases food choices on campus dramatically, and causes arguments around 5:30. • Foss: The Foss dining hall caters largely to vegetarians and international students. Lines are always long, and vegan soy-balls are often available. Food is a little spicier than other dining halls, and the people who eat there are often fiercely loyal. Fosstafarians will wait in incredibly long lines and often don’t make dinner dates, knowing exactly where all their friends will be. • Dana: Dana dining hall caters to people who like the option of pizza and hamburgers at every meal. Often overlooked, the food is usually quite delicious, and the salad bar extensive. Dana regulars include varsity teams, less devoted Fosstafarians, and a certain coterie of “normal folks.” • Roberts: Bob’s is Colby’s newest dining hall, and offers full meals on square plates. The food is good, always interesting, and beautifully presented. Bob’s has legendary breakfast omelets and is favored by students from all classes and cliques. • The Spa: Colby has a cash snack bar where students grab food if their eating schedule is out of whack, if they’re trying to work in the student center, or if they just want a snack. Students can use one meal credit a week at The Spa, for a breakfast, lunch, or dinner special. There is also a grab-and-go lunch option offering salads, sandwiches, and/or soups that students may take any day.

You Don’t Know Jack?

For those unfamiliar with the college, “Colby” has a number of associations. It’s a popular dog’s name, it is a delicious Wisconsin cheese, and for baseball fans, Colby Jack is a name recognizable for pitching and coaching excellence in the first few decades of the twentieth century. John “Jack” Coombs did graduate from Colby in 1906 (he was a chemistry major), but he had no connection to the production of Colby Jack cheese, a mixture of Colby and Monterey Jack.

The college was named for neither the ballplayer nor the cheese. During the Civil War the institution (then called Waterville College) faced a fiscal crisis (most young men were otherwise occupied) and only managed to stay open after a Maine native and Boston businessman, Gardner Colby, granted the college a $50,000 endowment in 1864. The school was renamed in his honor.

At first blush, Colby may appear to be just another small East Coast liberal arts college, but it is very much its own institution. Jan Plan is one of the things that sets it apart, and the first semester-abroad program for freshman is another. Colby is a cold place for much of the year, but the faculty, staff, and students who make up the community are as warm as the air is chilly. The number of students studying abroad creates disconnects within classes and among friends, but it also enriches the community as students bring their experiences back to campus. Some people drink a lot, though probably not more than any other school. The administration does its best to curtail underage drinking while keeping the campus social and friendly, and (losing battle or not) does a pretty good job. It is true that sports are big at Colby, but they rarely define one’s entire social life. It is possible to be friends with soccer players and pottery club members, and nobody is going to tell you what to do. The town may not be as cute as some, but it is steeped in the history of the Industrial Revolution and poised for a twenty-first-century renaissance. Colby students are smart, friendly, engaged, interested, and interesting. People hold doors open, lend their cars to friends, and volunteer in the community. Colby is a great place to major in creative writing and an equally great place to do undergraduate research in the sciences. Healthy science budgets and no graduate students mean that if organic chemistry is your thing, you’ll have plenty of time in the lab. If you have a very specialized interest, in an arcane subject, you might find Colby a little small, but for most students, that’s not really a problem. In the end, Colby is a good place to spend four years, and for a lot of people, it’s a great place.

Colby College Academics

Life at Colby is academic by definition. Days and meals revolve around class times, and homework is at least in the top five most popular activities. Colby classes are hard, rewarding, and seldom a waste of time. People don’t go to school because it’s the only thing to do in the winter; they go to school because that is why they live in Waterville, and because for the most part, class is fascinating.

Colby offers fifty-three majors (and thirty-three minors) with biology, economics, and government graduating the highest percentage of students any given year. Interestingly enough, bio and econ also have the highest collective GPA, while gov is replaced by chemistry in that list. Colby has all the majors you would expect a school of its size and caliber to offer, from creative writing to Latin American studies to the somewhat less common science, technology, and society. Colby lacks a film major and an English minor, but everything else is covered. Students who don’t like to be put in boxes have the option of making their own box, with the Independent Major program, and every year a handful of individuals take advantage of that offer, to create personal majors in geography, medieval and renaissance studies, environmental education, or something else.

