College Snapshots: Salem State University

College Snap Shots

In an effort to provide Burlington High School students and their families with relevant and up-to-date college information, the Guidance Staff will be visiting various colleges and universities and providing you with information. The colleges visited do not represent a preference on the part of the BHS Guidance Department towards any particular school.

In the college search process, many things are taken into consideration. Things that are considered, but not limited to are: campus size, location, number of students on campus, majors, tuition, distance from home, athletic programs, clubs and other activities. When considering a college, students must also make realistic decisions based on personal interest, grades, test scores, etc.

The department feels that the college visit is an integral part of the process, and we strongly encourage students to visit any and all schools that interest them, especially if these schools are fairly close by. The information we provide is only a small snapshot into each respective college. We hope to add information about other schools in the future, and as always we appreciate any feedback that you have that would help us provide our students and their families useful information in the sometimes overwhelming college search process.

Furthermore we ask that students also research colleges by using their Naviance accounts and scheduling meetings with their counselor on a consistent basis. Please feel free to contact your son or daughter's individual counselor if you have any further questions.

Monday, December 7, 2015

Salem State University

Visited by Leisel Smith - Dec 2015

“the Vikings”

Impressions:

not easy to get to, busy campus in a busy city
yellow & red brick buildings w lots of glass in the newer buildings
dense residential area
lots of parking lots to cater to commuter students (⅓ live in dorms, ⅓ commute, ⅓ live w friends)

There are actually about 6 campuses:

1- Downtown Campus/ Commuter Rail (1.5 mi north)

2- Cat Cove Labs (2.5 mi N)

3- School of Social Work & International Programs (.2 mi N)

4- North Campus (Main Campus)

5- Central Campus (Main Campus)- a few minute walk S of the North Campus, lots of upperclass apartment living

6- South Campus (.5 mi S)- Criminal Justice, nursing

ACADEMICS:

Nursing- clinicals start earlier than other schools (end of sophomore year)

look for: 3.6 GPA weighted with Honors & AP classes- if none of these, then you probably won’t get into the nursing program
SAT isn’t a big deal
200/ 1400 accepted (about 15%)- 60 enroll; only 1-2 transfer into the program as sophomores (VERY rare)

15-20 students/ class, max= 40 (which is rare) *NO large lecture halls, very personal
new programs: Healthcare Studies (esp administration, but interdisciplinary); Dance (usually is a combination with business or education)

NOTABLE:

North Campus:

Dining Hall has Burger King, ice cream shop, & Dunkin’
big new commuter parking complex (700 spots)
lots of construction going on- REALLY nice new Residence Hall (Viking Hall) w Starbucks on main floor- for sophomores & juniors

ADMISSIONS: