Colby believes that “the best preparation for life, and especially for the professions that require specialized study, is a broad acquaintance with human knowledge.” That’s part of the official mission statement in the course catalogue. Put simply: whether you want to be well prepared for an interesting career after Colby or already know you will need to go to graduate school, you can have no better foundation than the liberal arts.

So what are the liberal arts? Liberal means “not limited to or by traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes or dogmas,” according to the dictionary. “The liberal arts” refers to academic disciplines that provide a broad range of knowledge and understanding.

To function well in an increasingly complex world, graduates must understand broad subject areas and diverse perspectives. Many employers and graduate schools value the flexibility of liberal arts graduates, particularly those who have proven themselves capable of meeting Colby’s rigorous academic standards. Proof is in the College’s success at placing graduates in top medical schools, law schools, and other graduate programs and in the varied ways Colby alumni are making a difference in the world.

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