Faculty

Departments and majors are important, but in many cases they take a backseat to the individual faculty who populate the departments. Colby boasts a world-class faculty, professors dedicated to teaching as much as to climbing in their fields, and it makes a difference. It is not uncommon to see professors in their offices well into the night, at the campus pub with seniors, and it is difficult to graduate without being invited to at least one professor’s house for dinner or class discussion. The faculty-student ratio is 1:10, so most classes are small and it is easy to get to know one’s teacher. The warmth and generosity of the faculty with their time and their knowledge is often a big factor for students to decide to go to Colby.

It’s normal, not the exception, to call most professors by their first names, and we’re constantly encouraged to get to know them. For me it’s easier to relate to the subject matter when I have a personal relationship with the teacher, and Colby makes it easy.” —Jake Obstfeld, ’09, Government

Core Requirements

Colby sits somewhere in the middle of the spectrum when it comes to graduation requirements: not as rigorous as St. John’s (in Maryland), and certainly not as “loosey goosey” as Brown. Most students complete all but a handful of the ten or so classes in the distribution requirement by simply choosing classes they like, or by completing their major. For the nontechnically inclined student, the quantitative and lab science requirement can be a drag, but friendly faculty try to soften the blow by offering “Chemistry for Citizens” and “Mathematics as a Liberal Art,” for example. Keeping students on track to complete their requirements is one of the most important functions of the academic advisor.

Study Abroad

Around two-thirds of Colby students study abroad in their junior year through the Office of Off-campus Studies. While programs have to be preapproved by the college, they range geographically from Mexico to Madagascar to Morocco. Study abroad has an amazing impact on the social lives of second-semester juniors and seniors. People talk about what they’ve seen, cook dinner for each other, and sometimes even buy better beers. But it also splits the junior class and, for students going abroad in different semesters, makes it hard to stay in touch with friends. Overall, the program is a very positive one, but, like anything, it comes at some costs.

Colby maintains its own study-abroad programs at universities in Dijon, France, and Salamanca, Spain. In addition to providing a Colby-out-of-Colby experience for juniors, the Dijon and Salamanca programs are also open to entering first-years. Every year approximately forty first-years forgo their first semester at Colby and instead study abroad. They come back for Colby’s January term having missed much of the drama of freshman fall, but also COOT2 (orientation), and everything else. On the other hand, they’ve missed much of the drama of freshman fall, and in most cases are close friends with their twenty or thirty fellows. Friends are easy to make at Colby, and generally the “Feb-frosh” don’t suffer for their decision. There is even a winter COOT2 to help them settle in. While certainly not for everyone, the freshman study-abroad program is well attended and well liked, and part of what sets Colby apart from the pack.

COOT…puts small groups of freshmen with two student leaders who take them backpacking or canoeing or base camping. In my case, we hiked all day, ate PB&Js, cooked dinner over a camp stove, and slept in tents. Nobody showered. Everybody smelled bad. It was awesome, mostly because after the first day, nobody was worried about embarrassing themselves. This is the strength of COOT: that a bunch of insecure freshmen can stop feeling scared and alone and start feeling like a group of friends. It’s also nice that they have extremely enthusiastic leaders to give them pointers on campus life and assure them that college is a wonderful experience.” —Nate Lifton, ’08, English

COOT2

Another thing that sets Colby apart is the Colby Outdoor Orientation Trip (COOT also stands for Colby On-campus Orientation Training, hence the 2). Though the program has seen some changes in the last few years, the core components remain. Student leaders take small groups of first-years out into the wilderness that is Maine’s true natural resource, go from somewhere to somewhere else, and create lasting bonds in the process. There are rigorous trips backpacking in the Mahoosuc Mountains, and there are somewhat slower trips, floating down the Saco River. Other COOT2 trips offered include trail work, community service, sailing, rock climbing, and theater. If nothing else COOT2 offers a chance to learn about the Colby culture from nice, honest, and generally awesome people, make good friends, and ease into college life.

Integrated Studies

The integrated studies program is a structured way of taking related classes, most often as a first-year student. In the Green Cluster, for example, students take environmental ethics, environmental literature, and biodiversity. Integrated studies clusters last one semester, and most students who take them thoroughly enjoy the connections they make. That said, they do not form a big part of the curriculum and exist largely on the periphery. Recent clusters have been: America in the Postwar World: 1945–1970; The World of Ancient Greece: Passions, Poets, Philosophers; and Death in the Renaissance.

