PRINCETON REVIEW NAMES MILLSAPS
IN 'THE BEST 371 COLLEGES'

JACKSON, Miss.—Millsaps College is one of the country’s best institutions for undergraduate education, according to The Princeton Review’s 2010 edition of the popular guidebook, “The Best 371 Colleges.”

Only about 15 percent of America’s 2,500 four-year colleges and two Canadian colleges are profiled in the book, which is The Princeton Review's flagship annual college guide. It includes detailed profiles of the colleges with school rating scores in eight categories, plus ranking lists of top 20 schools in 62 categories based on The Princeton Review's surveys of students attending the colleges.

“It is always satisfying when affirming things are said about Millsaps College,” said David Davis, interim vice president of academic affairs and dean of the college. “Millsaps has always had a student-focused atmosphere, welcoming all types of people, and to be named repeatedly to the ‘Best’ list confirms the college’s mission of creating well-rounded students who become compassionate leaders.”

In its two-page profile on Millsaps College, The Princeton Review praises the school for its “rigorous undergraduate education,” “highly student-oriented atmosphere” and “down-to-earth and friendly, administrators, faculty, and staff.”

The guidebook also quotes extensively from Millsaps students who were surveyed for the book. Among their comments about their campus experiences: “the professors really care about the students personally and academically” and students have a “strong desire to serve the community and be good neighbors to the Jackson area.”

Millsaps College received special recognition as one of the Top 20 colleges for “Lots of Race/Class Interaction.” The category is chosen based on students’ answers to the survey questions: “Do different types of students (black/white, rich/poor) interact frequently and easily at your school?”

“Millsaps College has a rich history of striving to include and support people of different and underrepresented backgrounds and cultures. We pride ourselves in appreciating that our community is a place where everyone has a unique and distinct voice,” said Sherryl Wilburn, director of Multi-Cultural Affairs and International Programs at Millsaps College.

“A significant factor in the richness of the Millsaps campus life is the cooperation between racial and ethnic groups and the subsequent awareness of our surrounding and global community.”

The college provides multiple academic and extracurricular social programming through out the school year including: celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Week with Tougaloo College, an annual Multicultural Awareness Festival, Millsaps International Buddy System, and the “Best Start” program where minority freshman discuss college life issues with concerned student leaders, staff and faculty.

The ranking lists in the 2010 edition of "The Best 371 Colleges" are entirely based on the Princeton Review’s survey of 122,000 students attending the colleges in the book. The 80-question survey asks students to rate their schools on several topics and report on their campus experiences at them. Topics range from student assessments of their professors, administrators, financial aid and campus food.