Sophomore Review
Before filing a Preliminary Plan Application, students must prepare, in consultation with their academic advisor, a written Review Statement (at least two pages) of their first two years. The Review Statement should assess their education thus far both in terms of educational expectations of the college and as a preparation for their proposed Plans of Concentration. The Review Statements should be completed before the major break (Spring break in the spring, Thanksgiving Break in the fall) in the student's second sophomore semester. Junior transfer students have until the end of their first semester at Marlboro.
Sophomore Review Process
Students at Marlboro are expected during the first two years to study broadly across the curriculum and, in so doing, to develop their interests and areas of focus; they should begin to establish their skills and background for the more advanced and even specialized work a Plan of Concentration will require. During the second semester of the sophomore year, you must work with your academic advisor to review and assess your work thus far and to develop a written Sophomore Review Statement, in preparation for a meeting with your current academic advisor and your proposed Plan sponsor.
The goals of the Sophomore Review are:
- To engage you in a discussion of the structure and goals of your higher education at its midpoint.
- To assess the character and quality of your education during the first two years.
- To support the values of broad study, international perspective, and good writing.
- To anticipate the needs of your Plan of Concentration.
Step One: Sophomore Review Statement
With the help of your advisor, you are asked to complete a short piece of writing (at least two pages) that both examines your college education so far and anticipates the next two years (before Spring Break or before Thanksgiving Break if you are a second-semester sophomore in the fall). You should have a copy of your current transcript as you begin. Besides reflecting on your academic direction, you are asked to examine your choices as they relate to the following educational goals and questions:
- Breadth of study: Have you studied across the areas of the Curriculum (Arts, Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences)? Have you taken courses that involve different kinds of learning that develop different kinds of skills? For instance, have you taken any courses that involve Quantitative Reasoning?
- Developing a global perspective: Have you studied a culture outside your own or a foreign language? Have you traveled, or have you worked with people from other cultures?
- Writing: Have you continued to strengthen your writing since meeting the Writing Requirement? Is your writing ready for the level of written work you propose on Plan?
- Preparation for a Plan of Concentration: How do the courses you have taken prepare for your Plan of Concentration? Are there specific area requirements you have not yet met?
Step Two : Sophomore Review Meeting
Once you have prepared your Review Statement you will meet -- either as a group or individually -- with your current adivsor and your prospective Plan sponsor (or sponsors) to go over your Statement, your current transcript, and your Preliminary Plan application. The application may be signed at this meeting or returned to you for revision. Once your Statement and Application are satisfactory, you will submit your Sophomore Review to the Director of Advising and your Plan application to the Dean of Faculty. Remember that the Sophomore Review needs to be completed prior to the Preliminary Plan Application.