Released: Aug. 26, 1999

Princeton Review chooses Centre for Best Colleges guide

DANVILLE, KY -- The Princeton Review, a college guidebook, whose irreverent tone and off-beat lists have made it popular among high school students, has listed Centre College in its latest guide to the nation's best colleges. Princeton Review 2000 appeared in bookstores this week, touting "the best 331 colleges" in America.

This was Centre's first appearance in the book., which includes institutions ranging from Harvard and Princeton to the U.S. Naval Academy. Two other Kentucky institutions were included, Bellarmine College in Louisville and the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

The Princeton Review describes itself as a guide to the "cream of the crop -- comprising less than 10 percent of all colleges in the nation." While the exact number of colleges in the book varies from year to year ,the Review seeks to keep the number close to 300.

The Review claims to be unique in its use of student feedback about social life, teacher accessibility and other quality of life issues.

The Review also is known for a series of 61 lists that compare the chosen colleges under headings such as "Professors Bring Material to Life" and its counterpart, "Professors Suck All Life from Materials," both of which are subtitled "Are your instructors good teachers?". In these mini lists, Centre drew high marks for teaching, accessibility of professors and effective administration, while drawing potentially less favorable notations about on-campus drinking and a social emphasis on Greek life. In overall academic rating, Centre led all Kentucky institutions.

John Ward, vice president for academic affairs at Centre, commented on Centre's listing: "Administrators and faculty may view the Princeton Review as eccentric, but prospective students feel that it gives them a campus snapshot. College students tend to tell truths about their campuses, and in the case of Centre, the Princeton Review has abstracted comments both provocative and accurate. Our professors do go out of their way to teach students, and we encourage learning everywhere. On the other hand, Centre is small and so our students see, up close, all kinds of activity including carousing and road trips to Lexington. Overall, Centre is a personal place where everyone knows your name -- even the deans-- and the Review captured that spirit."

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Communications Office
Centre College
600 W. Walnut Street
Danville, KY 40422

Coordinator of Public Information: Patsi Barnes Trollinger
Telephone 606-238-5719 · trllngrp@centre.edu