THIS IS
There is no more powerful word than “us.” It turns a single person into a team. One person’s passion into a club. An idea into a movement. At Ursinus College, we believe working together can solve any problem and achieve any goal – no matter how challenging.
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READY TO MEET US?
THIS IS WHO YOU’LL FIND.
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If you ask any of our alums what is so special about Ursinus, they’ll say, “It’s the people.” When we select your fellow classmates, we look for people who would make good roommates, friends and neighbors. So we have decided to paint you a picture of campus life by sharing their experiences. Almost like a collection of short stories, not unlike those of one of our most famous attendees, author J.D. Salinger. The difference is these stories are true. Interwoven in them are details on student life, activities, faculty, housing and more. And we do include those important things like a full list of majors/ minors and information on scholarships and tuition. We hope you enjoy getting to know the people of Ursinus.
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THIS IS WHAT YOU’LL FIND.
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We do liberal arts differently at Ursinus. We believe that academic inquiry – reflecting on who we are and our place in the world – produces critical thinkers and principled leaders who go on to live lives of purpose and meaning. It’s why we are so fond of questions here, such as those that make up our new core curriculum. These four questions will frame your four years at Ursinus, and we use them to introduce the four main sections of this viewbook. Take a look…
HOW CAN WE UNDERSTAND THE WORLD?
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MY NAME IS
BERT AND I AM A
PRE-ENGINEERING MAJOR,
COMPUTER SCIENCE MINOR,
FUTURE IVY LEAGUER, CIE FELLOW, TROMBONE PLAYER IN THE WIND ENSEMBLE,
COMMUTER, INTERVARSITY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP MEMBER, HUMAN RESOURCES ASSOCIATE, SOUTHEAST
ASIAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION MEMBER, U-IMAGINE
CENTER COLLABORATOR,
FREETHINKER, CUB AND KEY PRIZE RECIPIENT, PROBLEM SOLVER, CENTRO
CULTURAL LATINOS UNIDOS (CCLU) VOLUNTEER, MARATHON
RUNNER, WISMER WORKER,
BUSINESS ASSIST INTERN.
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uring your first year here, you find out who you are. In high school, they feed you everything. Here, you feed yourself. In high school, it seemed every teacher took a side. At Ursinus, as long as you can explain your position, all sides are respected. That’s something I like. And learning to consider all sides is at the core of the Common Intellectual Experience (CIE). It’s a class that spans your entire first year. I’ll be honest: I didn’t appreciate the class at first. But by second semester you begin to understand how to approach the CIE questions about the meaning of life. You need to read all the texts, and if you take them seriously, the class can change your life. It sounds cliché, but it’s true. In fact, I’m now a CIE Fellow, which means I’ll help first-year students relate their world to the texts. Before coming to Ursinus, I wanted to be in the medical field, like a lot of people, but I volunteered in a hospital and saw it wasn’t a good fit. I was always interested in physics and math, with a special interest in renewable energy,
like wind energy and windmills. So I looked at engineering programs and found that Ursinus has a program with Columbia University. I liked the idea of being able to major in pre-engineering and still get a great liberal arts foundation. The standards are tough, but you earn bachelor’s degrees from both Ursinus and Columbia University (with three years spent here in Collegeville and two years spent in New York). Despite the hard work, my advice to first-year students is to put yourself out there. Get involved. Participate. Music was a large part of my life in high school (yes, I was a band geek), so now I play trombone in the Ursinus wind ensemble. Plus, this summer I participated in the Business Assist program, working as a paid intern with a local company. My dad, who’s a professor, always says it’s OK to lose sleep to get a good grade because you can make it up later. I took that advice to heart to pack a lot into my first year. I’m so excited for sophomore year … maybe I’ll see you in CIE!
MORE ON ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIPS ENGINEERING Earn a B.A. from Ursinus and an engineering degree from Columbia University or Case Western Reserve University in five years. BUSINESS Receive priority admission consideration and special merit scholarship consideration, along with a waived application fee, at The Simon Business School at the University of Rochester. MBA Matriculate to the MBA program at Saint Joseph’s University within two years of graduation to earn program benefits. For more information on these programs and our partnerships with Howard University, the Washington Internship Initiative and Japan’s Tohoku Gakuin University, visit ursinus.edu/opportunities.
