AUSTIN COLLEGE

AUSTIN COLLEGE

900 NORTH GRAND AVENUE, SUITE 6N, SHERMAN, TX 75090-4400 • ADMISSIONS: 903-813-3000 • FAX: 903-813-3198
FINANCIAL AID: 903-813-2900 • E-MAIL: ADMISSION@AUSTINCOLLEGE.EDU • WEBSITE: WWW.AUSTINCOLLEGE.EDU

STUDENTS SAY

Academics

Whether they are biochemists-in-training or budding musicians, “challenging” is the word most undergraduates use to describe the academics at Austin College. Among all of the demanding disciplines at this small liberal arts school in way-north Texas, the premed curriculum has a rep for being especially so. (Nearly 10 percent of this school’s graduates attend medical school after graduation.) The work here may be tough, but “Class sizes are small, the teachers are extremely well qualified (no TAs), and people really care about you as a person.” When push comes to shove in the academic arena, the “Academic Skills Center is an excellent resource, and other students will often volunteer their assistance on school mailers.” Alternatively, students can seek help from their professors, who “are more like really wise friends” than aloof academics. Students can stop by during office hours or wait until they’re invited over for a meal, which, students tell us, happens from time to time. Other unique attributes of an AC education include an Academic Integrity Policy that students pledge to follow before classes begin. Fans like it because they “don’t have to worry about other students cheating. As a matter of fact, my teachers sometimes leave the room after handing out quizzes with no reaction from the class.” As far as the administration goes, “Oscar Page (the school’s president, affectionately known as ‘0 Page’) is the most down-to-earth guy ever; he’s often in the cafeteria eating with students.”

Life

“We go to Starbucks and Wal-Mart a lot because there’s not much to do in Sherman.” According to students, “Sherman is a boring city with little shopping, no fine dining, and no outdoor parks worth exploring.” To make things worse, “There is no night life.” This does not mean, however, that the resourceful students at AC do not find ways to divert themselves from their studies when they need a little R&R. They mainly line up for two kinds of fun: The kind offered by the Greeks, which usually means partying, and the kind offered by groups like Christian Intervarsity, which usually means something a little more wholesome. On the one hand, “Greek parties are fun and a popular weekend activity. Ninety-nine percent of them are open to the entire student body.” On the other, activities sponsored by Intervarsity include “box- sledding [down a snow-covered hill], Ultimate Frisbee, video scavenger hunts, and community service projects.” In addition, a “local dance hall, Calhoun’s; local parties; free movies on campus; art exhibitions; choral and music recitals; guest musicians every Thursday; varsity athletic events to watch; or intramural games to compete iii” round out the busy scene on campus. Fun further afield can be found in Dallas, an hour-and-a-half drive away, or at “the lake campus [recreational property owned by the college] out at Lake Texoma.” Be mindful that “a car is required to get anywhere, because nothing useful is within walking distance of the school.”

Student Body

The typical undergraduate at AC is often “one who started off premed but ended up doing something else.” He or she is “open-minded, casual, cares about the community around them, works hard for [his or her] grades, and is overly involved in school organizations and committees.” “Many are religious.” Contrary to what such devoutness might suggest, AC undergrads mainly feel that “for a Texas school, it is very liberal.” “There are not that many students who are from states other than Texas and Oklahoma,” and while “Most students here are White and middle-class,” minorities are in no way excluded. Indian students are well-represented, as “The Indian Cultural Association is the largest group on campus, made up of more than Indian students, followed by the Muslim Students Association, and then by Los Amigos and Black Expressions.”

ADMISSIONS

Very important factors considered include: Academic CPA, rigor of secondary school record. Important factors considered include: Application essay, character/personal qualities, class rank, extracurricular activities, recommendation(s), standardized test scores, talent/ability. Other factors considered include: Alumni/ae relation, first generation, geographical residence, interview, racial/ethnic status, religious affiliation/commitment, state residency, volunteer work, work experience. SAT or ACT required; ACT with Writing component required. TOEFL required of all international applicants. High school diploma is required, and GED is accepted. Academic units required: 4 English, 3 math, 3 science (2 science labs), 2 foreign language, 2 social studies, 1 academic elective, 1 fine art. Academic units recommended: 4 English, 4 math, 4 science (3 science labs), 3 foreign language, 3 social studies, 2 fine art.

The Inside Word

Candidates hoping for an acceptance letter from Austin should keep a rigorous academic schedule. The college covets students who challenge themselves and Admissions Officers are prone to prefer students who have slightly lower GPAs but have proven themselves in difficult courses. Of course, applicants are more than just statistics and counselors are also looking for caring, committed students who want to contribute to the Austin community. An interview is strongly encouraged.

FINANCIAL AID

Students should submit: FAFSA, institution’s own financial aid form. The Princeton Review suggests that all financial aid forms be submitted as soon as possible after January 1. Need-based scholarships/grants offered: Pell Grant, SEOG, state scholarships/grants, private scholarships, the school’s own gift aid. Loan aid offered: FFEL Subsidized Stafford, FEEL Unsubsidized Stafford, FFEL PLUS, Federal Perkins Loan, state loans, college/university loans from institutional funds, alternative loans through various sources. Applicants will be notified of awards on a rolling basis beginning or about March 1. Federal Work-Study Program available. Institutional employment available. Off-campus job opportunities are good.

FROM THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE

“Students visiting Austin College immediately sense something different about the campus community. People look you in the eye. They call you by name. They want to see you succeed.

“That success comes from a strong academic foundation in the liberal arts and sciences, plus added opportunities like international study, January Term, and close involvement with committed faculty who become your partners in learning.
“The comments on these pages from students make it clear that there is no ‘typical’ student at Austin College. Students can retain their individuality and still fit in. Our students value and respect differences of background, style, and belief. Campus organizations offer activities for all interests. “Austin College prepares you to do more than make a living. It prepares you to make a difference in the place you work, in the community you call home, in the friends you make, and in the way you live. Service to others is an important part of campus life. “Visit and discover Austin College’s legacy of learning, leadership, and lasting values for youself.