Seattle University

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School Says - General Information
Seattle University, founded in 1891, is one of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States. The undergraduate student body numbers 4,253 and includes representatives from 55 states and territories and 76 nations. Seattle University provides an ideal environment for motivated students interested in self-reliance, awareness of different cultures, social justice, and the fulfillment that comes from making a difference. Our location in the center of one of the nation's most diverse and progressive cities attracts a student body, faculty, and staff rich in diversity. Our urban setting promotes the development of leadership skills and independence and provides the opportunity for students to apply what they learn through internships, clinical experiences, and volunteer work.

The student life program includes over 80 extracurricular clubs and organizations. Three residence halls and an on-campus apartment complex house 1,700 students, and undergraduate housing is available all four years. Approximately 89% of the freshmen and sophomores live on campus. The Connolly Athletic Center serves as the major facility for varsity and intramural athletics and recreation. It features two swimming pools, two gymnasiums, and saunas. A 6-acre complex provides fields for outdoor sports.

Seattle University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, AACSB International-Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the American Chemical Society, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, Association of Theological Schools, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Council on Social Work Education, and the American Bar Association.

School Says - Student Body
All undergraduates belong to the Associated Students of Seattle University (ASSU), the central student organization on campus, which is organized around an elected president, an executive vice president, and an activities vice president.

Additionally, a 12-member representative council oversees every facet of the student body and is responsible for policy making, a diverse activities program, and the communication of student needs to the administration and faculty.

School Says - Academics
Students at Seattle University take a program of liberal studies called the core curriculum. The university core curriculum has several distinguishing characteristics: it provides an integrated freshman year; gives order and sequence to student learning; provides experience in the methods and content of the range of liberal arts, sciences, philosophy, and theology; calls for active learning in all classes, for practice in writing and thinking, and for an awareness of values; fosters a global perspective and a sense of social and personal responsibility. Our academic offerings provide leadership opportunities and enable graduates to serve society through a demanding liberal arts and social sciences foundation. In the Jesuit educational tradition we teach students how to think, not what to think.

Seattle University offers two honors program options for students seeking the greatest possible challenge. The University Honors Program is a small select two year long learning community. It is humanities focused, and its fully integrated curriculum examines the most significant texts and ideas of Western culture. The Core Honors Program involves seminar sections of nine required courses in English, history, philosopy, social science, and theology/religious studies. This option is particularly suited to students in profession oriented majors where participation in University Honors is less feasible due to specific major requirements and scheduling conflicts. Admission is competitive and requires a separate application.

School Says - Admissions
Seattle University is committed to qualitative decision making based upon evaluations of students as a whole. Decisions are based primarily upon individual course selection, performance, and trends. The expected academic program comprises 16 units of coursework, including 4 years of English, 3 years of social studies or history, 2 years of a foreign language, 3 years of college-preparatory mathematics, and 2 units of lab science (3 are preferred). Laboratory physics and chemistry, as well as 4 units of college-preparatory mathematics are required for engineering; we require laboratory chemistry and biology for admission to the nursing program. Also required for all programs are offical scores from either the ACT or the SAT I. The middle 50 percent of enrolling freshmen have secondary school averages of 3.3-3.8 (on a 4.0 scale).

Essays or personal statements are required for admission and are carefully considered during application review. College credit is awarded to those who have successfully earned minimum scores on Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate examinations.

Applications and information can be obtained by contacting the Admissions Office. Secondary school students who have completed at least six semesters are encouraged to complete the application process by February 1 of their senior year. Transfer students must submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended, regardless of whether course work was completed. The recommended financial aid/admission deadline for transfers is March 1. Applications are accepted after these dates but financial aid funds may no longer be available.

Campus visits can be scheduled Monday through Friday and many Saturdays. Guests can attend a class, meet with faculty, participate in a campus tour, and speak individually with representatives from admissions. Students can apply directly or online via our website, www.seattleu.edu. Seattle University is a member of The Common Application and the Universal College Application.

School Says - Campus Life
Seattle University is located in a port city of unsurpassed natural beauty. As the Pacific Northwest's largest city (and the 14th largest metropolitan area in the United States), Seattle is a scenic and cultural center in a setting that includes breathtaking mountain views of the Cascades to the east and the Olympics to the west. In addition to being situated along Puget Sound, Seattle also contains Lakes Union and Washington.

