I’m going to stay in the Pacific Northwest, with the next college to showcase. Seattle University is a Jesuit university in the middle of stunning Seattle. It has just over 4,500 undergraduate students with a diverse population of students and a myriad of top notch programs to study. When I first arrived on campus, I was struck by the beauty of the campus and how it meshed very well with the surrounding environment. Although the campus is right outside downtown Seattle, you are surrounded by water and snow-capped mountains, and the modern and unique architecture of the school buildings is quite breathtaking. I know Seattle is far for us east-coasters, but as I talked to students, faculty, and administration at Seattle University, I realized this was truly a special place with so much to offer for students across the county, and it is a place I would feel very comfortable recommending. Here are a few fun and helpful facts about the school, so enjoy!

Student Population: 4,500 Undergraduates, 35% minority students, average class size is 20, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 14:1.

AdmissionsInfo: Middle 50% GPA for acceptance: 3.3-3.9, SATs: 1600-1910, ACT: 24-29. Seattle U has both Early Action (11/15) and Regular Decision (1/15).

Cost: The current total cost of attendance is $46,410 per year. However, 96% of freshmen come in with financial aid help, which averages at $27,000 per student.

Colleges: Albers School of Business and Economics, College of Arts and Sciences, Collegeof Education, College of Nursing, College of Science and Engineering, School ofLaw, School of Theology and Ministry, Matteo Ricci College (Jesuit centered, humanities program).

Standout Majors Offered at Seattle University: Their nursing program is very competitive, where students should have a minimum 3.7 GPA, and mid 600s in each of the SAT sections. Other standout majors include cultural anthropology, digital design, prelaw, social work, sports and exercise science, finance, business economics, biochemistry, and engineering (civil, environmental, computer science/software, electrical, mechanical).

Seattle University has numerous Division 1 sports and a ton of school pride when it comes to athletics. Some of the sports they offer are baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, swimming and more.

Seattle U is committed to its Jesuit foundation and students there truly care about helping the surrounding community. They offer a program called the Seattle University Youth Initiative (SUYI), which is a popular organization at school where students are very involved in supporting and helping the neighborhood to improve academic and personal development. The sense of community is very noticeable at SU, both on and off of campus.

NotableRecognition:

· US News and World Report ranked SU as the #6 institution in the west

· SU has the #1 legal writing program in their school of law

· Bloomberg Businessweek has ranked SU’s business school the #1 program for macroeconomics

· SU has been ranked #1 in the nation among private institutions for increasing graduation rates and closing the gaps between Hispanic and Caucasian students

· SU has the 5^th highest amount of Fulbright Scholars in the nation among master’s institutions in 2013-2014

· In 2012, the White House honored Seattle University with the Presidential Award for community service

Final Thoughts:

I have been to many outstanding colleges across the country, and Seattle University is near the top of my list of standout institutions. It has an amazing community, strong and diverse academics, and is set on a stunning campus in one of the more beautiful parts of our country. Students who want to venture out to another part of the country and are committed to academics and being an active member of the community should definitely take a look at Seattle University. Whether you are in the engineering or humanities college, all students will come away with an education that will prepare them to become integral members of our society. Students are challenged to push themselves in the classroom, and to possibly go out of their comfort zone to help others in the community. The Jesuit education is very real at Seattle University, and the overall environment is a place that I foresee many students being very happy at. I know Seattle often has the reputation of rainy weather, but all I can say is that while I was there, the sun was shining and I felt a great sense of positive energy in a vibrant community…and I think if you dig deeper into Seattle University, you may just see the light too. Enjoy and happy searching!

-Mr. Joe Korfmacher, MA

As seniors are watching their college decisions roll in, juniors are beginning the college search process, and underclassmen are beginning to think about life after high school, there is one topic that has likely crossed all of their minds. That topic is their life and what they see themselves doing for a career. There is no set schedule for when individuals should know what type of career would be best for them, as some know when they are 10 years old and others don’t know until they are 40 years old. As high school students it is completely normal not to have a solid grasp of a type of job or field you see yourself in, and contemplating about what you would like to do for the next 40+ years is not the easiest concept to wrap your head around, but it is definitely something all high school students should be thinking about. As jobs are becoming more competitive and specialized, it would greatly benefit any individual to choose the right major for themselves in college and getting started early on the right track for their desired career. A career does not just happen and this is something students need to be aware of. A career is something a person will have for the majority of his or her life, so it makes sense that it should be something in which the person enjoys and fits his or her personality.

Students coming into high school should learn about themselves, including their values, interests, beliefs, and skills, and then begin to prepare for the next stage. Along with this, 9^th and 10^th grade students should be encouraged to explore, and should not worry about making career decisions. As students enter their junior and senior year of high school, they should be much more focused on decision making, and integrating what they have learned about themselves in previous years to growth and change towards their future career development. Once students have explored who they are, they must be allowed to access information on all types of careers and what needs to be done to obtain these careers. Goals need to be set and students must work with their counselor on reaching these goals.

During your junior year, you will be able to use the Career Finder tool on Naviance. This allows you to answer hundreds of questions about your personality, abilities, likes and dislikes. The program will then provide you with a multitude of careers that may fit you best and where you will be the happiest. Each career option will provide information on what the careers involve, average earnings, and how to best get to that career, including college majors.

It also is never too soon to think about which careers may be vibrant and which ones may not even exist in the future. A great site to visit is the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is part of the United States Department of Labor. This website gives everyone access to much of the information available on careers. A very useful tool on this site is to see projections of careers, including which careers will be booming in 10 years and which careers are on the decline. Click on the link, and you will be directed to the New Jersey part of the site giving a multitude of information on careers in our state.

So some simple advice for all high school students…although your plans may change, it is never too early to start thinking about what you may want to do. Use the resources available to you and start trying to connect your personality and needs to certain jobs and careers that exist. And parents…engage with your child about careers and opportunities that may arise. Have conversations with them about your own experiences and support them when they start coming to terms with a career they see themselves attracted to. Also, encourage them to go after internship opportunities or summer jobs that become available. Although an individual most likely will change careers at least once during a lifetime, it’s important to get off to a good start. So make thinking about a career a part of your life right now, as it will always be an important part of your entire life.

Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA