Going Back to College ~ Five on the Line

We are lucky to be surrounded by a number of top-rated colleges and universities on the Main Line. While you probably drive past most of these institutions every day, you may not know the many advantages and perks they have to offer to not only their students, but the community as well.

Before classes begin in a few weeks, and the roads once again fill up with students heading back to school, check out this week’s Five on the Line to see what local colleges have to offer you:

1.     Cabrini College – Cabrini College offers a variety of activities to the community on its beautiful 112- acre campus, including a children’s school, art exhibits, athletic events and camps throughout the summer. For those interested in fitness, the Dixon Center is open (by membership) to the community and includes a swimming pool, squash courts, a dance/aerobic room, indoor track and gym with three full-length basketball courts. And for those interested in a good ghost story, Cabrini is full of them. From a heart-broken girl looking for her baby to a stern father wandering the grounds, Cabrini has its share of ghostly reports and sightings.

2.     Eastern University – Founded as a Baptist Theological Seminary in 1925, Eastern became a university in 2001. Offering a variety of concerts and lectures to the public, Eastern is also home to the Julia Fowler Planetarium, a digital, full-dome planetarium that is open for group tours throughout the year, and to the public three times a year. If you haven’t been there yet, I highly encourage a visit. (Contact ssander2@eastern.edu for events and more info.)

3.     Villanova University – Villanova not only provides exciting sporting events to see, but also offers top-rate plays and lectures as well. Notably, Villanova holds the largest and most successful student-run Special Olympics festival in the world, drawing more than 1,000 athletes from across Pennsylvania. The event relies on the help of 2,500 students and 1,000 volunteers from the community. If you are looking for something to do in the fall, stop by Villanova. They are always in need of coaches, volunteers and cheerers for this inspiring event.

4.     Bryn Mawr College - Recently ranked 40th in Forbes 2013 ranking of American’s top Colleges, Bryn Mawr College is a small women’s liberal arts college located in the heart of Bryn Mawr. While perhaps most known for its strong academics and notable alumni (including Katherine Hepburn), the college has a “hidden gem” located in the midst of its 135-acre campus. The Wyndham Alumnae House, originally built as a farmhouse in 1796, now holds offices for the Alumnae Association, as well as a bed and breakfast and restaurant. The restaurant is only open for lunch (11:30-2) and is known for its spectacular setting and fresh and seasonal menu. Alcohol is not served, but patrons are welcome to bring their own. If you’re looking for a place to go for lunch, or a special location for your wedding or banquet, check out the Wyndham.

5.     Haverford College – Sadly, the goats are gone from Haverford College, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t more to see and explore on this 200- acre liberal arts college campus. Haverford is the oldest planned college landscape in the country, and home to a nationally recognized Arboretum with 400 species of trees and shrubs as well as a 3.5-acre duck pond, gardens and wooded area. And its 2.25-mile Nature Trail that encircles the campus makes a perfect afternoon outing.

(While I only list five here, I would be remiss if I didn’t remind readers of Harcum College, Rosemont College and Valley Forge Military College. All offer programs and activities for the community, so check them out as well.)