THIS IS HOW WE SEE THE WORLD We believe that the greatest learning can occur at the intersection of disciplines. That’s where innovative thinking, new ideas and life-changing immersive experiences thrive. To that end, we are a campus of academic neighborhoods, boasting three interdisciplinary centers that will soon be housed in the state-of-the-art Innovation and Discovery Center. The facility will support the unique multidisciplinary nature of a liberal arts education by integrating subject matters, spaces and people.
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THE CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND THE COMMON GOOD Science has a huge impact on our world, for good and ill. This means that scientists have a responsibility to think about the consequences of their work and to explain to others why it is worthwhile. The Center for Science and the Common Good (CSCG) molds responsible citizen-scientists through programs that unite the Ursinus culture of research and creativity with the habits of reflection and judgment cultivated by the college’s distinctive first-year course, the Common Intellectual Experience (CIE). The CSCG is supported by an Undergraduate Science Education Grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
THE U-IMAGINE CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL STUDIES Those with an entrepreneurial mindset are individuals who can extend their knowledge to recognize opportunities where others don’t. They are constant learners who continually challenge assumptions. The U-Imagine Center focuses on entrepreneurship and integration as a way of thinking and acting in various contexts. Students learn to approach problems in novel ways, develop comfort with ambiguity, and apply learning in real contexts. The Center provides valuable resources so that ANY student from ANY major feels welcome to use the Center to develop an idea into a product or service that creates value by meeting a social or market need.
THE MELROSE CENTER FOR GLOBAL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT Named in honor of the late U.S. Ambassador Joseph H. Melrose Jr. ’66, a beloved alumnus and professor of politics and international relations, the Melrose Center seeks to develop future global leaders through unprecedented learning opportunities that will allow students to engage with current global leaders to help enact social change. Students selected as global civic fellows will experience service-learning research in locations all over the world. The fellows will take courses emphasizing social and global issues; design and implement civic engagement projects to enhance community-based organizations; and travel abroad to engage in service-learning initiatives.
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MY NAME IS
KIMBERLY AND I AM AN
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES MAJOR, SPANISH MINOR,
RESIDENT ADVISER, MUSIC DIRECTOR OF
UC B’NATURALS A CAPPELLA GROUP,
, CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER, INDOOR & OUTDOOR TRACK TEAM MEMBER
CHAIR OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES
STUDY ABROAD PARTICIPANT, BOWMAN’S HILL WILDFLOWER COMMITTEE,
CELLO PLAYER IN THE ORCHESTRA, INTRAMURAL VOLLEYBALL PLAYER, BUNGEE JUMPER, CRADLES TO CRAYONS VOLUNTEER, AIRBAND PARTICIPANT, ORPHANAGE WORKER IN ECUADOR,
PRESERVE INTERN,
UC ORGANIC FARM VOLUNTEER.
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have spent the majority of my life within a 10-mile radius of my house. Honestly, my elementary school is a further walk from my home than Ursinus’s campus. So how was it that I came to be riding down a mountain in Ecuador in the back of pick-up truck on a chilly December afternoon with chickens and a group of women bundled up in woven shawls, with the glacial valleys of Parque Nacional Cajas disappearing in the distance? Some people call it Study Abroad, but I call it the adventure of a lifetime. As an environmental studies major, the trek to the highest reaches of Cajas was an academic pursuit I had long dreamed about. The mountain reserve is home to 19 endemic species of plants found nowhere else in the world. I had spent hundreds of hours back in Pennsylvania studying how invasive plant life could wreak havoc on an ecosystem. The damage of such an emergence of flora here, in such a remote pocket of South America, would be catastrophic. But study abroad is much more than just field work. During my six months in Quito, I visited
16 cities, worked in a special-needs orphanage, dared to do things like bungee jump, and took five classes entirely in Spanish at a liberal arts university more than five times the size of my close-knit Ursinus. It took 45 minutes – and 25 cents – to ride the bus to campus. I lived with a family who spoke no English, but we bonded over family dinners and a shared love of music. At Ursinus, I was the music director of the B’Naturals, our female a cappella group. In Quito, I played holiday songs on the piano and my host family laughed as I tried to get the lyrics right. I played that piano every night. If you ask me, I’ll tell you that every student should study abroad … as long as “studying” includes taking risks, leaving the classroom behind, and sharing a few stories of your own. ¡Vas a tener el momento de su vida!
