10 REASONS
why PLU will be a great fit for you Allison McClure ’15 loves that she can double-major and still compete in intercollegiate athletics at a very high level PAGE 8
CHALLENGE
SUPPORT
SUCCESS
How far can a PLU education take you? Far. Just ask Mycal Ford ’12
Do the math!
Four easy steps to see which college is your best value
Tacoma? Almost every-
Page 14
Page 18
Page 22
What do we like about
thing. What will you like? ASK A LUTE
1
Upcoming
Dates
Tacoma
The Glass Museum is one of the many reasons we like it here. How about you? Page 22
for First-year Students SAT Test Dates: March 9, May 4, June 1 ACT Test Dates: April 13, June 8 March 15-16 Passport Weekend #1 Admitted students are invited to stay overnight on campus, explore academics, and experience the PLU community. April 12-13 Passport Weekend #2 Admitted students are invited to stay overnight on campus, explore academics, and experience the PLU community. May 1 NATIONAL CANDIDATE REPLY DATE All admitted students should notify PLU of their intention to enroll for Fall 2013 by this date. June 12, 13, 14, 17 & 18 Fall 2013 First-Year Registration: Charting Your Course July 1 APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED FOR FALL 2014 Students who have completed their junior year in high school may submit PLU application materials. July Summer Preview Day, PLU Campus Date to be announced.
To find these and other events, visit choose.plu.edu. 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
>>> www.choose.plu.edu VISIT: What’s the best way to know if PLU is a good fit for you? Ask students like Hillary Powell ’13 and she’ll tell you. Page 32
Table of Contents
08
Top 10 reasons why PLU will be a great fit for you A short list of some things PLU does really well. (And we think you’ll agree.)
14
Say ‘yes‘ to everything How PLU’s study-away China program changed Mycal Ford’s life.
22
Why we love Tacoma It is not about finding something to do – it is about what to do first.
04
Hello There
05 FAQs 06
Direct from Campus
18
Financial Aid
20 One-on-One
28
Something I Thought I’d Never Do
30
Your New Home
32 Visit 34 Apply
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3
REAL
HELLO THERE
U Staff
Executive Editor Toby Beal Editor Steve Hansen Writers Barbara Clements Chris Albert Katie Scaff ’13 Art Director Simon Sung Photographer John Froschauer Vice President for Admission and Enrollment Services Karl Stumo Dean of Admission Dave Gunovich ’82, ’95 Admission Communication Coordinator Emily McCann ’06
Volume 5, Issue 3 U is published three times a year by Pacific Lutheran University, S. 121st and Park Ave., Tacoma, WA, 98447-0003. Postage paid at Tacoma, WA, and additional mailing offices. Address service requested. Postmaster: Send changes to PLU Office of Admission, Tacoma, WA, 98447-0003, admission@plu.edu. © 2013 by Pacific Lutheran University Printed using: Eco-friendly Inks – vegetable-based and certified as Ultra Low in Volatile Organic Compounds. Sustainable Papers COVER 55% Recycled paper, 30% Post-Consumer Waste (PCW), TEXT 100% Recycled paper, 60% PCW, REPLY CARD 100% PCW. Printed at a Forest Stewardship CouncilTM certified plant.
Greetings from Pacific Lutheran University
STORIES
WELCOME TO THE SPRING EDITION OF U MAGAZINE. After months of writing essays, taking tests and filling out applications, we are pleased PLU is one of your top choices! This is an exciting time of year. We hope that through the process of selecting a school, you too can see yourself as part of an exhilarating PLU community – and a Lute for life. Whether it is athletics, campus leadership, student-faculty research or studying away, there are many reasons students choose to invest in PLU. This issue has stories about how you can find yourself immersed in the PLU community both on and off campus. This edition of U magazine also provides information and practical tools so you can see the true cost and value of your educational investment. We know this is the time of year when you’ll be receiving financial-aid packages from a variety of schools, and spring is the time to start evaluating those options. Cost can often be one of several important factors in making a choice for college, so know that you need not approach financial aid questions alone – PLU is here to help. Whether you make use of our “Do the Math!” worksheet (page 18) or call your individual admission counselor, we are here to help you figure out the numbers and answer questions should any arise. Most importantly: Visit campus. Personalized campus visits can be arranged through the Office of Admission. We want to you to be able to experience firsthand how friendly and welcoming the PLU community is, and offer you a glimpse of what a day in the life of a Lute might be like. Come take a tour of campus, visit a class, meet with a coach or professor and have lunch with a current student. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Melody Ferguson, director of recruitment and Alex Eli, admission counselor
IN OUR NEXT ISSUE n
>> FALL ’13
What exactly is a “Capstone”? (And how might it enhance your job prospects?)
n 2013 graduates discuss the value of a PLU n
education, and what they plan to do next. Why a summer sustainability fellowship might be the coolest summer job ever.
and much, much more...
4
HELLO THERE
PLU ONLINE
For more detailed information visit choose.plu.edu
FAQS
ANSWERS
ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS
Your questions answered by real PLU students What do you like best about PLU? Coming from a state that has fewer people in its entirety than the Seattle metropolitan area, the strong sense of community at PLU was a huge comfort to me. It may be located in a populated area, but it was easy to make strong connections with students and professors.
When can I study away, and will study away credits transfer back to PLU? PLU has many options to study away for a full semester in the fall or spring, or just for the month of January during J-Term. For me, spring semester of my junior year was the most ideal time to go. I chose this time in consultation with my academic advisor and with the Wang Center for Global Education. The Wang Center was a great resource in helping me find a program geared specifically for economics and political science majors. I spent my semester travelling around the European Union for hands-on, integrated learning. As long as you choose a PLU-approved study-away program (and there are lots!), your credits will transfer back. I managed to return with a full courseload of credits during my semester in Germany. Nearly all of my friends have found a time to study away during their PLU careers. For some that meant a J-Term course, and for others that meant multiple semesters away.
