Q. The Woods is non-profit. How important is that to your mission?A. SMWC is non-profit , a distinction that is very integral to our mission and our connection to the Sisters of Providence. The legacy of the Sisters of Providence and our foundress, Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, is one of educating women for the future. Knowing that we do not report back to shareholders for profits means we can focus on academic integrity. However, we still have to balance our budget so business concerns are not eliminated.
Yours is an all female campus. What do you see are the advantages and/or disadvantages of this?
There is still a lot of relevance to being a women’s college. Studies show that women who attend them have higher satisfaction rates and persist farther in their careers especially in science, math and business. Also, those same women answered that they felt more equipped to change careers and more confident in their abilities. At SMWC, we are educating women to be leaders.
While we are women only on campus, our distance programs (undergraduate and graduate) have both men and women. General Studies courses are virtually the same for campus and our undergraduate programs and many of them focus on women and women’s issues. An example, is our Interdisciplinary course,” Women, Values and Leadership”. Men in the courses probably learn to look at “things” from a different perspective which allows them to have a diversified lens to consider the world. We believe our courses and curriculum empower women and help them find their voice. I believe the men in our distance program benefit from their introduction to some of the topics.
Tell us about the majors offered.
We have more majors than most distance programs – almost 25 with several in business and education. Other majors include humanities, mathematics, paralegal studies, psychology, and a newly revised journalism/media studies major.
Q. You have some unusual offerings, such as equine studies. Are there many colleges offering majors such as this?
A. We tend to have more majors than many distance programs.
- We have equine studies on campus but not as a distance offering. There are only about 20 equine programs in the U.S. so it is unusual for a small liberal arts college. We have to limit the number of students who can be accepted into our program. The stables are right on our campus so it is easy for students to “bring their horse to college,” and we have a very competitive equestrian team.
- A large proportion of our distance students are enrolled in education majors. Education majors do have to come to our campus occasionally for a day and they must live within 200 miles of our campus. Our program meets NCATE accreditation guidelines and we take pride in preparing students for the real-life classroom experience. A favorite course for many education students is our urban education experience: students visit a number of inner city schools known for innovation. Students learn that there is more than one model of education and more than one way to meet academic standards for excellence. Our newly modified journalism/digital media studies major is grounded in our history as the first women’s college to offer journalism. Today’s major meets the current professional skills needed for writing and digital production; it is unusual as a distance option.
Q. You put emphasis on science and math. Historically, women in the U.S. have lagged behind in these areas. Do you see that trend improving? If not, what would you like to see changed in the education system to improve these statistics?
A. We do have a strong science and math program at the Woods. We are the only, or one of a very few, distance programs for a B.S. in mathematics. Our campus science programs prepare women for graduate or professional schools such as Vet school or Med school, or to go right into a career. It is true that women still lag behind, but we are doing our part. In the last 5 years, around 90% our graduates were working in their scientific field or in a graduate / professional school in their field.
The Woods offers many distant learning majors? What are the advantages of this? Do you find that these avenues are successful for women?
From the beginning of our distance program in the 1970s, we recognized that women didn’t all want to study the same topics and that they wanted professional preparation in many different areas. Many of our majors, like theology, humanities, and mathematics, were designed because women wanted them. Since they weren’t offered many other places in a distance format, we saw these offerings as a way to meet our mission as a Catholic, liberal arts college. Other majors, like business and education, addressed needs of the market place that were within our capabilities as a college to provide for students. We believe that having a variety of offerings benefits students and the College as a whole because it allows us to have a greater depth of faculty than we could have had for delivery to only campus or distance students.
When students can study in a format that meets their needs, they are more successful. Our newest distance program Woods Online has 8 week sessions within the semester and is accelerated and cohort based. These courses give students more structure and interaction with other students. Our WED Program allows more flexibility in assignment deadlines (within some structured timeframes) and has more majors available to students.
Q. How important is it to integrate the distant learning community with the campus community?
A. We feel that it is very important to integrate the distance learning community with the campus community and intentionally look for ways to make this happen. These connection points are beneficial to all of our students. For instance, our distance students:
- are invited to campus for community dinners when they live close by the campus.
