Information for High School Counselors

Help Your Students Discover a Great Adventure at St. Lawrence

At St. Lawrence, students venture forth, explore bold questions about the world around them, and make a difference in our community and the world in ways big and small.

We hope you find these resources useful as you advise your students through the college search and application process, and we’re always here to help with any questions as they arise. 

 

Refer a Student

If you have a student who you think is a great match for St. Lawrence, please share their contact information with us.

 

Helpful Resources and Quick Links

• Fast Facts About St. Lawrence
• Individual and Group Visit Opportunities
• Financial Aid and Scholarships
• Find Your Admissions Counselor
  • Please note that students are assigned to an admissions counselor based on the state or county in which their high school is located.  
• Connect with Current Students
• Read Student Stories

 

Application Information

How to Apply 

Students may submit either the Common Application or the St. Lawrence Application.

We offer Early Decision (with an application window of November 1 through February 1), Early Action (with an application deadline of December 2), and Regular Decision (with an application deadline of February 1).

In addition to the student’s application, we require the following materials: 

• Official copy of high school transcript(s) 
• Letter of recommendation from school counselor 
• Two letters of recommendation from teachers who have taught the student in academic subjects in high school

For over 15 years, we’ve been test-optional for domestic students. Students may submit the results of their SAT, ACT, both tests, or neither—the choice is up to them. The Office of Admissions will evaluate submitted scores, but the absence of test scores won’t work against any students who choose not to provide them. 

We also accept additional application materials, including additional letters of recommendation and student resumes. Any materials can be submitted to us at admissions@stlawu.edu.

Test-Optional and Self-Reported Score Policy 

Please see below for more information about our test-optional policy.

Full Test-Optional and Self-Reported Score Policy

St. Lawrence University is SAT/ACT-optional for all applicants because we understand that test scores don’t represent the full extent of individual strengths and abilities. 

Students whose native language is not English and who are not attending an English-speaking school must submit either TOEFL or IELTS scores as proof of English language proficiency. 

Students must indicate on the Common Application or the St. Lawrence Application which scores, if any, they wish to be considered in the application process. 

If a student decides to submit scores, we will accept them in the following ways:

• An official score report sent from the testing agency (SAT/TOEFL code: 2805; ACT code: 2896)
• Via email from the student's school counselor
• On a student’s official high school transcript
• Self-reported by the student via a screenshot or PDF of the complete score report sent to admissions@stlawu.edu (the student's full name must be clearly visible).

Test Score Submission Do’s and Don’ts:

If a student is self-reporting their test scores:

• DO submit all test results if the student took the test(s) multiple times.
• DON’T convert, super-score, or recalculate self-reported scores in any fashion—we will do this!
• DO reach out to our office with any questions about our test-optional policy. We will gladly provide insight on average scores submitted by our applicants and discuss how scores are considered in the process.
• DON’T report false or incorrect scores. A student’s acceptance and/or scholarship award could be at risk if their self-reported scores don’t match their official score reports.

Please note that students who decide to enroll at St. Lawrence must submit their official test scores via an official report from the testing agency, as part of their final high school transcript, or from their school counselor.  

Academic Preparation 

High School Curricula and Coursework

We encourage a broad preparation at the secondary school level. Each student's academic record will be evaluated individually within the context of their high school’s offerings.

We always encourage students to challenge themselves with advanced courses where available (Honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, dual enrollment, or other rigorous options).

Competitive candidates typically present a transcript that reflects a full sequence of classes in core subjects as well as electives which interest them. This generally includes: 

• Four years of English
• Three years of sciences
• Three years of social studies
• Three years of mathematics
• Three years of foreign language
• Elective courses of interest

We understand that each student’s academic path is unique. If a student’s transcript doesn’t look like this, that’s OK! We welcome any additional insight you or your student can provide.

Co-Curricular Activities

St. Lawrence students are active, engaged, and passionate about the activities to which they dedicate their time. We welcome students who will enrich our campus community by continuing with favorite co-curricular involvements and discovering new ones. Students should clearly outline their extracurricular and co-curricular involvements, as well as their hobbies, interests, and family responsibilities, in the Activities Section of their application.

Submitting Application Documents  

We accept application documents through multiple channels and will work with you to ensure that we have everything needed to review your student’s application. 

If all else fails, documents sent to us at admissions@stlawu.edu from your school account will be considered official by our office.  

Our office utilizes Slate, a free tool for school/college counselors, independent counselors, and community-based organizations. Depending on your role, you may be able to securely upload documents, track your applicant’s status, and receive notice of decisions. Please note that we will not convey a student’s decision to you until the student has had an opportunity to view it.

Stay Connected and Keep Track of Your St. Lawrence Applicants with Slate 

Getting Started on Slate

1. Establish an account by visiting Slate.org and clicking the registration link on the top toolbar. If you have previously submitted school report data through the Common Application, you may be pre-approved for a Slate.org account. 
2. Coordinate with your colleagues to decide how you will use the Slate portal. For each school/organization, one representative will be designated to manage permissions and determine the components of the portal you want to use. 
3. In addition to using the platform to upload documents and view applicant status, use Slate.org to advertise, schedule, and manage opportunities for college representatives to visit your school. 
4. Learn more about Slate.org functionality with this overview for counselors. Slate has also created four videos which you may find helpful. 

Questions regarding technical issues or registration should be directed to Slate at info@slate.org.