How many international students are there at St. Lawrence?
During the 2007-2008 academic year, St. Lawrence was home to more than
120 international students from the following 45 countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Ethiopia, Ghana,
Honduras, India, Ireland, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Latvia, Lesotho, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Romania, Rwanda, Serbia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Vietnam, Zambia
and Zimbabwe.
How “international” is St. Lawrence?
International students find a welcoming global community at St. Lawrence. Almost
50% of our students study abroad or complete international research each
year. Over 50% of the faculty have significant international training
and expertise. St. Lawrence is unique among US colleges and universities as
being the liberal arts college closest to another nation’s capital (Ottawa,
Canada), and we take advantage of our proximity to Canada through formal courses
and co- and extra-curricular programs. In addition
to academic programs like Global Studies and
the modern languages, faculty
across the campus routinely incorporate global perspectives in their courses. Outside
the class room, clubs and organizations such as International
House, Amnesty International, Global Awareness Club, and the SLU Model United
Nations Club allow students to explore their global interests in other venues. The
International Students Office and Advisor are based in the Dean of Student Life
offices in the Student Center. This office provides advice and support to international
students including International Student Orientation, visa and immigration advice
and assistance, and programming throughout the year to enrich the experience
of our international students.
Is St. Lawrence a religious school?
No. St. Lawrence is named in honor of the St. Lawrence River Valley. The St.
Lawrence River flows about 1,207 km (750 miles) from Lake Ontario, along the
Ontario-New York border and through southern Québec, to the Gulf of
St. Lawrence. The river was first sighted by Jacques Cartier, a French explorer,
on the Feast Day of St. Lawrence in 1534. The St. Lawrence River today is a
major shipping route and a destination for boating, fishing, and vacationing
on both sides of the river.
Famous alumni?
While we like to think that all of our alumni are accomplished, a number have
achieved a high degree of recognition. Among St. Lawrence's distinguished
alumni are industrialist and diplomat Owen D. Young (1894), for whom the
Young Plan for European war reparations was named; Olympia Brown (1863), the
first woman in U.S. history to be ordained a minister; author Lorrie Moore
(’78); United States Senator from the state of Maine, Susan Collins (’75);
actors Kirk Douglas (’39) and Viggo Mortensen (’80); member of
parliament, Kenya, Joseph Lekuton, (’91, M’94); and Karen
R. Hitchcock (’64), a noted scholar and principal and vice-chancellor
at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
What is a liberal arts and sciences education?
St. Lawrence University is firmly committed to undergraduate liberal arts
and sciences education for women and men, an education that requires breadth,
depth and integration in learning.
Breadth: St. Lawrence students must complete a set of distribution requirements
that expose them to a number of disciplines beyond their intended major(s).
Distribution requirements should be seen not as a checklist of courses to complete
but rather as an invitation to explore, indeed, to cultivate wisdom. Students
often find that they discover or develop life long interests through carefully
selected courses that satisfy their distribution requirements. At St.
Lawrence, all students must complete one course in arts/expression; humanities;
social science; mathematics or foreign language; two courses in natural science
and science studies, one of which must be a laboratory course; two courses
from two different departments that engage participants in the critical study
of sameness and difference; and the First
Year Program and First
Year Seminar.
Depth: All students are required to complete a concentrated field of study,
or major. Students may choose
a major or majors from a number of traditional,
combined or interdisciplinary majors and programs.
Integration: Through a liberal arts education students not only learn and
develop specific information and skills, but also learn how to learn, adapt,
and integrate diverse material; communicate appropriately; and utilize effectively
what has been learned. This is accomplished at St. Lawrence through the First
Year Program, numerous opportunities for interdisciplinary studies, minors, research
opportunities, and the Senior Year Experience, required by some majors.
How will a liberal arts and sciences education help in my career search?
A liberal arts and sciences education provides for a large number of options
in the choice of a career. For example, 96%
of the Class of 2006 either had a job within six months of graduation or
enrolled in graduate school. 21% enrolled in graduate programs and 75%
were employed. Typically 40% of our alumni enroll in graduate programs within
five years of graduation. The Office of Career
Services and Leadership Education is committed to empowering students
and graduates to discover their passion, explore their career options, develop
their personal career plan, and attain their goals as part of their lifelong
educational philosophy.
