Suffolk University (SU) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Located in the heart of Boston, Suffolk University offers undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, joint degrees and certificate programs. Suffolk also offers summer courses and a diverse study-abroad program. They offer thirteen varsity sports as well as numerous club sports, intramural activities and social organizations. There is an active student life on campus that includes greek organizations, on-campus living, academic clubs and social get-togethers so that everybody will find something that they enjoy doing.

Being located in Boston means that students have access to some of the world’s finest dining, shopping and cultural events as well as numerous professional sports team complexes. Teams such as the New England Patriots, Boston Red Sox, the Boston Bruins and the Boston Celtics—along with several other teams—all call Boston home, and students may go see their favorite teams play any time that they would like. Suffolk University offers the opportunity to gain a quality education in an environment that is rich with history and culture.

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Information Summary

Ranks 34th in Massachusetts and 690th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	84.3
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$57,871
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	26 / 1220
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	17 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	76% / 50%
Enrollment Total (all students)	7,186

Academics

Suffolk University offers over forty undergraduate degrees and more than seventy graduate degrees, joint degrees and certificate programs. There are numerous ways that students may earn a degree as well. In addition to traditional fall and spring classroom courses, students may elect to participate in study-abroad programs, summer courses and an honors program. Suffolk also offers non-degree courses to both undergraduate and graduate students who wish to learn new skills, test the academic waters or earn Continuing Education Units for their profession.

Undergraduate students may choose from a wide array of programs including art, biology, business, history, physics or social science. There are also programs specifically charted for graduate study such as pre-law and pre-med. As there are many graduate degrees offered at Suffolk, students may choose to complete their entire academic career at the same institution. This gives them the opportunity to remain in a familiar environment and form relationships with fellow students and faculty that will last a lifetime.

The study-abroad program at Suffolk University offers students the opportunity to work toward their degrees while learning their profession using a global perspective. Students may choose from such places as Australia, England, Costa Rica, France, Italy or Ireland as an international exchange student for a semester, or may also choose to enroll at Suffolk’s overseas campus in Madrid, Spain. There are dozens of beautiful places to choose from and students will gain not only an education but an experience that they will remember forever.

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Admissions

Undergraduate Admissions

Students who wish to apply to Suffolk University will need to begin the process by completing the Common Application and the Suffolk Application Supplement. Both forms are available online and though submitting them via the internet hastens the process, equal consideration is given to applications received online and via regular mail.

Suffolk University utilizes a rolling admissions policy and accepts applications in an Early Entry period and a Regular Entry period for both fall and winter admission. Other documents that will need to be submitted include high school transcripts with class rank listed if possible, SAT or ACT scores, a student essay, and two recommendations; one from a counselor and one from a teacher.

Students applying should have completed a minimum number of English, math, science, language, history and other college preparatory classes. For more information regarding high school classes, applicants should consult the university. Suffolk does not require minimum test scores or grades, but considers the student as a whole when considering an applicant for admission.

There are, however, some recommendations that may increase the chance of acceptance because Suffolk wants to get to know you. The university suggest scheduling an interview to speak with an admissions committee member. Though this is not mandatory, it is yet another way that the university may gain more information in order to determine the chance of an applicant’s success. The university also recommends informing them of activities in addition to academic achievements including extracurricular involvement or community service projects. Anything that gives the school additional information is encouraged.

Graduate Admissions

Students wishing to apply to Suffolk University’s College of Arts & Science or the Sawyer Business School will be required to submit the application and fee as well as proof of a U.S. bachelor’s degree, a statement of professional goals, a current resume and transcripts of all previous academic work. The school also requires two professional or personal letters of recommendation written by people who are qualified to discuss the student’s likelihood of success. In addition, appropriate graduate school testing such as the GRE is required by many of the programs.

Applicants to the Suffolk Law School have separate admissions requirements. These include the application and fee, one letter of recommendation, LSAT scores, a personal statement regarding motivation and preparation, official transcripts from all academic sources, and proof of a bachelor’s degree. Applicants must register with the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and submit all transcripts and LSAT scores to them. In turn, they will generate a report that can be requested by Suffolk Law School.

Most of the graduate programs at Suffolk use a rolling admission so that students may start in either the fall or spring semester. Students interested in applying should contact the individual program for more information regarding application requirements in order to ensure that all guidelines are met.

Financial Aid

Suffolk offers a wide array of financial aid options to help students attain their educational goals. There are federal, state and university-based scholarships, grants, loans and work-study programs. Students who wish to receive financial aid should begin by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that is available online beginning every January. Students should submit this application as soon as possible in order to receive all aid that is available. Many programs are available in limited amounts and may be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants will need financial information for both themselves and their families, so they should have this information available when completing the application.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 716th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Massachusetts.

Athletics

The Suffolk University Rams are an NCAA Division III athletics organization. They are also members of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) and the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). Their colors are blue and gold and they offer thirteen varsity sports including men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, soccer and tennis. Men have the additional options of baseball, golf and hockey while women may also choose to play volleyball.

The school also hosts a variety of club sports and intramural activities for students that may not be able to dedicate the time required for a varsity sport but who still wish to play on a team. Being located in Boston is ideal as Bostonians take their college sports very seriously. Every game is guaranteed to be full of excitement.

Bibliography

Suffolk University. Suffolk University. 2011. Web. 3 June 2011.

Suffolk University: The Official Home of the Rams. Suffolk University. 3 June 2011. Web. 3 June 2011.

Suffolk University