High School Junior Viewbook | Valparaiso University

SMALL UNIVERSITY, BIG PLANS FOR YOU

Valparaiso University is small and friendly, yet diverse and high-tech. We have manicured lawns and a cuttingedge solar energy research center. We offer comfortable residence halls and competitive sports. We boast school spirit and also a spirit of exploration.

In short, there are many sides to Valpo, just like you have many facets to your own life. Here, students with a wide range of interests and backgrounds come together to find faculty and friends who support their interests and encourage them to expand their comfort zones .

Valpo is where all the wide-ranging things that define you come together.

OUR HISTORY & PURPOSE

Since Valpo first opened its doors in 1859, there’s been a special sense of familiarity here. It’s that feeling of belonging, no matter who you are—and no matter what you want to become. Here you will develop skills for professional success and a life of purpose. Discover new ideas in a collaborative, supportive environment. Study the challenging topics, ask the difficult questions, and learn not just what but why and how.

We’re the place for people with the heart to envision a better world and the brains to make it happen. Here you’ll get things you can’t get at other universities—things like instant access to dedicated professors and name recognition. At Valpo, you can be part of something bigger without losing yourself in the crowd.

QUESTIONS WELCOME

YOU + VALPO = EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY

Go ahead and ask questions, we’re used to it. Valpo is an independent Lutheran university, following in the tradition of 16th century German friar Martin Luther, who asked very difficult questions and sparked a reformation.

What does this mean? No matter your faith or background, you have the freedom to search for truth, develop critical reasoning, deepen your faith, and discover your purpose among people of many backgrounds and beliefs.

Valpo is a place where you are cared for by a community that genuinely wants what is best for you. By the end of your four years you will be amazed at all the growth you've experienced both as a student, but also as a complete person who is ready to lead and serve after college."

SARAH MESSERSCHMIDT

CLASS OF '22

International Economics & Cultural Affairs and German

VALPO'S VALUE: DON'T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT

It’s a given that we’re proud of Valpo—our rigorous academic programs, our talented faculty, our beautiful campus, our amazing students. Truly, there aren’t enough glowing adjectives in the world.

But as much as we like to brag about the University’s strengths, we’re humbled to know that national publications recognize the excellence and value Valpo provides. That outside review and recognition tells you that we’re onto something here. We’re not just heaping praise on our own people. We're getting national notice.

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Ranking and academics were quite literally the biggest factors in my decision…I wanted an education myself that could validate my academic potential and one that was acknowledged globally.”

ANAND AGRAWAL CLASS OF '23 Electrical Engineering and Physics

VALPO STUDENTS SUCCEED

College is your next step, but even more important is what comes after graduation: the path your life and career will take. In 2021, 97% of Valpo graduates secured a job or enrolled in graduate school within nine months of graduation. This stat has been well over 90% for the past 30 years, so we’ve got a track record of launching careers and lives of purpose. We’ll help you get where you want to go.

A UNIVERSITY DEDICATED TO THE WHY & THE HOW

Where do you want your life to take you?

With robust, engaging, and renowned academic programs, Valpo will help you reach your goals and expand your mind. Our curriculum combines a liberal arts background with degrees in timehonored professions like health care, nursing, business, and engineering— backed by a graduate placement rate of 97%.

Here, you’ll learn to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve problems creatively. Your classmates will be driven, hard-working, and involved. And you’ll find the challenging courses, dedicated professors, and leadership opportunities to prepare you for success. At Valpo, it’s safe to try new things and to sometimes stumble, knowing your professors and classmates will be there to support and encourage you.

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VALPO IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR THE QUALITY OF ITS ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

PICK YOUR PATH

Valpo offers more than 70 undergraduate degree programs and interdisciplinary options, so you’re sure to find a fit for your interests, whether you’re a science lover, a future CEO, or an aspiring educator.

Haven’t decided on a major? Discover your options and strengths with an exploratory program intentionally designed for that figuring-it-all-out stage. You can read up on all our academic offerings at valpo.edu/find-your-major.