Can students double-major and still graduate in four years? Double-majoring and graduating in four years is extremely possible. I have managed to fit in a double
FEATURED
PLU GUEST EXPERT Andrea Oliver ’13 MAJOR Economics and Political Science HOMETOWN Idaho Falls, Idaho INTERESTS Hiking, knitting, aerobics, camping, trivia night, playing with my kitten
major in economics and political science without having to take a full course load every semester. I also managed to study away. I did have to be strategic in choosing some of my general-education required courses, but overall it was easy to doublemajor in four years. I had a lot of help from Professor Lynn Hunnicutt in the economics department. When I declared my second major, she helped me map out my last two years of study in order to graduate on time.
What are PLU professors like? The most uniform quality of a PLU professor is they really are here to best serve you. In both of my majors, I have managed to get to know most of my professors fairly well. I have had many professors go to great lengths to make themselves accessible to students beyond their regularly scheduled office hours. The key is not to be afraid to ask to meet with them. They really want to see their students succeed.
Do you feel safe on or around the PLU campus?
Yes, I feel safe on the PLU campus. Campus safety is available 24 hours a day to provide students with escorts on and around campus. All of the residence halls require an I.D. card for access, and entrance to all buildings requires an I.D. card after 10 p.m. All of this definitely helps me feel safe. However, just like in most city environments, I also take precautions. If I have a long distance to walk on or around campus late at night, I don’t walk alone. I recommend all incoming students keep Campus Safety’s number on hand even if it is just for peace of mind. I feel safe at PLU, but just like in any city environment, I remain aware of my surroundings.
What is there to do on weekends? When you have free time from homework, there is a lot to do in the area. It really depends on what your interests are. If you are looking to go somewhere off campus, Tacoma and Seattle are always alive with events and activities. But you don’t have to go far to find something to do. Nearly every weekend at PLU there will be an event going on, whether it be a dance in The Cave, a theater production, a concert, or a trip with Outdoor Rec. It isn’t hard to find things to do on or off campus that U align with your interests.
GOT A QUESTION? your questions about PLU answered Have by the experts – real students. Send your questions to askalute@plu.edu.
FAQS
5
DIRECT FROM CAMPUS
Where is everybody?
Photo by Lindsey Hurt
Danielle Cryer and Makenzie Landis enjoy a camel ride – assuming anyone can really ”enjoy” a camel ride – in Dubai, as part of their J-Term studies.
6
DIRECT FROM CAMPUS
This past January, 21 classes took place someplace other than the PLU campus. As part of J-Term, the month-long term between fall and spring semesters, nearly 300 students studied off campus in places like China, Dubai, Hungary and England (see photo at right). PLU students have found that the term is an excellent time to study away and not lose precious credits that can delay graduation. You can read the blog entries from many of the students who studied off campus at the link to the right. It’s unfiltered stuff: You might learn something useful (in China, you can learn about diseases by looking at a person’s tongue) or not (are Corvettes really a “poor man’s car” in Dubai?). No matter what, you’ll know it is straight from the students themselves.
Photo by Michael Halvorson, professor of history
It must be J-Term
>>
choose.plu.edu/jterm-blog
PLU’s commitment to sustainability With a flick of his pen last October, PLU President Thomas W. Krise reaffirmed the PLU community’s commitment to sustainability by signing the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. Universities that sign the document commit to lowering their carbon footprints and encouraging recycling and renewable energy. For PLU, this is nothing new. Back in 2007, PLU was one of the 12 founding signatories of the agreement. Since then, 661 universities have signed.
N I A T S U S
Y T I L I B
IVER
EXPLORE RETREAT
N
Y
RSITY
Is it bragging if someone else says it? Probably. But when The Chronicle of Higher Education names PLU as a top producer of U.S. Fulbright students for 2012-13, we’re pretty good with that.
Photo by Danielle Cryer
In the past year, four PLU students were awarded Fulbright Student Fellowships (including Mycal Ford, whom you can read about on pg. 14), which makes 91 PLU student Fulbright recipients since 1975. That puts PLU pretty high on the list when you compare us to similar-size universities that seek to place students in the prestigious U.S. international exchange program. And that is something we think is worth bragging about – no matter who says it.
>>
You survived your first university semester. Now what? You’d be surprised how many first-year students ask that question. So many, in fact, that PLU has implemented a unique January tradition to address precisely that. For the ninth consecutive year, the Explore! retreat took more than 140 first-year students off campus for some muchdeserved change of scenery. Even better, the retreat is a great chance for first-year students to reflect on their first semester and begin pondering those great questions like … uh … so, what’s next? After all, the transition to university life is not over just because the first semester is.
>>
choose.plu.edu/chronicle
Setting the Stage For the fifth straight year, members of the Choir of the West, University Chorale and the University Symphony Orchestra performed in Seattle’s magnificent Benaroya Hall. (Above, the students rehearse before the big night.) Each year, more than 100 concert performances take place on and off campus, featuring students, faculty artists and guest performers in an incredible array of musical styles and media. U
>>
choose.plu.edu/concert
choose.plu.edu/explore-retreat
DIRECT FROM CAMPUS
7
LIFE ON CAMPUS
10
There is no place like the Pacific Northwest We admit it, there are plenty of rainy days here. Still, students have year-round opportunities to get outside to bike, climb, surf, kayak, hike, board or ski. The Pacific Northwest is an outdoor mecca. Go on your own, or let the student-run organization Outdoor Rec make it happen. Novice or expert. And did we mention that a few years ago, “Outside” magazine ranked Tacoma as the fifth best outdoor city in the country? When life is this good, we’ll take a little rain. Koreen Jebulan ’16, Nursing, University Place, Wash.
