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Elmira College is a private, coeducational, Phi Beta Kappa college located in Elmira, New York. Founded in 1855, Elmira was the first College for women with a course of study equal in rigor to the best men's colleges. "Female seminaries," as they were called at the time, were essentially glorified high schools. In contrast, from its very inception, Elmira College offered rigorous academic programs. In 1969, becoming coeducational today, Elmira has an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 1,200 full-time, mostly residential students. The College also offers advanced certificates, master's degree programs, and non-credit courses for professional development. As the guardian of Quarry Farm, where Mark Twain summered for decades and wrote many of his most iconic novels, Elmira College is home to the Center for Mark Twain Studies, one of four nationally recognized Twain sites which serves as a research center for visiting Twain scholars. Grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, Elmira College provides a collaborative and supportive environment that enables students to become active learners, influential leaders, responsible community members, and globally engaged citizens. Proud of its history and tradition, the College is committed to the ideals of community service and intellectual and personal growth. Your academic success is of the highest priority. The average class size at Elmira College is 16 students. You are never an anonymous face in a lecture hall led by a teaching assistant. Professors teach and work to support you in reaching your goals both in their particular course and throughout your academic career. Professionals provide their email addresses to students to be contacted with questions, and they expect students to use them. The academic experience at EC leads to a lifetime of a rewarding career and personal opportunities. Internships provide experiential learning and a chance to apply what you have learned in the classroom. Term III classes offer travel abroad experiences and engaging on-campus courses. Community service prepares you to be a responsible contributor to your future communities. You will have an edge in your career and life. Whether it is an excellent job in your field or attending one of the best graduate schools in the country, Elmira College's faculty and administration get you ready for a rewarding and meaningful life on a sustainable career path. The general education coursework at Elmira College prepares you for a lifetime of success. With more than 100 clubs and organizations, a competitive, participatory Division III athletics program, vibrant residence life, and a vast array of leadership and collaboration opportunities, you will make friendships that last a lifetime. Seven percent of the EC student population are international students journeying to EC from 20 countries. Leadership opportunities will shape your future, raise your sights, and prove valuable in your future work and community life. Our nationally recognized first-year experience launches you into life at EC. Instruction in the Freshman Writing Program and Core classes will help you transition to college life. Professors and administrators will provide personal help and guidance along the way. Founded in 1855 and coeducational since 1969, EC was the first women's College to offer degrees with requirements equal to those of the best men's colleges. Our academic innovation and long-lived traditions rank EC as one of the top private colleges in the nation. Our traditions link current students with generations of alumni. Elmira College aims to prepare you for a lifetime of careers and a meaningful life, not just an entry-level job. After all, 74 percent of employers in a recent American Association of Colleges and Universities survey recommend an education rich in breadth in the humanities and social and natural sciences as the best way to prepare for today's global economy. An Elmira College education based on the leadership core of the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, combines with communication and global citizenship to prepare you for a lifetime of success. Elmira is one of only 268 colleges, and universities nationwide found worthy of a prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Charter. Elmira College's Phi Beta Kappa chapter has been lauded as the best chapter at a liberal arts college in the nation. Our students, empowered by an engaging academic program and real-world experiential learning, become successful contributors to our global society. Education is not just about acquiring information and preparing to enter the workforce. Leaders in any profession need motivational skills (learned in psychology and the social sciences) and analytical skills (learned in the natural sciences and economics). Leaders need a historical perspective. As George Santayana declared, "those who fail to learn from the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them." Leaders need to be effective communicators, learned in literature and the fine and performing arts. Elmira College's academic core features this wide range of critical learning skills, thereby encouraging students to become lifelong learners in a broad base of interest and study fields. The most successful college alumni invariably refine their career directions throughout College and beyond. Experiential learning, the challenging study of substantial breadth, and faculty who invest in their students enable you to take your place as a leader in your future community. View full university