Converse College Viewbook

MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

“. . .see clearly, decide wisely, act justly.”

Dexter Edgar Converse, founder of Converse College

“Converse is an ever-evolving community of thinkers and doers who are changing the world.”

Betsy Fleming, Converse College President

GREAT THINGS Converse College offers you extraordinary opportunities to make great things happen.

HAPPEN You’ll grow as a leader and as an innovative thinker. You’ll acquire the knowledge and experience that prepares you for a successful career. You’ll develop the confidence and commitment that drives all Converse graduates to be positive forces of change in the world.

Great things happen every day at Converse.

“I looked at many other colleges, including two other women’s schools. But when I visited the Converse campus, it just fit. I was looking for the kind of one-on-one attention Converse offered.”

Elizabeth Rodelsperger Elizabeth is a double major in elementary education and psychology who also integrated physician’s assistant prerequisite courses into her academic program. She served as vice-president of Crescent, the sophomore service organization, and Mortar Board honor society and was an elected student representative on the Judicial Board.

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SEIZE THE

ADVANTAGE

It’s a fact. As a women’s college, Converse can provide you advantages that can’t be matched by other institutions — a better overall educational experience, better opportunities and better outcomes.

Weigh the

evidence In 2008, Hardwick-Day, a national consulting firm serving private colleges and universities, released the results of a major comparative research survey of alumnae who graduated over a 30 year span. Survey participants included graduates of both single-sex and co-ed public and private colleges and universities.

Their findings Women’s colleges’ alumnae are more likely than all others to say they benefited very much from: • good academic facilities and equipment • a high quality, teaching oriented faculty • an emphasis on personal values and ethics

• write and speak effectively • develop the ability to learn

new skills • develop self-confidence and initiative • relate to people of different backgrounds • think analytically • work as part of a team • be politically and socially aware • place problems in social and historical perspective

Women’s colleges receive higher effectiveness ratings than all other colleges and universities for There’s even more helping students learn to: • solve problems and make • Women’s colleges’ alumnae effective decisions were more likely than any

other group to complete a graduate degree.

• Women’s colleges’ alumnae

are more likely than all other graduates to believe it is extremely important to have the authority to make decisions.

• Women’s colleges receive higher effectiveness ratings than other liberal arts colleges and the public universities for helping students develop a sense of purpose in life.

converse.edu/theconverseadvantage

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MAKE MAJOR

PROGRESS

There are no cookie-cutter academic programs at Converse. Here, you create your own unique academic pathway to success, with the guidance and encouragement of professors who care deeply about your progress.

Our student to faculty ratio of 10:1 – one of the best in the country – guarantees you’ll have the individual attention you need to achieve your goals.

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Major

POSSIBILITIES Whether you are still exploring your options or already set on a career path, you’ll make the most of the possibilities offered by more than 35 majors, 21 minors and 11 pre-professional programs. You can double major or even design your own individualized major if you choose — and still graduate in four years.

“Academic success stories happen every day at Converse.”

Jessica Looney, Anderson, South Carolina, history major Converse

ORIGINALS • South Carolina’s only undergraduate

programs in art therapy, deaf education, and gifted education, as well as the state’s only BFA in creative and professional writing • A full range of music majors offered by

the Petrie School of Music, the nation’s only comprehensive professional school of music within a women’s liberal arts college • A dual-degree program in engineering

offered in collaboration with Clemson University • The highly competitive Nisbet Honors

Program, distinguished by its strong emphasis on interdisciplinary learning • The Petrie Scholars Program that

builds on Converse’s dual strengths in math, the sciences and teacher education

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MAKE CREATIVE

HAPPEN

Creativity is not just for artists anymore!

Our 21st century world demands creative and innovative thinking — in every field.

Converse students in all majors benefit from a cross-disciplinary approach to learning that is engaging, develops a broadened perspective and expands the ability to think critically and creatively about any subject.

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Unconventional

inspiring

The Mathematics of Gambling, The Politics of Harry Potter, Money and Movies, The Literature and Biology of Sex and Love — these are just a few of the unique Converse courses that shake up your synapses and start you thinking in new ways.

Converse theatre professor Brent Glenn was honored by South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities with its 2009 Excellence in Teaching Award for his creative, interdisciplinary and unorthodox approach to instruction.