9 8
LIFE ON CAMPUS
TA VEL AND STILL GE LE GH HI A AT TE CoMPE es GREAT EDUCATION n III athletics, athlet
Divisio participates in NCAA the As a university that high level in one of ce to compete at a an ch the . ve ce ha l ren y’l know the rthwest Confe e conferences, the No tiv eti mp and co all st ftb mo so ’s country s (fastpitch tional championship na o tw ed r. bb tte gra be en ts We’ve ev ee years. And it ge sbee) in the past thr goal women’s ultimate Fri facilities, all with the anges to our athletic ch ge o hu g als t kin bu ma We are e experience, ve the student-athlet pro im to al on ply ati sim uc t being no part of PLU’s ed of all students. It is es nc r rie ee pe ch ex to the lot improve ’s always a whole student.” There the ng ati uc “ed of mission for at PLU. ARDSON, TEX. ALLISON McCLURE
S AND BUSINESS, RICH ’15, GLOBAL STUDIE
10 REASONS
why PLU will be a great fit for you Every student has different reasons why they have found PLU to be a good fit. For some, it’s the welcoming feel they get on campus. For others, it’s the rigorous academics and the opportunity to work closely with faculty. Many like the support and advice they get when it comes to preparing for a career. No doubt you have your own reasons why PLU
8
remains a top choice. Probably many. We’ve identified some of the things students tell us PLU does really, really well. So dive in. As you make one of the most important decisions of your life – the university you will attend – remember that more than 3,500 students all have their own reasons why PLU is a good fit for them. We look forward to hearing yours.
MED SCHOOL? DENT AL SCHOOL? PHYSI CAL THERAPY? NOBODY DOES A BETTER JOB PREPARING STUDEN TS
If you are interested in going to graduate school in the health ences – medical or de scintal school, physica l therapy, even veter school – then PLU is inary for you. PLU offers smaller classes, more more time working lab time, with your professors, as well as your healt advisor. The result? h-sciences Approximately two-t hirds of PLU’s succes pre-med undergrad sful s get into med scho ol at places like the Un of Washington, Oreg iversity on Health Sciences University, even Trinit lege in Dublin, Irelan y Cold. And the percenta ges are even better disciplines like denta for other l and physical therap y graduate school. Th find those kind of od ink you ds at a big state scho ol? Get in line. Or ch instead. oose PLU Amy Nielsen ’16, Und
ecided, Seattle,
Wash.
LIFE ON CAMPUS
9
10 REASONS
7
97% of students receive financial aid We know that choosing a university is among the most important, most life-shaping investments you will ever make. And not just for you – for your entire family. To that end, remember that 97 percent of PLU students receive some kind of financial aid. That’s a lot. So is this number: $26,700. That’s the average financial aid package at PLU. Jonathan Adams ’16, Communication and Social Work, Tacoma, Wash.
6
PLU has long been a leader on sustainability and social-justice issues “Caring for the earth” has been a part of the university’s mission statement for decades – long before it was fashionable. Consider this: PLU was one of the 12 original signatories of the influential American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. Since then, 661 universities have signed it. For us, this is a social-justice issue – “caring for the earth” means caring not simply for the planet, but making the world a better place for the people who live on it, too. Miranda Winter ’16, Social Work and Political Science, Des Moines, Wash. NATASHA LAITILA ’16, COMMUNICATION, TACOMA, Wash.
Miranda Winter ’16, Social Work and Political Science, Des Moines, Wash.
5 10 LIFE ON CAMPUS
n’t of it. But it does ud o pr d an – an at is) We’re Luther be (Lutheran, th to have u yo n mea es out to stu-
le name. PLU reach funny, given our midd d un so t gh mi o are Lutheran, s thi All – the 20 percent wh ds un gro ck ba all d – Christian, Muslim, dents of all faiths an tter what your faith ma No . n’t are o wh unity where interand the 80 percent is a welcoming comm PLU – c sti no ag en all, that is what Jewish, Catholic, ev it is embraced. After d, ge ura co en ply sim ic freedom and faith dialogue is not mmitment to academ co a – t ou ab all is n are Lutheran education es on faith and reaso where all perspectiv ere ph os atm ng rni a lea expressed openly. Elaine Snyder ’16,
, Ohio History, Columbus
4
If you have a pass ion for the arts better place , there’s no
PLU has a passion for the arts. Whether yo u are here for drama there’s no better pla or music, ce. PLU just dedicate d a cutting-edge stu heart of campus, an dio theater at the d the brand new Ka ren Hille Center for will have its grand op the Pe rfo rming Arts ening this fall. The ac oustically brilliant La Hall in Mary Baker Ru ge rqu ist Concert ssell Music Center pla ys host to more tha concerts. And unlike n 10 0 an nual many other universi ties and conservato plary programs, PLU rie s wi th ex emhas opportunities (an d scholarships!) for experience levels – performers of all you don’t even have to be a major or mino NATASHA LAITILA ’16 r to get involved. , COMMUNICATION, TACOM A, Wash.
LIFE ON CAMPUS
11
10 REASONS
3
Get a global education and really learn how the world works PLU is a globally focused university – from its International Honors Program, to the multinational focus of its classes, right down to how easy it can be for you to study away and still graduate on time. PLU even has an office, the Wang Center for Global Education, that is dedicated solely to making sure all students have the chance to have a global education, on and off campus. They work fulltime to ensure that academic credit from experiences abroad transfer to PLU, as well as making sure scholarships count toward study away. How good are they at it? Nearly half of PLU students study away at some time in their academic careers. By contrast, the comparable national average is 3 percent. So, really, who do you think is going to have a better idea of how the world works? Josh Parmenter ’15, Theater, Gresham, Ore.