95%
Seniors in 2015 who say their education contributed to their ability to think critically and analytically.
100%
Participated in an Independent Learning Experience (ILE).
86%
Our first-to-second year retention rate far exceeds the national average of 72.9%.
WHAT SHOULD MATTER TO ME?
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MY NAME IS
ANGELA AND I AM A
THEATER MAJOR, AFRICAN
STUDIES AND CREATIVE WRITING DOUBLE MINOR,
SANKOFA UMOJA NIA MEMBER, GENDER
AND SEXUALITY ALLIANCE MEMBER, VICE PRESIDENT OF BREAKAWAY STUDENT PRODUCTIONS,
BONNER LEADER, SINGER IN
THE B’NATURALS A CAPPELLA GROUP,
LITERARY SOCIETY MEMBER, SOCIAL
BLACK LIVES MATTER SUPPORTER,
JUSTICE ADVOCATE AND ACTIVIST,
SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AND PREVENTION ADVOCATE, URSINUS COLLEGE RICOCHET
PERFORMING AND CREATIVE ARTIST,
PARTICIPANT,
MEMBER OF PHILADELPHIA YOUNG
FIRST RECIPIENT OF URSINUS THEATER SCHOLARSHIP. PLAYWRIGHTS,
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eing the recipient of Ursinus’s first theater scholarship empowered me to hit the ground running. The result? Roles in three productions and a workshop of my own play, all in my first year. As soon as I got on campus I auditioned for the fall play. I certainly wasn’t expecting to get a role, as a first-year student, but I was cast as the lead in Eurydice. Weeks later, Breakaway Productions, the student-run theater company, announced their production of Good Kids, so I auditioned on the opening night of Eurydice. I totally thought I blew it, but I wound up getting cast. After doing two shows that were emotionally taxing, I wanted something lighthearted, so I auditioned for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. That cast is near and dear to my heart, and we still keep in touch. I was inspired to continue producing original work as a playwright. I had been developing a show titled The Playground with the Philadelphia Young Playwrights for a few years with my mentor, writer Quiara Alegría Hudes (she wrote In the Heights with Lin-Manuel Miranda).
It’s a memory-play with themes of childhood, mental illness, and trauma, and come winter break, I needed to hear it aloud again. I spoke to a few people and said, ‘Hey, do you want to read a play?’ The answer was yes … a resounding yes! The reading and discussion ran over four hours, resulting in enthusiastic requests for a full production. The theater faculty suggested a workshop, so we assembled a great cast and put it on. We reserved 30 seats and 60 people came to the workshop. Now Breakaway is producing it in the fall. I am extremely grateful for everything that has come out of this process. The year ended with my selection as a Bonner leader, which involves a strong commitment to community service. Given America’s current socio-political climate, as an intersectional college student, it is crucial to remain civically engaged. I am extremely important to remain civically engaged. I am extremely excited for Bonner as it has the potential to combine my passions of theater and social justice and serve as a vehicle for change on and off campus. After The Playground, I want to keep the momentum going and produce more theater for social change.
THE PAST DECADE, URSINUS STUDENTS HAVE WON:
1 Rhodes Scholarship
2
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships
6
Goldwater Scholarships
9 Watson Fellowships
10
Fulbright International Scholarships
12 Kemper Scholarships
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PHILADELPHIA EXPERIENCE This completely immersive experience allows sophomores, juniors and seniors to live, work and study for a full semester in Philadelphia, just 25 miles from our campus. Living with other Ursinus students, and with the personal support of faculty in both Collegeville and Philadelphia, this residential experience is akin to studying abroad, but right in our own backyard, blending classes (from both Ursinus College and Drexel University), internships, service projects and research in a place that was named the first World Heritage City in the U.S.