January Semester

The January term usually known as Jan Plan is one of the things that makes Colby, well, Colby. Though it shortens winter break considerably, Jan Plan allows Colby students to do whatever they can think of, as long as they can find a valid academic reason for doing it. Professors offer intensive classes in everything from volcanology to photography. Some students take requirement-fulfilling classes, while others take classes not offered during the normal school year, such as furniture making or blacksmithing. Each year, a few lucky students travel abroad with Jan Plan Colby programs to teach music in India, learn about the Chinese economy hands on, or work on biology projects in Costa Rica. Otherwise busy students take advantage of guitar or voice lessons, and many opt to get off campus. Jan Plan is an optimal time for a short internship, or an independent project. In recent years, more than one student has made a ski movie, and two roommates who had decided not to study abroad took the month to ride the length of Vietnam on a Soviet motorbike. Recent internship locations include Comedy Central, the Maryland State House, and the headquarters of the New England Patriots. Jan Plan is what one makes it (though faculty approval is needed). Students must complete three approved Jan Plans to graduate.

Public Affairs and Civil Engagement

The Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs and Civil Engagement sponsors lectures, lunches, and student projects, but for a lot of students, civil engagement goes far beyond that. The Colby Volunteer Center boasts 160 volunteers and sends students to where they’re needed in the community. During 2007–08, 190 Colby students contributed more than 3,800 hours to community organizations through the Colby Volunteer Center, and 200 students participated in one-day service events. Three hundred students mentored children through Colby Cares About Kids (CCAK), and 483 students participated in 25 civic engagement courses. Altogether, Colby students contributed more than 29,000 hours of service to local communities.

Every CCAK relationship between a student and his mentor is both testing and richly rewarding. I quickly learned that I would need to earn the trust and candor of my new mentee, and at first with him, just maintaining a conversation was emotionally draining, since he was very reluctant to share anything personal. In time, though, I gained his trust, and the characteristic, awkwardly silent lunchtime that followed our standard recess game of HORSE (which he usually won) transitioned into a comfortable and often very engaging conversation over the daily matter of interest, which ranged from our families to the virtues of square pizza.” —Luke LaViolet, ’08, Physics

Most Popular Fields of Study

The top 5 fields of study completed at Colby College.
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Colby College Admissions

Like all of the institutions in this volume, admission to Colby is competitive. In 2008, the college had 4,835 applicants, 1,492 of whom were admitted. 488 matriculated, and, of those, 210 were Early Decision applicants. Colby’s admissions materials are actually rather specific about what makes a strong applicant: “In making admission decisions, we seek excellence—in academics, art, music, theater, research, work experience, publications, leadership, public service, and athletics. We value diversity throughout the college and seek candidates from all parts of the country and the world.” In other words, academics are important, but extracurriculars play a big part of the admissions decision. In terms of standardized testing, Colby requires either the American College Test (ACT) or the SAT or SAT Subject Tests in three different areas. While there is no minimum score, 680 (per section) has been the average mean SAT score for students accepted in the last few years. International Students are also asked to submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score.

Interviews

While not necessary, admissions interviews are strongly suggested, both as an opportunity to ask questions, and as an opportunity to meet someone affiliated with the college. Interviews are available on campus with admissions staff or off campus with alumni interviewers until January 15th.

Financial Aid

As of 2008, Colby’s comprehensive fee, which includes tuition, room and board, was $48,520, plus a variable $1,600 for books and materials. However, Colby is committed to working with admitted students on financial questions, and promises to meet full calculated financial need. In 2008 the school replaced loans within aid packages with grants. This can represent a large and welcome savings for middle-income students. Student loans are still available to supplement the college package. For the class of 2012, thirty-nine percent of students received grant aid.

International Admissions

Many of Colby’s international students come to Waterville from the United World College (UWC), a secondary school with campuses around the world. Colby was one of the five pilot colleges for the Davis United World College Scholars program, which, through the generosity of Shelby and Gale Davis, has brought more than 150 international students to Colby since the program’s inception in 2000. Calculated financial needs are met for admitted international students, whether they come from the UWC or other secondary schools. Enrolled international students who qualify for need-based Colby grants may also recieve assistance for summer living expenses and transportation to campus at the time of enrollment. Colby is not need-blind.

Student Financial Aid Details

How many students use Financial Aid, and how much do they use?
Colby College 1525th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best Maine scholarships and financial aid
Effective as of 2010-09-21
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Colby College Students

There are people at Colby who are so busy they have to schedule dinner dates weeks in advance, and there are people whose plans stay the same from day to day and usually involve watching TV, playing video games, and eating pizza. The choice is completely personal, but Colby does its best to make sure there’s something for everyone to do. The beginning of the year activities fair can be a little overwhelming, and first-years often end up signing up for more clubs than there are days in the week, but things quiet down over the semester and years, and most people seem to find a niche they like.

