I have been accepted by both schools and am deciding between the two. I plan to pursue the 3/2 engineering program which I will study physics for three years and then be guaranteed to transfer to Columbia SEAS if I get a 3.30 gpa. I will get two bachelor degrees upon graduation then. Does anyone know how these two schools are in terms of undergraduate teaching, social life, and dorms etc. I am an international student so location does’t matter that much to me. I have been awarded merit-based scholarship by both schools but St. Lawrence would be 15K more expensive to attend. My family can afford it but it’s still a concern. Can current students at U of Redlands and St Lawrence University give me some input please?
I am an alum of SLU and my son is trying to decide between SLU and DU - like you he is looking at the 3-2 program. SLU is in a small town but the campus and people are amazing. The alumni network is first rate.
@buffalomomof4 thank you so much! The school is so generous and has just offered me 10K more after learning about my situation. I have heard that students get internships easily and companies recruit on campus? Is your son also entering college this fall? I may become his classmate!
As an international you should be aware SLU is very remote and very, very cold weather. You are considering two completely different coasts - SLU (east) U of Redlands (west). California and northern NY couldn’t be more different. You might want to spend some time researching the two different geographic locations carefully.
@Empireapple Definitely! SoCal’s weather can’t be more appealing to me, but in terms of academic rigor and networking… I believe SLU wins. Is winter gloomy and depressing in northern NY? Is Canton actually middle of nowhere? THX!
Yes he is. I know he is on the facebook accepted students chat!
St Lawrence is isolated, but about 1h30 from Montreal, an excellent cosmopolitan city.
Academically it’s better than URedlands. It’s also residential (Redlands has more commuters).
Redlands wins for weather and environment.
St. Lawrence University is within easy driving distance of the capitol of Canada = Ottawa, Ontario. Ottawa is about an hour’s drive & the city is beautiful. Montreal, Quebec is a bit further, but an easy drive.
Not sure of entrance requirements for foreign nationals into Canada, although it surely depends upon one’s home country & on one’s restrictions while visiting the US under a student visa.
OP may be a US citizen living abroad and therefore free to travel between the US & Canada with sufficient ID (driver’s license & passport).
@Publisher Thanks for the information! I’m actually an international student, but we don’t need a VISA to go to Canada.
Although I have already paid the deposit today to SLU, I am planning to visit in mid-May. My parents have international driver’s license but don’t know if we can rent a car from Ottawa airport and drive it to the US.
St. Lawrence University is an example of a school using its endowment in a wise effort to attract students to its very beautiful campus. SLU is spending money on buildings & merit scholarships.
St. Lawrence encourages study abroad. Take advantage of that. Also research if SLU offers an exchange program with other colleges & universities.
University of the Redlands has a gorgeous location. If I recall correctly, grading is done by comment rather than by letter or number. Perhaps SLU can arrange an exchange program to allow you to experience both schools.
St. Lawrence’s strength–location–is also its weakness–isolation (but no more isolated than Colby College or Bates College both of which are in Maine).
Alexandria Bay is not too far from St. Lawrence University. It offers boating which can take one through the locks & into Lake Ontario. It is a quaint village (Alexandria Bay) which is a hub of boating & vacationers during the warm summer months.
Take advantage of study terms abroad in Ottawa or Montreal. So close & yet so dramatically different.
Look for opportunity rather than for beer parties. Exercise every day & participate in outdoor camping clubs & use the Adirondack Mountains in the Fall.