In 1903, Dwight B. Waldo founded Western Michigan University. The public university was known then as Western State Normal School, and in 1927, the school was renamed as the Western State Teachers College. It went through another name and status change in 1941, becoming the Western Michigan College of Education. It was not until February 26, 1957 that it became the state’s fourth public university. As expected and suggested by the change to university status, the academic institution is no longer just a teacher training school. It is now home to several other programs, including a thriving aviation program. Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation is among the nation’s largest aviation programs. The school is also home to the annual International Congress on Medieval Studies.

Degrees offered

One of the best things about a university starting off as a school for teachers is that you should expect instruction to be given priority. High quality instruction this time is no longer just used for training would-be teachers. It is now used to train students under several other programs. As mentioned earlier, aviation and medieval studies are just two of the university’s better known programs. The university also offers engineering, visual arts, education, sciences, theater, languages, public administration and many other competent programs. You are bound to find a program that suits you. If you want to better appreciate what the university can offer, you may go for education, aviation, engineering, medieval studies, and the like.

Application requirements

– Filled out application form
– $35 application fee (with fee waiver for students with financial problems)
– Personal statement
– Letters of recommendation
– High school transcript
– SAT or ACT scores from testing center or with high school transcript

Application tips

Western Michigan University is not as selective as some top public schools. It accepts about 85% of applicants. Still, most of its admitted applicants have GPAs of 2.5 and over. Only about 2% have between 2.0 and 2.5. Those who managed to be accepted with GPAs below 2.5 but over 2.0 must have other qualifications that still manage to put them over the competition. The University also does not discriminate against applicants of a certain race or religion. However, it does prioritize students with advance placement (AP) classes, great GPA results, and above average standardized test results. It would also help if you have some volunteer work experience, actual work experience, and outstanding personal qualities or talents. With so many applying for freshmen admission, you need to be able to stand out.

Admission facts

Admissions data as of 2008:

Percent of Applicants Admitted: 85%
Test Scores — 25th/75th Percentile
ACT Composite: 20/25
ACT English: 19/25
ACT Math: 19/25

The above are just averages. Students with lower and higher scores have been considered for admission as well. However, other qualifications are referred to in order to finalize the decision.

Contact info

Office of Admissions
1903 W. Michigan Avenue
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5211 USA

Phone:

(269) 387-2000

Fax:

(269) 387-2096

Email:

ask-wmu@wmich.edu

San Diego State University is a public institution. Located in a suburban area, it is one of biggest campuses in California and one of the largest universities in the state. It is also one of the more popular state universities, with a good number of students enrolled in its undergraduate degrees. The university uses a semester-based academic calendar. Among the pioneering efforts of the university, which was founded in 1897, is the first women’s studies program in the US in 1970 and also the first MBA in Global Entrepreneurship program in the country. Its Master’s in Public Health program is ranked number 2 by physician executives.

Degree offered

The university is divided into several colleges:

* College of Arts & Letters
* College of Business Administration
* College of Education
* College of Engineering
* College of Health & Human Services (and Graduate School of Public Health)
* College of Sciences
* College of Professional Studies & Fine Arts
* College of Extended Studies (and American Language Institute)

Of the majors offered in SDSU, the most popular in terms of student enrollment are:

* Business, management, marketing, and related support services
* Social sciences
* Psychology
* English language and literature
* Parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies

Application requirements

Here are the requirements to be submitted by prospective students who want to enter SDSU as incoming freshmen:

* Accomplished application form, which can be either submitted to the university’s admission office (the form should be requested from the office) or done online through the application website for California State Universities, http://www.csumentor.com.
* Results of standardized tests (SAT/ACT):
* TOEFL/IELTS – for students whose first language is not English, results should be sent directly to the university’s admission office
* High school transcript, which the school should directly send to SDSU

Admission tips

Applicants are required to pay the university $55 as application fee. This fee can be waived though, should a student opt to apply for a waiver.

The most important considerations for this university in accepting a student are the accomplished application form, the standardized test scores such as ACT or SAT, and the applicant’s GPA. As with all California state universities, the consideration for the applicant’s GPA depends on a formula available in CSUMentor’s GPA Calculator. The major that the student is applying for is also considered, such that an applicant applying for entrance in a science program should have high averages in his or her high school science subjects. The criteria are explained in detail in the university’s admission website.

