College Insights - Prescott College

Prescott College is a very small, “crunchy-granola” kind of school. For the right student, it could be a life-changing educational experience.

Who is the right kind of kid? The student who:

• Feels stifled indoors.

• Likes to learn by doing and seeks a hands-on education.

• Loves hiking, whitewater rafting, and skiing.

• Is interested in outdoor careers, sustainability, or becoming a teacher.

I am none of those things and yet I was fascinated by this small college. I can envision an outdoorsy kid truly coming alive here.

Prescott College is located two hours north of Phoenix, in Central Arizona’s High Desert. Neither the college nor the town are pronounced like you’d expect. It’s pronounced “press kit”, rhyming with biscuit.

The coolest part of campus is the warehouse loaded with outdoor equipment that students use during New Student Wilderness Orientation and other school excursions. Students may even borrow equipment when they go out on their own trips. I’m notoriously not a camper—just ask my former Brownie Girl Scouts—but even I was impressed by all that gear!

A Prescott education isn’t just limited to its small campus. The school has local and global centers in:

• Kino Bay, Mexico: The living-learning community hosts about 80 students who take classes and work on independent or senior projects.

• Talek, Kenya: The Dopoi Center focuses on promoting cultural survival and environmental justice in Maasailand.

• Tucson, AZ: This center focuses on social, racial, and environmental justice and partners with K-12 schools in the area.
  

Pros	Cons
Prescott boasts small classes and individualized attention. Students all know each other and the professors and staff know of the all students. It provides support services for students who need extra academic help and those who learn differently.	The college is teeny, tiny—just over 300 undergraduates. This isn’t a school for a student who wants to disappear on campus. Such a small student body will feel stifling to most kids.
Prescott is a small city north of Phoenix and perfect for those who don’t want to be in a large city and prefer a more rural environment.	Getting to Prescott isn’t straightforward. There is a bus service from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) that takes about 2h 15m. Most students use this service. You can fly into Prescott airport (PRC), but only from Los Angles or Denver. The flights are pricey and infrequent.
There are two options for freshman orientation: Fall Wilderness Orientation, a three-week (!) backpacking expedition in backcountry Arizona. Community-based Orientation, comprised of three shorter trips that include canoeing and backcountry experience, better suited for the novice outdoorsman.	If the idea of camping in the desert or white water rafting gives you the chills and not the thrills, this isn't the place for you.

Application Tips

• Apply directly to the school. The application is free.

• Prescott doesn’t require the Common App personal statement, but rather their own extended essay of two to four double-spaced pages.

• Their acceptance rate seems extremely high 98%, but consider that only extremely interested students, i.e., those that have shown true demonstrated interest, will complete their lengthy application.

The Assistant Director of Admissions shared these amazing pictures of her recent trip to the Kino Bay campus. Imagine walking along the beach to get to class and seeing these classmates!

To learn how The Application Coach can coach you to craft a compelling Prescott essay, schedule a free 30-minute Discovery Call.