MountStMarysUniversity

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Come for a visit!

For a listing of upcoming visit opportunities click here or call 800-448-4347 or 301-447-5214. For directions to campus,click here

Check out our Campus Map. See a list of local attractions and find a place to stay here.

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Fill out the Freshman Application or the Transfer Application.

Welcome, Guidance Counselors!

Thank you for taking the time to visit Mount St. Mary's University online. We hope you find everything you need on these pages, and we have included some of the most important information about "the Mount" right here for you.

School Profile

Located on a 1,400-acre campus just an hour outside of Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Mount St. Mary's University offers a rigorous liberal arts education featuring an extensive core curriculum. With 1,500 undergraduate students, the Mount is a vibrant academic community where faith, discovery, leadership, and community describe our collective calling and promise.

As the nation's second oldest Catholic university, the Mount celebrated its bicentennial in 2008, and we are now moving forward into our third century of service with exciting new enhancements to campus facilities and programs.

Typical Accepted Student Profile

Our typical accepted student has a GPA of 3.0 to 3.5—or a B/B+ average with an SAT score (math and critical reading sections only) of 1000-1200. ACT score of 22-26. We strongly consider involvement in extracurricular activities—particularly leadership roles.

• Meet the Admissions representative for your area!
• Check out our upcoming Admissions programs
• Visit our Learning Services page to learn more about academic support.
• See what our recent graduates are up to!
• Keep up on Mount St. Mary's news and events

Get your degree
in 3 years!

This is a special opportunity for motivated students to complete their undergraduate degree programs in less time than the traditional four-year programs. This program reduces costs for students who have a clear idea of their educational path beyond the Mount and wish to enter graduate or professional school more quickly than is possible with a traditional four-year course of study. Students in this program can take advantage of the same co-curricular and community experiences that four-year students enjoy.

Who qualifies?

Any student who is admitted to the Mount and wishes to pursue the three-year program is eligible. Typically, the most successful students in the program will have a high school GPA of 3.2 or higher and be highly motivated.

How much will I save?

You can save $10,000-15,000 over the cost of the traditional four-year program, but the real value is in how much more you'll earn by entering the workforce a year earlier.

What majors are available?

Every major that the Mount offers has a three-year degree option.

After acceptance, when do I have to decide on whether or not to choose the three-year option?

A decision does not have to be made until the middle of your freshman year.

Can a student switch to a four-year program after beginning the three-year option? ? If the pacing of the more traditional four-year program becomes a better fit for the student, then a student may make that change at any time.

How will I complete the degree?

Students in the three-year program enroll during the traditional fall and spring semesters. Additionally, students will enroll in classes over two summer sessions. Note: A few majors require part of a third summer session.

Is this program right for me?

Our Admissions staff can help guide you in your decision regarding the three-year option. The staff works closely with the deans and academic departments to ensure a quality academic experience. Contact Mount St. Mary's University Admissions at 800-448-4347 or Email us.

Outdoor Adventure!

The Mount's outdoor adventures program is a great way to make friends and have fun while taking advantage of the university's distinctive and scenic mountain setting. Maryland is a microcosm of the U.S.—with mountains, rivers, beaches, and the Chesapeake Bay—and we're in the middle of it all.

Thinking about attending law school?

Think about this. Mount St. Mary's University has one of the best pre-law programs anywhere. Our inspiring faculty and award-winning core curriculum will help you develop the critical thinking and writing skills necessary for success in law school and beyond. At the Mount, you'll gain valuable, real-world experience from exciting internship opportunities with law firms, judges, government agencies, and elected officials—to name but a few. Through our nationally renowned Law Advisory Board and Mount Mentors, you'll meet and be counseled by attorneys who are leaders in private practice, government, and public service.

Hands-On Advising—Our Pre-Law Director will meet with you throughout your time at the Mount to discuss your goals, academic progress, LSAT preparation and, in conjunction with your faculty advisor, course selection. If your writing skills need attention, our Writing Center and the Pre-Law Director are here to help. When the time comes to apply to law school, we'll assist you with the application process. And since a high percentage of law students don't enter law school directly from college, the Mount's Pre-Law Program is here to assist you whenever you go. Yes, we take Pre-Law advising seriously at the Mount, but we know how to have fun too! You'll sit in on actual trials, have lunch with legislators and judges, and attend talks by nationally and internationally known guest speakers on and off campus.