COURSES

role models

CONVERSE

ORIGINAL Creative Collaboration Grants

TEAM

WORK Biology professor Dr. Neval Erturk teamed with psychology professor Dr. Richard Keen to lead students in an investigation of the effects of caffeine on time perception, a project that earned the best student presentation award at the Georgia Undergraduate Research Symposium. Converse President Betsy Fleming said, “Dr. Erturk and Dr. Keen combine research and teaching in a way that fosters creativity in science — the signature of a Converse education.”

Converse encourages the development of adventurous and imaginative ideas by providing funding for projects that develop a new way of seeing the world and explore unexpected collaborations. Some recent examples: • A 3-D World — Chemistry and computer

science faculty and students developed a computer graphics tool to make all aspects of molecular reactions visible.

• Finding Voice — Students and faculty in

music therapy and theatre teamed with Spartanburg’s SAFE Homes-Rape Crisis Coalition to create a production that told true stories of survivors of domestic violence through song, dance, poetry and storytelling.

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MAKE hands-on HAPPEN

More than half of Converse students complete independent research or creative projects — unique accomplishments that make employers and graduate schools sit up and take notice.

“The results are out there for you to discover, not in the back of the book.”

Lizzy Powell, one of eight students in a cell biology class who collaborated with their professor to survey and monitor water toxicity and silt extracts at three South Carolina lakes

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Discover and

create

Converse students in every discipline have the resources they need for creative projects and independent research — from our state-of-the-art, $10.5 million science hall to our impressive fine arts building, with complete facilities for sculpture, ceramics, drawing and painting, printmaking, graphic design and photography.

“I’ve been involved in research with Dr. McCoy since my sophomore year. She is amazing to work with — so helpful, so positive.”

Coles Hoffman A course on child abuse that involved volunteer work at a local children’s shelter sparked Coles Hoffman’s interest. She collaborated with her professor on research to determine how to better prepare teachers to recognize signs of abuse and neglect in their students. A psychology major from Charlotte, North Carolina, Coles is a Nisbet Honors student who was accepted as a doctoral candidate by the University of Arizona’s PhD program in clinical psychology.

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Word

warriors Converse women are never at a loss for words — experience that develops superior communication skills is built into our curriculum.

Case in point: Our powerhouse teams of Model Arab League, Model NATO and Model UN debaters regularly garner top awards in regional and national competitions.

Converse

ORIGINAL

LEADERS IN undergraduate

research

The Nisbet Honors Program Summer Research Grants provide support for student research projects that range from the influence of gender on the life experience of Tanzanian children orphaned by AIDS to the genotoxic effects on frogs of the pesticide Sevin. converse.edu/nisbethonors

Converse leads the state in the number of student/faculty research proposals funded by the 20-member South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) consortium.

SCICU’s president commented: “Since the inception of the SCICU Undergraduate/Faculty Research Grant Program, Converse College has consistently submitted outstanding proposals resulting in significant findings and presentations at SCICU’s annual Research Symposium.”

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Go

GLOBAL Vampires in Eastern Europe, Japanese business culture, art collections in Greece and Rome, Georgia O’Keefe’s New Mexico Ghost Ranch — those are just a few of the study/travel experiences we’ve offered recently. Converse connects you with global learning opportunities on every continent except Antarctica. Even better, we offer scholarships that support your off-campus studies.

Read about a recent trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands at converse.edu/Galapagos

The internship

EDGE

Test drive your career interests through an internship, either right here in Spartanburg or just about anywhere in the world. Some examples of Converse internship sites include: • Sotheby’s (New York City) • CNN (Atlanta) • Williamstown Theatre Festival (MA) • Gibbs Cancer Center (Spartanburg) • The Second City (Chicago) • Extended Stay America (Spartanburg) • Global Institute of Leadership

and Civic Development • Syrian Enterprise and Business Center (Damascus, Syria) • Greenville County Forensic Division Crime Lab • Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System • Milliken and Company (Spartanburg) • Kennedy Space Center • Hewlett-Packard • Colonial Williamsburg Foundation • Tennessee Valley Authority • The National Council on US-Arab Relations • J. Jilic Design (Charleston,SC) • National Endowment for the Humanities • SC Department of Natural Resources • Smithsonian Office of International Relations • The White House • ESPN 11

“Converse is not what I expected. It’s better. My apprenticeship with the Spartanburg Philharmonic has been a standout experience for me as a music student — it’s great to see how a professional orchestra really works.”