Can I study Engineering at St. Lawrence?
St. Lawrence does offer a 3+2
Engineering program in which students spend three years at St. Lawrence
and two years at a cooperating engineering school (Clarkson University, Columbia
University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Rochester, and
University of Southern California) and graduate with
a bachelor's degree from each institution. This option allows students to receive
three years of a broad-based, well-rounded liberal arts education before specializing
in an engineering field. It also allows students the freedom to change their
major plans from engineering to another field without changing schools. Please
note that students who require and/or receive financial assistance
to attend St. Lawrence may not find this the best option. Because financial
aid to international students is limited, and institutional policies vary,
it is not possible to predict the level of financial assistance a student will
receive from the engineering school. It would be necessary for students to
apply for scholarships and other financial assistance directly from the engineering
school.
Can I study Business at St. Lawrence?
Pre-management Program. Many St. Lawrence students choose
to pursue graduate programs in management or careers in business. More than
40% of the graduates of the class of 2005 were employed in banking, finance,
sales, or marketing within six months of graduation. Majors from any discipline
may complete the pre-management program at St. Lawrence, which combines an
individually tailored course of study with career building programs and leadership
skills development. A certificate is awarded to students successfully completing
the Pre-Management
Program. Participants should work closely with the Pre-Management Program
coordinator and with career services and leadership education.
4+1 MBA Program. St. Lawrence University has
4+1
MBA agreements with the graduate schools at Clarkson University, Rochester
Institute of Technology, and Union Graduate College that allow students to plan
their undergraduate program to include courses that serve as foundation courses
for graduate study. Students must complete a regular undergraduate major and
meet prescribed admission standards in addition to the foundation courses. Those
who are admitted can expect to complete the requirements for the MBA degree in
one year rather than the usual two or more. In addition, applicants with outstanding
academic records will receive a prompt decision concerning admission and financial
aid. Preliminary inquires concerning these programs may be made by consulting
with the pre-management coordinator.
What are the admissions criteria?
Competitive candidates for admission typically present:
- Four years of English
- Three years each of social studies, mathematics, foreign language and
science, with additional years of study in the areas of greatest interest
to the student
- Coursework in other areas as determined by the requirements of their
secondary school or Ministry of Education and the interests of the student.
Competitive candidates should be completing or have completed the equivalent
of 12 years of education (primary and secondary) or the program of study
that leaves them eligible for admission to university-level study in the educational
system in which they are enrolled. For example, students who are completing
or who have only completed O level, GCSE/IGCSE, SMP, or HKCEE study should
not apply and may be at a competitive disadvantage for admission and financial
aid consideration. Candidates should apply when they are completing the final
year of advanced level study, or the equivalent.
What are the application requirements?
Application. Candidates for admission may start their application
by completing Part I of our application online or
by downloading it
and mailing it to the Office of Admissions.
All candidates for admissions MUST apply using the Common Application with
the required St. Lawrence Supplement. They may submit the Common Application online or
by downloading and
mailing it to the Office of Admissions.
They MUST also submit the St. Lawrence Common Application Supplement
online or
by
downloading and
mailing it to the Office of Admissions.
Application Fee. The US$60.00 application fee
is waived for all international (non-U.S. citizen) applicants.
Transcripts.We require that applicants submit a 3-year
secondary school transcript (a record of courses taken and marks received
in their classes from the 2004-2005, 2005-2006, and 2006-2007 academic years)
as well as a record of the courses they are taking during their final year
of secondary school (2007-2008). Emailed and photocopied transcripts are
not considered official and will not be accepted.
Transfer applicants are
required to submit transcripts of all coursework completed at the secondary
and post-secondary levels.
Applicants must submit official secondary education credentials for all years
of secondary education, including any qualifying and terminal examinations. An
official, notarized translation of any credentials not in English is required.
It is important to note that we require both the official secondary education
credentials in the foreign language as well as the official notarized translation
of these credentials.
Standardized Testing. Although we are a Test
Optional institution, international applicants and particularly those
applying for international student financial aid are encouraged to
submit SAT Reasoning or ACT scores if English is their first language
and SAT Reasoning or ACT and TOEFL scores if English is not their first
language.
