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College Before High School Graduation: Bard College at Simon's Rock
Like many students, Mea Geizhals was dissatisfied with her high school life. To remedy the situation, Mea made a bold choice: leave for college without completing high school.

In fact, that's what all students do at Simon's Rock (Great Barrington, MA). Created for motivated students ready to take on college-level academics, Simon's Rock students ditch their high school courses after 10th or 11th grade and pursue an associate degree. After two years of living the College life, students either stay at Simon's Rock to complete a bachelor's degree or transfer to another undergraduate school.

"A lot of people thought I was stupid," Mea states. "But being unhappy is not normal and being bored in school is not OK, and the people here have taken it upon themselves to do some research and change that for themselves."

The Gradeless Experience: Bennington College
Nervous about showing mom and dad your report card? Not if you attend this Bennington, Vermont-based school. At this small liberal arts college, students design their own majors and grades are completely optional -- although, in place of the standard A's and B's, students receive a one-page critique of their performance for each class.

If it sounds like a great way to slack off, think again. After four years of earning grades at Marist College (Poughkeepsie, NY), Megan Ragozzine enrolled at Bennington for graduate studies.

"In a school like Marist, you can just go and sit in the classroom and still get a grade even if you're not participating," she comments. "I haven't had any tests [at Bennington], but I feel like I've done a lot of work as opposed to just getting fed the information and having to regurgitate it."

Students who plan on post-Bennington studies can request to have letter grades accompany their evaluations; however, the focus is on learning the material, not earning the letter.

On Their Guard: U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) Attention!
Students who want an academic challenge, a supportive network of classmates, and an unbeatable tuition price, listen up. Part college, part military unit, the USCGA in New London, CT, offers undergrads eight guard-related majors, practical naval training, the opportunity to sail around the world on a 1,000 horsepower megaship, and a guaranteed Job after college.

USCGA students attend all four years of school tuition-free, but there's a catch. In addition to a full load of classes, cadets also fulfill military duties and enter the Coast Guard after graduation. If it sounds overwhelming, BeCarol Davis, a third class (military-speak for "sophomore"), says not to worry, your peers are there to help.

"If you're up late working on something and your shipmate needs help on something, you drop what you're doing to help," BeCarol comments. "It's a beautiful thing because it shows that people really care about each other."

It's All Greek to Them: St. John's College
At St. John's, you have to go Greek -- everyone does. Adopting a Great Books curriculum, St. John's students in Annapolis, MD, and Santa Fe, NM, kick boring textbooks to the curb and read only primary text material. That means learning philosophy directly from Aristotle, math from Copernicus, and history from Lincoln.

Since all students read the same texts, major in the same thing (there's only one offered), and hone their Greek and Latin skills together, you'll have your entire first-year class as study buddies. Brush up on the classics, practice raising that hand high, and forget about sleeping through class. All St. John's courses are discussion-based, making class participation crucial.

Jack of Many Majors: Marlboro College
The exact opposite of St. John's, Marlboro students can major in anything -- just ask Jocelyn Delman. Thanks to Marlboro's self-designed majors, Jocelyn incorporated her passion for painting, river ecology, and literature from the American West into her plan of study.

"I had intended to be a biology student when I arrived, but then I took some literature classes that changed my life," she explains. "So I talked to my amazing professors and we decided together that I didn't have to give up any of the things I wanted to do. I was finally satisfied."

Students spend their first two years taking a wide array of liberal arts courses, then spend their final two years working on a senior project that incorporates up to three different fields of study. Alumni of the Marlboro, VT-based college enter the workforce as well-rounded grads with concrete projects that showcase their skills.

Academic Labor: Berea College
"Work it!" takes a whole new meaning at Berea College. One of just six work colleges in the country, Berea students are required to work 10 to 15 hours a week and maintain passing grades.

Since the Kentucky-based college operates more than 130 labor departments, ranging from child care to academic research, you could wind up weaving, writing, welding, or doing all three before you graduate. As a reward for their labor, Berea students receive a full Scholarship for all four years they attend (cha-ching!), as well as solid experience that will help land that first job (double cha-ching!).

Higher Learning: Wheaton College
"I was looking for a school that had a really strong academic program, but I also wanted a school that could integrate my faith," comments senior Emily Batman. "Wheaton had both."

Founded on Christian principles, Wheaton focuses on developing students' minds and characters. Whether it's sociology or Spanish, courses at the Illinois school tackle academic issues from a Christian perspective, and campus activities reflect the school's commitment to faith.

Students are required to attend chapel services three times a week and sign a community covenant, promising to uphold Christian ideals both on and off campus. The result is a tight-knit student body that supports one another academically and spiritually, says Emily.

"I have a lot of friends who have gone to secular universities and I think that I got a more personalized education," she adds. "Here, I have peers who have the same core beliefs. We have that common ground."


Christina Couch is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

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