HopeCollege

H O L L A N D • M I C H I G A N

Hope College –for your future.

What makes Hope College

distinctive?

n the sea of colleges and universities,Hope is continually recognized for itsdistinctive blend of exceptional academ-ics, diverse co-curricular programs, and

vibrant yet unrestrictive Christian character.The talents and perspectives of our studentsenrich the campus community and enable everyindividual to contribute in a meaningful way.What all Hope students have in common is thedesire to grow–inside the classroom and beyond.

I• Hope ranks in the top 3 percent

nationwide among private four-yearcolleges whose graduates go on to earntheir PhD.

• In the past decade, Hope studentsapplying to medical school with a GPAof 3.4 or higher have achieved a 90percent acceptance rate.

• Hope is the only private, undergraduatecollege in the U.S. to be nationallyaccredited in art, dance, music, and theatre.

• Hope consistently attracts more summerresearch grants from the NationalScience Foundation’s “ResearchExperiences for Undergraduates” programthan any other liberal arts college inthe country–and more than all but ahandful of institutions of any type,including research universities. From2004 to 2007, six science departmentsat Hope held these grants.

• Outside grants to departments andfaculty have totaled more than $19.5million in the past 10 years.

• TheVan Wylen Library has beenrecognized as an excellant academiclibrary by the Association of Collegeand Research Libraries.

• Hope’s social activities program isconsistently ranked first in the Midwestby the Mid America Region of theNational Association of CampusActivities (NACA).

• In the past three years, Hope studentshave raised over $330,000 for theChildren’s Miracle Network andDeVos Children’s Hospital during theCollege’s annual dance marathon.

• Men’s and women’s varsity sports teamshave a winning tradition and a strongemphasis on the “student” side of theterm “student-athlete.”

• Hope offers a distinctive, nurturingChristian character with an emphasis onservice and mentoring. Faith develop-ment occours at one’s own pacewithout pressure to conform.

Hope is one of 40 schoolsnamed in Loren Pope’s bookColleges That Change Lives.

Points of Distinction

What are Hope

professors like?

aculty desire to touch individ-ual lives. All Hope facultymembers share a love of teach-ing – in the classroom, the lab-

oratory, the rehearsal hall, in tutorials,and in private conversations. Long-serv-ing faculty members teach freshmen aswell as seniors. They’re happy to spendthe time and energy required to helpstudents achieve their full potential.Relations between faculty members andstudents are characterized by mutualrespect, which often develops into lastingfriendships.

Each of our more than 320 facultymembers is an individual with uniquetalents and perspectives. Hope facultymembers pursue a wide range of scholar-ly and artistic interests and have earneddegrees from some 120 universities,many among the nation’s finest. Hopeprofessors are active, engaged scholarswho conduct research and regularly pub-lish books and articles. In the past twoyears, Hope faculty members have pub-lished 46 books.

The focus on active scholar-ship and original researchimproves the quality ofteaching at Hope. Ourprofessors remain up-to-dateand productive in their fieldsof study—and are better ableto instill a love and enthusiasmfor learning in their students.Collectively, Hope facultymembers hold about $12million in grants that supportstudent research opportunities.Such grants foster Hope’sdistinctive culture of collab-orative learning, allowingstudents to work side-by-side with their professors.

F

ope students are friendly,involved, caring, and multi-talented. Campus visitorsoften remark about our

students’ eagerness to make strangers feelwelcome. Our students come from a widerange of family and financial backgrounds,and bring a diversity of religious perspec-tives to the campus.

They’re diligent students seeking to makethe most of their college education. Oneprofessor has described Hope students as“young adults who are very serious abouttheir studies, but don’t take themselvestoo seriously.”About 30 percent of Hopestudents plan to enroll in graduate orprofessional schools upon graduation.

Lasting friendships are bornat Hope.Although committedto academic success, Hopestudents strive to make themost of every aspect of collegelife. Outside the classroom,they take part in a multitudeof organizations, activities,and extracurricular pursuits,including athletics, theatre,music, dance, and communityservice. On a typical weekend,80 to 90 percent of Hopestudents stay on campus, atestament to the manyopportunities campus life atHope provides.

What are Hope

students like?H

hat good is an idea ifyou cannot commu-nicate it effectively?How frustrating is it

to detect a problem but not know howto approach its solution? Why is it impor-tant to be knowledgeable about globalissues that may not affect you personally?

Hope College helps you address all threequestions—communication, problemsolving, and living responsibly in theworld.With a curriculum designed toenhance both intellectual and personaldevelopment, Hope prepares you for arewarding career and for meaningfulinvolvement in the world.

The Hope academic experienceemphasizes depth and breadth of study.You’ll acquire academic depth throughconcentrated work in a major field ofstudy. Breadth is gained through thegeneral education curriculum, whichexposes you to a broad range of academicfields and ideas.