12 LIFE ON CAMPUS
2
ful
ns to be success
mea We know what it
al is to ure success. Our go by the way we meas ed ish gu ess in tin cc dis su is PLU but also for success in a career, for ly on t no send to u yo we re prepa er of students s evident in the numb at’ Th . gram ers pro oth to ge an ce servi stigious exch nt Program, the pre de Stu . for U.S t 5, igh 197 lbr ce the Fu (Ninety-one sin . State Department. ucation.) sponsored by the U.S ronicle of Higher Ed Ch e honored by Th tly en rec s medical wa d an PLU ol which ate scho cement rates in gradu pla r ou in nt partde ide e ev im o l-t It is als tions, a ful lished Career Connec tab es o als ademac ’ve m We fro – ol. scho ng world prepare for the worki nts de stu ing lps iew he t erv tha int ment ume writing, ship placement to res ern int ays d alw an 't e isn nc s ida es ic gu ow that succ That said, we also kn . ills out sk ab o ing als ork is tw t ne bu and most money, that makes you the job life the ur g yo din ing lan t rsu abou talents and pu sts, discovering your exploring your intere t that, too. passions. PLU is abou , Tacoma, Wash. , Communication and
Jonathan Adams ’16
Social Work
#1 1
You’ll work clo – in the classro sely with your professors om and on stude research nt-faculty
At PLU, students sp end more time worki ng with classmates sors in a close-up, ha and profesnds-on environment. At PLU, you’ll have ve few large lecture cla ry sses, and all classes are taught by profes teaching assistants. sors, not PLU’s professors are both academics and – experts in their fie teachers lds who are here be cause they are passi teaching. That mean onate about s you’ll have the oppo rtunity to work with professors no matte your r what your major, be it archaeological dig the Makah Nation, wo s with rking on Emmy-award -winning documenta with MediaLab, or stu ries dying climate change in Antarctica. All tol year there are more d, each than 50 grant-supp orted student-facult and creative projects. y research It is that type of expe rience that PLU is kn — professors and stu own for dents side by side, co nducting research in or in the field, no ma the lab tter what your major . U
Amy Nielsen ’16, Und
ecided, Seattle,
Wash.
LIFE ON CAMPUS
13
ACADEMIC DISTINCTION
14 ACADEMIC DISTINCTION
B y B arbara C lements
Say Yes to Everything How PLU’s study-away program in China changed Mycal Ford’s life Mycal Ford eyed the skewer of fried scorpions he held at arm’s length in front of him and knew he had a decision to make. Mycal Ford ’12 pauses for a moment in a bustling produce market in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Was he going to hold true to his promise to himself – “Say yes to everything”? He had come to Chengdu, China, one of six PLU Gateway programs, with the promise not to hold back, to engage the culture and the Chinese people, and to take advantage of new opportunities. So was he going to commit, or not? He closed his eyes and chomped down on the scorpions that he’d bought from a market vendor. Two years later, Ford ’12 tries to describe the taste. He gives up.
Photo by Neil Wade
“Crunchy, and a taste I don’t even want to remember,” he said with a laugh from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, where he is teaching English and hip-hop dance as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar. Ford, the first in his family to attend college, recalls his three-month-long experience in Chengdu during his junior year as a time that changed his perspective.
>>
ACADEMIC DISTINCTION
15
Say Yes to Everything
“China did change my life. It changed me. It offered me a chance to look deep within myself and accept that invitation to think differently and feel differently about my world and myself,” Ford said. “In China, I didn’t speak Chinese, and I didn’t know anything about the philosophy, history or culture,” he said. “But I told myself I was going to take a risk, even if it means trying something I didn’t want to do.” Looking back, two years later, Ford is glad he took the risk. He’s now six months into his Fulbright experience in Taiwan, teaching English in two elementary schools, and 16 ACADEMIC DISTINCTION
”In China, I didn’t speak Chinese, and I didn’t know anything about the philosophy, history or culture. But I told myself I was going to take a risk, even if it means trying something I didn’t want to do.” —Mycal Ford
GATEWAY PROGRAMS
Pacific Lutheran University’s six Gateway Programs – in China, Norway (Oslo and Telemark), Mexico, Namibia and Trinidad-Tobago – provide PLU students with an opportunity to take a deep dive into the culture, politics and history of the country. Each program has a specific emphasis, such as change of an emerging world power in China and peace and conflict studies in Oslo, all offer students a chance to engage the culture and change their viewpoints on the world and its citizens. For more information, go to
www.plu.edu/studyaway
where, during the breaks from studying and tours, he’d walk the streets. Obviously, he stood out in a very homogenous society. He found that the people of China were just as curious about him as he was about them. They would often approach Ford on the street and assume he was a basketball player or a rap star on vacation. Even his Chinese friends were astonished he couldn’t shoot a basketball or sing. Yet, eventually, they began to learn about his culture, and he theirs. Ford saw Chengdu as an opportunity to share not only American culture, but also African-American culture. “Chengdu is all chaos and frenzy,” Ford said of the city, population 14 million. “But I found peace in this chaos and all the craziness around me. I found myself asking what it meant to be me, Mycal Ford, in this country.” Ford grew up in Tukwila, Wash., and had no intention of going to college until a friend, who was attending PLU at the time, suggested he consider it. That conversation made college seem real and attainable for the first time, Ford reflected. With the help of an Act Six Scholarship, one thing led to another, and he ended up at PLU. When Ford got to PLU, he quickly found that the norm for students was to study away. He found scholarships through the Wang Center that would eventually send him first to Norway and then to China. And it is there where his life changed. China was “like studying a puzzle,” Ford said. And a puzzle that drew him in with its people, art, history and politics. His curiosity simply wouldn’t let him put the topic or the place aside. Through those three months in Chengdu, he found he loved the stillness in the country, and the frenzy in the city; the open curiosity of its citizens toward him, and their generosity in inviting him to everything. There, he found the ability to keep his promise to himself: Say yes to everything. “It was the catalyst to defining me as a person in my culture and as a leader in the community,” Ford said.
