College Spotlight- Seattle University

I’m going to stay in the Pacific Northwest, with the next college to showcase. Seattle University is a Jesuit university in the middle of stunning Seattle. It has just over 4,500 undergraduate students with a diverse population of students and a myriad of top notch programs to study. When I first arrived on campus, I was struck by the beauty of the campus and how it meshed very well with the surrounding environment. Although the campus is right outside downtown Seattle, you are surrounded by water and snow-capped mountains, and the modern and unique architecture of the school buildings is quite breathtaking. I know Seattle is far for us east-coasters, but as I talked to students, faculty, and administration at Seattle University, I realized this was truly a special place with so much to offer for students across the county, and it is a place I would feel very comfortable recommending. Here are a few fun and helpful facts about the school, so enjoy!

Student Population: 4,500 Undergraduates, 35% minority students, average class size is 20, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 14:1.

AdmissionsInfo: Middle 50% GPA for acceptance: 3.3-3.9, SATs: 1600-1910, ACT: 24-29. Seattle U has both Early Action (11/15) and Regular Decision (1/15).

Cost: The current total cost of attendance is $46,410 per year. However, 96% of freshmen come in with financial aid help, which averages at $27,000 per student.

Colleges: Albers School of Business and Economics, College of Arts and Sciences, Collegeof Education, College of Nursing, College of Science and Engineering, School ofLaw, School of Theology and Ministry, Matteo Ricci College (Jesuit centered, humanities program).

Standout Majors Offered at Seattle University: Their nursing program is very competitive, where students should have a minimum 3.7 GPA, and mid 600s in each of the SAT sections. Other standout majors include cultural anthropology, digital design, prelaw, social work, sports and exercise science, finance, business economics, biochemistry, and engineering (civil, environmental, computer science/software, electrical, mechanical).

Seattle University has numerous Division 1 sports and a ton of school pride when it comes to athletics. Some of the sports they offer are baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, swimming and more.

Seattle U is committed to its Jesuit foundation and students there truly care about helping the surrounding community. They offer a program called the Seattle University Youth Initiative (SUYI), which is a popular organization at school where students are very involved in supporting and helping the neighborhood to improve academic and personal development. The sense of community is very noticeable at SU, both on and off of campus.

NotableRecognition:
·         US News and World Report ranked SU as the #6 institution in the west

·         SU has the #1 legal writing program in their school of law

·         Bloomberg Businessweek has ranked SU’s business school the #1 program for macroeconomics

·         SU has been ranked #1 in the nation among private institutions for increasing graduation rates and closing the gaps between Hispanic and Caucasian students

·         SU has the 5th highest amount of Fulbright Scholars in the nation among master’s institutions in 2013-2014

·         In 2012, the White House honored Seattle University with the Presidential Award for community service

Final Thoughts:
I have been to many outstanding colleges across the country, and Seattle University is near the top of my list of standout institutions. It has an amazing community, strong and diverse academics, and is set on a stunning campus in one of the more beautiful parts of our country. Students who want to venture out to another part of the country and are committed to academics and being an active member of the community should definitely take a look at Seattle University. Whether you are in the engineering or humanities college, all students will come away with an education that will prepare them to become integral members of our society. Students are challenged to push themselves in the classroom, and to possibly go out of their comfort zone to help others in the community. The Jesuit education is very real at Seattle University, and the overall environment is a place that I foresee many students being very happy at. I know Seattle often has the reputation of rainy weather, but all I can say is that while I was there, the sun was shining and I felt a great sense of positive energy in a vibrant community…and I think if you dig deeper into Seattle University, you may just see the light too. Enjoy and happy searching!



-Mr. Joe Korfmacher, MA  

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