Your major will prepare you foradvanced study, or for immediateemployment after graduation. But thesum total of the Hope academic experi-ence goes far beyond career and academ-ic preparation.You’ll learn how to thinkclearly, communicate effectively, analyzesituations, and seize opportunities.

The academic climate atHope is challenging andrigorous without beingharmfully competitive.There’sa strong sense of cooperationand mutual respect at Hope,and students are willing tooffer academic assistance totheir peers. In fact, mostHope students compete onlyagainst themselves.There’sa widespread commitmentto doing one’s best, bymaking the most of one’sindividual gifts and abilities.

What are the objectives

of Hope’s academicprograms?

W

In what sense is Hope

a Christiancollege?

ope nurtures the whole per-son—mind, body, and spirit.We’re interested in your aca-demic success and

in your physical health and spiritual devel-opment and well-being.

While Hope values its affiliation withthe Reformed Church in America, theCollege’s spiritual climate is not denomi-national.Your personal convictions willalways be respected.At Hope, you’ll beencouraged to examine what it meansto be a Christian in today’s world.Wehonor the historic Christian faith and thevalues of the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Hope offers many opportunities to getinvolved in faith and service organizations,such as Fellowship of Christian Athletes,Habitat for Humanity, and Union ofCatholic Students. Students also engage inChristian service projects throughout thegreater Holland community and national andinternational mission trips.

Voluntary chapel services are held threetimes during the week and every Sundayevening. And you can participate in aBible study group at almost any time.Chaplains are available for counseling anymember of the campus community.

While Hope College strivesto maintain a supportive,caring Christian environment,the atmosphere is notrestrictive or overbearing.Hope students are free tochoose the extent of theirinvolvement in religiouslife at the College. Peoplehere aren’t afraid to speaktheir minds and ask thetough questions.

H

olland is located on thescenic eastern shore ofLake Michigan, about 150miles from Chicago, and

175 miles from Detroit.The city ofHolland has a population of 32,000,and the greater Holland area has morethan 100,000 residents. Grand Rapids,Michigan’s second largest city, is about25 miles east of Holland.

Since Hope is situated in a residentialsection of Holland–two blocks from acharming, award-winning downtown–students can walk to nearby restaurants,shops, and other establishments.You’ll find outdoor recreation of all sortsin and around Holland—swimming,boating (the College has a sailing club),fishing, and beautiful beaches. Bike pathsextend miles beyond the city limits.There are also excellent cross-countryski trails in the immediate area.

The people of Holland take greatpride in their community – andin Hope College. Holland is alivewith diverse cultures, whoseinfluence has crafted an animated,thriving community that hasnever lost its charm. It celebratesits heritage through tworenowned festivals: theTulipTimeFestival in the spring and theTulipanes Latino Art & FilmFestival held in the fall. Hollandis a friendly, welcoming city. It’s agreat place to live and a populartourist destination. The area’sbusiness and industry provideHope students with rewardinginternship and employmentopportunities. The open doors ofarea churches provide opportuni-ties for faith development in addi-tion to Hope’s ministry, and theyreadily welcome our students.

H

What is the Holland

communitylike?

Off-Campus Programs and InternshipsDomestic. Over 1,800 internships are available locally or through programs inPhiladelphia, Chicago, NewYork,Washington, D.C., Oak Ridge (Tennessee), andEl Paso (Texas). Recent internships have included the Mayor’s Office (Chicago),Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NewYork), the Philadelphia Eagles, and theAmerican Bar Association (Washington, D.C.).

Study Abroad. Hope offers more than 200 programs in over 60 countries.Countries in which Hope students study and travel include Australia, China, CostaRica, Dominican Republic, England, France, Germany, India, Mexico, New Zealand,Russia, Scotland, South Africa, and Spain.

Hope at a glanceHistory and character: Founded in 1862, Hope is a four-year liberal artscollege affiliated with the Reformed Church of America.

Enrollment: 3,203 students, all undergraduates, who come from approximate-ly 45 states and 31 countries.

Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1.

Degrees awarded: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor ofScience, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

National Honors Organizations: Phi Beta Kappa and Mortar Board.

Residence facilities: 11 residence halls (single sex and coed); 18 apartmentbuildings; and 72 individual cottages housing between four and 17 students.

Activities: Over 80 clubs and organizations, including, intramural and clubsports, gospel choir, fraternities, sororities and student radio station.

Athletics: Nine men’s and nine women’s intercollegiate teams; Hope competesin the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and is a member ofthe NCAA Division III.