for those who are interested, hip-hop dance after class. He will be wrapping up his Fulbright commitment in June and then continuing to graduate school, probably back in Chengdu. And he’s still trying to get a handle on the Chinese language. “I will spend hours and hours practicing, and the difficulty will bring me to tears,” Ford said. “But once in a while, I’ll have a conversation that flows. And that makes it worth all the effort.” His fascination with all things Chinese began in Chengdu
When Ford returned to PLU, he knew that his future was going to be linked to international studies. He changed his major and began diving into Chinese studies. Then his history professor, Adam Cathcart, suggested he might want to apply for a Fulbright Scholarship as Ford entered his senior year. “I remember asking, “What was that?” Ford laughed. So he did, and found out last year he was accepted in the U.S. Fulbright program to go back and teach English in Taiwan for the 2012-13 academic year. Eventually, Ford sees himself working at a policy institute or think tank, or perhaps the U.S. State Department with a focus on United States-Sino relations. After that? Who knows. It all depends on the next challenge that presents itself to Ford. Whatever it is, he’s certain to say “yes” to it. ACADEMIC DISTINCTION
U 17
18 DO THE MATH
3
2
1
Total out of pocket expenses
—
—
Minus your total loans
DECIDE ON YOUR LOANS
Student loans can be useful tools to help you go to the college that fits you best. Now subtract your loan amounts from the total bill.
—
—
$44,540
$10,100
$34,440
Minus your total scholarships
TOTAL
Room and meals
Tuition and fees
Pacific Lutheran University
Choice 2
These include any scholarships and grants you’ve received from each school, federal scholarships and grants, and outside scholarships.
SUBTRACT ALL OF YOUR SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS
Calculate your total tuition, fees, room and meal costs at each of the schools to which you have been admitted.
ADD UP THE COSTS
School name
Choice 1
—
—
Choice 3
USE THIS WORKSHEET TO COMPARE PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS’ FINANCIAL AID OFFERS.
Comparing financial aid offers
Once you’ve made it to the final stages of the college search, and most of the pieces have fallen into place, it’s time to work through the financial aid process. Sometimes the financial aid forms, acronyms and deadlines can be confusing. To help you through this process, we suggest the following steps.
BE SURE TO COMPARE - COSTS AND FINANCIAL AID WILL VARY AT EACH SCHOOL
Do the Math!
FOR OPTIMAL READABILITY Rotate head (or magazine) 90 degrees so the arrow on the right is pointing up.
THIS SIDE UP
FINANCIAL AID
DO THE MATH
19
+
+
+
+
+
Grow your mind, body and spiritual life – at the same time.
Be a part of a community of students who care about their success and the well-being of others.
Experience PLU’s nationally recognized global education that helps you understand your place in the world.
Engage in research and creative projects alongside professors who are expert in their fields.
Achieve a degree that helps you earn a living, and more im portantly, builds a meaningful life of purpose after graduation.
Now that you know your costs at each school, remember to think about the big picture. Value is more than just a low price. Value is what you get for your money, and in the college setting, there are big differences among schools.
The value and distinction of the PLU experience
4
Once you’ve subtracted your scholarships, grants and loans from your total cost, you’ll know your out-of-pocket costs for the year. You can decide to pay the the bill each semester or you may choose to make monthly payments throughout the year.
MANAGE YOUR COSTS
Graduating in four years versus five A freshman chemistry class of 25 versus 250 Having a fast track into an internship in your field … as a sophomore Studying with veteran professors versus graduate-student teaching assistants Having a personal academic advisor versus stumbling through a catalog and registering for classes online by yourself
27 50
$180,000+
39
$140,000 - $159,999
$160,000 - $179,999
44
$120,000 - $139,999
87
$80,000 - $99,999
64
66
$60,000 - $79,999
$100,000 - $119,999
79
70
$20,000 - $39,999
$40,000 - $59,999
47
Number of aid recipients
<$20,000
Combined family income for first-year students, Fall 2012
$17,073
$17,682
$17,096
$15,241
$18,427
$19,127
$21,463
$24,887
$27,458
$27,651
Average total scholarships and grants from all sources
What’s the average total in PLU scholarships and grants for your family’s combined income?
+ + + + +
What’s the value of PLU versus a big state school?
Ready to reserve your spot at PLU? All you need to do is submit the $200 Advance Tuition Deposit. The easiest way to pay your deposit is online at www.plu.edu/BeALute. You’ll be able to submit your deposit and complete the Residential Life Housing Form. It can’t get much easier than that!
This is exactly why you have to do the math.
Now that you’ve calculated your out-of-pocket expenses for each college, it’s time to compare total costs. After working through this process, you may be surprised that a school you thought was out of your financial reach is, in fact, within reach. For example, while a larger scholarship from one school may seem more prestigious and attractive, after you do the math, you may find that a lesser scholarship from another college with a lower tuition price may actually be more valuable.