Samantha Price Samantha is a music performance major from Lexington, Kentucky who has developed her talents as a violist under the guidance of Miles Hoffman, associate professor of viola in the Petrie School of Music.

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ARTISTIC

VISION Our 30,000 square foot Milliken Fine Arts Building makes a big and beautiful statement about how highly we value our student painters, sculptors, interior designers, photographers and other artists. You’ll see original art everywhere you go on our campus, from student work on exhibit in the Milliken Gallery to the work of professional artists in the hallways of our science center to the larger-than-life size sculptures of famous women that adorn our campus grounds.

CELEBRATE

the

ARTS

The Converse School of the Arts is a magnet for musicians, artists, actors, writers and dancers. This dynamic hub advances the dreams of talented young artists and forges a collaborative synergy among the Petrie School of Music, the Department of Art & Design and the Department of Theatre & Dance.

music, music,

MUSIC

No other women’s liberal arts college in the country has its own comprehensive professional school of music. Converse is also the first women’s college in the world to be named an All-Steinway School. The Petrie School of Music is distinguished by:

Make a

SCENE THE POWER OF

LANGUAGE With a Distinguished Writer-in-Residence program, a visiting writers series (past guests include Joyce Carol Oates and Ann Patchett) and undergraduate and graduate programs in creative writing, Converse provides plenty of inspiration for aspiring authors. Concept, the studentedited literary magazine, annually features Converse student poetry, fiction, nonfiction and art.

Theatre/Converse stages nine plays annually in Abbott Theatre or Laird Studio Theatre. Recently, The Anointing of Dracula, a goth-tinged original production written by Converse theatre professor Brent Glenn, drew record audiences — all the more impressive since 10% of the student body was involved in the production as cast and crew. Every mainstage production is entered in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, involving 19,000 students from across the nation.

• A 7:1 student to faculty ratio • Majors in composition, music education,

music history, music therapy, performance (voice, piano, wind instruments and strings) and theory • An emphasis on performance reflected by more than 150 recitals, operas, concerts, and other performances staged annually • Two marvelous performance halls: the 340-seat Daniel Recital Hall has been cited in Chamber Music America as an exemplary performance facility and Twichell Auditorium, a beautiful 1,500seat venue nationally known for its outstanding acoustics.

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MAKE leadership

Converse puts the accent on leadership, through the many programs coordinated by our Daniels Center for Leadership & Service. Given our 60+ student clubs and organizations and 80+ elected SGA positions, you’ll find it easy to discover leadership roles that fit your interests as early as your freshman year.

HAPPEN

explore your

potential Our Emerging Leaders program gives selected freshmen the chance to jump start their leadership careers through seminars that introduce leadership concepts and theories, social action models and building connections to the campus and Spartanburg communities.

Lead and

serve

If you are chosen to serve as a Bonner Leader, you will have an enormous impact on the community by completing a total of 750 hours of community service at Spartanburg agencies such as the Adult Learning Center or the Children’s Shelter. Goal-setting and teamwork are a big part of this program, which also includes a scholarship award and other benefits.

Converse

ORIGINAL The Daniels Leadership Program (DLP) is a four-year program that prepares selected students for ethical and effective leadership roles in college and beyond. A holistic, comprehensive and uniquely structured leadership-learning experience, DLP is distinguished by a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and teamwork.

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Grow as a

LEADER

Open to all students, the Leadership Speaker and Seminar Series covers a range of topics related to personal, organizational and advanced leadership skills.

“My leadership experience at Converse has taught me life lessons about teamwork and motivating others. I’ve learned how to delegate and how to lead from behind to let others shine.”

Anna Lockamy Elected president of her class four years in a row, Anna Lockamy, a dual major in Spanish and biology, has been responsible for 1889 Week activities, the sophomore ring ceremony, the Big Sis/Lil Sis program, and has been actively involved in many Converse service projects.

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SEE FOR

YO U R S E L F

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One visit to our beautiful campus in Spartanburg, South Carolina will convince you that Converse is right for you.

