Visit FisherTo know Fisher, you simply have to visit us. The campus is situated on 154 park-like acres—a beautiful setting for 23 modern buildings and a warm, friendly community of 2,625 full-time and 225 part-time undergraduate students. Scholarship OpportunitiesFirst Generation ScholarshipFor students who exhibit a high degree of motivation and academic potential and whose parents did not attend a post-secondary institution Service Scholarship ProgramFor high school seniors who demonstrate an ongoing interest in serving the need of others through a commitment to community service More Opportunities |
Frequently Asked QuestionsAdmissions Frequently Asked Questions
Application Frequently Asked Questions
Admissions Frequently Asked QuestionsWhere is SJFC?St. John Fisher College is located on 154 park-like acres in the town of Pittsford, a suburb of Rochester, New York. The campus is about 7 miles outside the city and is within 90 miles of the cities of Buffalo and Syracuse. How many students attend St. John Fisher College?There are currently 2,625 full-time and 1,000 part-time and graduate students; 58% are female and 42% are male. Where do St. John Fisher College students come from?National surveys state that most students enroll at a college within 1-3 hours from home, and St. John Fisher College students follow the national trend. 90% of Fisher students are from New York State. Other states represented are Connecticut, Florida, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. What is the high school academic profile of your average first-year student?Students should have a solid B+ average (about an 85 or above), 1,000 on the SAT in math and critical reading and/or 22 on the ACT (we always take the highest scores), and rank in the top 50% of their class. What if I don’t have these scores?The admissions committee bases admission decisions on the overall student. It’s important to include a guidance counselor recommendation, information regarding any extracurricular activities/volunteer work, and any additional information you would like us to have. Personal statements and essays are not required but highly encouraged. What is the average class size?St. John Fisher College has an average class size of 15-35 students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1. Do you offer liberal arts?Yes. All students at the College will complete a liberal arts core requirement as part of their Fisher degree. This program helps to provide a broadened educational experience and helps students explore different topics and interests. What types of degrees do you offer?Fisher grants the following degrees:
How many majors does St. John Fisher College offer?There are 31 different academic disciplines and 10 pre-professional programs offered at Fisher. The most popular majors of the freshman class of 2007 are:
What is St. John Fisher's SAT/ACT Codes? SAT Code is: 2798 What is there to do at St. John Fisher College?There is always something to do at Fisher. Students may choose from a wide range of campus clubs and organizations, including student government, music groups, language clubs, cultural organizations, student publications, and intramural sports. Many academic departments also sponsor clubs. What is a Learning Community?Learning Communities are designed to help students make a smooth transition to college, both academically and socially. In the program, students take courses in clusters that focus around a central theme, examining the topic from multiple perspectives. This provides the opportunity to learn cooperatively and develop close working relationships with other students and faculty. Are there opportunities for community service?Yes. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities available to Fisher students. Students can get involved on- and off-campus through programs such as the Circle K Club and the Fisher Service Scholars Program. The primary purposes of Circle K and the Service Scholars Programs are to serve both the community and the College through responsible student action, to help make a difference through direct personal service, and to assist in fundraising for charitable organizations. As a freshman, do I have to live on campus?Freshmen are not required to live on campus during their first year. However, 90% of freshman decide to live on campus and are housed in 3 of the 8 residence halls on campus (Ward/Haffey/Murphy). Do I need to bring a computer with me?No. Students don’t need to bring computers to campus. Fisher has a 24-hour computer lab that students can access with their personal identification card at anytime during the day. Also, computers can be found in other areas outside of the lab, such as the library and Cyber Café. Can freshmen have cars?No, Resident freshmen are not permitted to bring cars on campus. Our priority in awarding parking spots on campus is for commuters and resident students who have internships, student teaching placements, or other off-campus commitments that are related to their education program. Typically, these resident students are in their junior or senior year at Fisher. What other means of transportation are available if a student does not have a car?Rochester Transit System (RTS) buses run daily through the campus. The bus loop is located next to Kearney Hall. Buses will take students to the City of Rochester, local shopping malls, movie theaters, etc. Bus schedules are available at the Ward/Haffey Security Desk and on-line. How is the food?The food is great! The dining hall, run by Bon Appétit Management Company,offers a wide variety of food. Students are provided with a daily menu with items from the wokery, salad & fresh fruit bar, deli counter, grill, pasta bar, brick oven pizza, vegetarian section, and much, much more. What division are you in athletics and what sports are offered?Fisher competes in 13 varsity sports at the Division III level and is part of the Empire 8 Athletic Conference and the ECAC. Men compete in basketball, soccer, baseball, football, lacrosse, golf, and tennis; women participate in basketball, soccer, softball, lacrosse, tennis, and volleyball. Check out our Athletic Website at athletics.sjfc.edu. Is this a suitcase campus?No. Students stay on campus to participate in activities on the weekend, which consist of bands, special events, dances, movies, sporting events, etc. What is the alcohol policy?Alcoholic beverages are prohibited on campus, except for resident rooms of students 21 years or older. How safe is the campus?Fisher is a very safe campus. The Safety and Security Department is responsible for campus safety and operates on a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week schedule. Safety and Security Officers conduct regular foot, bicycle, and auto patrols of all campus buildings, grounds, and parking areas. Access to the residence halls is controlled either by locked entrance doors or the card access system. Residence halls are patrolled and monitored 24-hours a day by Security Officers or Resident Advisors. All other campus facilities are locked and unlocked daily according to established schedules. The Safety and Security Department offers a campus escort service for on-campus use by all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Do you offer help with job placement?Yes, we have an excellent Career Center, which provides support to students and alumni. Career Center offers services in career exploration, job search workshops, career counseling, on-campus recruiting, job postings, job fairs, and career alumni referral. How do students go about getting a work-study job?The work-study job listing is available online through the Career Center webpage and is posted at various locations around campus. It is up to the student to contact the campus offices that advertise available positions. Non-work study jobs are also available in many offices throughout campus. Do you have to be Catholic to attend St. John Fisher College?No, St. John Fisher College is an independent institution in the Basilian tradition of American higher education. Although 60% of the students who attend Fisher are from Catholic backgrounds, we do have students, faculty, and staff from many different religious backgrounds. Who are the Basilians?The Basilians are a religious order of priests who combine the intellectual curiosity in academic training of the Jesuits with the kindness and caring manner of the Franciscans. Their motto Teach me Goodness Discipline and Knowledge expresses the emphasis on values derived from our religious heritage. Do you have fraternities and sororities?No, we don’t need them due to the close-knit nature of the College community. Can students smoke in the residence halls?No, all St. John Fisher College residence halls are non-smoking. Application Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat do I need in order to apply for Freshman admission?In order for the admissions staff to review a file for admission, it MUST include:
How can I apply to St. John Fisher College
What is the application deadline?There is no deadline. St. John Fisher College operates on a rolling admission plan, and application review begins Mid-November. From that point on, you can apply at any time and you will be notified of a decision typically withn a few weeks. Please note if a student is applying to the natural science majors and/or pre-health profession programs you must apply before January 15, 2008. Also, if you would like to be considered for merit scholarships, your application must be postmarked no later than February 1st. How does the Admission Committee make its decision?Admission is based primarily on a student’s high school record, SAT or ACT scores, course curriculm, extracurricular activities, and counselor and teacher recommendations. Do you have Early Decision?St. John Fisher College subscribes to a single-choice Early Decision Plan. This plan is designed for students who have made Fisher their choice for college. The Admissions Office assumes that students will not apply to more than one institution as Early Decision applicants. If admitted to St. John Fisher College, students are expected to withdraw their applications from other colleges. Students admitted under the Early Decision Plan have until March, 2008 to submit a non-refundable $300 enrollment deposit. Now that my application has been accepted, what’s next?The next step is to apply for financial aid. In fact, each year 95% of Fisher’s first–year students receive some sort of financial assistance. Our average financial aid offer to incoming students is $16,000. To apply for need-based aid, Fisher requires all students to complete the FAFSA form. The preferred filing date for this form is February 15. St. John Fisher College offers the following types of financial aid:
What is so important about May 1?Once your application is accepted, you have until May 1 to let us know if you plan to enroll in the fall. Please send in your “Intent to Enroll” form and enrollment deposit (postmarked May 1) to secure your space for the fall class. We have limited space available for new freshman and, after May 1, we may not be able to accommodate you in terms of admission, financial aid, or housing. Does St. John Fisher College accept University in High School Program and/or AP Credits?Yes. St. John Fisher College recognizes the Advanced Placement Program and will grant standing and college credit for courses in harmony with the College curriculum to students who complete the Advanced Placement Test with a grade of 3 or higher. Generally, a grade of 4 or higher is required on exams in biology, modern languages, classical studies, and physics. Download the Advanced Placement Equivalency Chart (PDF) |
