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2) Great Teaching—These colleges foster an atmosphere where teaching undergraduates is a priority. They offer smaller classes, outstanding research and academic opportunities, and real mentoring relationships between students and faculty.

3) Vibrant Communities—These residential campuses offer a wide range of diverse experiences and activities to help develop students. Students can get deeply involved in the leadership opportunities offered by campus organizations and college activities.

4) Successful Outcomes—The alumni of these colleges rate them highly, thanks in large part to their outstanding placement records with employers and graduate schools. Whatever their goal--medical school, the Peace Corps, or the stock exchange—graduates say their college experiences gave them an edge in their lives after college.

Colleges of Distinction emphasizes the importance of individual choice. That’s why the guide does not rank these schools, nor list a "number one college." Every school offers outstanding opportunities, but every one is different in some way. Students are encouraged to get beyond rankings and find the outstanding school that really matches their hopes and dreams.

The over 160 Colleges of Distinction were selected from recommendations by high school guidance counselors around the country, with input from educators and admissions professionals. They are featured in both the Colleges of Distinction website and the accompanying guidebook, which will be published in 2004.