COMPARE YOUR COSTS AND DO THE MATH
One-on-One
joanna gregson, professor of sociology
SOCIOLOGY
Have you ever read a romance novel? It all started when a box of pink and lavender romance novels arrived at Professor of Sociology Joanna Gregson’s office. The box came from a friend and fellow sociology professor with whom Gregson attended graduate school. It was in response to a conversation the two had a few days earlier: Have you ever read a romance novel? Gregson hadn’t. And she would fully admit that she was like many other people: She assumed romance novels were easy reads, brainless formulaic pop. Then, the box of novels arrived. She read one. And a research topic was born. Gregson and her friend, professor Jennifer Lois of Western Washington University, decided they wanted to study the writers of the romance genre, of which about 95 percent are women. Sure, the novels had been the subject of research – but, as Gregson would soon find out, nobody had studied the people who actually wrote them. “Why hasn’t it been studied?” Gregson asked herself. “Like a lot of work that women do, I don’t think it has been taken seriously as an occupation.” As a sociologist who specialized in sex and gender issues, the subject seemed perfect. And as a field researcher – someone who conducts research on location, first-hand – Gregson knew she had to dive in, head first. So she and Lois joined the 10,000-member strong Romance Writers of America and began attending monthly meetings in Seattle and annual nationwide conventions, where, as you might expect from a group almost exclusively comprised of women, they were warmly welcomed into the fold. And, naturally, they started writing their own romance novels. It’s been a couple of years now, and Gregson is still about 40 pages into her novel. (Don’t expect anything, she warns.) But from the standpoint of getting the dish on
20 ONE-ON-ONE
the people who write these extremely popular, yet often marginalized, novels – that’s another story. So far, Gregson and Lois have interviewed more than 45 romance authors, agents, reviewers, publishers and editors – from New York Times bestselling authors to those who are on the cusp of publication. She has delved into all the subgenres of this type of commercial fiction – historical romance, paranormal romance, romantic suspense, inspirational romance. Even Amish romance. (Really.) When Gregson started the project, she assumed the subject matter would be squarely in her sex-and-gender wheelhouse. Essentially, she’d find out: Who are these women who write these novels? And how do they decide to create the characters that they do? What she found, however, is that romance authors aren’t thinking about gender archetypes. They just want to tell a compelling story, like any author. That dead end, however, led Gregson down a different path – one that may be even more promising. She and Lois have been researching how these writers identify themselves, the stigmas they face, and the feminine culture they have created among themselves. Gregson finds most interesting the idea of the stigmas associated with these novels. After all, she admits even she had her own before she read them. She knows her stigmas are hardly unique. “We’ve interviewed New York Times bestselling romance authors who still get told, ‘That is so great you are successful at this, maybe someday you’ll write a real book,’” Gregson said. Gregson will continue to dig into how the authors deal with these slights, and how an entire professional group seeks to gird themselves against a common perception. In the mean time, Gregson and Lois will continue their interviews and begin presenting their academic findings. Just don’t expect the novel anytime soon. U
— S teve H ansen
Professor of Sociology Joanna Gregson reads a novel by Nora Roberts, one of the highest-selling romance authors of all time. Gregson interviewed Roberts as part of her research on the writers of romance novels.
ONE-ON-ONE
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GREAT NORTHWEST L-R: Emily Litterer ’15, Communication, Portland, Ore.; Kristin Hayes ’15, Psychology and Women’s and Gender Studies, Edmonds, Wash.; Kari Reno ’15, Social Work, Mt. Vernon, Wash.; Amanda Wilson ’16, Social Work, Port Orchard, Wash.; Susanna Chaudhry ’16, Business, Everett, Wash.; Julia Glassy ’15, Environmental Studies, Mercer Island, Wash.; Sebastian Hernandez ’15, Music Education, Algona, Wash.
TACOMA Why we love it
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Photos by John Froschauer, John Struzenberg ’15 and Jessie Major ’14
Museum District Tacoma’s downtown has experienced a renaissance in recent years. The museum district is anchored by the Tacoma Art Museum, Museum of Glass and Washington State History Museum. And with it all comes other good stuff: new restaurants, hotels, music clubs and coffee joints.
When it comes to exploring the greater Tacoma area, it’s not so much about finding something to do, but figuring out what to do first. It’s why some of us think it might just be the best city in the Pacific Northwest – certainly its best-kept secret. Tacoma is a vibrant, urban, South Sound metropolis that’s just the right size. Not too big. Not too small. Here, the urban and rural intertwine, which makes city and outdoor activities really accessible. It is the best of both worlds. We know you’ll find plenty of your own reasons to like Tacoma. But to give you a little bit of a head start, on the next few pages, you can meet some current PLU students and see what they love about this unique region. >>
GREAT NORTHWEST
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TACOMA
L-R: Anthony Markuson ’13, Biology and Global Studies, Galata, Mont.; Erica Boyle ’13, Psychology, Lakewood, Colo.; Mark Ogren ’13, Biology and Hispanic Studies, Ketchikan, Alaska; Emily Bishop ’14, English, Westlake, Ohio.
Sixth Avenue Sixth Avenue has unique shops and great restaurants including Gateway to India – a PLU student favorite, probably thanks to its excellent (and inexpensive!) buffet lunch.
Hello Cupcake Hello deliciousness! A Pac Ave favorite, because every good student deserves a cupcake.
Sebastian Hernandez ’15, Music Education, Algona, Wash.
24 GREAT NORTHWEST
Pt. Defiance Park You can even get out of the city while still being in it. Pt. Defiance Park – call it “The Point” and they’ll know you’re a local – is one of the largest urban parks in the country. It has more than 700 acres to get lost in, including old-growth forests, miles of hiking trails and Commencement Bay beaches like the one shown here, Owens Beach. There’s a zoo and aquarium there, too.
L-R: Andrew Larsen ’15, Anthropology and Religion, Helena, Mont.; Anna McCracken ’14, Global Studies and Anthropology, Spanaway, Wash.; Kaaren Hatlen ’13, Math, Woodinville, Wash.;
Kaitlyn Berg-Dibley ’13, Economics, Osseo, Minn.; Erica Boyle ’13, Psychology, Lakewood, Colo.; Caitlin Peterson ’14, Chinese Studies, Bothell, Wash.
Mt. Rainier National Park OK, so Mt. Rainier isn’t in Tacoma, per se, but we challenge you to find an urban area that is closer. The 150-year-old national park is only 90 minutes up the road from PLU, which makes an afternoon snowshoeing at Paradise with studentrun Outdoor Rec, or boarding at nearby Crystal Mountain, easy.
L-R: Katie Scaff ’13, Communication, Edmonds, Wash.; Brian Hundtofte ’14, Nursing, Billings, Mont.; plus several other students eating their snow!
GREAT NORTHWEST
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TACOMA L-R: Kaitlyn BergDibley ’13, Economics, Osseo, Minn.; Caitlin Peterson ’14, Chinese Studies, Bothell, Wash.; Kaaren Hatlen ’13, Math, Woodinville, Wash.; Erica Boyle ’13, Psychology, Lakewood, Colo.
Mark Ogren ’13, Biology and Hispanic Studies, Ketchikan, Alaska.
Cheney Stadium
Valhalla Coffee Company
Hanging out at the home of the triple-A Seattle Mariners affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers.
