Fast Facts
Name: Saint Mary’s College of California
Nickname/Abbreviation: Saint Mary’s, SMC
Founded: 1863
Student Population: 2,500 undergraduate (>5,000 total)
Average SAT: 980-1190
Estimated Annual Cost: $49,840
Website: http://www.stmarys-ca.edu
Overview
Saint Mary’s College is hidden among gently rolling green hills in Moraga, CA. This Catholic institution was founded on Lasallian Principles including education, inclusive community, and concern for the poor and social justice. Although this school is in a unique and private setting, it is only ten miles away from Oakland and twenty miles away from San Francisco, allowing students easy access to the greater Bay Area.
Because the school has fewer than 2,500 undergraduates, students often learn in small seminar classes where group discussions are the main focus. One of the core components of education at Saint Mary’s is the four seminar courses students are required to take. The topics include Greek Thought, Roman, Christian & Early Medieval Thought, Renaissance Thought, and Modern Thought. Emphasis is placed on “Great Books” such as the Bible and Dante’s Divine Comedy. Everyone is required to take two theology courses, but they don’t have to be in Catholicism; Judaism and Islam are only a few other possibilities.
All students have a faculty adviser, and each class averages only 19-20 students. Even introductory science classes don’t usually get larger than 35 students. This is unheard of at most large universities. Students are required to meet with their advisers before signing up for classes so they can be sure they’re on the right track towards graduation.
Another unique program at this school is January Term, locally known as “Jan Term.” Students usually take four classes in the fall and four in the spring with a special intensive course in between. All students must take a Jan Term class, but they may choose from many unconventional topics such as the TV show Lost, Weapons of Mass Destruction, or the Sundance Film Festival. Some choose to study abroad during this time, often taking a course with a Saint Mary’s professor and fellow students but in a foreign location.
One obvious characteristic I noticed at Saint Mary’s was the strong sense of community and genuine support. The whole campus takes a break each Wednesday around lunch time for “Community Time.” This is an opportunity for everyone to attend a barbecue or grad school fair and generally just take a break to check in with each other. Many are also involved in community service programs although they are not required by the college.
Saint Mary’s accepts the Common Application. Fill out one form to apply to this school and 413 others. Click to learn more about it.
Have you visited Saint Mary’s College? What did you like best? Where should I visit next? Feel free to leave a comment!