All standardized testing should be completed by
the end of December, but must be completed no later than January, 2008.
Candidates for the SAT Reasoning Test can obtain information from either
their guidance office or the College Board, Box 592, Princeton, NJ 08540, www.collegeboard.com.
Candidates for the ACT can obtain information from their guidance office
or ACT Registration, Box 414, Iowa City, IA 52243, www.act.org. Candidates
for the TOEFL (paper-based, inter-active) can obtain information at www.ets.org.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to make arrangements for official
exam scores to be sent to the St. Lawrence Admissions Office. Emailed
and photocopied scores are not official and will not be accepted.
Recommendations.Candidates are required to submit a recommendation
from a university or guidance counselor. If there is no guidance counselor
at their school, applicants should have the principal, headmaster, head
tutor or some other school official who has been closely supervising or
monitoring their secondary school studies write a recommendation instead.
Two letters of recommendation from teachers with whom the applicants have
studied in an academic subject in their final two years of secondary school
are also required.
If the guidance counselor or teacher recommendations are not written in English,
a certified translation must be provided.
Financial Aid. Candidates applying for international
student need-based financial aid must submit a copy of the 2008-2009
International Student Financial Aid Application. Please note
that, due to our limited funding for international student need-based
financial aid, applicants applying for this aid may NOT apply for
Early Decision admission. International applicants may also apply
for the following Merit
Scholarships: Community
Service Scholarship and Vilas
Scholarship.
Miscellaneous materials. The Admissions Committee does
not require and does not review in their decision making art works; portfolios;
photographs; or music, dance, theatre, or athletic CD’s or tapes. Applicants
are encouraged, however, to submit the Common
Application Arts Supplement or Common
Application Athletic Supplement.
Applicants are also encouraged to provide a listing of certificates or other
honors they have earned rather than sending photocopies of these certificates.
What is the English proficiency
requirement?
St. Lawrence strongly recommends that international applicants whose first
language is other than English take the Test of English as a Foreign Language
(TOEFL). Applicants whose first language is other than English who do not provide
official results of the TOEFL may be at a competitive disadvantage for admissions
and financial aid consideration.
The following are the recommended minimum scores for each version of
the TOEFL:
- Paper-based TOEFL: 600,
with no subscore below 50
- Computer-based TOEFL: 250,
with no subscore below 20
- iBT/Interactive TOEFL: 82
with no subscore below 20 (19 for speaking)
Please note that these are not required minimum scores but recommended scores.
St. Lawrence waives the TOEFL requirement for applicants
who have completed or are expected to complete International Baccalaureate
Higher Level English A1 (mother tongue) or A2 (bilingual) exams with scores
of 5, 6, or 7. Students taking International Baccalaureate Standard Level English
may request a waiver on a case-by-case basis by contacting the Director of
International Admissions.
St. Lawrence also waives the TOEFL requirement for applicants who have earned
a score of 600 or higher on the Critical Reading section of the SAT Reasoning
Test.
How do I send the results of my SAT I, SAT Reasoning, SAT II, and
TOEFL exams to St. Lawrence?
There are several ways to submit test scores. Applicants should indicate
St. Lawrence as a recipient institution for their scores when they register
for the exams. Our institutional code number is 2805 for SAT I, SAT
Reasoning, SAT II, and TOEFL scores. The institutional code for ACT
scores is 2896.
University or guidance counselors may include the exam results on the Common
Application Secondary School Report Form.
University or guidance counselors may send us attested or certified copies
of the test results.
PHOTOCOPIES, FAXED COPIES, AND EMAILS WITH TEST SCORES ARE NOT OFFICIAL AND
WILL NOT BE MADE PART OF AN APPLICANT’S ADMISSION FILE.
Applicants should also be consistent with the spelling and sequence of their
family/surname and given names when registering for these standardized exams
and completing the application. We recommend that on all application materials
applicants provide their name as printed on their passport. Differences
in the spelling or sequence of names may delay the receipt of test scores and
the review of applications.
Are the SAT’s the most important criteria the Admissions Committee
uses to make its decisions?