It wouldn’t be the Pacific Northwest without good coffee. And Valhalla, which roasts beans for coffee shops around town, doesn’t disappoint.
Titlow Beach A quiet spot on Puget Sound, Titlow Beach is a great place for a walk, picnic, or a long stonethrowing session.
Ruston Way Union Station
The two-mile long scenic walkway along Ruston The Dale Chihuly glass installation in historic Way offers a gorgeous panoramic view of Comm Union Station.
Caitlin Peterson ’14, Chinese Studies, Bothell, Wash.
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L-R: Susanna Chaudhry ’16, Business, Everett, Wash.; Amanda Wilson ’16, Social Work, Port Orchard, Wash.
L-R: Callie Moothart ’13, Religion, Missoula, Mont.; Thaddeus Golbek ’13, Physics and Chemistry, Springfield, Ore.; Maggie Mickelson ’13, Sociology, Butte, Mont.
Grand Cinema The non-profit Grand Cinema is one of Tacoma’s hidden gems. It’s affordable and not crowded like other theaters, and the Grand shows many U films that aren’t in traditional theaters.
208 Garfield 208 Garfield is the off-campus café adjacent PLU’s own Garfield Book Company. Just down Garfield Street from PLU, it is a great place to meet up with friends for coffee, or for breakfast, lunch or dinner. PLU’s dining card even works here!
L-R: Maggie Mickelson ’13, Sociology, Butte, Mont.; Pam Barker ’15, Communication, Meridian, Idaho.
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SOMETHING I THOUGHT I’D NEVER DO
I never thought I’d meet up with my fellow Lutes at 19,000 feet – in Africa Pole, pole is Swahili for “slowly, slowly.” Anna McCracken ’14, Kelsie Leu ’14 and Anthony Markuson ’13 got an earful of those words this past winter, when the three PLU students met up in Tanzania at the conclusion of their separate study-away semesters in Africa. If you want to reach the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, you need to do it, as the locals say, pole, pole. The slow pace helps hikers avoid altitude sickness. Heck, it also builds anticipation – as if climbing to the highest point in Africa wasn’t already exhilarating. Markuson recalled how the final ascent was a slow climb into the dark. The climb started early in the morning with hopes of reaching the top as the sun rises above the clouds and over the mountain. Each step was slow, and for hours the climbers had nothing to see but the illumination of headlamps and the boots of their fellow travelers ahead of them.
28 SOMETHING I THOUGHT I'D NEVER DO
“One step at a time,” Leu said. “The guides always told us, ‘Only think about today. Don’t worry about tomorrow.’” The pace isn’t only necessary, Markuson said, it’s worth it. “It’s like walking on the moon,” added McCracken, a global studies and anthropology double major. What brought the three to Africa and the top of that continent were study-away experiences during the fall semester. Last spring, the three friends realized they were all going to be studying in Africa for the fall semester. McCracken had plans to travel to South Africa to study social and political transformation. Leu would be in Zanzibar, where she would study coastal ecology and work on a wastemanagement program. Markuson, who intends to go to medical school after graduation, would be in Botswana where he would work on community health issues. Africa is a big place. But they knew they had to meet somehow, somewhere, while they were there.
Leu and McCracken met up on the lower slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro in the town of Moshi, Tanzania. Then Markuson flew in a few days later. “When we all met up in Moshi, it was like, this is actually going to happen,” said Leu, a biology and environmental studies double major. It wasn’t an easy path, not only because it forced them to slow down, but also because it tested their endurance – mentally and physically.
While sitting in the Anderson University Center on campus, it came to them: They’d meet up in Tanzania and climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. Leave it to a few Lutes to celebrate by climbing the highest peak in Africa, at 19,341 feet. None of them had done something like that before, but that wasn’t going to keep them from trying. “Even while we were talking about it, we were like, ‘Is this really going to happen?’” said Markuson, a biology major. “It’s definitely not something I thought I’d ever do.” During the semester, the three kept in contact by email, keeping alive their idea to meet up and journey into the clouds.
“It was one of those humbling experiences,” McCracken said. Their travel up the mountain was only part of their journey as each learned to adjust to a life outside of PLU. And for three friends whose bond had deepened as counselors at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp in Montana over the previous summers, they couldn’t help but use the lessons they had learned at PLU to embrace any situation they faced, no matter how grueling, slow or unfamiliar. “The one thing I learned throughout the semester is just go with the flow and things will fall into place,” McCracken said.
U
— C hris A lbert
“One step at a time. The guides always told us, ‘Only think about today. Don’t worry about tomorrow.’” —Kelsie Leu Anthony Markuson ’13, Kelsie Leu ’14 and Anna McCracken ’14 (along with Kelsie’s uncle Bill Pursell – the dude with the mustache) on their approach to Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Photos courtesy Kelsie Leu
SOMETHING I THOUGHT I'D NEVER DO 29
YOUR NEW HOME
“Stuen is another way to get involved with social-justice issues. You don’t have this kind of organized discussion happening in other residence halls.” –MICHAEL CARGILL ’15
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STUEN HALL Curating Community Action STUEN by the numbers n
82 people – and room for a few more
3 floors of living space, and a pretty swanky basement for hanging out n
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5 washers and 5 dryers, offering the best resident-to- laundry-machine ratio on campus (probably)
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Lovely views of Admin and
Ordal Hall Home of the Social Action and Leadership Community n
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1 big-screen TV in the main lounge
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other lounges, including a movie room with built-in stair-step bench seating, just like church camp n 1
of 2 halls on campus that have larger bay windows n
5 Resident Assistants and an awesome powerhouse of members in Residence Hall Council (last count: 20)
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Historical site for the best PLU BBQ ever – annually, of course
When Michael Cargill ’15 isn’t giving campus tours for prospective students through Red Carpet Club, taking classes in Rieke so he can double-major in biology and chemistry, or tutoring his peers through academic assistance and the chemistry department, he likes to spend time with his fellow residents in Stuen Hall. “I’m really busy and Stuen is a great place to come home to,” said Cargill. “It’s kind of like a family. I have such a great connection with people there.” Cargill was initially attracted to Stuen because of its Social Action and Leadership (SAL) Community. The SAL Community exists on the hall’s first two floors and is targeted at students who are interested in social-justice issues and have a strong desire to develop their leadership skills. “It’s just another way to get involved with social-justice issues,” said Cargill, who is also an active member of the Queer Ally Student Union (QASU) and Progress Club. “There’s a lot of opportunities to build your community when you’re doing SAL stuff.” The SAL Community hosts monthly workshops, where students can start a dialogue on topics ranging from consciousness of citizenship to common purpose.
