How many international students are there at St. Lawrence?

During the 2009-2010 academic year, St. Lawrence is home to more than 129 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), Canada (55), 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 “international” is St. Lawrence?

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. 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 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 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 World War I 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); members of parliament, Kenya, Joseph  Lekuton, (’91, M’94) and Chachu Ganya (’96), 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.

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.

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.

When can I apply?

IInternational applicants may apply for fall (August) 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?

Please note that, due to our limited international student financial aid, applicants applying for international student financial aid may NOT apply for Early Decision admission.

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. We normally offer transfer admission and financial aid to 3 to 5 international students each year.

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 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 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.

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.  

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 2009-2010 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 or spring (January) admission

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.

How do I send the results of my SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject Test, 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. 

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?

Do you offer financial aid for international students?

During the 2008-2009 academic year, St. Lawrence provided more than US$5.5 million
in university-funded grants and scholarships to international students.  126 international students received financial aid awards and the average award was US$44,425. Financial aid is typically awarded in "package" form, which includes some combination of grants, merit scholarships, loans, and campus employment.

Other Links:

St. Lawrence home page
About St. Lawrence
Admissions web page
Applying to St. Lawrence