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MY NAME IS
BRIAN AND I AM AN
APPLIED ECONOMICS MAJOR, WITH A FOCUS IN
FINANCE, ACCOUNTING AND COACHING, GOALIE AND
CAPTAIN FOR THE LACROSSE TEAM,
STUDENT ATHLETICADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER, DECORATED STUDENTATHLETE, ALL-TIME RECORD HOLDER FOR MOST CAREER SAVES AND BEST GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE, INVESTMENT CLUB MEMBER, INTRAMURAL SOCCER AND VOLLEYBALL PLAYER, INTRAMURAL
REFEREE, FIELD HOCKEY BALL BOY,
CENTENNIAL CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR,THREE-TIME ALL-CENTENNIAL
CONFERENCE HONOREE, CRITICAL
THINKER, THREE-TIME
ALL-AMERICAN.
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t was our first-ever NCAA Division III tournament game, and we were playing Cabrini College. We were up by one and it came down to the last 10 seconds. As the goalie on a lacrosse team, sometimes it’s all on you. You either stop the ball from going in, or you let one through. One of their players took a shot on goal and I stuck out my foot and made the save. That sealed the deal. We won, but the best part was that we had all of this support from the whole school. Just being able to look into the stands and see them packed with Ursinus fans – even though we were on the road – was amazing. That game really helped put our program on the map. I started playing lacrosse in seventh grade, and it was a big reason I decided to come to Ursinus. Lacrosse, and Ursinus’s reputation for good academic programs, were the two main factors. When I came to college, from my first day on campus, all of my teammates became my best
friends and it was like that throughout my four years at Ursinus. It’s a brotherhood, and that’s one of my favorite parts about it. It goes beyond the field. Family isn’t just a word. It’s what you become. Wanting to be the best is a big motivator. I was a three-time All-Centennial Conference player and a three-time All-American. But beyond that, as a team, we got better every year. My last two years, we made it to the conference championship. We made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament in my junior year and tied the best record in Ursinus history my senior year. Those are some of my proudest moments. Ursinus guided me to who I wanted to be and what I wanted to become. My professors helped me think critically. I think it allowed me to step back and look at the big picture. My professors and coaches helped me grow as a leader. That’s really going to pay off in the long run.
100
Athletes named to Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll
35%
Students who play a varsity sport
35%
Students who play club or intramural sports
WHAT WILL I DO?
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35
MY NAME IS
ROSEANGELA AND I AM AN
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND SPANISH DOUBLE MAJOR, LATIN AMERICAN
STUDIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES DOUBLE MINOR,
BONNER LEADER,
CO-TREASURER FOR B’NATURALS A CAPPELLA GROUP, FACULTY LIAISON
AND MEMBER OF THE DIVERSITY COMMITTEE,
COMMUNICATIONS GREEN FELLOW OF THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY,
ESL INSTRUCTOR, RESIDENT ADVISER, WRITING FELLOW, VICE PRESIDENT OF
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS CLUB,
KEMPER SCHOLAR TOP 3 FINALIST, JAMES G. FULTON
AND J. STEELE GOW POLITICAL FELLOW AT THE LES ASPIN CENTER FOR GOVERNMENT,
INTERN AT PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS, EXTERN AT COUNCIL OF
AMERICAN AMBASSADORS, ADVOCATE FOR
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
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y learning experience has not been solely academic. It’s been about what it truly means to be a human being. A lot of my studies are separate, but interconnected in a really natural way, so my entire experience at Ursinus has been to not just find out who I am, but what it means to be in my position.
inherently good at Spanish, but within the first two weeks of the ESL program, I decided that I wanted to take Spanish and study abroad. It seemed to me that it was my calling to continue learning Spanish, and the ESL program has become my favorite part of my week. Every person in the program is near and dear to my heart.
Through my James G. Fulton and J. Steele Gow political fellowship, I worked for a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C. My job was to research as much I could about the economy, good government, foreign policy, environmental movements, and leadership. I also attended two congressional briefings a week, and I went to a progressive conference with legislators from all over the United States. I also published an op-ed on youth homelessness, and I am beginning the Peace Corps prep program at Ursinus. I’d like to go to graduate school, and I’m also considering attending law school and advocating for human rights.
It’s very humbling. I came from a financial situation where I didn’t think I would be able to go to a college like Ursinus, but having these opportunities wouldn’t have been possible without Ursinus. Seeing that layered effect is pretty remarkable, and I’m very thankful. I think having access to a liberal arts education is something that has really helped me facilitate my way of thinking.