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MAKE change

HAPPEN

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At Converse, students learn how to change the world, starting right here in our own community. You’ll join others who make a huge difference to the Spartanburg community by sharing their time and talents through thousands of hours spent in service work at dozens of local agencies.

seize the

collaborate with

Converse women don’t wait for others to tell them what to do. Through our Project Serve organization, students take the initiative to research, plan, and execute one-time or ongoing service projects that involve the whole campus community.

Now in its sixth year, CSI Spartanburg (College Town Service Initiative), brings Converse students together with hundreds of others from the area’s six colleges to work in teams on community service projects.

day

others

Make an

impact – fast Every year, more than 100 Converse students throw themselves into our annual IMPACT Day of Service, an ‘into the streets’ program that sends students into the community for a day packed with service work.

More, more,

Start right

Service is so embedded into Converse life, the possibilities are almost endless: MLK Day Project, Relay for Life, Crescent (our sophomore service organization), Spring Break Mission Trips, the Annual Involvement Fair — you get the idea!

Summer Serve is a summer orientation program that gives you the chance to join other new students in service work on projects that benefit organizations such as Spartanburg’s Habitat for Humanity.

more

away

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LOVE your

LIFE know your

neighborhood

One of Converse’s greatest strengths is its open-hearted, close-knit campus community.

You’ll bond with and learn from others on so many levels — through living together, through participation in our unique campus traditions, and through involvement with organizations, events and activities.

Living with your friends and classmates is one of the best aspects of your Converse experience. Our students love our six residence halls, the micro-neighborhoods of our campus.

And the best is about to get better — new apartment-style housing for seniors opens in winter 2011!

Each residence hall has its own unique features and advantages. But they all have in-room Internet and cable TV connections, as well as shared laundry facilities, study rooms, kitchens and lounges.

Williams, a freshman hall, is noted for its great lobby, huge windows and tile floors.

Dexter has the largest rooms and is the most popular upperclass housing choice.

Andrews offers traditional double rooms with the added bonus of housing the Wellness Center.

Belk has suite-style housing, complete with walk-in closets.

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Cudd is full of historical charm and architectural details and is the traditional setting for the Senior Class Photo.

Pell is our most historic residence and is distinguished by its high ceilings and hardwood floors.

“I tell new students, ‘Open up, reach out, talk to everyone. You’ll be amazed how much you can learn just by talking to other people.’ ”

Shekeyse Jones As a sophomore, interior design major Shekeyse Jones served as a Community Advisor for freshman students. She has also served as vice president of the African-American Students Association, as the sophomore class representative on the Student Activities Committee and president of the junior class.

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“Participation in the Model Arab League has opened so many doors for me and broadened my international perspective. You have to set aside all your preconceptions when you are representing an organization like Al Jazeera.�

Katelyn Ridenour Katelyn thrives on challenge and completed a demanding double performance major in clarinet and piano, while still participating in the award-winning Converse Model Arab League. She is attending Baylor Law School.

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clubs and

organizations Active Student Association Ally American Society of Interior Design (ASID) American String Teachers Association (student chapter) Art Club Association of African American Students Baptist Collegiate Ministry Campus Crusade Canterbury Club CIVITAS Council CMENC Colleges Against Cancer College Democrats College Republicans Concept (literary magazine) The Conversationalist (campus newspaper) Crescent (sophomore service organization) Dance Ensemble Day Student Association Garden Variety Granddaughter’s Club Hispanic Awareness Association Honor Board Honor Organizations Alpha Lambda Delta Alpha Psi Omega (theatre art) Beta Beta Beta (biology) Delta Omicron (music) The Gamma Sigma Society (arts and sciences) Kappa Delta Epsilon (national honor society) Mortar Board (national honor society) Phi Sigma Iota (foreign languages) Pi Gamma Mu (social sciences) Pi Kappa Lambda (music) Theta Alpha Kappa (religious studies/theology) International Students Organization Model Programs (Arab League, NATO, UN) Musicians Helping Others Newman Club Palmetto Players Presbyterian Student Association Project Serve Residential Life Staff Rotaract Science Forum Sign Seekers + CEC South Carolina Student Legislature STAND Student Activities Committee Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Student Christian Association Student Government Association Tarpon Sharks Synchronized Swimming Club Voices of Virtue Women Involved for a Safer Environment Y’s and Other Y’s (yearbook)

Steeped in

TRADITION Few schools have as many traditions as Converse. They all forge closer friendships among students and celebrate the joy and pride everyone feels in being part of our community.

