Connecticut’s preeminent liberal arts institution, Wesleyan University (Wesleyan Station, Middletown, 860/685-2000, www.wesleyan.edu) got a late start as New England colleges go—it wasn’t founded until 1848. But Wesleyan University has made up for lost time in the prestige department, measuring up now with the top schools around the country. The school was founded by John Wesley, who also founded the Methodist religion and envisioned the school as a place to instruct future religious leaders.

Wesleyan University quickly outgrew its original mission, however, to become a secular liberal arts school, one of the first to add modern science to the curriculum. It now has a reputation as being one of the most countercultural and politically active campuses anywhere.

You can observe the vibrant student body on a free tour of the campus (9 a.m., noon, and 3 p.m. Mon.–Fri.; noon Sat.–Sun.; information sessions at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.), which also takes in an eclectic mix of architectural styles.