Florida Atlantic University

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School Says - General Information
Florida Atlantic University is a public research university with multiple campuses along the southeast Florida coast serving a uniquely diverse community. It promotes academic and personal development, discovery, and lifelong learning. FAU fulfills its mission through excellence and innovation in teaching, outstanding research, public engagement, and distinctive scientific alliances; all within an environment that fosters inclusiveness. Florida Atlantic University was established by the Florida State Legislature in 1961 as the fifth university in the state system. When it originally opened in 1964, FAU was the first university in the country to offer only upper-division and graduate-level work, on the theory that freshmen and sophomores could be served by the community college system. Located in rapidly growing Southeast Florida, the University responded to the need to provide increased access to educational opportunities by opening its doors to freshmen in 1984. Today, with its developed system of distributed campuses, where the same high-quality education is offered at seven different locations, Florida Atlantic University serves as a model for urban, regional universities of the future. It offers a comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate programs, and enrolls students who reflect the rich cultural diversity of the region. FAU has Eminent Scholar Chairs in multiple disciplines and is the home of nationally recognized research centers. The University's burgeoning Research Park is facilitating exciting new research and learning initiatives by bringing high tech industries into close collaboration with FAU's faculty and students. In recognition of the University's research funding and doctoral programs, the Florida Board of Regents has designated FAU as one of the states public research universities. Florida Atlantic University is a member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, and the Council of Graduate Schools in the United States.

School Says - Student Body
By joining one of FAUs 245 student clubs and organizations, students have the opportunity to make new acquaintances outside of the classroom. Getting involved on campus helps students develop leadership, management, and interpersonal skills while contributing to the FAU community. Students are welcome to participate in Academic Organizations, Honor Societies, Spiritual/Religious Organizations, Personal Interest Clubs, Diversity Association Organizations, Service Organizations, Sports Clubs, and Greek Life.

School Says - Academics
Florida Atlantic University's colleges include the College for Design and Social Inquiry, College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. Together, these colleges offer over one hundred and seventy different academic degree programs. In 1999, FAU opened a new residential Honors College, which provides a unique and challenging four-year curriculum for the brightest students from Florida and beyond. In addition, the University is home to one of the largest lifelong learning and continuing education programs in the Nation.

School Says - Admissions
Admission to the University as an undergraduate is limited to applicants who have graduated from regionally accredited high schools or who hold a General Equivalency Degree (GED). Evaluation is based on the academic course grade point average combined with acceptable results on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Test (ACT). Candidates for admission should have 18 academic high school units, including 4 units of English, 4units of mathematics, 3 units of natural science, 3 units of social science, 2 units of one foreign language in sequence, and 2academic electives. Score reports will be accepted directly from the testing agency or from the student's official high school transcript. FAU's SAT school code number is 5229. FAU's ACT school code number is 0729. Applicants who have completed the GED (General Educational Development) should request official high school transcripts (if applicable) and an official GED score report from the Florida Department of Education. The Florida Department of Education GED Division can be reached at 1-877-352-4331. Admission for freshman students requires an application for admission, a non-refundable $30.00 application fee, official transcripts from an accredited high school, and the results of the SAT or ACT administrations. All admitted freshmen must confirm their intention to enroll and secure their place with the freshman class by submitting a required $200.00 admissions tuition deposit. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions office for details or visit our website: www.fau.edu/admissions. Admission into FAU as a transfer with fewer than 60 transferable credits requires the applicant to be in good academic standing at their previous, regionally accredited colleges or universities, the applicant must present a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, and must meet all freshman admissions requirements. Please submit an application for admission, a non-refundable $30.00 application fee, official transcripts from high school and previously attended colleges, and the results of the SAT or ACT administrations. For students with 60 or more transferable credits, please submit an application for admission, a non-refundable $30.00 application fee, and official transcripts from each previously attended college. Please note that meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission into the university. For application deadlines or further information, please contact:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road Boca Raton, FL 33431. Telephone: 561-297-3040. Fax: 561-297-2758. World Wide Web: www.fau.edu/admissions.

