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How many Canadian students are there at St.
Lawrence?
During the 2009-2010 academic year, St. Lawrence is home to 55 Canadian students (from the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quèbec, and Saskatchewan) and more than 74 international students from the following 45 countries (one student from each country unless indicated otherwise in parenthesis; also includes dual citizens): Afghanistan, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina (5), Botswana (2), Brazil (2), Bulgaria (3), China (2), Colombia, Croatia (2), Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Finland, France, India (2), Israel, Japan (2), Kenya (7), Kosovo, Latvia, Lebanon, Macedonia (2), Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Nepal (2), Nigeria, Pakistan (2), Palestine (2), Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa (3), South Korea, Swaziland, Sweden, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey (4), Uganda, Vietnam (3), Yemen, Zambia (2), and Zimbabwe (3).
How important is Canada at St. Lawrence?
St. Lawrence University, only 30 km from the Canadian border, has a long relationship with Canada, and is unique among U.S. colleges and universities as being the liberal arts and sciences college closest to another nation’s capital, Ottawa. We take advantage of our proximity to Canada through formal courses and co- and extra-curricular programs. In the 1930’s, St. Lawrence and Queens University co-sponsored the influential Conferences on Canadian-American Relations. Our Canadian Studies program, one of the best in the U.S., offers a variety of courses on the politics, history, economics, and culture of Canada and on Canadian-U.S. relations. St. Lawrence students can study at Trent University. Dr. Robert Thacker, Associate Dean for Academic Advising Programs and Professor of Canadian Studies, recently published a landmark biography of Canadian author Alice Munro. The Canadian flag proudly flies along with the U.S. flag at University events and athletic games.
International students find a welcoming global community at St. Lawrence. 53% of our students study abroad or complete international research each year. Over 50% of the faculty have significant international training and expertise. In addition to academic programs like Global Studies and 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.
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 side 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; Jo Ann Campbell (‘86), a Prescott, Ontario native who has worked all over the world as a high-level executive with General Electric and is currently vice president and chief financial officer at Kodak Health Imaging in Rochester, N.Y., and vice chair of the St. Lawrence Board of Trustees; Gregory J. Carvel (‘93), Canton native and outstanding student-athlete at St. Lawrence, now an assistant coach with the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League; Brian McFarlane (’55), a record-setting hockey player in college who went on to a long career as anchor of “Hockey Night in Canada” and n National Hockey League historian and author; United States Senator from the state of Maine, Susan Collins (’75); actors Kirk Douglas (’39) and Viggo Mortensen (’80); and University president William L. Fox (’75).
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. 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 (First Year Course and First Year Seminar.)
Depth: Students are also 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, 93.6% of the Class of 2008 either had a job within six months of graduation or enrolled in graduate school. 19.9% enrolled in graduate programs and 73.7% were employed. Typically, more than 40% of our alumni enroll in graduate programs within five years of graduation. The Office of Career Services 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. Over 450 St. Lawrence alumni are presidents or chief executive officers of their organizations.
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 international 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 23% of the graduates of the class of 2008 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 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 inquiries concerning these programs may be made by consulting with the pre-management coordinator.
What are the admissions criteria?
St. Lawrence seeks to enroll students who are intellectually curious, self-motivated and who have a clear sense of purpose. St. Lawrence students should be poised to embrace the mission of a residential, community-based liberal arts university and appreciate the value of learning in, and about, a diverse community and world. Because the University maintains a focus on personal as well as academic development, our students should also be prepared to assume leadership positions and have the ability to balance a variety of academic and extracurricular commitments. We also seek students who will increase the racial, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of our student body.
Applications for admission are evaluated with a holistic approach, weighting heavily the rigor of secondary school curriculum, trend of achievement, final or predicted final examination results if available, and what we learn about students from letters of recommendation as well as the information they provide in their applications and personal statements.
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 in Quèbec who are completing or who have only completed Form V (Year 11) should not apply and will be at a competitive disadvantage for admission and financial aid consideration. Candidates should apply when they are completing their 12th year of pre-university study.
When can I apply?
Canadian citizens may apply for fall (August) or spring (January) admission.
What is the application deadline?
The Regular Decision application deadline is February 1 and applicants are notified of their decisions by the end of March. Applicants applying from outside the U.S. are strongly encouraged to submit their application and supporting materials well in advance of the application deadlines.
Can I apply Early Decision?
Canadian applicants who have selected St. Lawrence as their first choice may apply under the Early Decision Program. Applicants accepted under this program are obligated to attend St. Lawrence and must withdraw any applications submitted to other institutions, including those in Canada. 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.
Should I apply for first-year or transfer admission?
Students who have enrolled as a degree candidates at tertiary-level, post-secondary (high school) institutions of higher education must apply as transfer applicants and will not be considered for first-year admission. For more information about transfer admission, please visit the transfer admission web page. Applicants enrolled in Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP) should apply for first-year admission if they are enrolled in the first year of CEGEP study and for transfer admission if they are enrolled in the second year or completed the second year of CEGEP study.
