Saint Francis University
Loretto, PA, USA

Reviews

Saint Francis University

Marissa from Ellicott City, MD

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The teachers here are wonderful, they are always willing to help even outside of their office hours. They will answer your questions and what ever else you need to learn. They are also very willing to accommodate any one to help them learn better. With the teachers here I have learned alot.
Am enjoying being here
I love being here. The atmosphere is great everyone says hello and if someone doesn't know you they will come up and ask your name. Everyone is very open and friendly. And we have clubs for almost everything and if they don't have what you want you can start it. Plus we are never bored here; they almost always have a few activities every day. From picnic's and dances to hot air balloon rides and carnivals. The food here is good better than a lot of the food at other colleges I have visited. And if you have any allergies they are willing to make you special food and you can even pick what they make you each day. One thing I really enjoy about Saint Francis is the classroom size. As a freshman everyone is told about the huge classes in lecture halls and how you are just a number. But here as a freshman my biggest class is probably 25 kids and the rest are smaller. The teachers know your name, even if you just visited. The campus is so pretty their is a nature trail, a lake, forests, gardens, big grassy areas to play frisbee or football on after classes and a beautiful fountain. The dorms are fairly big too and they are very eventful. We hold a haunted hall during Halloween and we decorate the halls and the RA's are nice and give us decorations for our doors and leave us inspirational quotes every week. I also like that are school is extremely diverse we have kids from all over the world.
Bang for the buck
The school is a little expensive but it is a private school. But for a private school they are willing to give you a lot of help. most than 55% of the school are athletes with athletic scholarships, plus they give away scholarships for academics, volunteer work and numerous other things. But with how great this school is with everything it does I think its definitely worth the money we paid. especially since all the events on campus are usually free from famous speakers and bands to comedians and graduate schools that come in.
Tips for prospective students
Try and have things on your resume that make you stand out like volunteer work, sports, getting published, being a Boy Scout or Girl Scout. Apply early because you don't want your application to get lost in the traffic of other applications.
Great for these types of students
It is a great school for everyone.

Arielle from Asbury, NJ

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Learning at Saint Francis University takes place on many levels. Yes, of course I learn in class, but the learning and opportunities don't end there. In the Student Activities Organization I have the opportunity to organize events, book talent for campus events and work with budgets. In the radio club I am currently putting together ideas for a show plus learning about broadcasting. Oh, and did I mention the steady stream of guest speakers and performers? This is just the smallest sample of learning opportunities at St. Francis that match my interests. The energy and variety of experiences is there for every major! St. Francis is just an amazing experience.
Am enjoying being here
The atmosphere here is positive, friendly, and mutually supportive. This is a University where people care about each other. Everyone I have met is so happy to be here, that the entire experience, from classes, to the dorm is very up-beat and energized. I love being here. I could never have imagined being this happy in college
Bang for the buck
The wealth of experiences and opportunities available at St. Francis is so varied and so rich that I consider this University the financial opportunity of a lifetime. The wide variety of clubs and activities combined with the smaller university size lets each student have a big hand wherever you choose to participate. The classes are smaller, so the professors have the opportunity for greater detail and more in-depth coverage. This place is a mountaintop gem!
Tips for prospective students
The Admissions Office here is really helpful. Stay in touch with them during the testing and admissions process. Visit the University. The professors here are happy to speak with you about their classes. Then, stay in touch. Once you get in, pursue your interests vigorously! I also love voice and guitar. Within a couple of weeks I was part of a weekly jam session. Here you have the opportunity to pursue everything you love -- Go for it!
Great for these types of students
St. Francis University is for the student who wants to have it all. Here you can pursue your major through both classes and real life experience. And, if your interests don't quite fit exactly, don't worry. At St. Francis you can work with your counselor to build your own major that conforms exactly to what you want and where you want to go. This is a place for people who are ready to achieve their dreams.

