Southwestern University

• Location: Georgetown, Texas, USA
• Year of foundation: 1873
• Language of instruction: English
• Number of students: more than 1500
• Type of eduaction: mixed.

Southwestern University (SU) is the oldest institution of higher education in the state of Texas, currently a private university.

The present institution was opened in 1873 as the University of Texas on the basis of three colleges and one university. Historically, this educational institution is associated with the Methodist Church. In 1875, the university was named Southwestern University.

SU offers 40 undergraduate degrees in arts, natural sciences, visual arts, and music, as well as interdisciplinary and pre-professional programs. About 95% of the teaching staff have a doctoral or higher degree in the field of their work. Joint research and publications of students and teachers are commonplace in the institution, which proves a serious approach to the educationof specialists in different fields of activity.

The educational model is based on the Paideia approach: it combines courses from different fields of knowledge and helps students see connections between the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. In addition to their major, students take general education courses and can choose a minor.

Part of the learning takes place outside the classroom: the university offers internships, research projects, community initiatives, and study abroad programs. All these formats are included in the curriculum and allow students to gain practical experience during their studies.

For academic support, the Professor John Score II Learning Commons operates on campus, and the library houses the Debby Ellis Writing Center, which helps with the preparation of written assignments and research projects.

Southwestern University has three schools, offering 37 major programs (majors) and 41 minor specializations (minor).

• Brown College of Arts and Sciences

The largest division, focusing on humanities and social sciences. The college offers interdisciplinary programs, such as Environmental, International, Latin American and Border, Race and Ethnicity Studies.

• Garey School of Natural Sciences

Combines natural science and mathematics disciplines, offering programs in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, mathematics, and computer science. Among the specific areas of study are Applied Physics, Computational Mathematics, Biochemistry, and Computer Science. A significant portion of courses includes laboratory work and research projects.

• Sarofim School of Fine Arts

The school is responsible for art and performing arts disciplines. Students can earn both a classical Bachelor of Arts and professional degrees — Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Bachelor of Music (BM).

92% of second-year students in the Chemistry and Biochemistry programs work on research projects together with faculty. The results of such projects are regularly presented at academic conferences.

The campus hosts the Research and Creative Works Symposium and Brown Symposium — interdisciplinary academic forums dedicated to contemporary scientific and social issues.

The Electronic Journal of Science Education is published, dedicated to research in the field of science education.

Select projects receive funding from U.S. federal grants, such as the National Science Foundation.

• In 1909, Southwestern held an alumni gathering in San Gabriel Park in Georgetown — it is believed that this is where the Homecoming format originated, which later spread across American universities.
• Historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church, it played an important role in the development of education in the southern United States for a long time.
• The university is located in the historic part of Georgetown; many campus buildings were constructed in the late 19th — early 20th century, forming a compact yet picturesque ensemble.
• The university did not have its own football team for several decades, but in 2013 the program was revived, and today the Southwestern team once again participates in collegiate competitions.

All first- and second-year students must live on campus, but most high school students also prefer to be near academic buildings. SU places its students in women's, men's and general residential buildings.

Women's dormitories:

• Clark Hall – 6765$/year

Three floors, which are equipped with double rooms in the style of a suite with bathrooms. Amenities in the lobby include washing machines, dryers, vending machines. On the ground floor of the building there is a spacious living room with a TV and a billiard table.

Men's dormitories:

• Ruter Hall – 5904$/year

Double rooms for 92 male students. Martin Ruter Hall has a laundry room, a lounge with a TV. The building is unique in that it has a connection with public baths, is the traditional format of a hostel.

Cohabitation of freshmen:

• Brown-Cody Hall – 7524$/year

Double suites with en-suite bathrooms for more than 117 students. The Brown-Cody hall has a fully equipped kitchen, a beautiful and spacious living room with a TV, a laundry room on the ground floor, as well as vending machines.  On the second and third floors there are offices, access to the balcony.

• Mabee Hall – 7524$/year

Three-storey building, accommodating about 167 students in double rooms with bathrooms. Mabee is a  popular hostel, in part because of the large closets, extra storage spaces, and separated work and living quarters. Amenities in the lobby include vending machines, washing machines, dryers, and a kitchen on the second floor. The TV is located in the spacious living room on the second floor of the building.

For high school students, seven residential complexes have been prepared, in which double rooms with private bathrooms are equipped. Some room options include shared living rooms. Several dormitories belong to male fraternities and are private apartment buildings. The cost of accommodation per year ranges from 9656 to 12 034 $.

For students living on campus, meal plans are offered with a price for the year:

• Unlimited meals, extra $125 for spending – $6028
• 15 meals per week, 200$ extra – 5400$
• 12 meals per week, $200 extra – $5184
• 165 power supplies per semester, $250 for spending – $5184
• 9 meals a week, 225$ for expenses – 4858$
• A block of 140 courses per semester, $ 225 additionally - $ 4858.