I’m involved in the ESL program, which teaches English to Ursinus assist staff. I’m not
The Ursinus faculty have been the largest part of this. I’ve had amazing professors and academic advisers who helped me lay the groundwork and get me to think about difficult topics. It seems cliché, but there is something about the professors here and the way they connect with students that is very different than anywhere else.
Among the top
100
Schools in a New York Times ranking based on our commitment to economic access. Among only
10%
of U.S. colleges to house a chapter of the national honor society Phi Beta Kappa.
170
Acres make up our private, residential liberal arts campus.
THIS IS
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT Civic engagement is a big part of Ursinus. Last year, 65 percent of students volunteered in the community. During Welcome Week, students carry on the tradition of civic engagement during the First-Year Day of Service at a dozen volunteer sites. Students interested in volunteering throughout the year can choose from a variety of service opportunities offered by UCARE, the Ursinus Center for Advocacy, Responsibility and Engagement. Through partnerships with more than 30 community agencies, UCARE serves as our hub for community engagement and social advocacy.
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Want to take it even further? Consider a minor in Peace and Social Justice Studies, or apply to become a Bonner leader (see page 57) or a global civic fellow of the Melrose Center (see page 16). Additionally, we are one of the colleges designated to offer a Peace Corps Preparatory Program, and we are one of 10 founding members of Project Pericles, a national organization of colleges and universities committed to making socially responsible and participatory citizenship an essential part of our educational program.
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MY NAME IS
SAMANTHA AND I AM A BIOLOGY MAJOR,
PHILOSOPHY MINOR,
INTERESTED IN EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY AND ETHICS,
BONNER LEADER,
NATIONAL BONNER FOUNDATION INTERN, PARTICIPANT IN SPRING BREAK
SENIOR ADMISSION FELLOW, TOUR GUIDE, FELLOW FOR THE CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND THE COMMON GOOD,
SERVICE TRIP IN JAMAICA,
TEACHING ASSISTANT,
ESCAPE VELOCITY DANCER, CREATIVE
AFTER-SCHOOL ALTERNATIVES COORDINATOR, CRADLES TO CRAYONS
URBAN TREE CONNECTION PARTNER, UCARE MEMBER, HOBSON COMMUNITY SERVICE HOUSE RESIDENT. VOLUNTEER,
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y Bonner experience completely defined my Ursinus experience. I served for four years as a volunteer and site coordinator for CASA, Creative Afterschool Alternatives. It’s an amazing creative arts program for middle school students. I was a facilitator of creative activities, like poetry, writing and even athletics. One student in particular had a profound impact on me. She had a traumatic childhood and she shared her experiences with me. She told me I was the first person to whom she ever told her story. I told her that she was strong for being able to endure the difficult times and maintain her happiness. She said that was the first time anyone ever said something like that to her. There are kids out there who don’t have adult role models, or don’t have adults who believe in them. That was the moment that made me realize what I want to do. Sometimes, you feel disheartened that you can only do so much and what you can do doesn’t really change the grand scheme of things, like poverty and educational disparities. But in that
moment, I realized that you really can have an impact on individuals. That’s where the movement starts. I have a passion for forming these interactions and relationships with people. That really pushed me onto a career path to pursue education. I’m now a program associate at the Bonner Foundation, where I do a lot of campus outreach and act as a resource and a liaison for many schools. As a recent Ursinus graduate, I think I have a unique perspective on how to connect to students. I’d love to remain connected to civic engagement in whatever I do. Service isn’t the whole solution, but it’s a way for people to unite for something they care about and it’s a way to make more people aware of the issues impacting others. It’s a collaborative effort. My Ursinus experience has impacted me in more ways than I can ever express and it gave me a chance to help make a difference in the lives of others.
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Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL)
94%
Graduates who were employed, attending graduate or professional school full time, completing fellowships or engaged in a year of service
100+
Clubs and organizations
HOW SHOULD WE LIVE TOGETHER?