What are the application requirements?
Application. Applicants 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 applicants for admission must submit 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 may 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 Canadian 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 2006-2007, 2007-2008, and 2008-2009 academic years) as well as a record of the courses they are taking during their final year of secondary school (2009-2010). Applicants who have completed secondary school should provide a transcript of their secondary school courses and grades as well as the results of any qualifying or terminal examinations.
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 not in English 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 if English is their first language and SAT Reasoning and TOEFL scores if English is not their first language.
All standardized testing should be completed by the end of December 2009. 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 TOEFL (paper-based, inter-active) can obtain information at www.ets.org.
Applicants should also be consistent with the spelling and sequence of their family/surname and given names when registering for standardized exams and completing the application. We recommend that on all application and testing 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.
Recommendations. Applicants 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 other school official who has been closely supervising or monitoring their secondary school studies write a recommendation. 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. Applicants for international student need-based financial aid must submit a copy of the 2010-2011 International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA). Canadian applicants may also apply for the following Merit Scholarships: Community Service Scholarship, Presidential Diversity, 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 Canadian 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
- 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 Reasoning, SAT II, or 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 Reasoning, SAT Subject Test, and TOEFL scores.
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.
Applicants should also be consistent with the spelling and sequence of their family/surname and given names when registering for standardized exams and completing the application. We recommend that on all application and testing 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.
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 Advanced Placement Examinations. 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?
| 2009-2010 (August - May) Costs: |
|
|
| Tuition: |
$ |
39,520 |
| Fees: |
$ |
245 |
| Room: |
$ |
5,460* |
| Board: |
$ |
4,700** |
| Insurance: |
$ |
1,500 |
| Books: |
$ |
650*** |
| Personal Expenses: |
$ |
1,000*** |
| TOTAL: |
$ |
53,075 |
| * double room; single room is $6,610 |
| ** full flex plan (selected by most students); full 21-meal plan is $4,850 |
| *** 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 2009-2010 academic year will be approximately $55,725. The actual cost will be determined in February 2010.
This figure also does not include transportation costs to and from St. Lawrence. |
Do you offer financial aid for Canadian students?
Canadian citizens are treated like US citizens for need-based financial aid purposes. This means that St. Lawrence uses institutional funds to provide financial aid to qualified students. During the 2008-2009 academic year, St. Lawrence provided US$5.5 million in university-funded grants and scholarships to international students. The average financial aid award for Canadian students was $24,946.
St. Lawrence provides a Canadian Grant of US$5,000 that is deducted from the annual total cost for all Canadian citizens (not dual US/Canada citizens).
The Canadian Merit Scholarship is a US$20,000 a year grant awarded to students on the basis of excellent secondary school marks and strong school recommendations. Applicants awarded a Canadian Merit Scholarship receive a net cost reduction of US$25,000 (US$20,000 Canadian Merit Scholarship and US$5,000 Canadian Grant). All Canadian citizens are automatically reviewed for this scholarship.
The Augsbury/North Country Scholarship is a US$20,000 a year grant awarded to students on the basis of excellent secondary school marks and strong school recommendations. Applicants awarded a Augsbury/North Country Scholarship receive a net cost reduction of US$25,000 (US$20,000 Augsbury/North Country Scholarship and US$5,000 Canadian Grant). Only Canadian citizens enrolled at designated Canadian Augsbury/North Country Scholarship secondary schools are eligible for consideration for this scholarship.
Canadian citizens applying for need-based financial aid must submit a copy of the 2010-2011 International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA). Canadian applicants may also apply for the following Merit Scholarships: Community Service Scholarship, Presidential Diversity, and Vilas Scholarship. The ISFAA should be submitted at the same time as your complete application for admission.
Financial aid may include need-based aid (in the form of on campus employment, loans, and grants), merit aid (scholarships), or a combination of merit and need-based aid. The decisions regarding the type of financial aid and the amount awarded to Canadian 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 and have submitted an ISFAA.
Does St. Lawrence provide athletic scholarships?
St. Lawrence is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). NCAA regulations do not allow us to provide athletic scholarships for student participating in our 30 Division III sports programs. We are, however, allowed to provide athletic scholarships for members of our Division I men’s ice hockey and women’s ice hockey teams. Prospective applicants interested in the ice hockey programs should contact the appropriate coach as early as possible.
Other Links:
St. Lawrence home page
About St. Lawrence
Admissions web page
Applying to St. Lawrence
Financial Aid for Undergraduate International Students,
from NAFSA:Association of International Educators
Academic Majors and Programs
Student Research and Fellowships
First Year Program
Academic Achievement
University Catalog
Environmentalism at St. Lawrence
Residence Life
Dining Services
Clubs and Organizations
Community Service
Athletics
Study Abroad/Off Campus Study
Calendar of Events
On Line Campus Tour
Where is Canton?
Canton
Regional Information
Weather
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