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission of the North CentralAssociation;Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology; the AmericanChemical Society; Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs(Athletic Training); Council on Social Work Education; National Association ofSchools of Art and Design; National Association of Schools of Dance; NationalAssociation of Schools of Music; National Association of Schools of Theatre;National League for Nursing; National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.North Central Association of Colleges and Universities, 30 North LaSalle Street,Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504, 800-621-7440

Degrees Awarded:Bachelor of Arts (BA)Bachelor or Science (BS)Bachelor of Music (BMus)Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

AccountingArt & Art History**Athletic trainingBiology*Chemistry*

BiochemistryClassics (Greek, Latin)CommunicationComputer ScienceCreative WritingDance**Economics*Education and Special EducationEngineering

Biochemical EmphasisChemical EmphasisCivil EmphasisComputer Science EmphasisElectrical EmphasisEnvironmental EmphasisMechanical Emphasis

EnglishEnvironmental StudiesEthnic StudiesExercise ScienceFrench*Geological and Environmental

Sciences*German*History*Interdisciplinary StudiesInternational StudiesJapaneseKinesiologyManagementMathematics**MinistryModern & Classical Languages

Music**Education-InstrumentalEducation-VocalJazz Studies EmphasisPerformance

NeuroscienceNursingPhilosophyPhysical Education**Physics*Political Science*Psychology*Religion*Social WorkSociology

Criminal Justice EmphasisSpanish*Special Education

Emotionally ImpairedLearning Disabilities

TheatreWomen’s Studies

*Secondary teaching certificationavailable

**Secondary and/or elementaryteachingcertification available

Pre-Professional Programs:Dance TherapyDentistryLawLibrary ScienceMedicineOptometryPhysical TherapySeminaryVeterinary

Academic Programs

Admissions Information

Financial InformationCost AcademicYear 2008-2009Tuition: $24,780Room: $3,490Board (21 meals per week): $4,160Activity Fee: $140Total: $32,570

Need-based financial aid. We believe no student should rule out HopeCollege for reasons of cost.The College’s financial aid program provides qualifiedstudents with funds to help make up the difference between what their families canpay and the total cost of attendance. Eligibility is determined by analysis of the FreeApplication for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Supplemental Application Form(SAF). For more information visit www.hope.edu/admin/finaid/.

We recommend that the required forms (FAFSA and SAF) and the application foradmission be submitted by March 1 for freshman and transfer students.

Merit-based scholarships. Hope also makes awards that are not based onfamily financial circumstances.Academic scholarships, for example, are basedon the student’s academic performance in high school and standardized test results.Qualified students must have their applications completed and recceived by theOffice of Admissions by February 16 to be assured consideration for scholarships.Also, distinguished Artist Awards are offered in Art, Creative Writing, Dance, Music,and Theatre. For more information visit www.hope.edu/admissions/scholarship.

High School Preparation. While the College does not have strictcurricular minimums for entering freshmen, it is strongly encouraged that studentstake rigorous college preparatory classes in high school. A typical admitted student willpresent 4 years of high school English, 3 years of mathematics, 3 years of science,3 years of social sciences, and 2 years of foreign language. When available andappropriate,Advanced Placement classes are encouraged, and students can attaincollege credit for qualifying scores on the AP tests.

Entrance Exams. Either ACT or SAT; subject and writing tests are not required.

Decisions. There is no deadline for filing an application for admission. TheOffice of Admissions will begin considering your application as soon as all yourcredentials are received.The first admission decision letters are sent each yearbeginning in mid-December. Incoming freshman and transfer students applying forfinancial aid and scholarships should be aware of important dates for filing financialaid documents. See below under “Need-based Financial Aid” and “Merit-basedScholarships.”

Visit DayWe encourage you and your family to visit Hope College.Tour our facilities,meet students and professors, attend classes, and stay overnight in a residence hallif you’d like.You can arrange a personal visit to the campus at almost any time.Scheduled group visitation days are held from late September to April.

For more information or toschedule a visit, call, emailor visit our website.

Office of AdmissionsPhone (616) 395-7850Toll-free (800) 968-7850E-mail admissions@hope.eduWebsitewww.hope.edu/admissions/visit

Visitation Days Fall 2008Friday, September 26, 2008Friday, October 3, 2008Friday, October 17, 2008Friday, October 24, 2008Friday, November 7, 2008Friday, November 14, 2008Friday, November 21, 2008

Spring 2009Monday, January 19, 2009Friday, January 30, 2009Monday, February 16, 2009Friday, February 27, 2009

Junior DaysFriday, March 27, 2009Friday,April 3, 2009Friday,April 17, 2009

HOPE COLLEGEOffice of Admissions • 69 E. 10th Street • P.O. Box 9000 • Holland, Michigan 49422-9000Phone (616) 395-7850 • Toll free (800) 968-7850 • Fax (616) 395-7130Website http://www.hope.edu • E-mail admissions@hope.edu