No. We do not require SAT’s. And if applicants do submit
SAT scores, our decisions are based on many factors. We use a holistic
approach when reviewing applications and consider all the information – secondary
school courses, level of difficulty of the academic program, trend in achievement,
recommendations, personal statements, and extracurricular activities.
What are the application deadlines?
There are three different application deadlines for fall admission, Regular
Decision, Early Decision I, and Early Decision II. Applicants applying
form outside the U.S. are strongly encouraged to submit their application
and supporting materials well in advance of the application deadlines.
The Regular Decision application deadline is February 1 and
applicants are notified of their decision by the end of March.
Students who have selected St. Lawrence as their first choice are encouraged
to apply under the Early Decision Program. Through this program, a candidate’s
file is read prior to the review of the general applicant pool. Applicants
accepted under this program are obligated to attend St. Lawrence and must withdraw
any applications submitted to other institutions. The Early Decision I application
deadline is November 15, with notification on December 15. The Early Decision
II application deadline is January 15, with notification on February 15. Please
note that, due to our limited funding, applicants applying for international
student financial aid may NOT apply for Early Decision admission.
Can I receive advanced placement or credit for coursework I complete
while in secondary school?
St. Lawrence University awards advanced placement and credit toward
graduation for entering first-year students through the College
Board Advanced Placement program. Generally, advanced placement and
credit toward graduation are granted to students who achieve a rating
of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Examination. Advanced placement and
credit may also be earned by completion of International Baccalaureate
Higher Level examinations with scores of 5, 6, or 7. The effect of advanced
credit upon the department major requirements is at the discretion of
each department chair. Each department chair will review the requested
credit and make a recommendation to the registrar
How much does it cost to attend St. Lawrence?
| 2007-2008 (August - May) Costs: |
|
|
| Tuition: |
$ |
35/375 |
| Fees: |
$ |
225 |
| Room: |
$ |
4,870 |
| Board: |
$ |
$4,190 |
| Insurance: |
$ |
1,350*** |
| Books: |
$ |
650**** |
| Personal Expenses: |
$ |
800**** |
| TOTAL: |
$ |
47,460 |
| * double room; single room is $5,620 |
| ** full flex plan (selected by most students); full 21-meal plan
is $4,390 |
| *** estimated |
| **** unbilled expenses: these are estimated out-of-pocket costs that do not appear on the semester bills but which students must have available to them |
The annual student budget increase is approximately 4-6% each
year. The expected annual student budget for the 2008-2009
academic year will be $49,700.
This figure also does not include transportation costs to and from
St. Lawrence. |
| Summer (2007) Costs: |
|
|
| Tuition: |
$ |
2,625 / course |
| Fees: |
$ |
35 |
| Room & Board - Session I |
$ |
1,105 |
| Room & Board - Session II |
$ |
1,105 |
Do you offer financial aid for international students?
During the 2006-2007 academic year, St. Lawrence provided more than
$3.7 million
in university-funded grants and scholarships to international students. 109
of our international students receive financial aid awards and the average award
was $39,490. Financial aid is typically awarded in "package" form,
which includes some combination of grants, merit scholarships, loans, and campus
employment.
Awards are made on the basis of an analysis of a family's ability to pay for
college and a student’s academic achievement. Students applying
for international student financial aid must complete and a copy of the International
Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA).
The ISFAA should
be submitted at the same time as your complete application for admission. No
awards will be granted solely on the basis of merit, but rather on the combination
of financial need, academic excellence and extracurricular involvement.
Competition for international student financial aid is keen. Last year,
only 65 students were offered financial aid packages out of the more than 683
international applicants who also applied for financial aid. Candidates are
strongly encouraged to explore other sources of scholarship and financial aid.
Financial aid will, in most cases, include a combination of merit aid and need-based
aid in the form of campus employment, loans, and grants or scholarships. The
decisions regarding the number of scholarships and the amount awarded to international
students are based on the information students provide in their admissions application
and
ISFAA, and
are made in the context of the entire applicant pool. It is not possible for
us to give applicants an assessment of whether or not they will receive financial
aid or how much they would receive unless they are admitted.
Other Links:
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