How St. Lawrence Stood Out in the Sea of College Admissions

By Maire Larowe Last updated Apr 12, 2024

St. Lawrence remains a top choice for students applying to college. PHOTO CREDIT: EVANTO ELEMENTS

Amid what is being regarded by high school college counselors as one of the most tumultuous years for college placements, the St. Lawrence University admissions team recently released acceptance letters for the class of 2028. Despite the trials of this year’s application cycle, St. Lawrence University has remained appealing to students through the institution’s exceptional offerings.

Standardized test requirements, the new FAFSA and the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action complicated the college admissions process this year. Universities and college applicants alike have needed to navigate these challenges. “The models for admissions have changed,” says high school college counselor Kelsey Berry. “It is a very odd year for college admissions.”

Coinciding with the obstacles facing the class of 2028, St. Lawrence University has faced its own trials. The university has a 11.5 million dollar deficit and a current enrollment of 2,089 students, down from 2,319 students in 2020, according to data shared on the university website. Despite the lowered enrollment and fiscal troubles, St. Lawrence University is attracting students through unique educational opportunities.

St. Lawrence University stood out to this year’s prospective students because of its strong community, athletics, merit scholarships and environmental programs. One of the exceptional offerings at St. Lawrence is the range of merit scholarships that have allowed students to confidently choose the university despite the delayed FAFSA. Among the scholarships are the Presidential Diversity Scholarship and Environmental Scholars Program.

Prospective students who are passionate about the environment are excited by the environmental programs offered at St. Lawrence, as well as the school’s eco-friendly efforts. One of the draws to St. Lawrence is the outdoors program, according to Berry. For admitted student Maddie Everett, this rings true as she hopes to “Become more involved” in her extracurricular interests, including environmentalism.

Throughout the admissions process, prospective students worked closely with admissions counselors, making the process personal and friendly. The counselors helped students know what they needed to do for their application, according to committed student-athlete Elle Waite. Additionally, regional admissions counselors visit schools in their designated areas to appeal St. Lawrence to a wider audience. For committed student Odessa Young of Tennessee, this was important. Calvin McSweeney, a counselor who recruits in Florida, Georgia, New York, and Tennessee, “came down to Chattanooga for my school’s college fair,” says Odessa Young.

When asked what made St. Lawrence stand apart from other schools, admitted students agreed that the welcoming community is important to the university’s appeal. “I feel like I could really have some personal experiences here,” says Maddie Everett. For Odessa Young, the St. Lawrence spirit was evident through a campus hockey game where she saw “how together and close-knit the community is.”

Although the college process was wrought with struggles for the class of 2028, the students are eager to join the community of Laurentians at St. Lawrence University. “I’m really excited to get to know people and be able to continue training at a high level,” says Waite. The strong school spirit and distinctive educational opportunities offered at St. Lawrence made the university stand out to prospective students in a hard-to-navigate pool of colleges.