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Picturesque Peaks
Nestled in the mountains of beautiful Golden, Colorado (just 15 miles of west of Denver), Colorado School of Mines is a public university focused on science and engineering. With a population of 20,000, the surrounding historic gold rush town is small but constantly lively with visitors. Golden is a travel destination community due to its picturesque downtown area and abundant outdoor activities. A quaint Main Street is dotted by charming shops and restaurants, and hiking trails, bike routes, and ski slopes run throughout the town. You can catch a group of students sitting around a picnic table outside Pangea Coffee Roasters for a mid-day coffee; a few warming up by the fireplace at Buffalo Rose, a local grill with roots that date back to 1859. Take a walk by Clear Creek, a tributary that runs through campus. In the mild summers, you’ll hear the laughter of students as they float along in tied up innertubes. You’ll sip hot chocolate in the foreground of snow-capped mountains in the chilly winters. Nearby Denver offers the amenities of a large city, with a vibrant nightlife and arts culture. Denver boasts a robust oil and gas industry with a diversified economy.
The school was founded in 1874, and new buildings neighbor the original brick buildings. The campus itself is home to top-notch research facilities: the newest building, CoorsTek Center for Applied Science and Engineering, opened in 2018. All students partake in hands-on coursework and have opportunities for research. The curriculum at Mines emphasizes the nexus between the earth, the environment and society’s need to generate and distribute energy in an economic and sustainable way.
A Challenge that Pays Off
Students that get into Colorado School of Mines typically have an SAT score between 1160–1460 or an ACT score of 28–33. With a 53% acceptance rate, Mines is often touted as a great safety school option for our high-performing PathIvy students. However, note that the rigorous academic experience that Mines offers leads to a lower graduation rate (83%). However, if you’re up for the challenge and are inspired to push yourself in your learning, the lucrative job opportunities for Mines graduates are plenty, especially in oil and gas. Alumni argue that the post-grad job market payoff is worth the undergraduate work (literally). The average starting salary for Mines graduates with a BS degree is $73,418.
Should You Apply to Mines?
Juniors, if you’re deciding where to apply this fall, you know it’s key to ensure you have a good mix of safety, likely, and reach schools. Crafting the right list for college applications is an incredibly important task, especially if you aspire to pursue a degree in the competitive STEM fields. Is Colorado School of Mines a good fit for you? Reach out to our expert team of college counselors at PathIvy today to discuss the best plan for you.
Written By Jessica White, PathIvy Team