���ϴ�����

As one of the first institutions of higher learning west of the Mississippi River, Saint Louis University lives up to its over 200-year academic legacy: "At SLU, there is a lot of emphasis on academic success, and the very rigorous classes make it imperative that you focus." This mid-sized university offers a whopping 97 bachelor degree programs, each featuring a variety of large-lecture and small-discussion based formats, and even hybrids of the two. Impressively, students suggest that even in large courses, they were "able to connect with not only other classmates and teaching assistants, but...with my professors." Other students revel in the way programs make learning concrete, whether that's from a nursing student getting "so many clinical hours in very diverse fields" or "lots of opportunities to perform independent guided research as an undergraduate." The list goes on, citing classes that utilize "flight simulators" and backing up the study of world religions by visiting "a Hindu temple, Muslim mosque, and Buddhist meditation center."

Courses may be challenging, but students point to the personal support they receive from their instructors: "I truly believe that the professors I've encountered at Saint Louis University want their students to succeed. The Dean of Students is a wonderful individual and a great resource, and SLU's President is incredible," raves one second-year student. "I have never felt more supported by academic staff ever," adds another. "I have always felt like a student AND a person in my classrooms, and teachers are always one email or text away." As one third-year puts it, "SLU actively does its best to ensure that students succeed academically, professionally, and personally." This extends not just to the academics to but also to "generous financial aid" and professional resources in tutoring, time-management, and career: "With these, I could handle anything that college would throw at me."

The SLU community hails from 87 different countries, and many students take pride in the diversity celebrated on the SLU campus: "We host a lot of international students as well as students from different socioeconomic, cultural, and geographical backgrounds. I love getting to learn about other students' experiences and how they differ from mine." Even with so many different backgrounds, a shared passion for enriching the "mind, body, heart, and spirit" unites the student body. "I've found that the overwhelming majority of my peers are supportive of me as an academic and as a whole person, emotionally and spiritually." One first-year student explains, "My peers are helpful, friendly, positive, happy, and ignited with a passion for social justice." Overall, these ambitious students "are here to create a better future."

Saint Louis University looks for well-rounded students, and to that end offers a robust suite of extracurricular activities and opportunities for service. Among student favorites are the theater program, music program, mock trial, sporting events, and student government. One student enjoys the Micah Program "where we serve [the] community as tutors for elementary-aged kids," and the Billiken Success Program "where we help with new-student events." Warm weather brings even more opportunities for students to come together, "When the weather is nice students will hang hammocks from the trees on campus... They'll play frisbee on the quad or sit with friends and talk in the shade. Our campus comes alive when the weather is warm." Students also remind us that "Saint Louis University is known not only for its large STEM programs, but for having...great soccer and basketball teams."

SLU students are looking for “careers that strive to improve our society and our own wellbeing.” The faculty is more than willing to help students outside of established class or office hours, and many offer “valuable career advice, support, and connections.” Career Services invites students to drop into the Career Lab or utilize a variety of online material to prepare them for the workforce. In addition to PowerPoints on “Adulting” or “From Backpack to Briefcase: Expectations for a New Professional,” Career Services releases audio and video career development content on their podcast The Launch Pod and YouTube channel SLUcareers, respectively. Internships, jobs, and employer campus visits are posted on Handshake, and students can network with alumni through SLUConnections or discover opportunities abroad with Interstride and GoinGlobal. And in anticipation of high-stakes interviews, the mock interview tool BigInterview provides virtual coaching to students that is tailored to their fields of interest and experience levels. Saint Louis University graduates surveyed by PayScale.com report a median starting salary of $63,500, and 59% of graduates find meaning in their work.