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MY NAME IS
COLIN AND I AM A
BIOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE DOUBLE MAJOR, SPANISH AND
PSYCHOLOGY DOUBLE MINOR, ON A PRE-MEDICAL TRACK,
MEMBER OF THE MEN’S SWIMMING TEAM, TOUR GUIDE, TUTOR, PASS (PEER ASSISTED
STUDY SESSION) INSTRUCTOR FOR ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, MEMBER OF
DR. BETH BAILEY’S CARDIAC RESEARCH
VOLUNTEER FOR LITTLE BEARS SWIM LESSONS, LAB,
CAPTAIN OF SWIMMING RELAY TEAM, PARTICIPANT
IN AIRBAND, RELAY FOR LIFE AND THE RAGBALL INTERNATIONAL CHARITY SOCCER TOURNAMENT, INTRAMURAL BADMINTON
TEAM MEMBER (VERY PROUD 0-6).
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hen I was in high school, I visited a few colleges, but there was always something missing. When I first visited Ursinus, I went through my mental checklist and everything clicked. I hung out with the swim team and spent the night. The next day, I watched them in a meet against one of their rivals, Gettysburg. I thought to myself, ‘You know what? This is where I want to be.’ I raced over to the bookstore, bought an Ursinus Swimming T-shirt, put it on, and ran back over to the meet. I was cheering and going nuts with the team and the coaches. The rest is history. The team drew me in from that first visit and that’s what it’s like here. You want to share the dream. When I host prospective students, I want to be able to give them the same experience. I’m a biology and neuroscience double major, and a PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions) tutor for organic chemistry. I’m also a tour guide, and I love talking about Ursinus. It might be the greatest gig I’ll ever have. I teach swim lessons through our Little Bears program, I’m one of our newest WVOU deejays, and I just started undergraduate research in Dr. Beth Bailey’s lab.
We’re studying adaptations in the heart during pregnancy. Education runs in my blood. I love teaching, and I’ve been told I’m a good leader. I love to share my passion for swimming and academics, and hopefully I’ll instill some of that passion into others. Ursinus attracts a certain type of individual. You can’t give a little and take away a lot. You have to be all in from the start. You have to be dedicated and well-rounded. The most successful Ursinus students have their hands in a little bit of everything. You’re going to come out of Ursinus like a human Swiss Army knife, ready for whatever the world is going to throw at you. We’re Renaissance men and women.
615
Courses taught during the 2014-2015 academic year
12:1
Student/Faculty ratio
15-20 Average class size
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OUR NAMES ARE
AMANDA & ARIANNA AND WE ARE
BIOLOGY MAJORS, A PART OF
THE MINORITY ASSOCIATION OF PRE-MEDICAL STUDENTS, BROWNBACK-ANDERS
PRE-HEALTH SOCIETY MEMBERS,
UC AMBASSADORS,
TRI SIGMA SISTERS, TREASURER
AND RECRUITMENT DIRECTOR FOR TRI
TRI BETA BIOLOGICAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTEES, SIGMA, TOUR GUIDES,
INTERNS AT LEHIGH VALLEY HAZLETON HOSPITAL ER, RESEARCHERS WITH
DR. ELLEN DAWLEY (STUDYING SPINAL REGENERATION IN BOTH AXOLOTLS AND NEWTS) AND DR. CARLITA FAVERO
(STUDYING THE EFFECTS OF FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME ON MICE),
DAUGHTERS OF URSINUS ALUMNI.
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wins. Roommates. Sorority sisters. Tour guides. Biology majors planning careers in medicine. Clearly, we have a lot in common. So much so that you might find it hard to believe that there was a point in time when we weren’t sure that we would even attend the same college together. We wanted to make the best decision for ourselves, independently, and it just so happened that we both chose Ursinus. The campus just felt like home. Our first year we lived in Beardwood, and our resident adviser (RA) always stopped over to make sure we were doing well. Coming to college, you may feel scared or intimidated. But that is what’s so nice about how Ursinus does first-year housing: the person living right next to you is feeling the same way, so everyone’s in the same situation. Our advice to students? Be open to talk to everyone. You’re going to make good friends in your first-year hall because everyone’s doors are always open.
