Roanoke College

Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia, is a small, competitive and rigorous college that offers a non-traditional curriculum in a traditional campus setting. While students must fulfill certain conceptual requirements, they may do so by taking any course they want. For example, a student who doesn’t like math but must fulfill a math requirement may do so by taking a course that involves mathematical concepts, but is of interest to them. This is a cornerstone of a Roanoke education: students only study what they want to study. Majors, concentrations and minors at Roanoke include a broad range of disciplines, covering the arts, sciences and humanities. Some available majors and minors are: * American Politics * Art * Classics and the Ancient Mediterranean World * Creative Writing * Dramaturgy * Global Studies * Finance * Health Care Administration With classes run like graduate seminars, involving extensive discussions and outside projects, students learn in a much deeper and more comprehensive way. On-campus activities include everything from academic lectures to late-night entertainment. There are also more than 100 student organizations. Since it is a competitive school, Roanoke has high standards for admissions. The average admitted student usually has a grade point average that’s between 3.0 and 3.7, an ACT score of between 22 and 28 and a critical reading and math SAT score of at least 1070 to 1200. Most students receive some form of financial aid. Grants, work-study and loans, which are awarded based on financial need, may be applied for by filling out a FAFSA. The school also offers scholarships and participates in outside scholarship programs. Scholarships are awarded based on everything from musical talent to academic merit to one’s geographical location.

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