Big Sis/Lil Sis. As a new student, you’ll be showered with attention for a week from an anonymous Big Sister in the junior class before her identity is revealed. The sisterhood continues all year and the friendships can last forever.

Pink Panthers/Red Devils. You won’t find this anywhere else in the world. Each entering class is either Pink Panthers (even years) or Red Devils (odd years). This instant link between freshmen and juniors and between sophomores and seniors will also connect you to generations of Converse alumnae.

1889 Spirit Week. The entire campus goes wild (and turns pink and red) during this week, when classes engage in friendly rivalry to outdo each other in blood drives, raising money for charity, and powderpuff football games, as well as showing off their talents in songs, skits and dances.

Sophomore Ring Ceremony. During the spring of your sophomore year, you’ll be presented with your class ring by the president of the College. Student leaders and alumnae join sophomores and their families at this pivotal event.

Festival of Lessons and Carols. A perennial favorite. Everyone gathers in Twichell Auditorium for this student-led holiday event featuring music, stories and worship.

Honor Code Signing. Since 1916, the studentcreated Converse Honor Code has ensured the community integrity of our College. Every member of each entering class signs it on the last day of orientation and the document is then framed and proudly displayed in Wilson Hall.

Spirit Rock. A gift from the Class of 2007, this versatile boulder is an ever-changing billboard, painted and re-painted all year long to reflect the many different loyalties, enthusiasms and moods of our students.

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GOOD TIMES

HAPPEN

If you’re looking for a good time (and a well-deserved break from your studies), you don’t have to look far. The Converse campus is jumping with fun all year round.

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Concert

CENTRAL Thousands of area college students flock to the Converse campus every year for big concerts featuring headliners like Colbie Caillat, Jason Mraz, Corey Smith, Matt Nathanson and the Zac Brown Band.

(Our students are in charge of every detail for these major events.)

LOCATION, LOCATION,

LOCATION

Take advantage of Converse’s close proximity to the North Carolina mountains and South Carolina coast. Collegesponsored weekend trips range from canoeing down the Edisto River in the Lowcountry to sea kayaking around Capers Island off the Charleston coast to skiing in the Allegheny Mountains at Snowshoe, Virginia.

Small college

Let the good

You’ll be impressed by the national and international figures who find their way to our Spartanburg campus to meet and talk to our students — newsmakers such as YouTube co-founder Brent Hurley, presidential candidate Barack Obama, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and Al Jazeera bureau chief Abderrahim Foukara to name just a few.

Make sure to pack your party clothes for annual galas such as the 1889 Dance and Peppermint Ball. Other fun times include:

BIG NAMES

TIMES ROLL

Casino Night. This annual fall social transforms the student center with professional dealers (plus Converse faculty and staff as guest dealers) and gaming equipment for a party that even Vegas would envy. Prizes range from a Wii to camping gear to movie passes.

Wild Wednesdays. Comedians, musicians, a poetry slam — it’s something different twice a month.

PLACES TO

HANG

Sandella’s Deli in Montgomery Student Center is the place to socialize, grab a bite and jump online.

And Gee Dining Room in our iconic Wilson Hall is a great, central gathering place for the whole Converse family — students, faculty and staff.

Montgomery by Moonlight. This allnighter in the student center kicks off Spring Term with a marathon of events.

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“I am living my dream — studying and playing tennis. My favorite place in the world is the tennis court. If that’s your passion, you need to put forth the extra effort.”

Gulia Yuldasheva Half a world away from her hometown of Moscow, Russia, Gulia Yuldasheva, feels completely at home at Converse. She says she loves all her professors and all her classes and goes through every day “with a smile on my face and a song in my heart.”

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ATHLETIC and RECREATIONal

RESOURCES The Sally Abney Rose Physical Activity Complex includes our soccer and lacrosse field, tennis courts, multipurpose practice field, sand volleyball court and The Weisiger Center, with intercollegiate basketball and volleyball courts, physical fitness training rooms and other resources.