INNOVATING FOR THE CAREERS OF TOMORROW

Valpo continually develops new programs to stay on the cusp of innovation and shape tomorrow’s leaders, including the fields of bioengineering, data science, environmental engineering, integrated business and engineering, mechatronics, music therapy, physician assistant studies, and supply chain and logistics management.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT

As early as your freshman year, your academic advisors and the Career Center will help you explore career paths. And as you grow, you’ll have access to resources on and off campus for internships and life after graduation (fellowships, career, and graduate school, just to name a few).

GUIDED BY THE BEST

At Valpo, you’ll connect with mentors who will develop your mind and ignite your curiosity.

Our faculty are some of the very best in their fields, and they’re here because they want to work with you. They’re invested in working with undergraduate students because they see the value in collaborating with and helping to mold the next generation to make huge impacts on the world.

In short, they are mentors fully invested in student outcomes.

Why is this important? Because when you learn from someone who is invested in your future, what you learn means so much more. It means your understanding of your chosen field will be powerful, relevant, and personal. It means that you will be ready to take on more opportunities to become a confident participant in the world. It means you will have countless opportunities to go deeper into the areas that drive you and the more you put in, the more you’ll be fired up and ready for what’s next.

“Mentoring Valpo students is a very enjoyable and rewarding aspect of my job. My research students have added the elements of youthful energy and perspective in their strong desire to learn and make a difference. They have also been important in enhancing my research productivity.”

JULIE PELLER, P h .D. Professor of Chemistry Vice President of the Hoosier Environmental Council

Recipient of a National Science Foundation collaborative Research grant to study microand nanoplastics in water alongside undergraduate student researchers

A SENSE OF COMMUNITY

Smiling at strangers in the elevator? Yeah, we do that. Stopping to shoot the breeze or compare notes with acquaintances from class? You know that’s us. And when we ask what you’re working on? We really want to know the answer. Community is big at Valpo, and it’s never long before those strangers and acquaintances turn into friends and colleagues.

LIVE HERE, THRIVE HERE

Valpo is a residential campus, which means your classmates don’t clock in and out like a 9-to-5 job. They live nearby, are engaged in countless on-campus activities, and build you up to tackle this whole exciting ride. Together, you’ll explore ideas in the classroom, over lunch, or late at night. And the friendships you make here? They’ll last a lifetime.

EXPLORE YOUR INTERESTS

Lead a student club—or create one. We already have more than 100 student organizations, but there’s always room for more. Whether your interests lean more toward the arts, sports, fraternities/sororities, service, or study abroad, you’ll find likeminded individuals to explore and bond with (and have fun along the way).

“There is something that we jokingly say, and it is that everyone is ‘Valpo nice’—and that is definitely true everywhere I go on campus.”

ANTHONY LUCIANO CLASS OF '22 Accounting and Finance

WHERE IS THIS AMAZING UNIVERSITY ?

We share our name with our city. Valparaiso, Indiana, sits at the northwestern corner of the state, putting you just one hour away from internship and research opportunities in Chicago, but also just 20 minutes from the stunning scenery and recreation of Indiana Dunes National Park. Not that you have to travel that far to find some amazing research facilities and scenery—we’ve got both right on campus.

HOME SWEET (STATE-OF-THE-ART) HOME

Across Valpo’s 350 acres, you’ll discover state-of-the-art facilities and tools, including science laboratories, Doppler radar equipment, art and digital media studios, and the James S. Markiewicz Solar Energy Research Facility, which houses the only solar furnace at an undergraduate research facility in the United States.

COMFORT AND CAMARADERIE

Create your home at Valpo in one of our eight residence halls, where you’ll live down the hall from the friends you’ll have for the rest of your life. Build a community of people as unique as you.

CITY PERKS

As you stroll through downtown Valparaiso, you’ll find more than 30 restaurants, cafés, and ice cream shops just a short walk from campus. Find a friend with a car and check out the 49’er Drive-In Theatre, providing entertainment since 1956. Take a hike at the Gabis Arboretum, home to one of the most diverse oak collections in the nation. Or stop by Zao Island, featuring mini golf, laser tag, go-karts, bumper cars, batting cages, a game room—and a giant dragon. Seriously.