We like that Ursinus isn’t a suitcase school. Sometimes we visit friends at other colleges and it’s dead on the weekends. No one interacts with each other. But here, with Ursinus being a small campus, it’s very easy to interact and you become friends with many people very quickly. Even the upperclassmen were so friendly and willing to help us our first year. Everyone wants to support you. They want you to enjoy your Ursinus experience. And if you are having a tough time, they want to change it for you. They want to be the person to make you fall in love with Ursinus. Ambassadors fit that bill too. They help introduce you to the school, and make you feel welcome and comfortable. Like RAs, they are assigned to halls. Ours was Margo. Every time she saw us, especially Arianna, who was having a tough time adjusting, she made sure to say hi and ask how we were. While we both were inspired to become ambassadors, it was Arianna who was really impacted by the ambassador outreach. ‘Now I try to do for new students what Margo did for me.’
1,600
Students from 35 states and 21 countries
98%
Students who live on campus
4
The number of years of guaranteed housing
THIS IS
ACADEMICS All first-year students participate in the Common Intellectual Experience (CIE), an innovative full-year seminar in which we dare to ask what it means to be human. We dare to question our place in the universe. We dare to debate how we should live our lives. By the end of senior year, all students satisfy the college’s Independent Learning Experience (ILE) requirement, fostering initiative and independence. Students must complete a significant research project, an internship, a teaching assignment or a semester studying abroad. The ILE is your own: a discrete and personal encounter that tests your learning in the world. It will be an important and unforgettable engagement. African American and Africana Studies American Studies Anthropology Applied Economics Applied Ethics Art Art and Art History Art History Astronomy Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Biology Biostatistics Chemistry Coaching Computer Science Creative Writing Dance East Asian Studies Economics Education English 55
Entrepreneurship Environmental Studies Film Studies Finance and Accounting French Gender and Women’s Studies German German Studies Greek Health and Exercise Physiology History Human Behavioral Development Human Performance Assessment International Relations International Studies Certificate Japanese Latin Latin American Studies Management Studies Mathematics Media and Communication Studies Museum Studies Music Neuroscience Peace and Social Justice Studies Philosophy Physics Politics Pre-Engineering Pre-Health Professions Pre-Law Psychology Religious Studies Sociology Spanish Statistics Student-Initiated Majors Teaching Certification Theater Wellness/Fitness *Majors highlighted in bold
THIS IS
OPPORTUNITY AUTOMATIC CONSIDERATION
ZACHARIAS NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS $35,000/ACADEMIC YEAR Our highest recognition for academic achievement and leadership, Ursinus awards this scholarship to those outstanding students who, through superior high school achievements, demonstrate intellectual gifts and show evidence of leadership in school and community activities. TOWER SCHOLARSHIPS $33,000/ACADEMIC YEAR Ursinus College awards the Tower Scholarship to applicants who have meaningfully impacted issues of diversity and inclusion in their schools and/or communities, and who have achieved success in a rigorous high school curriculum. GATEWAY SCHOLARSHIPS $30,000/ACADEMIC YEAR Automatic for any student meeting our core academic requirements and with a 28+ ACT or 1260+ SAT. TALENT/INTEREST-BASED
CREATIVE WRITING AWARD $33,000/ACADEMIC YEAR The Ursinus College Creative Writing Award is open to creative writers who demonstrate outstanding originality and potential. The award winner will have the honor of living in the dorm room once occupied by J.D. Salinger, who attended Ursinus College.
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PERFORMING ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS IN DANCE, MUSIC AND THEATER $33,000/ACADEMIC YEAR Ursinus offers three Performing Arts Scholarships, one each available in the areas of Dance, Music and Theater. Candidates will have potential for leadership in our performing arts programs. The two most important criteria are a demonstrated record of achievement in the performing arts and the strength of the Ursinus audition. SUPPORTING INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIPS $8,500/ACADEMIC YEAR The Supporting Inclusive Excellence Program provides scholarships funded by the National Science Foundation and Ursinus College. These scholarships are designed to provide academically talented students scholarship funding for four years. Scholarship recipients will also be invited to participate in programs that are designed to help them reach their fullest potential as Ursinus College students and graduates. BONNER LEADERS $4,000/ACADEMIC YEAR The Ursinus Bonner Leaders Scholarship is a competitive scholarship program that offers selected students with exceptional records of leadership, community service and/or social justice work an opportunity to continue their commitment to the common good. While attending Ursinus, Bonner leaders commit to serve an average of eight to 10 hours per week of service working in the community with local nonprofits.