A swimming pool is located in the Montgomery Student Center.

GET into the

GAME

The Converse Athletic Association sponsors competitive activities and fitness programs such as intramural sports, facultystudent games, Step It Up and the Walk, Run, Jog Program.

From the excitement of Valkyries intercollegiate athletic competitions to everyday recreational sports and fitness activities, Converse offers you plenty of outlets to stay in shape, blow off steam and have fun.

CONVERSE

Valkyries Converse student-athletes compete in NCAA Division II, the highest level of any women’s college in the country. Our teams are members of Conference Carolinas.

As a Division II institution, Converse offers athletic scholarships. Among these is the prestigious Weisiger Outstanding Scholar Athletes program for freshmen who plan to major and pursue careers in the sciences, who excel in academics and athletics, and who demonstrate strong leadership and community building skills.

VALKYRIEs NCAA DIVISION II

TEAMS Basketball Cross country Lacrosse Soccer

Swimming Tennis Volleyball

intramural

SPORTS Tennis Basketball Volleyball Soccer

Club

SPORTS Equestrian (affiliated with the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association) Fencing Synchronized Swimming

conversevalkyries.com 27

MAKE success

HAPPEN

Converse graduates hit the ground running — 70% of our most recent graduating class had a job offer or graduate school acceptance in hand the day they graduated. converse.edu/theconverseadvantage

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“I graduated from Converse as one of the first two Americans ever invited to Jordan through the Fulbright Teaching Assistantship program.”

Megan Madison, Chester, Virginia, politics major Read Megan’s story at

For the

RECORD In the nation’s most comprehensive assessment of higher education, Converse scored among the top 10% of colleges for providing enriching educational experiences.

Among the findings: • 2x as many Converse students rated their overall educational experience as “excellent” • 2x as many Converse students discuss their career plans with faculty • More than 2x as many Converse students study abroad • 2x as many Converse freshmen discuss ideas from classes with others outside of class • More Converse students say they often have serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity than their own

Four year

PLAN

Expert advising from professors enables 95% of Converse graduates to complete their degree programs in four years, versus the average of six years at state universities. Our Center for Student Development & Success works with every student, starting freshman year, to make sure each knows exactly how to reach her goals after graduation. Some of the services include: resume writing workshops, mock interview sessions, job search workshops, individual credentials files, internship information sessions and meetings with on-campus recruiters.

A sampling of CAREER PATHS Converse alumnae quickly launch interesting careers in their chosen fields of interest. Recent graduates (from the past five years) are currently employed as: Fundraising systems consultant, Enterprise Division at Blackbaud Director of events, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia Analyst, IRS Management & Program Analyst, Defense Threat Recognition Agency, US Embassy, Moscow, Russia Attorney, Williams Mullen, Research Triangle Park, NC Clinical Counselor, Greenville Metro Treatment Center, Greenville, SC International Grants Management Specialist, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Pretoria, South Africa Advisor to the Kurdistan Regional Government, Iraq Veterinarian, Appalachian Animal Hospital, East Ellijay, GA Assistant Manager, Montmartre Boutique, New York City, NY Clinical Counselor, Orin Community Health Care, Spartanburg, SC Psychotherapist, Center for Psychological and Family Services, Springfield, MA Operations Engineer, BenefitFocus, Greenville, SC Cataloguer, Heritage Auction Galleries, Dallas, TX Biology Teacher, Spartanburg, SC Assistant Accounting Professor, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC Graphic Designer, Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts Senior Technical Service Engineer, Baxter BioPharma Solutions, Bloomington, IN Director of the Baptist Student Ministry, Blinn College, TX Science Teacher, Winnsboro, SC Project Manager, Management Systems International, Washington, DC Guidance Counselor, Mt. Pleasant, SC Attorney, The Bleecker Law Firm, LLC, Charleston, SC Marriage and Family Therapist, Westgate Family Therapy, Spartanburg, SC Operations Officer, US Department of State, Washington, DC Math Teacher, Greer, SC

converse.edu/meganmadison

A sampling of GRADUATE SCHOOLS our alumnae attend Auburn University American University Baylor University Boston University Carnegie Mellon University Clemson University College of William and Mary Columbia University Cornell University Emory University Florida State University Furman University Georgetown University Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Harvard University Kennedy School of Government Indiana University School of Music The Juilliard School Manhattan School of Music Medical University of South Carolina Mercer University, Walter F. George School of Law Michigan State University Peabody Institute Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School Rutgers University Savannah College of Art & Design Universidad de Chile (Santiago) University of Georgia University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill University of Oklahoma University of Singapore University of South Carolina University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine University of Texas at Austin Wakeforest University Wichita State University Wingate University School of Pharmacy Yale University 29

