The idea of a liberal arts education can be confusing for students in the college search process. But we have some answers, thanks to admission staff who spoke about the liberal arts on virtual panels that the Minnesota Private College Council recently offered to high school students and parents. Carliene Quist from College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University provided a unique perspective to understand the idea of the liberal arts: image filters.

Carliene Quist from College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University provided a unique perspective to understand the idea of the liberal arts: image filters.

The liberal arts can mean a number of different things but at the core is academics. Liz Vine from Gustavus Adolphus College discussed their academic structure and the value it brings.  Although every institution is going to have different academics, this is a good representation of how the liberal arts look academically.

Liberal arts colleges aren’t inherently liberal or conservative politically, but they do have characteristics other than their academic breadth. One of these are the connections made outside of the classroom.  Adam Webster from Carleton College shared the importance of these out-of-classroom experiences to the value of a liberal arts college.

For anyone looking to learn more about our colleges, there are virtual group events offered regularly. Check out the Council’s calendar for the latest listings on our site.