Every year , SU organizes two large-scale academic exhibitions, where students and researchers from all over the country can demonstrate their scientific works:

• The Brown Symposium , held in early spring, is  a scientific conference attended by guest lecturers, panelists. All the speakers at the Brown Symposium present research on a specific topic.
• The Creative Works Symposium , which is held near the end of the spring semester, offers undergraduate students the opportunity to showcase their research in the form of a formal oral presentation, panel discussion, poster presentation, art exhibition, or technology demonstration. These student presentations are often the culmination of high school projects, independent research, faculty collaboration, or a requirement for obtaining research grants.

On campus there are more than 90 student organizations, 16 academic honor societies. Religious groups include national Christian, Muslim, Buddhist brotherhoods, sisterhoods. 

The publishing house of the institution publishes two journals, in the writing of which students participate:

• Founded in 1907, MegaFon magazine is the university's official student newspaper, published bi-weekly in both paper and online copies.
• Spyglass Literary Magazine is the oldest publication on campus. It is published twice a year at the end of each semester. Each issue includes student poems, stories, photographs.

SU students also take part in an online radio station that broadcasts music and news of the institution.

The sports department of the university is engaged in the development of national teams in 20 sports: football, basketball, cross-country running, athletics, golf, swimming and diving, lacrosse, etc. The mascot of the school, accompanying it at each competition, is a pirate.

• Accreditation of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the National Association of Musical Institutions
• Member of annapolis groups, Associated Colleges of the South, Council of Independent Colleges
• Student-teacher ratio – 11:1
• 11% of students come from 23 states, 6 countries
• The college is described in Lauren Pope's book Colleges That Change Lives.

SU is located in Georgetown, about 50 km north of Austin. The campus covers an area of 700 acres. There are eco-laboratories on site where teachers and students conduct research. Training takes place at the Central Academic Center in the academic buildings. Dormitories are located to the east and northwest of the buildings, and sports grounds, auxiliary rooms and parking are located near the main building.

SU is equipped with:

• Administrative offices, student support services
• Audience
• Specialized laboratories
• Sports, gyms
• Outdoor playgrounds
• Chapel
• Library, reading rooms with access to computers
• Canteens, cafeterias, vending machines
• Bookshop
• Ballrooms, meeting rooms and gatherings of student organizations
• Rehearsal rooms.

There are recreation areas throughout the campus. SU is considered one of the most environmentally friendly institutions in the state due to the green area, garbage processing, regular clean-ups.

The school year lasts from August-September to mid-summer. During the training, holidays are provided in winter and summer, as well as weekends on national, public holidays.

Additional annual costs:

• Accommodation – from 6765$
• Meals – from 4220$
• Books, consumables – 1300$
• Transport – from 1500$
• Medical insurance – 1910$
• Tuition insurance – 510$
• Personal expenses.

First, the applicant submits an application and a package of documents for review by the admissions committee.

There are two main deadlines for fall admission. The priority deadline is the first Tuesday of February, and applications continue to be accepted until the first Tuesday of June. After the priority stage ends, the university begins sending out admission decisions. Applicants receive their first responses starting from the first Tuesday of April.

If a candidate receives an offer of admission, they must confirm their decision to enroll; the deadline is May 1. At the same time, the student pays a deposit for on-campus housing. After confirmation, the university sends instructions on preparing for studies: choosing housing, registering for the orientation program, and arriving on campus. The academic year begins in late August.

For the 2024–2025 academic year, 6,313 applications were received, of which 2,718 applicants received an offer of admission (43.1%), and 374 students enrolled in the first year with an average GPA of 3.53.

Average standardized test scores:

• SAT: 1130–1330 points,
• ACT: 24–30 points.

Most graduates quickly find employment or continue their education. In the class of 2024, 97.4% of graduates were employed, 70.26% began professional careers, and 27.14% enrolled in master's programs or professional schools. The average starting salary was $53 353, and the median was $50,000 USD.

Most graduates begin their careers in the state of Texas (76%), 21% work in other US states, and about 2% begin their careers abroad. Graduates most often continue their education in law, medical, and business schools, or pursue master's degrees in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

Among notable alumni are US Senator from Texas John Tower, civil rights activist Jessie Daniel Ames, and writer and distinguished researcher of American Southern folklore J. Frank Dobie.

All applicants, including foreign students, must provide:

• High-performance high school diploma
• Official transcripts
• Report from teachers, letter of recommendation
• Form of confirmation of financial condition
• Coursework including a minimum of four years of English, four years of mathematics, three years of natural sciences, three years of social sciences, two years of a foreign language, and one additional academic elective subject
• TOEFL (from 88) or IELTS (from 6.5) certificates
• Special evaluation interview with an admissions officer
• Personal documents: passport, visa, medical insurance.

The application can be submitted both full-time on campus and through one of the three college applications.

The admissions committee expects the application in the summer from June to the end of July.

The institution provides a variety of scholarship program options for individual student successes. Some options for financial support:

• Grants: Pella, Additional Education Fees, Texas Tuition Grant, Southwestern Grant
• Federal subsidized and unsubsidized loans
• Private loan
• Parental loan
• Hatton Sumners, Harry S. Truman, Barry Goldwater Fellowships
• Benjamin A. Gilman International Fellowship
• Boren Scholarships
• Cambridge Gates Scholarship.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision