Saint Mary’s in Guide for 1st-Generation College Students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Saint Mary’s College Featured in 2011 College Access & Opportunity Guide

Contact:
Gwen O’Brien
Director of Media Relations
Saint Mary’s College
(574) 284-4579

August 9, 2010 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—Saint Mary's College is proud to be recognized in the Center for Student Opportunity’s 2011 College Access & Opportunity Guide as an institution that promotes higher education opportunities for first-generation college-bound students. The school is among 284 colleges and universities included in the guidebook, designed to help these students make their college dreams a reality.

Young people in all socioeconomic groups have college aspirations. According to the U.S. Department of Education, eight out of 10 expect to attain a bachelor’s degree or higher. But despite these aspirations, low-income students and those who are the first in their families to pursue higher education are severely underrepresented on college campuses. Those who do make it to college are not always finding supportive college environments or even graduating. A recent USA Today article notes that 89 percent of low-income, first-generation students leave college within six years without a degree.

For first-generation students and their families, the idea of college and how to pay for it can be intimidating, notes Mona Bowe, vice president for enrollment management at the all-women’s Saint Mary’s College. “At Saint Mary’s, our admission counselors guide students and their families through the complexities of the financial aid and admission application processes. Our hope is to help them see college not just as a possibility, but as a reality,” she says.

Saint Mary’s works to make college affordable to students, first-generation or otherwise, in the form of scholarships, need-based aid, loans, work study opportunities and other financial solutions. Nearly one-fourth of the College’s operating budget is devoted to making a Saint Mary’s education affordable. Over 90% of the College’s students/families receive some form of financial aid.

For a prospective first-generation college student and his/her family, the idea of attending college is one to be considered several years before the student’s senior year in high school, says Bowe. Saint Mary’s introduces many high school students to the college experience with the summer camp.

“Every summer our Multicultural Services and Student Programs office offers a camp called Encuentro, which is Spanish for Encounter,” explains Bowe. “High school students who might not have otherwise considered going to college stay in Saint Mary’s residence halls for a week and attend classes taught by Saint Mary’s professors. This experience makes college seem like a tangible option.”

For more information about the 2011 College Access & Opportunity Guide and the colleges and universities highlighted for their outreach efforts, financial aid opportunities and student support services, click here.

About Saint Mary’s College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, women’s institution offering five bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 major areas of study. Saint Mary’s College has six nationally accredited academic programs: social work, art, music, teacher education, chemistry and nursing. Saint Mary's College ranks among the nation's top 100 liberal arts colleges in U.S. News & World Report's 2010 annual survey. Founded in 1844, Saint Mary’s is a pioneer in the education of women, and is sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross.

About Center for Student Opportunity: Center for Student Opportunity (CSO) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting higher education opportunities for first-generation and other historically underserved college-bound students. CSO programs serve colleges and universities, counselors, and community-based organizations in support of their college access goals. For more information about CSO, click here.