THIS IS
BEAR COUNTRY NCAA DIVISION III ATHLETICS WOMEN’S SPORTS Basketball Cross Country Field Hockey Golf Gymnastics Lacrosse Soccer Softball Swimming Tennis Track & Field Volleyball MEN’S SPORTS Baseball Basketball Cross Country Football Golf Lacrosse Soccer Swimming Tennis Track & Field Wrestling
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CLUB SPORTS Cheerleading Fencing Roller Hockey Men’s Rugby Women’s Rugby Running Club Men’s Soccer Table Tennis Triathlon Club Ultimate Frisbee Men’s Volleyball Water Polo INTRAMURAL SPORTS Badminton (Singles and Doubles) Co-ed Basketball Men’s Basketball Co-ed Flag Football Co-ed Indoor Field Hockey Co-ed Indoor Soccer Men’s Indoor Soccer Sand Court Volleyball Tournament Co-ed Volleyball Men’s Volleyball
THIS IS
COLLEGEVILLE Only 25 miles from Philadelphia, Ursinus is ideally located in Collegeville. The suburban college town is just as quaint as it sounds: a walkable Main Street, numerous parks, and easy access to the Perkiomen Trail, which borders campus and is part of a 60-mile trail system that leads to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. (Though thanks to our Berman Museum of Art here on campus, Collegeville boasts its own art museum as well.)
But there’s more to Collegeville than just charm. The area is well-known for biopharmaceutical and healthcare companies, such as Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline and Quest Diagnostics. The nearby Providence Town Center features 70 shops and restaurants, as well as a movie theater and a 30-ft. rock-climbing wall. With easy access to Rt. 422, the rich culture and history of Philadelphia are accessible for exploring.
BOSTON
NEW YORK
PENNSYLVANIA NEW YORK
PHILADELPHIA BALTIMORE WASHINGTON DC
NEW JERSEY DELWARE
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$27,700 Average institutional aid award last year
97%
Students who received aid last year
74.5%
Four-year graduation rate, compared to 52.8% at other private, independent colleges
$44.6
THE ONLY DOCUMENT NEEDED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR NEED-BASED AID AT URSINUS IS THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA). Merit scholarships are awarded by the Office of Admission. For fullest consideration for our merit scholarship programs, students must apply Early Action (November 1), Early Decision I (December 1) or Early Decision II (February 1). For a full list of scholarships, state and federal grants, loan options and other sources of aid, visit ursinus.edu/admission/affordability
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EXPERIENCE URSINUS The BEST way to decide if Ursinus is the right fit for you is to visit our campus. Our office is open Monday-Friday year-round, as well as many Saturdays throughout the year. To schedule your tour and personalized information session today, go to ursinus.edu/visit. DID YOU KNOW THAT THE URSINUS APPLICATION IS FREE AND THAT WE ARE A TEST-OPTIONAL SCHOOL? We make applying as easy as possible. The only way to apply to Ursinus is with the Common Application, beginning on August 1 of your senior year. In order for your application to be complete, we require the following: • • • •
The amount provided in financial aid to students
Complete Common Application Official and complete high school transcripts Recommendation from school counselor An interview is encouraged, when possible
$61,690 Total direct costs for the 2016-17 academic year Tuition and fees
$49,370
Room
$8,220
Board
$4,100
FALL ADMISSION EARLY ACTION
EARLY DECISION I
EARLY DECISION II
REGULAR DECISION
TRANSFER
APPLICATION DEADLINES
November 1
December 1
February 1
February 1
August 1
FINANCIAL AID
November 1
December 1
February 1
February 1
August 1
ADMISSION NOTIFICATION
Late December
Late December
Mid-March
Mid-March
Rolling
FINANCIAL AID NOTIFICATION
End of January
End of January
Mid-March
Mid-March
Within 2 weeks of acceptance
May 1
Within 2 weeks of receiving financial aid award
Within 2 weeks of receiving financial aid award
May 1
Within 2 weeks of receiving financial aid award
DEPOSIT DEADLINES
For more information about applying, visit ursinus.edu/admission.
NOW, WE’RE READY TO MEET
ursinus.edu/visit