MEET AT THE HARRE UNION

Located at the heart of campus, the Harre Union is the place to be for campus involvement. The host of dining options such as Founders Table and the Bell and Beacon, the Harre Union is also the home to Student Senate, University Programming Council, and student organizations. Add to that its many lounges and recreational center, and it’s clear that Harre Union is a hub of campus life.

A DAY IN THE LIFE AT VALPO

It’s hard to pin down a “typical” day at Valpo, because each one of our 3,000 students customizes their schedule and activities to fit their own personal style and goals. And we love providing all the diverse academic and social activities needed to serve our students. But still, you’re probably asking: What does a Valpo student do all day? We’ll do our best here to give an example, along with some personal photos and highlights from one of our current students.

ENGINEERING/PHYSICS

DOUBLE MAJOR, ANAND AGRAWAL shares some highlights of his days at Valpo:

Seminar-style classes in Christ College — The Honors College

Being an assistant engineer at WVUR The Source

A DAY AT VALPO MIGHT GO LIKE THIS…

8 a.m.

8:30 a.m. 9-11 a.m. 11 a.m. Noon 1 p.m.

Rise and shine

Grab breakfast with friends at the Founders Table

Back-to-back classes with a break at 10 a.m. for optional Morning Prayer in the Chapel

Stop by the Christopher Center Library for some quiet study time

Head to town for pizza (or salad!) at Amici Grill and Pizzeria

Class time again, then swing by the Academic Success Center for a quick tutoring session

3 p.m. 4-6 p.m. 7-11 p.m.

Meet with one of your professors to go over the paper you’re writing

Hang out with friends at the residence halls before dinner at the Bell & Beacon

Lots of options: study, write a paper, attend a basketball game or concert, binge a Netflix show, read a book, FaceTime with friends or family back home, head to a campus event planned by students on the University Programming Council

Midnight

Get ready to make a new day tomorrow!

Valpo days are full of academics, friends, and fun. From the time you wake up in your modern residence hall room each day, you’ll connect with fellow students—as well as faculty and staff—who share in your excitement for education (and recreation, too!).

VISA World

Speaking at the inauguration of President José Padilla. What an amazing opportunity!

Tutoring fellow students in math and engineering at the Hesse Learning and Resource Center

Banquet. Food, music, and good times!

Choosing a college is a big deal. You have to think about what you want to study, where and how you want to live, and the people you want to surround yourself with. We hope you’ll come see the Valpo campus and community yourself soon for a visit. But until then, ZeeMe—a social media platform for college-searching students— is the next best thing!

IN ZEEMEE, YOU CAN:

• See Valpo through the eyes of current students who post videos and photos showcasing their life at Valpo

• Ask Valpo students questions

• Connect with other high school students who are in the college search process

Be part of the conversation today by downloading the ZeeMee app and joining the Valparaiso University community. #GoValpo!

COLLEGE FIT CHECKLIST

Broad academic options

Professors invested in supporting students

High-tech facilities & research National rankings/praise Abundant aid dollars

Fun/unique students

Small size & sense of community Lots of options for fun & recreation

“At Valpo, success is more than just providing you a quality education, rather, success at Valpo involves your personal growth too. The people and opportunities you'll find here are truly unique.”

DANIEL OWENS CLASS OF '23 Environmental Engineering

1620 Chapel Dr. Valparaiso, IN 46383-6493

HI, WE’RE VALPO.

NICE TO MEET YOU!

Your college career is on the horizon, and you’re in charge. You’ll want to find a place where you can grow and experience new things, but also feel at home. We think we’ve got just what you’re looking for!

Inside this booklet you’ll find some stats, some stories, and some amazing photos of Valparaiso University (yes, we like to brag about our beautiful campus). If you like what you see, we’d love to show you even more.