Connecticut College: a small liberal arts school in southeastern Connecticut known for its “Little Ivy” academics, NESCAC and national champions, and…camels? Despite the allure of the unique and beloved mascot, Conn isn’t exactly a household name outside of New London. Yet, every year since 2021, admissions rates have been steadily rising as increasing numbers of students are interested in the school. What is it about this tiny, unassuming campus that interests so many students? Did last year’s campus activism impact this year’s admissions? What does this population boom mean for the herd already here? The answers to these pertinent questions are found by asking the students themselves.
When asked about her decision to apply Early Decision to Conn, Ellie Weinzimer ‘27, a Connecticut resident, said “I wanted to be able to walk to class and bump into friends.” She added that “The strong academics and Connections program allows you to test out a bunch of different areas even if you’re not sure what you want to study.” Gracie Donabella-Pedlow ‘27 from Cranston, R.I. said, “I really appreciate the proximity to home. And, coming from a small private school in Rhode Island, Conn’s diversity and student body was really enticing.”
When asked what comes to mind when they think of Conn — and how much our mascot played into their decision when applying — both Weinzimer and Donabella-Pedlow responded with, “Camels!” “The Camel mascot was honestly a big part of my decision to come here,” said Donabella-Pedlow. “Conn is a very serious place, but it shows that the school is willing to make fun of itself a bit. That lightheartedness is what I’ve been looking for.”
Matias Martin ‘27 from Houston, Texas talked about his choice to come to the East Coast. “Before choosing Conn, I was mainly looking at the University of Houston. I thought I wanted a big school and that Conn would be too small, but it’s honestly just the right size. I’m always meeting new people and I really feel like I’m a part of the community already,” he said. For him, the nerves of flying halfway across the country settled down once he found his groove here.
Tom Harrison ‘27 is also pleased with his choice, despite Conn’s significant distance from his home in Christchurch, New Zealand. “When I think of Conn, I think of a small, tightly-knit community where everybody looks out for each other,” he said. “I was recruited to play basketball here, and the coaches really sold me on the communal aspect of the school. I’m definitely happy with my choice to come here.”
None of this comes as a surprise to most. Conn is a great place. It’s small, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in solidarity. The students here have a mission: to collaborate, to facilitate connections, and to make a difference during their time here.
Looking into what may have been a deterrent for students in their application and decision processes, it seemed obvious that the ousting of ex-President Katherine Bergeron in the spring of 2023 would be a front-running concern. With this assumption, it was particularly surprising that the class of 2027 actually reacted positively to the student activism. Instead of anxiety or nervousness, students expressed feeling inspired and excited to join a community that unifies to make their voices heard on campus.
As Harrison puts it, “Because of how the students rallied together, it definitely had a positive impact on my decision to attend Conn, as it looked like a community I wanted to be a part of.” Martin said, “It was really reassuring to see students come together and take a stand for their beliefs. If this was a bigger school, perhaps the student’s voices wouldn’t be heard. But here, we can be loud and proud.”
Not only did the class of 2027 decide to join the herd even with the knowledge of the controversy, they were actually inspired by how the community came together to stand up for their beliefs. Because of that, the college received one of its biggest applicant pools in the history of the school and accepted an idiosyncratic group of world changers into the community.
