文/萧明颢
Day 7: September 7, 2013
Days left: 23
Current location: St. Louis, MO
The turn of phrase, “right fit” has become common vernacular as a new US college application season kicks off. Admissions officers, counselors, students, parents alike will use this phrase, and continue until late summer when the new class of 2018 is selected.
With over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S., choosing where to go isn’t the same as deciding which frappuccino you want at Starbucks, although I do mull for quite a bit given all the choices available. Determining what the “right fit” is...well, for a Chinese student who is over 6,000 miles away, this becomes more of a game of roulette.
What does it mean? How will you know? Is it a gut feeling or something felt intuitively? Art or science?
To start my learning, I had a chance to sit down and talk with a team of administrators and faculty at Saint Louis University (SLU - pronounced /?slu?/), a pioneer Jesuit university in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri (MO) in the heartland of the United States.
Founded in 1818, SLU is a private, co-educational Jesuit university focused on the importance of providing service to others. As Jay Goff, SLU’s Vice President for Enrollment and Retention Management, said, the university’s purpose is to prepare “men and women for others.”
This theme of service and community outreach was consistent throughout the conversations I had with Jay, and three other members of SLU faculty and staff. Loyalty was also evident. Priority for experiential and integrative learning as well.
According to Harvey Warner, Assistant Director for International Recruitment for Undergraduate Admissions, while demonstrated academic ability is important, just as essential is finding students who have a mind for service and a commitment to social justice.
Beyond academic achievements, SLU also seeks to find the “whole person”, the well-rounded individual who has demonstrated the ability and potential to achieve academic excellence AND be committed to serving others and leading by example.
A clear example is the accomplished and 40-year SLU veteran, Dr. Seung H. Kim, Director and Professor of the Cook Business School Boeing Institute of International Business. SLU’s international business program is ranked #18 and #20 nationally for its undergraduate and graduate programs, respectively, according to the 2013 U.S. News & World Report College Rankings. Started over 30 years ago, Dr. Kim saw something necessary even when the concept of international business and globalization was still in its infancy stages. With nearly 300 students enrolled today, although he has the opportunity to retire, Dr. Kim sees a responsibility in educating the next generation of global business leaders, and continuing his path of contributing to the local community. Leading by example, service for others.
Likewise, Dr. Bert Barry, Director of the English as a Second Language Program at SLU cites relevancy as a key to helping international students integrate into the university environment and into US culture. Under his leadership, SLU’s ESL students focus on improving their English proficiency by applying it firsthand in the college classes they are taking concurrently. Away from an isolated language learning environment, Dr. Barry and his faculty strive to help international students integrate as seamlessly as possible by providing applicable and relevant learning environments.
Again, over and over, the theme is consistent. To serve, to lead, to prepare “men and women for others”.
One example that sticks with me is a student that Jay Goff had spoken with about why she had chosen SLU as her school over another leading institution. Her response sums up the type of student that SLU is looking for – the “right fit” for both the University and student: “It’s cool to be smart and have passion.”
For more information, please visit Saint Louis University’s web site at www.slu.edu. To see the University’s rankings and honors, please go to http://www.slu.edu/x12524.xml.
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