College of the Atlantic > Admissions

Students don't all come here for the same reasons, of course. But there are certain basic themes that we hear over and over. Among them: 1) Students are drawn to the non-departmentalized, but intellectually rigorous course of study that we offer; 2) They like the idea of interacting with other students who share their interests and passions; and 3) They share COA's mission of making a difference in the world. A sampling of thoughts from students who subsequently enrolled at COA:

"I never guessed that I would want to spend my four years of college in a tiny school on an island off the coast of Maine. But when a representative from COA came to United World College, I knew right away that it was the college for me. I love that COA is a sustainable community with recycling, composting, and minimum waste. I hear the food is healthy and delicious and there's even a campus garden. I read the course book and am excited to see classes I wouldn't find anywhere else, such as Bread, Love, and Dreams. I love that students aren't restricted to a specific field of study and that I won't have to take a certain set of math classes. Life isn't about academics, it's about learning, and we should be learning as much outside the classroom as in it, whether in the field, interning, or from our peers. Design my own curriculum, be self-motivated, major in human ecology? Sounds great!"

"The first line in the College of the Atlantic booklet I received in the mail is 'Look at the world around you. If what you see makes you worried, or sad, or frustrated, keep reading'. I did, and I am coming to College of the Atlantic because that is me. All of the subtle things going on in the world today, mass brainwashing that nobody picks up on, political corruption, complete abuse and degradation of our planet, these are things that keep me up at night and make me wonder what I should do with my life. I am looking for a college that is looking for students like me. I am looking for a college that wants to teach me how to use what I know to change what I see."

"I had been considering college for at least two years. Those glossy pamphlets and ivy-strewn campuses and smiling students all seemed to blend together. Early last fall my uncle suggested that I consider COA. My first thought was that I had never heard of it. When I saw the website and visited the campus for a tour and interview, I wondered why I had not heard of COA before. Here was a small college that still offered everything I was looking for. From wildlife law, animal behavior, ecology, zoology and herpetology to five different courses on environmentalism, the depth and breadth of the course offerings were amazing. Imagine a degree program that could include both contemplative photography and geology! Well, I could, and at COA I understood that I could fashion just such a program if I wanted to."

"If you give me three weeks of vacation, I'll teach myself to play the guitar. If you give me all your scraps of fabric, I'll sew a flamenco dress (never mind the fact that I don't really know how to sew). And if you give me a supportive, encouraging, empowering, and challenging education, I will swm the English Channel, save the coral reefs, learn to speak Zulu, help improve the living conditions of the world's marginalized societies, and play the accordion in a tango band in Argentina.

Sometimes I have so many dreams and ideas that I don't know where to begin. Maybe College of the Atlantic can't tell me which path to take, but that's not its function, nor is it what I want. What it can do, however, is give me the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed on any path I choose."