Catawba College offers students an outstanding undergraduate education, according to The Princeton Review. The New York-based education services company features the college in the new 2007 edition of its annual book, "The Best 361 Colleges" (Random House / Princeton Review, August 22, 2006, $21.95).
Only about 15% of the four-year colleges in America and two Canadian colleges are in the book. It has two-page profiles of the schools and student survey-based ranking lists of top 20 colleges in more than 60 categories. The Princeton Review also posts the book's annual ranking lists on its website (www.princetonreview.com) where it has FAQs about the book, rankings and survey.
Says Robert Franek, Princeton Review's V.P., Publishing, "We chose schools for this book primarily for their outstanding academics. We evaluated them based on institutional data we collect about the schools, feedback from students attending them, and our visits to schools over the years. We also consider the opinions of independent college counselors, students and parents we hear from and survey year-long. Finally, we work to have a wide representation of colleges in the book by region, size, selectivity and character."
In its profile on Catawba College, The Princeton Review describes the school as having "carved a worthwhile niche for itself amid the myriad choices available in the area." The profile also quotes extensively from Catawba College students The Princeton Review surveyed for the book. Among their candid comments on the college: "The administration and professors at Catawba are awesome. They are there for you for any problem you have, whether it's school-related or personal;" or as offering "a strong, well-rounded education"
The ranking lists in the 2007 edition of "The Best 361 Colleges" are based on The Princeton Review's survey of 115,000 students (about 300 per campus on average) attending the 361 colleges in the book. A college's appearance on these lists is attributable to a high consensus among its surveyed students about the subject. The 80-question survey asked students to rate their schools on several topics and report on their campus experiences at them. Ranking lists report the top 20 schools in categories that range from best professors, administration and campus food to lists based on student body political leanings, interest in sports and other aspects of campus life. The Princeton Review does not rank the colleges in the book 1 to 361 in any single category.
Catawba College is on the following ranking lists in the 2007 edition of the book: Best College Theater. The college's theatre arts program ranks number 7 in the country.
In a "Survey Says. . ." sidebar in the book's profile on Catawba College, The Princeton Review lists topics that Catawba students it surveyed for the book were in most agreement about. The list includes: "small classes," "students are friendly," and "theater is popular."
"The Best 361 Colleges" is one of more than 200 Princeton Review books published by Random House. The line also includes "The Best Northeastern Colleges: 222 Select Schools to Consider" and "The Complete Book of Colleges," both of which are also now out in 2007 editions. The Princeton Review, known for its education, admission and test-prep services, is not affiliated with Princeton University or ETS.
Established in 1851, Catawba College is the sixth oldest college in North Carolina. A private, coeducational college affiliated with the United Church of Christ, Catawba has deliberately chosen to remain a four-year institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition. Its purpose is to enrich the educational experiences of students and to prepare these students for productive and meaningful lives of purpose following their graduation.
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;• Tonia Black-Gold, Catawba College communications officer, 704-637-4393
• Media Contact for Princeton Review Books: Jeanne Krier, 212-539-1350 ;
