University of Vermont
Nestled between the Adirondack and Green Mountains is the University of Vermont, a private school founded in 1791. It is known colloquially as UVM, which is Latin for Universitas Viridis Montis, or University of the Green Mountains. Students who want to take advantage of the surrounding nature in Burlington, Vt., can rent skis, snowshoes, canoes, and camping equipment on campus. Students dont have to go far for an adventure, though; UVM has an adventure ropes course and an indoor rock climbing wall. There are more than 150 student organizations on campus, including about 20 fraternities and sororities. Fewer than 10 percent of students go Greek. Freshmen and sophomores must live on campus. The Catamounts athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division I America East Conference, cheered on by a mountain cat mascot named Rally. In Burlington, students can explore the outdoor Church Street Marketplace, a collection of restaurants and boutiques, or relax on the shores of Lake Champlain. For a more urban experience, Montreal and Boston are about 100 and 220 miles away, respectively.