Mount Graduates In Law School—Mount grads have an outstanding record of acceptance and achievement at law schools throughout the country. Our graduates have been admitted to:

Drop us a text!

Tiffany (Hoke) Vandevoordt
Class of 2003

When did you start attending the Mount?
I started attending the Mount in fall 1999 after graduating from
Parkside High School in Salisbury, MD.

When did you graduate? What was your major?
I graduated cum laude from the honors program at the Mount in spring 2003
with a double-major in English and Rhetoric & Communications.

In which residence halls did you live?
I lived in Sheridan, Bradley, and A-Towers and also studied abroad in
Florence during the spring semester of my junior year in 2002.

Why did you choose Mount St. Mary's?
I chose the Mount because it just felt right. As silly as it sounds, it's true. When I visited, I remember walking around the campus and seeing students walking to class, hearing music float from dorm room windows, and just being able to see myself there. The Mount had the perfect combination of features—a liberal arts education, a small student body, strong English and Communications programs, Christian values, and students that I could identify with and wanted to be around— academically inclined, driven individuals who work hard and play hard. We studied and still found time to have fun and enjoy campus life!

What is your favorite memory at the Mount?
My favorite memories of the Mount aren't really specific times and places—they are the overall sense of community, faith, and friendship from various events and moments during my four years there. Whether we were studying on a blanket on the quad, enjoying the bands at Mountapalooza, grilling outside of the apartments, or walking through the snow to the dining hall on a Saturday morning, we were in it together. The sense of community was so strong—both among students and between students and faculty. I not only learned from my professors, but I became friends with them. This sense of the "Mount family" was especially strong when I studied abroad in Florence. The study abroad program is amazing and it was one of the very best experiences of my life. I am incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to live in such an amazing country!

How has the Mount helped you succeed?
Mount St. Mary's gave me the knowledge and tools I need to figure out "what I want to be when I grow up." I've always been interested in writing, design, and marketing/advertising, and I was able to combine my interests and explore these fields by majoring in both English and Rhetoric & Communications. My classes were engaging and interesting—it's easy to learn from such intelligent, personable professors who are genuinely excited about the class! I learned to hone my writing skills and I acquired a strong foundation in communications, which lead to my career as a writer for a marketing and design agency. I love what I do…and that, to me, is success!

What would you tell a student who is trying to decide where he/she wants to go to college?
I would advise the student to first determine the type of culture or environment they want, as well as what other factors are important to them—the type of school, size, location, and what programs/degrees they would like to pursue. For me, the sense of community at the Mount was very important. The small classes and individual attention from professors provided a rich learning environment and gave me so much more than an education. It instilled values and helped me develop a sense of social responsibility—a desire to do things for the greater good. The Mount professors genuinely care about students and are dedicated to cultivating their knowledge and interests.

Meet Erin Shoop

Hagerstown, Maryland
Accounting Major

"The Mount has so much community and spirit. There's always lots going on."

Erin Shoop caught the Mount spirit the moment she stepped on campus. Her enthusiasm grew as she got more involved—playing beach volleyball, helping bring more concerts to campus, serving as a Mount Ambassador, and trading emails with her alumni mentor. "It doesn't matter when you graduated,"?she says, "you'll always have that bond with the Mount."

Laurel, Maryland
Communication Studies Major

"Taking required courses has opened my eyes and broadened my thoughts."

Crystal Ofori started her first semester at the Mount tackling real-world issues—racism, hate crimes, and the meaning of work—and loving it. "Freshman Seminar made me realize why I chose the Mount. Not just for a good career, but to grow as a person." Her professors know her not just by name, but by her personality and achievements. "They're fun, accessible, and larger-than-life mentors," she says.

Meet Jon Pressimone

Charlotte, North Carolina
Theology Major

"The Mount encourages everyone to worship in whatever way is best for them."

