Colorado Springs, CO: On my visit to Colorado College I was able to get a feel for the school, and I definitely enjoyed its unique system for learning: instead of teaching on a semester system, ­students at CC take one class at a time for an intensive short period. So, a student there can complete a psychology course in three-and-a-half weeks, then move onto the next subject. This schedule is called the Block Plan, and at the end of each block, students get a four-day break before starting the next one. I spoke to students who use their break to go hiking and camping in the mountains of Colorado, another perk of CC. The mountains are just a few miles away and make a nice backdrop to the college.

However, during my three-day visit, I observed that the school population is quite homogeneous. The majority of students are Caucasian. Some of the students told me that the lack of diversity is one of the only problems that they have with the school. Also, while I liked the idea of the Block Plan, in practice I'm not sure that I would enjoy ­taking on just one subject at a time, and having to read an average of 150 pages a night, plus assignments, for the duration of the block. It seems like the subject would be rushed.

Nonetheless, I love the fact that the mountains are nearby and ­nature is your playground. The Block Plan is definitely intriguing, and the hockey team is one of the best in the country, and a great source of on-campus activity and entertainment. I have some issues with the ­diversity, but overall, Colorado College is a top-notch liberal arts school where class sizes are small and the interaction with professors is easy. Check out coloradocollege.edu.