“You don’t have that kind of organized discussion happening in other residence halls,” said Cargill. “Everyone is very understanding. It’s a friendly atmosphere.” The SAL Community is open to anyone, but even those who don’t participate in SAL events find community in Stuen. The various facets of the hall, from the open-door policy, which encourages residents to leave their doors open and foster a more inclusive feel, to the movie room with elevated seating, reflect the hall’s intimate atmosphere. “We’re very laid-back and community-focused,” said Cargill. “It’s a building full of family.” —K atie S caff ’ 1 3 U
Photos by Jessie Major ’14 and John Froschauer
YOUR NEW HOME
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Visiting PLU
PROFILE Hillary Powell ’13
is one of the most important things you will do during your college search. For that reason, we hope you visit campus to become better acquainted with the special atmosphere at PLU. Hundreds of students visit each year. To schedule your visit go to choose.plu.edu/visit.
MAJOR Communication, with PR emphasis
HOMETOWN Gig Harbor, Wash.
INTERESTS Working with ASPLU on public relations, exploring Tacoma, going to concerts on and off campus, and meeting friends
Things to do during a PLU visit. Talk one-on-one with an admission counselor. Ask everything that’s on your mind. Counselors in the Office
KET
OLD MAIN MAR UB RED CARPET CL lidays
y without a I rarely go a da e from Old grande soy latt Main Market
e ho Celebrating th pus am -c on y m with co-workers
VISIT US
32 VISIT
a farrelli’s pizz iends on fr ith w up ting Mee Garfield Street
of Admission are ready to answer your questions about admission, academic programs, financial aid, cost, campus activities, residence halls and much more.
Take a tour of campus. It’s a great introduction to PLU. Tours are guided by students like Hillary who know all the essential information about our university. Tours are available by appointment Monday through Saturday during the academic year.
academic atmosphere at PLU. You can also request to meet with an athletic coach, music director, or professor.
Stay overnight. You can stay with a friend on campus, or we can arrange for you to stay with one of our Red Carpet Club student hosts. You will be given meal passes and a guest pass to athletic facilities and campus activities. Available Monday through Thursday during the academic year only.
Give us a call. Reach us at 253535-7151 or 800-274-6758 so we can make the necessary arrangements for your visit. You are still welcome to drop by anytime – even if you aren’t able to plan ahead. For a list of preferred hotels, or directions to and from campus, please visit choose.plu.edu/visit.
U
Attend a class. This is a great opportunity to get a feel for the
INGRAM HALL
The home to the Sch ool of Arts and Communica tion
OFFICE OF TH
E
PRESIDENT Dinner with Dr. Krise an d Patty Krise to discuss A SPLU XAVIER HALL
ith an old Catching up w nny day friend on a su
Want to see more? VISIT THE PLU VIRTUAL TOUR choose.plu.edu/virtualtour PLU Admission on the web http://www.plu.edu/admission/first-year/ or download the free QR code reader application at: http://www.mobile-barcodes.com/qr-code-software/ and take a camera phone photo of the image on the left.
VISIT
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APPLY “The staff and faculty do an exceptional job at answering any type of question, whether it is their job to do so, or not. This really made PLU stand out when I was a prospective student. That still holds true today as the staff and faculty not only answer my questions, but follow-up with me to make sure I have the resources for whatever it is that I am trying to accomplish.” Mamie Howard ’14 Major: Sociology Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
“To me, PLU is an inclusive community that is not just inclusive of people's goals and dreams, but also of diversity and expressing yourself. I transferred from a school that was not as inclusive, so I really appreciate what I have felt here.” Erika Tobin ’15 Major: Religion and Classics Hometown: Olympia, Wash.
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The value in a PLU education The fall ’13 semester is soon approaching, but no matter where you are in PLU’s application process, it is still not too late to become a Lute. PLU has rolling admission, so if you still haven’t applied, there is still time to do so. If you have been accepted to PLU and have not yet made your advance tuition deposit, we encourage you to do so! No matter where you are in the process of choosing your university, please know that we are happy to help you
with your decision. Call 800-274-6758 to speak personally with an admission counselor about whether PLU is right for you. And, of course, visit choose.plu.edu. As you consider your choice, remember that each year more than 3,500 students have their own reasons why PLU is the right place for them. Below are three real PLU students who have found PLU to be a good fit for them. You, no doubt, will have your own.
“I chose PLU because it felt like PLU wanted me because of the person that I was. I wasn’t just going to be another number here. There are not just great students here, but great human beings, as well.” Seth Dufault ’16 Major: Business Hometown: Yakima, Wash.
APPLY
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U, PLU Office of Admission, Tacoma, Washington, 98447-0003 Address change: If you do not wish to receive U, or wish to change your mailing address, please notify PLU Office of Admission. You can reach us by phone at 800-274-6758, by fax at 253-536-5136, or by e-mail at admission@plu.edu. PLU.UMG.0213
ON CAMPUS
Shoe Loose Travis Gendron â&#x20AC;&#x2122;15 has his laces tied by Librarian Holly Senn in Mortvedt Library. As part of a 3-D sculpture class, Gendron and his classmates were asked to build interactive sculptures, wander around campus, and gauge the campus community for their reactions. Photo by John Froschauer