Saint Francis University Reviews
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Marissa from Ellicott City, MD
10/12/2010Reviewer is A current student here.
3 out of 3 people found this review useful. 1 of 14
Categories Comments Great for these types of students It is a great school for everyone.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Arielle from Asbury, NJ
10/14/2010Reviewer is A current student here.
2 out of 2 people found this review useful. 2 of 14
Categories Comments 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.
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!
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!
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
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.
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Shanice from Upper Marlboro, MD
09/12/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
1 out of 1 people found this review useful. 3 of 14
Categories Comments Campus Safety Capus is very safe no problems.
Greek Life Very well put together.
Clubs and Activities Every type of club you would want.
Great for these types of students All students.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus None
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.
What to do for fun We watch movies, have dances, play games, go shopping, play sports and quite a few other things.
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.
Dorm Life Graet dorm life and family oriental.
Academic Rigor Very well organized and challenging.
Tips for prospective students Try and always participate in what's going on,So you will feel like your apart of the family.
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.
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Britani from York, PA
06/04/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
4 of 14
Categories Comments What to do for fun There are plenty of sporting events going on throughout the week and weekends.
Food and Dining The food at the main dining hall is great when you first start living on campus. But like any other college, you quickly become tired of the same food it has to offer. But there are several other places to eat both on campus and in town.
Dorm Life Living on campus is fun and allows you to meet a lot of new people. Everyone is really friendly and enjoys doing activities together.
Academic Rigor It all depends on the major you are deciding. But the classes are small enough that the professors get to learn you by name, and they put in the extra effort to help any students that need it.
Tips for prospective students While looking for which colleges to attend, you have to think about everything as a package not just one specific area.
In three sentences Saint Francis University is a great school and has a lot to offer. Although it's in a very small town, which has both it's ups and downs, it's a great place for students to experience college life. Saint Francis has many different majors and students from all around the world.
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Jessica from Northern Cambria, PA
06/20/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
5 of 14
Categories Comments Campus Safety It's a small town and very safe
Greek Life I love being a part of greek life!
Clubs and Activities There are so many ways to get involved!
Great for these types of students fun and dedicated.
Bang for the buck Although the price looks bad, the financial aid office is very helpful and almost everyone receives a scholarship.
What to do for fun Be active in clubs and student activities. SAO plans many fun things to do.
Food and Dining The food is a buffet style and there is also a few restaurants around campus.
Dorm Life The dorms are small but sizes doesn't really matter in all situations.
Academic Rigor The professors are amazing and give plenty of one on one time!
Tips for prospective students Become involved on campus!
In three sentences SFU is a welcoming community. SFU is a great educational environment. SFU helps you reach higher and go far!
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Samantha from Sterling, VA
07/03/2012Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.
6 of 14
Categories Comments Campus Safety Being a small campus, people know who should be there and who shouldn't. The campus police seem really nice and are always around. The dorms have swipe card access and there are call boxes located around campus (even though if you yelled, they would probably hear you).
Greek Life There is Greek Life available at Saint Francis University.
Clubs and Activities I am starting this fall and I have gotten so much correspondence about clubs, Sororities, and organizations available at Saint Francis. I hope to join some once I am settled and see how my schedule is going to be.
Great for these types of students Great for students that like small classes, great learning opportunities, Division I Athletics, great facilities, and lots of dfferent majors to choose from.
Bang for the buck I got tons of money and everyone I spoke to said the same thing. Don't let the cost of the school keep you from considering it. They will help you get as much money as you are entitled to. The classes are small and the school is ranked in many of the magazine lists for best value, best academics, etc...
What to do for fun I will be an athlete on campus but I hear there are tons of intramurals and clubs. In the winter they put up an ice skating rink and there is a tubing run with a tbar to get you back up the hill. The campus is gorgeous and I'm sure there will be tons of stuff to do.
Food and Dining The times I've eaten at Torvian the food has been good. There are many options and there's always the salad bar. The soup is always good and yu can have a sandwich made to order too.