Shanice from Upper Marlboro, MD

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Campus is beautiful,always kept up.
The professors always take the time make sure you understand what your doing.
Everyone is always helpful and friendly.
Tips for prospective students
Try and always participate in what's going on,So you will feel like your apart of the family.
Academic Rigor
Very well organized and challenging.
Dorm Life
Graet dorm life and family oriental.
Food and Dining
The food is great especially since it's campus food, I would give them an A+ along with all the different choices you have.
What to do for fun
We watch movies, have dances, play games, go shopping, play sports and quite a few other things.
Bang for the buck
I feel this University has so much to offer and would recommend it to everyone whom is serious about thier academics.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
None
Great for these types of students
All students.
Clubs and Activities
Every type of club you would want.
Greek Life
Very well put together.
Campus Safety
Capus is very safe no problems.

Rachel Sutton

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Saint Francis University is a smaller University where everyone has a chance to make themselves known.
There are great programs to get involved in, and there are so many great opportunities for students to better themselves.
The professors are great, and most are very willing to help students with any problem they may encounter.
Tips for prospective students
-Study hard and do your work on time. As a student in high school who never had to study, college hit me hard when I actually had to study for a math class.

-Don't procrastinate. The professors will give you projects to work on, and they will generally give you a window of time to get it done. If you wait until the last minute all of your other work will seem to pile up and you will start to feel smothered.

-Find your own place where you like to study. If you share a room with someone else, and they are distracting, you will need somewhere else to go. Saint Francis has many great places to study, which is a great perk about the school.

-Get involved! In order to meet new people and make the most of your college experience, no matter which college you attend, joining clubs and becoming active on campus is a great way to get your foot in the door. Specifically at Saint Francis, they have over 20 groups to get involved, and offer a Study Abroad program for the adventurous.
Academic Rigor
Academic difficulty will differ depending on the Major desired to pursue. Sciences and medical fields will be more rigorous than a business major. However, professors want to see you succeed, and while you will have to study and do all homework assigned, the professors are willing to see you during their open office hours if you have any problems. At Saint Francis, the majority of work is done in class. Because of this, attendance is key. The teachers work hard to help students achieve their goals for later in life, but without the cooperation of the students, it can become hard. Attending classes and taking good notes will help to ensure better test scores and a higher GPA than those who do not attend. Most professors will make up to 10 percent of your final class grade from participation and homework. If there is bad participation and homework, it could be a difference between an A and a B or C.
Dorm Life
As a commuter, I do not know much about dorm life. I have been inside the freshman girl's dorms however, and they were recently renovated, and although they are sorta small they are nice and clean. The bathrooms are not bad, and are cleaned regularly. The people you dorm with (the whole floor) will become some of your great friends.
Food and Dining
There are many choices to choose from when it comes to food at Saint Francis University. The school offers four places on campus where students can use their swipe money to purchase food.
-Frankie's is like a fast food restaurant, but it is more like a Sheetz or a WAWA than a McDonald's. At Frankie's, students use a touch screen to order the food they would like. Options range from cinnamon sticks, pizza, and burgers, to steak salads. Also at Frankie's, students can purchase snacks and bottled soda.
-Padua Express is a food stand located in Padua hall. There they serve pizza, coffee, chicken tenders and soups. The food selection and coffee selection rotate daily. Also here you can buy pop-tarts, snacks, and sodas.
-Cafe Gubbio is a great place to study, but also serves select Starbucks coffee, and has their own line of frozen drinks. Along with coffee, you can purchase sandwiches, and desserts for a fast in-store bite, or for on-the-go.
-Torvian Dining Hall is the main university eatery. Every day there is are items that change and items that stay the same. Torvian includes a salad bar, a pizza bar, and a deli where you can make sandwiches with a variety of different ingredients. There is also a main cafeteria line that serves burgers, hot dogs, and fries daily, but the other options in that line varies daily. Also, on most days there will be either rice or pasta served either in the pizza line or at Bravisimo, which is in Torvian as well. Lastly, Torvian offers a dessert bar, and has ice cream for students every day.
What to do for fun
Saint Francis offers different bingo nights, dances, and other activities for students to have fun. Most people have movie nights and such in their dorms with friends to have fun. Also, you can go to Frankie's to just have snacks and hang out with friends to have a good time.
Bang for the buck
The school is slightly expensive, however there are many opportunities on campus, and there are many ways to get help as well. Almost every student that attends Saint Francis University has some sort of grant or scholarship. Many receive an academic scholarship that can range from 1,000 per year to 16,000 per year, depending on SAT scores and high school grades. In order to keep this scholarship however, students must keep the required GPA listed for their category of award.
Other reasons why the price of Saint Francis is not that bad is because it is a private university, and it offers free tutoring, a free writing center, free access to the workout facility, and a school nurse who can give medication to students who are seen for no extra cost to the student.
Great for these types of students
Saint Francis is great for those students who enjoy being out in the countryside, and work more comfortably in smaller class sizes where the professor is there to help them. Most classes at Saint Francis only have between 24 and 30 students.
Clubs and Activities
Saint Francis has over 25 clubs and activities to get involved in. Many of the clubs and activities are based on curriculum and the different areas of study. There are however clubs such as cru and peer ministry that are faith based groups, and dance,cycling,and scuba club which are recreational.