Admission facts

According to the 2010 data gathered by Forbes magazine and Us News and World Report in their annual college ranking:

* Of the applicants for admission in 2010, only 44.0% were admitted, a substantial increase from 2009 acceptance figures. 27 percent of those accepted eventually enrolled in SDSU.
* 15% of accepted applicants submitted their ACT score, while 85% of accepted applicants opted to submit their SAT I scores:
SAT Scores:
* Composite Range: 940-1160
* Verbal: 482
* Math: 500
* 50th percentile for the SAT scores: 890 – 1080
* 50th percentile for the SAT – Math scores: 450 – 550
* 50th percentile for the SAT – Verbal scores: 430 – 540
ACT Scores:
* Composite Range: 20-25
* English: 20
* Math: 22
* Composite: 21
* 50th percentile for the ACT scores: 18 – 24
* 50th percentile for the ACT – English scores: 17 – 24
* 50th percentile for the ACT – Math scores: 18 – 25
* Average secondary school GPA for current freshman class: 3.0

Contact info

A number of avenues are ready for applicants and prospective students of the San Diego State University where they can readily get more information about application, admission, and general college life once they get in. Here are some of the ways to know more about the university:

Address: San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-7455
Phone number: (619) 594-6336
Admissions E-mail: admissions@sdsu.edu
Web site: http://www.sdsu.edu

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is a Catholic university divided into two major academic units: the College, which offers the Bachelor of Arts degree and the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs, which offer the Bachelor of Science degrees, certificates, master degrees, education specialist degrees, and two doctoral degrees. The Bachelor of Arts degrees are based on a liberal arts curriculum, while the Bachelor of Science degrees are based on a career-oriented curriculum. The university not only offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the US, but also abroad – in Nairobi, Kenya and in Mandeville, Jamaica, with its Master of Education in Teaching and Learning program. SMU currently has more or less 5,000 students enrolled in its different undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs. Its locations are in Wisconsin, Nairobi and Jamaica, with its main campus in Winona, Minnesota.

Degrees offered

The university offers different degrees in the following disciplines:

* BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
Biological sciences, biochemistry, biophysics, environmental biology
* BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES
Accounting, business, entrepreneurial studies, human resources management, international business, management, marketing, and related support services, sales, distribution, and marketing operations
* CHEMISTRY
* COMMUNICATION AND RELATED PROGRAMS
Advertising, applied communication, journalism, public relations, publishing
* COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES
Computer science, information science, information technology services administration and management
* EDUCATION
Biology teacher education, chemistry teacher education, elementary education and teaching, French language teacher education, language arts teacher education, mathematics teacher education, music teacher education, physics teacher education, social science teacher education, Spanish language teacher education
* ENGINEERING
Computer engineering, engineering physics, industrial technology
* ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
* FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURE, AND LINGUISTICS
French language and literature, Spanish language and literature
* HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED CLINICAL SCIENCES
Cytogenetics/genetics/clinical genetics technology, cytotechnology, health sciences, medical technology, nuclear medical technology, nursing, physical therapy
* HISTORY
* INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
International studies, mathematics and computer science
* MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS
* PHILOSOPHY
* PSYCHOLOGY
* PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS
* SECURITY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES
Corrections, law enforcement administration, securities services administration
* SOCIAL SCIENCES
Political science and government, social sciences, sociology
* THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS
Religious education religious music, theology, youth ministry
* VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
Dramatic arts, fine/studio arts, graphic design, music, music management and merchandising

Application requirements

Fist-time applicants who want to enroll as incoming freshmen are required to submit the following to the University’s Office of Admission:

* Accomplished SMU online application (form can be printed from the university’s website)
* Accomplished Common App online application (form can be printed from the university’s website)
* Universal College online application
* $25.00 non-refundable application fee, if using the SMU printed application
* Official transcript of applicant’s high school grades, sent directly from applicant’s high school
* A score report from one of the following tests, sent directly from the testing agency:
* American College Test (ACT) – SMU code: 2148
* Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) – SMU code: 6632
* A 250-word application essay
* Letter(s) of recommendation

Admission tips

The university follows a rolling application deadline. Here are the application requirements deemed as “VERY IMPORTANT” by the university’s admission office:
* Academic GPA
* Standardized test scores

Requirements or factors deemed as “IMPORTANT” by the university’s admission office:
* Character/personal qualities
* Class rank
* Interview
* Talent/ability

Requirements or factors CONSIDERED by the university’s admission office:
* Alumni/ae relation
* Application essay
* Extracurricular activities
* Level of applicant’s interest
* Recommendation
* Volunteer work

Admission facts

According to the data from the US News and World Report for its annual college survey, as well as the 2010 Forbes Magazine survey of American universities, here are the scores and figures that SMU considers in the applications it receives:

* Average secondary school GPA for current freshman class: 3.0
* 88% of accepted applicants submitted ACT score, while only 12% of accepted applicants submitted SAT I scores.
* SAT Composite Range: 890-1220
* ACT Composite Range: 20-26
Median ACT scores for particular subjects:
* English: 21
* Math: 21
* Composite: 22
* 50th percentile for the ACT scores: 18-24

Contact info

Address: St. Mary’s University of Minnesota
700 Terrace Heights
Winona, MN 55987-1399
Phone number: (507) 457-1700
Admissions E-mail: admissions@smumn.edu
Web site: http://www.smumn.edu