When he's wasn't running, pole vaulting, or throwing the discus as part of the track team, you'd probably find Jon Pressimone doing something with Campus Ministry. He's interned as a music minister—planning liturgies and playing guitar at every Mass. Through it all, he's felt his faith grow. He has dreams of becoming a recording artist one day, but he's open to the possibilities. "I'll take whatever God throws at me," he says.

Meet Julie Ascosi

Catonsville, Maryland
Communication Studies and Spanish Double Major

"The responsibilities and the people you work with really help shape you as a leader."

How do you become a leader at the Mount? Just get out there and get involved. At least that's what's working for Julie Ascosi. She's been a University Council representative. She's served as vice president of the George Henry Miles Honor Society. She started a Bible study group. She's played intramural soccer and volleyball. She does community service. And she helps plan all kinds of campus events. "It was incredibly easy to get involved," she says.

Project Belize

Project Belize is Outdoor Adventure combined with Community Service. At the end of May, students journey to Central America to live in Belize among Mayan villages. Students build churches and schools while experiencing the culture first-hand. But that's not the only component of this trip - adventure plays a key role in making this a trip of a lifetime! Caving, hiking, snorkeling, drumming, and dancing take students on a journey to self-discovery, where team-building is the first step toward leadership. Through trips like this, the Mount builds leaders!

Our Majors!

Global Classrooms!

The Mount partnered with South Ural State University in Chelyabinsk, Russia, to provide a hands-on learning opportunity in global business practices. A group of 12 students traveled to Russia for an educational and cultural immersion experience that was centered on peer-to-peer interaction with students from South Ural State University.

The two-week trip was developed through the efforts of Mount professor Sandra D. Sjoberg and her colleague, economics professor Dr. Mike P. Barry. Professor Sjoberg is a business professor and the faculty advisor of the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) organization on campus. SIFE is the largest student organization in the world. It focuses on creating educational outreach projects by taking classroom learning into the community. Professor Sjoberg reached out to SIFE teams in Russia and organized a learning experience with the SIFE team of South Ural State.

Professor Sjoberg and Dr. Barry were interested in creating a student trip to Russia because the nation is an emerging economy that is important for Mount students to understand as future leaders. In 2003, the term "BRIC" became known in the business world. BRIC is an acronym for four emerging economies in the world: Brazil, Russia, India and China. These four countries represent 43% of the world's population, and it is projected that by 2050, these countries have the potential to be the four most dominant economies in the world—larger than the United States and Western Europe combined. In addition, Dr. Barry is a Russian linguist with primary research interests in Russia and Central Asia.

Study Abroad!

The Mount offers a number of unique study-abroad programs be it semesters, two-week study trips, fall and spring break service projects and internships. We have Mount students spanning globe: Dublin, London, Florence or Prague. Better yet sign up for summer sessions in Costa Rica, Spain or France. Mount faculty join native professors in providing a wide range of cultural activities and courses directly linked to Irish, British, Italian, Czech, Spanish and French language, history and culture.

"Do it. It should not even be a question you ask yourself. Do not let money, home sickness or your fears stop you. It is a life altering experience and I wish I could do it all over again!."

— Richard Verillo, Florence, Italy

Experience Patagonia!

a Spanish course taken where you experience what you have learned in the classroom by taking a two week trip to that very region! Experience "gauchos" by actually visiting an "estancia" or the history of the tango by going to a tango show.

Campus Ministry

We are proudly, unabashedly Catholic, but our students come from many different religions and hold many different beliefs. Explore leadership opportunities in Campus Ministry and share your gifts through music ministry or other liturgical ministries. If your faith is important to you, we'll help you strengthen it and put it to work. Learn more

Service Learning!

The Mount's service programs help you make a difference. Students have spent their breaks reaching out to street children in Mexico, working at a farm in Kentucky, helping at a youth center in Philadelphia, and building homes in Florida. On campus, students raise money and awareness, protect the environment, tutor kids, work in soup kitchens, and more. You can also add a service component to some classes. If you agree to perform 30 hours of service outside the classroom, you'll earn an additional academic credit.