Something else to get involved in, is helping with the Dorothy Day Center. At the Dorothy Day Outreach Center, many community service projects go on, and they help others during the seasons of Thanksgiving ,Christmas, and Easter. They distribute food from the food pantry at this time, and at Christmas they distribute presents donated by staff, students, and community members to local children in need
Greek Life
Saint Francis has 6 Fraternities, and 7 Sororities.
SFU Greek Life has a very high GPA in comparison to other schools who have a greek life program.
Campus Safety
Campus is very safe! The police make themselves known on campus. You never have to feel scared walking at night because if you feel unsafe you can call the police office and have someone escort you to where you are going!

Jordan from Pittsburgh, PA

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Saint Francis University has been great in transitioning me from living at home, to living away from family members. The environment is very welcoming and all of the faculty and staff are more than willing to help any student in need. Saint Francis University is a great school for anyone looking for small class sizes, individual attention from professors, and in general simply a home away from home.
Tips for prospective students
My advice to prospective students would be to visit Saint Francis. I fell in love with the campus as soon as i set foot on campus and the faculty and staff of the university really do an excellent job at selling the university to perspective students and their families. Saint Francis University is an excellent school and any student would be wise to attend the school.
Academic Rigor
The classes at Saint Francis University are not easy. Saint Francis University wants to provide students with a top notch education and in doing so cannot provide students with classes that will be easy. Classes that are easy to pass mean less work being done by the students.
Dorm Life
I have found the dorm life to be excellent. I lived in Saint Francis Hall my first two years and I loved it. It was easy to make friends in the building and the majority of my friends now lived with me in Francis Hall. Saint Francis Hall was extremely clean and the residence assistants were friendly and willing to help.
Food and Dining
Torvian Dining Hall is great. Torvian provides plenty of options for students and is fairly healthy. My parents say that if the food at Torvian was the food they ate in college they probably would have liked eating at school a lot more!
What to do for fun
The school provides plenty of opportunities for fun. Altoona and its restaurants and mall are only 20 minutes away. In addition, there is always some sporting event going on, on campus. The school makes it a point to provide events such as dances, concerts, movies, and activities on weekends so that students have something to do in the rural area.
Great for these types of students
Saint Francis is great for students who want a school that is small and intimate.
Clubs and Activities
There are a great variety of clubs and activities on campus. The only reason I am no involved in many is because I focus more of my time on my schoolwork and friends.
Greek Life
Greek life on campus is awesome. The school makes it a point to make sure that Greek life is not like Greek life in movies. Greek life at Saint Francis is full of service and friendship. Greek life isn't for everyone but it has helped me to make friendships that will last a lifetime and has helped me to gain qualities that I will be able to use long after leaving Saint Francis University.
Campus Safety
Campus police are always patrolling and making sure that everything is flowing smoothly on campus. There are cameras in the parking lots and in dorm entrances to keep track of who enters and leaves Saint Francis University. The Campus Police are only a phone call away and are always willing to help anyone.