Dorm Life The dorms are one thing that almost made me change my mind. To me they are small but compared to other dorms I've seen they are pretty comparable. They are updating them so hopefully things will improve.
Academic Rigor I don't know yet but I have visited several times and all the professors are very nice. The class sizes are SMALL!! For me this is good, I like to know that when the time comes, I won't be standing outside a professor's office when I need help. The retention rate is high and I think it's going to be difficult to not be successful academically at Saint Francis with the small class sizes and academic counselors.
Tips for prospective students Make sure you have a letter of recommendation and essay. They will accept a past essay or paper that you did well on in high school. Make sure to visit, the location isn't for everybody and I have heard the winters can be brutal.
In three sentences The campus is bigger than I thought it would be and everyone is very approachable. The rural setting is nice but Altoona is 30 miles away so you can get there if necessary. There are tons of activities and things to do everyday and academic success is stressed.
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Courtney from Bloomfield, NJ
07/11/2012Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.
7 of 14
Categories Comments What to do for fun You can go hiking , snowboarding , play many sports, go shopping , & camping
Tips for prospective students Visit the College & you will see that you should really attend that school
In three sentences Saint Francis University is a place like home and many wonderful people work together to help each other . You will find a large variety things you can do & places you can explore . In all ,it's a place where you can easily be accepted.
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Shannon from Scottdale, PA
08/06/2012Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.
8 of 14
Categories Comments What to do for fun They offer many clubs and organizations that provide unlimited activities to keep you busy on campus. They also are competitive in Division I athletics in the NCAA.
Tips for prospective students It is a great school with many opportunities to get involved, no matter what you are interested in.
In three sentences Saint Francis University offers many student activities along with unlimited opportunities for life on campus. They have the perfect program I was looking for and a knowledgeable faculty that will help me to successfully get me through school and guarantee that I get the job I am looking for after graduation. The campus is beautiful and welcoming to all students.
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Jordan from Pittsburgh, PA
08/08/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
9 of 14
Categories Comments 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.
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.
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.
Great for these types of students Saint Francis is great for students who want a school that is small and intimate.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Shylah from Patton, PA
11/04/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
10 of 14
Categories Comments Campus Safety Campus police patrol often and have a RAVE system that is like a help button or whatever you want to call it. Very safe campus.
Clubs and Activities Again. Never a dull day at SFU with all the clubs and groups having things going on all the time. Including weekends.
Great for these types of students Great for nursing, pt, PA students. Extremely focused on getting students through the program. Science oriented college. Great for students wanting a small campus with a great view. It's also not far from many attractions.
What to do for fun Lots of on campus Activities. For both students living on campus and those commuting.
Food and Dining Good Food. Extremely nice people. Reasonable prices as well. I recommend Padua Express or Frankie's to the commuter or when resident is sick of Torvian, main dining hall.
Dorm Life I'm a commuter so I'm not real up on dorm life. From what I've been told the newly renovated dorm is extremely nice and the girls all seem to get a long.
Academic Rigor It can be quite challenging depending on the course load but as long as you can stay focused and balance your social life on campus you will do well at SFU.
Tips for prospective students Come see the college. Spend the night if you can and get the feel for SFU.
In three sentences Small, close knit campus. Never a dull day with all the activities and such. Beautiful area and the faculty are the best.
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Ashley from Indiana, PA
11/10/2012Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.
11 of 14
Categories Comments Campus Safety The Campus is very safe! They have great Campus Police, and have a program in place where you can get safety alerts and messages sent to your phone. The campus police are available to escort you to your vehicle or dorm at night if you should feel unsafe.
Greek Life They have numerous service greek organizations that I am aware of but beyond that I am not quite sure.
Clubs and Activities I was probably most impressed with all the activities that the school offers to its students.
Great for these types of students You definitely need to want or at least be okay with a small town setting and a small campus setting. Everyone there is very personable and friendly with each other.
Bang for the buck It's expensive. There is no way around that, but it is a great school, and they offer tons of scholarships and financial aid especially if you are a serious, academically driven student.
