An Important Decision

Selecting the right college can be a daunting task. However, with some advanced planning and a timeline marked to stay ahead of deadlines, you may find the process to be easier than you anticipate. The College Board and ACT offer advice to parents for guiding their children through the final stage of high school and into the college that will provide the best fit.

You may study college Web sites and read all the mail that arrives at your home, but the unsurpassed way of discovering which school is right for your son or daughter is to make a personal family visit to each campus. At St. Mary’s, a personal appointment schedule may include an admission interview, a financial aid consultation, visiting the faculty, sitting in on a class and a campus tour. To arrange a campus visit, call (800) 367-7868 or (210) 436-3126, or send an e-mail to the Office of Undergraduate Admission at uadm@stmarytx.edu.

Consideration for Admission

Students who possess the aptitude and motivation to succeed at St. Mary’s are encouraged to apply for admission. Balanced consideration is given to all aspects of students' demonstrated preparation, including selection of college-preparatory courses, grade point average and grade pattern throughout high school, class rank, standardized test scores, and record of leadership and service.

St. Mary’s operates on a rolling admission policy; however, there is a priority deadline of January 15. Although your child may apply at any time, please encourage early completion of the process so we may give priority consideration to his or her application.

Academic Scholarship Program

The academic scholarship program was designed to recognize the achievements of applicants to St. Mary’s. Students are considered for an academic scholarship award based on the Undergraduate Admission and Scholarship Application. All qualified freshman applicants will be considered for an award. Students must be admitted to St. Mary’s before an official award may be offered. Awards are made on the basis of high school academic performance and SAT or ACT scores.

Academic scholarships are awarded on merit — not family income. However, the submission of financial aid information will enable the Office of Financial Assistance to identify financial aid opportunities beyond scholarship consideration available to your child. Families of prospective students are encouraged to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1.

Experienced financial aid counselors are available to offer assistance and answer your questions regarding need-based aid programs. Do not hesitate to contact them at (800) 367-7868 or (210) 436-3141.

Application Instructions

Your child is asked to submit the documents listed below to form a complete application for review by the admission committee.

Application Form

The Undergraduate Admission and Scholarship Application is available in three formats. A completed form is required of all applicants.

• Online -- needs to link to online app
• Via download (PDF file, 68k, 1-3 mins. On 28.8 modem)
• By mail

There is no application fee for students who apply online. Students who submit a paper application before January 15 receive the same benefit.

After January 15, there is a $30 non-refundable application fee for those submitting a paper application.

High School Transcript

Students are instructed to request an official high school transcript be sent directly from the high school to St. Mary’s University.

SAT or ACT

Official results from the SAT or ACT are required. Students are encouraged to submit all SAT and ACT results because St. Mary’s will use the best sub-scores across all test dates.

Essay

An essay is required of all applicants.

Recommendation

Your child should ask the high school counselor complete the recommendation form, available online for convenience.

The student’s application and all supporting materials should be sent to:

Office of Undergraduate Admission
St. Mary’s University
One Camino Santa Maria
San Antonio, TX 78228-8503