Students at Colby used to create mix CDs to be played during meals in the dining halls. One night during dinner, ‘Call on Me,’ a techno song that was popular on campus at the time, came on. Heads at every table began to bob in time to the song’s catchy baseline. Suddenly, one student stood up and began to dance. People at every table followed his lead—first busting moves at their seats, then on the dining hall stage. At Colby, students are comfortable enough to be themselves and enjoy the company of those around them.”—Nina Gold, ’09, Psychology

Colby does not lack for student clubs and organizations. Into Japanese drumming? The Taiko Club already has that handled. Want to give back to the community? Check out the Colby Volunteer Center. Like to play outside? Join the Outing Club. Can’t find a club to join? Start one. Want to run around? Play a sport.

Weekend activities are another place where there’s something for everyone. The Outing Club (a chem-free club by charter) runs trips most weekends, and the Student Programming Board (SPB) has an ample budget to make sure there’s something to do every single weekend night. From intimate concerts in the coffee house, to campus-wide dances in the student center, to The Regurgitator (an act that has come for the last three years, a man who, you guessed it, swallows stuff and then brings it back up); campus events has it all. Still, many people prefer to stick to the dorms, and there’s a sizable party scene. Unlike schools with fraternities or common houses, Colby’s parties are generally smaller and it’s rare to not know your host. For many Colby students, Friday and Saturday are a time to relax and cut loose (at the same time, if that’s possible) and Sunday is the day to spend in the library, trying to get ready for the next week.

Colby’s residential focus breeds a New England prep school social atmosphere that is great to be a part of but out of touch with reality. That said, Colby’s greatest asset that sets it apart and balances the sometimes infantilizing culture of residential life is its location. If students take the time and initiative to explore Waterville, the Belgrade Lakes, and the mountains and rivers of central and western Maine, their social and academic bubble will be balanced with a good dose of local culture. Getting a job in town or spending weekends in the Maine woods makes it easier to appreciate the wealth of opportunity the school provides without remaining cloistered on the Hill.” —Chris Zajchowski, ’07, International Literature and Music (independent)

Residences

Colby is a residential college, and a spot in a dormitory is guaranteed all four years. All residences are co-ed, and all except one complex (the Alfond Senior Apartments) are mixed among classes. Upperclassmen are allowed to live off campus, and each year approximately five percent of students choose to live in Waterville or neighboring Oakland. Each dorm develops its own culture, though some are perpetuated by preference and stereotype. Foss and Woodman dorms (where the vegetarian-friendly Foss dining hall is located) have reportedly had a crunchy vibe since at least 1974. Other personalities have changed. Roberts Row used to house Colby’s seven fraternities. With the Greek ban in 1984, all that changed, and now the buildings are small dorms with a focus on communities, which is a big part of why they have been chosen to host Colby’s experiment in Dialogue Housing.

Dialogue Housing

Since 2005 Colby has been experimenting with themed dorms, in the Dialogue Housing program. Because of the very new nature of the program, there have been a lot of changes year to year, but it looks as though it’s here to stay. So far, Colby has allowed for a “green” dorm, an art and music house, and a Spanish-speaking floor of a larger dorm. The idea is that by living together, students with similar priorities will be able to continue discussions outside of the classroom, and put on events to involve the larger campus community. Dialogue Housing is currently not open to first-year students.

Looking back on my two years in Colby’s Environmental Dialogue Housing, referred to as the ‘Green House,’ I remember a community of engaged students coming together to make lifestyle changes and provide positive change on campus. Were we perfect at this? No. There is a strong need for the college and students to agree on a long-term vision for the Green House. Whether it will represent what can be done now or what could be done in the future seems uncertain. Ultimately, the Green House offered me an invaluable experience and I believe it stands as a powerful symbol of change at Colby.” —Joel Alex, ’08, Environmental Studies and International Studies

Student Enrollment Demographics

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Student Graduation Demographics

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Athletics

Colby gets a rap for being a jock-y school, and rightly so. Around half of the student population competes in one form or another, with varsity teams competing in the NESCAC conference. Colby has thirty-two varsity teams, and all are Division III (with the exception of the Nordic and alpine ski teams, which compete in Division I). It also has thirteen club teams, from sailing to badminton to rugby. Of the club teams, the woodsmen’s team stands out as something that makes Colby a little bit different. Students (many of whom have never held an ax before) compete in old-time lumber sports such as chopping, sawing, and fire building, and welcome anyone to the field to try it out. The general sportiness of the school means a couple of things. Around one in eleven men are on the football team, the Alfond Athletic Center (usually just called the gym) is nearly always full, and four o’clock is not a good time to schedule a group meeting. But it also means that the gym is state of the art and that people can generally catch a ball if you throw it at them. To some extent, it doesn’t really matter. If you’re an athlete, chances are good you’ll find a community of athletes who will join you in your endeavors. If you shudder at the thought of organized sports, you won’t be alone, and you might be a good candidate for iPlay, Colby’s intramural sports league, where every year teams play flag football, field hockey, three-on-three basketball, dodgeball, broomball, and softball. iPlay games are laid back, and often played in bare feet. In other words, there’s something for everyone.

Alumni

Colby graduates go on to do pretty much everything. Many head to Boston or New York, living together, working together, and often drinking together. Some opt to stay in Maine, and others pursue dreams and ambitions across the globe. Around twenty percent immediately head to graduate programs, and eventually around seventy-five percent earn a graduate degree. Picking up a copy of the Colby Magazine, one will find stories about alumni who are now professors, CEOs, writers, and media personalities. Notable graduates include TV personality Billy Bush, and prominent banker Robert Diamond, currently CEO of Barclays Capital. A good number (around thirteen percent) of Colby graduates marry each other, and Lorimer Chapel, on campus, is available for Colby weddings.

But in addition to nuptials, the Colby network is there for graduates all around the world. From organized events to a hand-up in the job market, graduates are eager to meet students and other graduates, making the Colby Alumni Network feel a lot like family sometimes.

Prominent Grads

  • Doris Kearns Goodwin, Historian, Pulitzer Prize Winner
  • Elijah Parish Lovejoy, 1826, Abolitionist
  • Dan Harris, 1993, ABC News anchor and reporter
  • E. Annie Proulx, 1957, Pulitzer Prizewinning Author of The Shipping News and Brokeback Mountain
  • Eric S. Rosengren, 1979, Current President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
  • Stuart Rothenberg, 1970, Editor and Publisher of The Rothenberg Political Report, CNN Political Analyst, and Syndicated Columnist
  • Tom Silverman, 1975, Founder of Influential Hip-Hop Record Label Tommy Boy Records
  • Cecily von Ziegesar, 1992, Novelist, Creator of “Gossip Girl” series
  • Emmett Beliveau, Director of Advance for President Barack Obama

Faculty

“Colby gave me a superb education,” Michael Cobb, class of 1995, remembers, “mainly because of the exquisite, smart faculty, who cared enough to push my thinking in new, critical, and politically engaged ways.” Colby’s faculty is far and away the school’s strongest asset. Between the student/professor ratio of ten to one and the fact that professors spend a great deal of time on the snug campus (some even living there), close relationships between faculty and students are easily engendered. Office hours are flexible, home phone numbers are widely available, and faculty are guaranteed to be present at athletic contests and cultural happenings. “I used to stop by my advisor’s office all the time, often without an appointment, just to talk about something I’d read, and I can’t remember a time when he wasn’t in and completely willing to see me,” Erika Troseth, class of 1995, recalls. Moreover, once students get past the large introductory lecture courses common to the first two years of study, class sizes are small and intimate. “Before Colby, I wasn’t aware that I could perform at such a high academic level,” says Alyssa Severn, class of 2002. “I realize now that I did it out of respect for my professors as individuals, not only professors. I became so engaged, motivated, and interested in the content of their courses that I didn’t even pay much mind to the grades I received.” And the relationships don’t stop with graduation. Many alumni keep in touch with their professors, whether with occasional visits or letters.

Demographics – Main Campus and Surrounding Areas

Reported area around or near Waterville, ME 04901-8840
Surrounding communityRemote town (over 35 mi. away from an urban cluster)
Total Population26,368 (19,077 urban / 7,291 rural)
Households10,666 (2.25 people per house)
Median Household Income$31,787
Families6,456 (2.84 people per family)
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Tom Shattuck almost 5 years ago Tom Shattuck


Two of the photos of Colby College are not from the college. The photo with the three flags in front is the Augusta Civic center (not in the same town) and the multi-floor building in the snow is a local hospital (not affiliated with Colby). Also the street map and aerial map are wrong (they don't appear to be of Waterville, ME) I am a faculty memeber at Colby. Thanks

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