The campus is located in the center of the city. Seattle's sights and sounds, rich ethnic diversity, celebrated restaurants, first-run entertainment, major-league athletics, theater, opera, and ballet enhance campus life.

School Says - Cost Aid
For the 2009-2010 academic year, full-time tuition is $29,340; room and meals are $8,805. The estimate for books, supplies, fees and personal expenses is an additional $5,353. Travel costs vary among students. Costs are subject to change. Seattle University operates on a quarter calendar with fall term beginning in late September.Approximately 90 percent of new freshmen receive an average financial aid award of $22,053 per year. These awards usually include scholarships, grants, loans, and Federal Work-Study. Last year, Seattle University awarded more than $72.3 million in aid to undergraduates - nearly $30.6 million of that came from the university's own funds. Students are required to apply for financial aid by February 1, as awards are made early each spring for the following fall quarter.

Applications that are received after this deadline will be evaluated in the order received for any remaining aid. Students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be accepted for admission to be considered for financial assistance. There are a number of scholarships for freshmen that are awarded on the basis of academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and community service. Transfer scholarships are also available.

Students Say - Academics
Seattle University is a midsize Jesuit university that "offers a community experience in which students can learn and grow together." "Between its academic excellence, exceptional facilities, location, and social justice focus, this school offers the holistic Jesuit educational experience in a dynamic setting appropriate for the scholars of the 21st century." Issues of "community and social justice in a complex world" permeate the curriculum here, "pushing students to re-evaluate their presuppositions about the world in a just and humane manner." Academically, SU "is very strong and very challenging," but great support networksâ€"including a writing center, a math lab, and an encouraging faculty help students cope. According to students, professors "all respond to e-mails…leave us their cell phone numbers," and "will meet after hours to talk about an assignment." A "prestigious nursing program" tops a list of outstanding departments that also include public affairs, criminal justice, civil engineering, and business. Throughout the university, "SU believes in emphasizing the human aspect of education, and so access to faculty and administrative staff is seamless. Our president walks around and talks to students, and the entire administration is very visible on campus."

Students Say - Campus Life
SU students are "lucky enough to live in the middle of one of the most exciting cities in the country," and most take full advantage of the situation. "Being in Capitol Hill, there's more than enough restaurants, theaters, museums, concerts, parks, book stores/libraries to suit anyone's palate," while the greater city "is fun to explore, so weekends are not limited to sitting around drinking." Seattle is a music town, so, "there is a lot of live music-both on campus and off-as well as movies." Students also venture into the city to perform community service, a popular vocation among SU undergrads. Traveling just a bit beyond city limits, students find an area "perfect for outdoorsy things like snowboarding/skiing in the winter or rock climbing/hiking/camping in the fall and spring. The school usually sponsors these types of trips for easy access." On-campus options are "fun for all types of people," with events ranging from concerts, "sporting events, magicians, musical talent, speakers, and lots of different types of food to try," as well as "hundreds of events ranging from community cookie-baking to giant drag shows or cultural festivals. Residence halls have programming daily, and it's always some sort of awareness month or week. This is an active campus." There's also "a party life at Seattle U, but it's smaller than state schools." As one student puts it, "it's definitely not a party school, but those who like to party will be able to find something. There's really a place for everybody."

Students Say - Student Body
SU attracts a lot of "generally nice, down-to-earth people" who "are using their college experience to launch into their post-college career and not as a four-year vacation before work starts." Students here "are very independent-minded. Everyone has plans set, and they want to succeed at what they're setting out to do. But with that said, we all get along really well, and everyone hangs out with each other. There's little separation between majors, and it helps that the residence halls aren't divided up by academics." They also tend to be the sort of folks who "want to make a difference in the world: business majors, music majors, English majors; we all want to help out." They're "pretty aware of events going on in the world-and care." Environmental awareness "is a huge part of campus community, as is community service." Students pride themselves on SU's "pretty diverse" population, which includes "a lot of international students," a "large gay population," and "quite a few nontraditional [older than 25] students" in the mix.

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