Elmira College is a liberal arts gem in upstate New York with a wild quirk: the academic calendar runs on quarters, not semesters, meaning four classes at a time and rapid cycles. The campus plays up its Mark Twain connection (he lived nearby and the college has his letters and memorabilia), which shapes the intellectual culture–literary and offbeat.
The student body is under 1,500, which means professors know you and seminar-style teaching is the norm. Standout programs include English and creative writing (naturally), business, and the sciences. There's a study-abroad component built into many programs, and the quarter system means you could be in Japan or D.C. before you know it.
The quarters also mean you finish degree requirements faster if you want, or you can dabble more liberally without losing time. It's an unconventional choice that appeals to students who want something different from the semester-based standard. The town of Elmira is small, so the college is the cultural anchor–theater, lectures, art on the quad.