Great School

GR E AT

PRICE

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Recognized as #1 “Best Value� in the South by U.S.News & World Report, Converse is committed to making its outstanding educational opportunities affordable for all qualified students. More than 90% of our students receive scholarships and/or financial aid with an average award of $18,500.

Applying to

APPLICATION

Relax, we’ve taken the stress out of the college application process. Within two weeks of receiving your completed application you will be notified of our decision. If you have questions along the way, you can count on a Converse admission counselor to help.

Early Action Deadline for Freshmen Applications – November 15

DEADLines

CONVERSE Applications can be obtained from the Office of Admission or downloaded from our website converse.edu/apply. You can also complete your application online.

Regular Decision Deadline for Freshmen Applications – March 1 Transfer Application Deadline – June 1

SCHOLARSHIPS You’ve earned it…At Converse, your high school achievement = BIG BUCKS! We reward your hard work by investing in your future.

The Converse Commitment

Come

visit We’ve scheduled a number of Preview Days throughout the year, some of which have special themes that might catch your interest. And of course, we welcome individual visitors year-round. Just give us a heads-up when you’ll be coming and we’ll create a perfect campus visit for you! Find out more at converse.edu/previewdays

1200 SAT & 3.5 GPA

$18,000

Presidential Scholar

1100 SAT & 3.0 GPA

$15,000

Converse Scholar

1000 SAT & 3.0 GPA

$12,000

Tower Scholar

900 SAT & 3.0 GPA

$9,000

Merit Scholar

Get to the bottom line at converse.edu/TheConverseCommittment. Our net cost calculator takes the guesswork out of determining your scholarship and financial aid awards. You’ll see an affordable education that provides an incredible return on value.

Converse invests in you because we believe you’re going to MAKE THINGS HAPPEN! And when you do, that’s our reward.

Talent-Based Scholarships: Art & Design, Theatre, Music and Athletics Converse offers talent-based scholarships in addition to The Converse Committment awards listed above. Students planning to major in art and design, music or theatre qualify for scholarships through auditions and portfolio reviews. Register for one of our Performing & Visual Arts Days at www.converse.edu/previewdays. Converse also awards athletics scholarships in our 7 NCAA Division II sports and equestrian program.

FINANCIAL AID $200 Travel

Vouchers We can help make your visit happen! Our Travel Vouchers reimburse you for up to $200 in gas and/or airfare. Just submit your receipts to us after your visit.

The most important step in the financial aid process is to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This should be done as soon as possible after January 1 of the year in which you intend to enroll. The form is online at fafsa.ed.gov. Be sure to include the Converse FAFSA code: 003431. The FAFSA determines your eligibility for all need-based aid programs.

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YOUR

C ollege

TOWN

Affectionately known as “Hub City” (for its late 19th century role as a central intersection of the country’s railroad system), Spartanburg is a hub of activity for the 13,000 college students who attend the area’s six institutions of higher learning.

The downtown

The internship

The Hub-Bub Showroom Gallery and Performance Hall offers more than 100 nights of art, culture and entertainment a year, including concerts, progressive art exhibits, films, experimental theatre and more. Other student favorites: the weekly Music on Main street concerts, Jazz on Morgan Square and Spring Fling, a weekend festival in May.

With more than 100 international firms headquartered here, including Milliken and Company (one of the largest privately held textile and chemical manufacturers in the world), as well as dozens of non-profit organizations and a vibrant arts community, Spartanburg offers tons of internship sites near at hand.

SCENE

Fall in love with Spartanburg! converse.edu/spartanburg

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ADVANTAGE

Grab a

BITE

From bagels to burgers and steaks to sushi, you’ll find dining options in the Spartanburg area to suit every budget and appetite. Wild Wings Café and Delaneys are big favorites with Converse students, but Spartanburg has everything from funky coffeeshops to your favorite fast food joint to elegant restaurants.

