Senior Assistant Director of Admissions
Jessica Sullivan, a Class of 2000 St. Lawrence
graduate who coordinates the reading of
applications for admission, with some of the
4,423 applications received to date this year.

A List
2/16/07

APPLICATIONS TO SLU INCREASE 38 PERCENT, TO NEW RECORD

CANTON - St. Lawrence University has received a record number of applications for undergraduate admission for the 2007-2008 academic year. The St. Lawrence Office of Admissions reported that as of February 15, 4,423 applications had been received; the total represents a 38.6 percent increase over last year, which was also a record year.

More applications are expected within the next several days; applications are to be postmarked by February 15.

Terry Cowdrey, vice president and dean of admissions and financial aid, said the University has worked hard to achieve this increase and credits current students with offering the most reliable and consistent endorsements of their University. "We began to see last spring a dramatic increase in the number of visitors to campus, and our visitors tell us that the enthusiasm with which current students describe their experience at St. Lawrence convinced these high school students to investigate the University."

Cowdrey noted that high school visitors report St. Lawrence's appreciation of the well-rounded student, both in terms of academic and extracurricular interests, sets it apart from many other colleges and universities. In addition, visitors learn that opportunities for independent research and international study are available for all capable and motivated students, not just for a select few.

News of the planned fall 2007 opening of the $37-million, environmentally sustainable Johnson Hall of Science was an important factor, along with the recent addition of a student center, the opening of an arts technology center and investments in athletic facilities. St. Lawrence's programs in the humanities and social sciences have long been respected, but the University is becoming increasingly well known for its interdisciplinary programs that address contemporary issues, such as environmental studies and global studies.

St. Lawrence's "test-optional" admissions process also had appeal for many applicants. Like many of its peer institutions, St. Lawrence has concluded that because standardized-test scores did not play a decisive role in determining admission, students should be able to choose whether or not to submit scores as part of the admissions application. The University's research shows that high school grade-point average is twice as powerful in predicting college success.

The record number of applications will require the University to be more selective in its admissions process, as it does not plan to increase class size. Plans call for enrollment of 580 for the Class of 2011.

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More information: Admissions and Financial Aid Web site.