School Says - Campus Life
The University's campus locations along the Florida Gold and Treasure coasts, which boast a temperate climate and beautiful beaches, innovative industry, and unique cultural opportunities, provide a stimulating environment for its outstanding scholars and researchers. FAU's main campus in Boca Raton is on an 850-acre site located only three miles from the Atlantic Ocean. The campus is conveniently located half way between Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale and offers a broad range of academic programs, activities, and services. Students attending FAU- Boca Raton have some honored guests: burrowing owls. In fact, the Audubon Society has named the site a burrowing owl sanctuary and FAU varsity athletic teams are known as the Owls in their honor. Our campuses throughout South Florida can be conveniently reached from Interstate 95 or from the Florida Turnpike.

School Says - Cost Aid
Undergraduate tuition is $159.81 per semester credit for Florida residents and $604.39 per semester credit for non-Florida residents (subject to change). Graduate tuition is $319.96 per semester credit for Florida residents and $926.42 for non-Florida residents. In addition, the estimated nine-month budget for room and board on campus is $9,690; books and supplies cost approximately $924.FAU distributes more than $150 million in scholarships, grants, loans and work study annually, based on the policies of the College Scholarship Service of the College Board. Aid packages may be adjusted over the course of a student's academic career, but assistance can be earned from the first year of attendance all the way through graduate study.

Students seeking need-based aid must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It is recommended that students planning on fall admission turn in their FAFSA forms by the previous January, though the deadline for priority applications is March 1. Typically, the application procedure takes six to eight weeks. Students are notified about their financial aid packages after they are informed of their acceptance to the University.

Merit-based scholarships are also available for outstanding students. Funding is reserved for top performers in academics, athletics, and the arts. For further information, plea.

Students Say - Academics
"Florida Atlantic University is a large public university with "lots of commuters, a growing but small contingent of school spirit, and good professors at the upper division." Undergrads here keep their eyes focused squarely on the prize: a degree that should translate into improved career opportunities. That doesn't mean their eyes don't stray occasionally; this is Boca Raton, after all, so most full-timers here "study and work hard though the week, then party, hit the beach, and get started on next week's work on the weekend." Business studies are popular and solid here, and the location accommodates the school's "strength in ocean and marine studies," while "good technology" supports the science programs. Undergrads report that the school's career center "is very helpful and provides several opportunities with careers, choosing majors, and practicing for internships (resumes, interviews, etc.)." Students in the "harder classes such as math and science" also appreciate how the school provides "outside free help that truly makes the classes easer." "Overall, FAU makes a huge effort at getting students to succeed," says one student. The school's significant contingent of part-timers, on the other hand, complains that the school does not make things easy for them. "FAU does not cater to working students even though they compose a large chunk of the student body," explains one student. "All nonacademic activities occur during the day. Freshman orientation is a full weekday. Health services are only offered from about 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advising services have limited hours as well.""

Students Say - Campus Life
"FAU is "a great place if you make it a great place." Those "who get out and do the campus recreation, whether it's the climbing club, sailing, or diving, and participate in school events are all having the best times of their lives." On the other hand, those "who just sit in their dorms and do nothing all day hate it here." The school is working to improve campus life, though some find that this has been "tough because most of the students are commuters." That said, the school is "now building a new football stadium and many new dorms, which will make the social life of on-campus students way better." Hometown Boca receives mixed reviews. The biggest gripe is that it's too pricey for those on a college budget. One student tells us that "The only place the school is close to is the beach. Otherwise, all the places here are expensive restaurants." Those with money to spend, however, enjoy the many available dining options and point out that "30 minutes in either direction (of Boca) there are things to do.""

Students Say - Student Body
"Florida Atlantic is "a very diverse university with students from all ethnic groups" who "generally converse" with each other. Everyone is "nice to each other, even if they don't hang out." Most students are from the surrounding area. Those who live on or near campus "tend to be more involved with school activities," while "Those who live off-campus are very likely to not be so involved." Proximity to the beach draws lots of "surfer dudes and girls," and there is the occasional conspicuous display of affluence ("Louis Vuitton purses for females, Oakley sunglasses for males")."

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