In the

SWEET SPOT Got the urge to get out of town? A day at the beach, a weekend in Atlanta or Charleston, an evening of fun in Greenville or Charlotte, or outdoor adventures in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park — Spartanburg is in the sweet spot, within easy driving distance of these and other urban areas.

Majors Accounting Art Art Education Art History Art Therapy Interior Design Studio Art Biochemistry Biology Business Administration (concentrations in economics, finance, human resources management, international business, and marketing) Chemistry Creative and Professional Writing Economics Education (comprehensive special education, deaf and hard of hearing/interpreting, early childhood, educable mental disabilities, elementary, learning disabilities) Engineering (dual degree program offered in partnership with Clemson University) English (concentrations in English and creative writing) German History Individualized Major (self-designed) Mathematics Medical Technology Music Composition Music Education Music History Music Theory Music Therapy Performance (voice, piano, wind instruments and strings) Politics Psychology Religion Spanish Theatre Career and Pre-Professional Programs Arts Management Pre-Pharmacy Pre-Dentistry Pre-Physical Therapy Pre-Law Pre-Physician Assistant Pre-Medicine Pre-Veterinary Pre-Ministry ROTC Pre-Occupational Therapy Graduate Degree Programs Educational Specialist Master of Arts in Teaching Master of Education Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Master of Liberal Arts Master of Marriage & Family Therapy Master of Music

CONVERSE AT A GLANCE Ranked: #1 “Best Value” and #15 overall

Hands-on Learning: More than

in the South by U.S.News & World Report; 3rd

half of Converse students are involved in

best Master’s university in South Carolina by

research or independent creative projects; the

Washington Monthly; 4th highest in South Carolina

Daniels Center for Leadership & Service links

by Forbes

leadership opportunities with service-learning

Founded: In Spartanburg, South Carolina

on and off campus

in 1889 (among the first 15 women’s colleges

Study Abroad: Faculty-led study/

founded in the United States)

travel courses from Japan to France and study

Character: Private, residential women’s

abroad programs on every continent except

undergraduate college with co-ed graduate programs

Students: 1,938 total enrollment (773 undergraduate and 1,165 graduate); 15 states and 14 countries represented; approximately 20% minority enrollment

Student/Faculty Ratio: 10:1, among the best in the nation, ensures personal attention and mentoring from professors, 89% of whom hold the highest degree attainable in their fields

Academic Profile: Over 90% of entering students have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; middle 50% SAT range: 9101120; middle 50% ACT range: 19-24

Academics: With more than 35 majors, Converse offers a perfect merger of the liberal arts and career-focused majors, with options for double and self-designed majors; BA, BS, BFA and BM degree programs

Antarctica, with scholarships available through

IL

OH

IN

in basketball, cross country, equestrian, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis and volleyball

NC

SPARTANBURG SC

MS

AL

AT L A N T I C OCEAN

GA

FL NORTH CAROLINA 26

Charlotte

85

SPARTANBURG

Greenville 85

26

SOUTH CAROLINA

H

Admission: Early action applications due November 15; regular decision applications

VA

TN

the Chapman Study Abroad Endowment

Athletics: NCAA Division II; programs

WV

Columbia GEORGIA

due March1; applications for transfer students due June 1

2010-11 Tuition and Fees: Tuition $26,138; Room and Board $8,032; Total Comprehensive Fee – $34,170 (includes cable, phone and voicemail, internet service in residence hall, student activities fee, parking,

Easily Accessible: By car via I-85 or I-26 and by air, served by Greenville-Spartanburg Airport and the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport; driving directions to campus and lists of places to stay are available at www.converse.edu

laundry)

Scholarships and Financial Aid: More than 90% of students receive some form of financial

Converse College does not discriminate in admissions or employment on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, religion, or disability. Converse admits only women to undergraduate programs and services in accordance with its historical mission.

aid or scholarships with an average award of $18,500; get your bottom-line cost at converse.edu/TheConverseCommitment

Apply for admission to Converse at converse.edu/apply

Office of Admission 580 East Main Street Spartanburg, SC 29302 864-596-9040 800-766-1125 admission@converse.edu www.converse.edu