First there was a book. In 1996, journalist and independent college counselor Loren Pope published Colleges that Change Lives: 40 Schools You Should Know About Even If You’re Not a Straight-A Student. The idea was to highlight colleges that weren’t as famous and prestigious as Ivy League universities or other “elite” New England liberal arts colleges but that delivered the same—or better—personalized and life-changing education. It’s now in its fourth edition.

Later came the organization. The 40 colleges named in the book formed a non-profit organization to champion liberal arts colleges and help students find a good fit. It’s an antidote to reliance on rankings and the “prestige anxiety” that often comes with rankings. Even though Colleges that Change Lives was prompted by the book and named for the book, the group is completely independent. It has no relationship with Pope’s estate (he died in 2008) or the book’s publisher. Likewise, all the member colleges of CTCL are independent institutions. They just contribute to the organization.

CTCL does several things. It is a loud and thoughtful voice in the drive to make college admission more about a student-centered fit and less about elitism-centered prestige rankings. It provides resources to students, parents, and schools about making wise college decisions.

Probably the most important thing CTCL does for students is provide profiles of their member schools. It’s a good way to get to know some smaller colleges that you may not have heard of if you don’t live near them. CTCL also offers scholarships for students attending member schools.

Who are the member schools? There are now 44 of them. They are all small liberal arts colleges. Small in that they range in size from around 100 students to around 3,000 students. Most are in the 1,000-2,000 range. They are liberal arts colleges in that they focus on undergraduate teaching. For contrast, think of a flagship public university like the University of Michigan. It has over 30,000 undergraduate students, and it also has 180 different graduate degree programs. Liberal arts college doesn’t mean they don’t have STEM programs, nor does it mean that the college is liberal in terms of politics.

If I talk to a student or client who seems interested in a large, comprehensive university, I don’t try to steer them towards Colleges that Change Lives. Small liberal arts colleges aren’t for everyone. But if I’m working with someone who does seem interested in that kind of school, especially if they’re undecided about a major, then I definitely want them to spend time looking at CTCL and the member colleges. I live and work in a very large city, and most of the students I work with want to be in—or at least near—a metropolitan area. They stay away from the “tiny college in the middle of nowhere” stereotype. But many of the CTCL colleges are in urban areas. And none of them are, in reality, in a spot with nothing but cornfields for miles around.

*Colleges that Change Lives is an independent organization which does not endorse or have a relationship with Apply with Sanity. It neither sponsored nor contributed to this content.