What to do for fun It seems like there are lots of opportunities on campus for students. The town of Loretto doesn't offer much at all, but Johnstown and Altoona aren't that far away. Campus organizations are constantly planning activities though, and I don't think I could ever be bored there.
Food and Dining I have been on the campus on several occasions, and I have always found the food to be fantastic and there is a ton of variety.
Dorm Life The dorms aren't the best. The freshman dorms are very small, but then again, it is a dorm and your can't expect that much.
Academic Rigor I know that for my program the school's reputation is impeccable.
Tips for prospective students Definitely go check it out! I wasn't sure if I was interested in the school just because they had a good program for my intended major or if I truly liked the school, but after I visited I realized they have something for just about everyone. You can't see how good of a fit it may be for you if you don't actually go visit campus.
In three sentences I visited St. Francis a few weeks ago and sent in my application online as soon as I got home! I was so impressed with the school academically and socially. It is a perfect fit for me!
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SFU Senior
11/27/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
12 of 14
Categories Comments Greek Life Our Greek Life is full of excitement and will always keep you busy! Greek Life is a way to bring students together in search of a common goal.
What to do for fun Clubs and organizations such as SAO, SGO, Greek Life, or intramural sports. We have dances usually once a month, and activities such as bingo, arcade games, and pool tables in our student building.
Food and Dining Campus dinning is fairly average. The food in the main dinning hall always consists of pizza, sandwich, salad, and soup options. The main entrees are always different.
Dorm Life While dorm life can be fun, you will always have the loud neighbors or homesickness regardless of which year you are in.
Academic Rigor The university will challenge and stretch a students capacity to learn. Thus, in doing so the develop young adults to be prepared to enter the work force.
Tips for prospective students Look into which clubs and organizations you would like to get involved with on campus!
In three sentences Saint Francis University is a wonderful close knit community. The university offers a wide variety of health based majors along with business, communication, art, history, and literature based degrees,too. The campus is large enough to provide students with many clubs and organizations, but small enough to give students face to face teaching with professors.
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Justin from Canonsburg, PA
11/29/2012Reviewer is A current student here.
13 of 14
Categories Comments What to do for fun There are always sporting events you can attend, and dances are held here on a regular basis that are always fun. Other events and activities are also brought to campus every weekend and they change from week to week
Tips for prospective students look at more than one school, look into at-least 10, and visit no less than 5. Just because a college is a good fit fore one person does not mean it is fore every person.
In three sentences Saint Francis is a great institution for both student athletes and non-student athletes. They offer a wide variety of majors and even though it is a D1 college, it has a nice small college feel. It has one of if not the most beautiful surrounding areas than any other college I have been to, it is a truly wonderful area to go to school.
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Julia
01/15/2013Reviewer is A current student here.
14 of 14
Categories Comments What to do for fun There are plenty of organizations for students to join on campus. In addition to that, every weekend there are a wide variety of activities offered. There are games, such as bingo, deal or no deal, and minute to win it, offereded once a month or so. There are also different movie marathons, as well as a redbox on campus. There are also althetic things, such as glow golf and blacklight volleyball offered.
Food and Dining The food is a lot better than most collage campuses that I visited, but cannot compare to homecooking. There are two different dining options as well as a Starucks on campus. The traditional dining hall always has normal collage food, such as pizza and fires but also offers specialty dishes, such as Chinese on different days. There is also a made to order part, which has limited choice but all are pretty yummy.
Dorm Life As a freshman, the dorms are small and girls especially change roommates. Overall the dorms aren't bad and everything that I need fits nicely in my room.
Academic Rigor For my major there are a lot of challenging classes, but the professors know their subjects well and are willing to help in any way possible. Talking in groups of different students, I have found this to be common throughout the university.
Tips for prospective students Keeping open communication with your professor is a must. All of the professors that I have had have open door policies and are in their offices frequently. Try also forming study groups with other students in your classes because they can help you look at something from a different view, which might be better for you.
In three sentences Saint Francis University is a small campus dedicated to its students. The professors are all very knowledgeable and helpful. I feel that I am being challenged thoroughly while being prepared for whatever path I might take in the future.
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