- join campus students in a ceremony to receive the College Ring in their junior year and join all graduates at Commencement.
- receive announcements when our sports teams are headed for collegiate final tournaments and then are notified of the outcome (for instance when the cross-country team won the Championship in 2010).
- may be in classes together with campus students (weekday and/or weekend courses)
- recently worked with campus students in an internship course convened on campus and over the internet.
Q. Tell us about your international program?
A. We do have international students who come to campus and live for a semester or year. They enroll in courses that are in areas of their interest and live on campus while they are here. Our distance program also has several students from other countries, but they often are U.S. citizens who are living abroad. Because students don’t have to come to campus, we have also been able to help military families have access to a variety of majors.
Q. The Woods has been listed as one of the best colleges on both Princeton Review and U.S. News and World Report. You must be proud of this accomplishment?
A. While the rankings affirm our educational reputation, it is only one tool that should be used when evaluating Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. The solid liberal arts tradition, the quality of our students, the effectiveness of our faculty and staff, and the success of our alumnae/i provides a clear insight of how Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College impacts individual lives and affects positive social change.
Q. Anything else you would like to add that I have not covered?
A. With the competition for jobs and salaries, it is critical that SMWC students present themselves as strongly as possible. Our career center can assist students with job application materials, including resumes, cover letters, etc. Staff also provide assistance with mock interviews, salary research and negotiation skills.
To learn more about Saint Mary of the Woods College, visit them online at www.smwc.edu
]]>College is one of the biggest investments you will ever make in money and time. Half of all full-time undergrads at four-year universities pay $9,000 per year for their education, not to mention room and board, transportation, and other living expenses during that time. A lot is riding on your decision to go to college. You want to make this decision very carefully.
Here are 8 Steps to Make Your College Search Perfect your college education on the right foot. By following these directions you will find the best program for your needs at a price you can manage. So follow along and get ready to make one of the most important decisions of your life (no pressure):
1. Choose a major
Don’t be fooled by high job placement rates or a prestigious name. Often different colleges do very well in one subject but not so well in others. For this reason, you want to make your major one of your criteria for picking a school.
Ask yourself:
a. What do I like to do?
b. What do I tend to think about in my spare time?
c. What would I like to do for the rest of my life?
The answers to these questions will point you toward the best major for you. You might need to do your research to connect your interests with an existing major. Sites like Vault, Princeton Review, and Hoovers can be a wonderful research tool. Also, interviewing people you know in different fields can also help you in this process.
Ultimately, choosing a field that you are passionate about will bring for more success than choosing a major just because it can make a lot of money.
On that note, however, you may find that you don’t know what you want to do or that you want have many different interests. Regardless, make the effort to narrow down your goals. It will help you refine your college search and make the most of your educational investment.
2. Decide whether you will study full-time or part-time
Not everyone can afford to quit their job and jump into school full-time. Being completely honest with yourself, determine how much time you have for school. Here is a simple formula to determine how much time you will to spend each week:
Full-time
These students must carry a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester. That means you will need the following hours to do well:
Part-time
These students carry fewer than 12 credits per semester. Assuming a student takes 6 credit hours, their total school hours would be as follows:
Depending on your income needs and your goals, determine how many hours you will be able to give to your college education. It is not recommended that you take on both a full-time job and a full-time semester at the same time, although some gifted individuals do it successfully.
To avoid stretching yourself too thin, decide ahead of time what kind of schedule you can handle before you start talking to schools.
3. Choose two-year or four-year
After choosing which major you will pursue and how much time you will dedicate to college, you are in a good position to decide whether you want to pursue a two- or four-year degree program. Two-year programs are mostly Associate’s degree programs; four-year programs will typically earn you a bachelor’s degree.
Over time, a bachelor’s degree will more than pay you back for the extra two years. If your field does require a four-year degree, don’t be intimidated by the length of time. Often, you can find accelerated degree programs, especially online, that allow students to finish a bachelor’s degree in three years or less. To find out more about these programs, talk to multiple schools here.
However, not all careers require a four-year degree. Your best bet is to ask people in that field which degrees or certificates are needed for your chosen major. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that you only need to go to school for two years to enter your career.
4. Choose public, private non-profit, or private for-profit
You have more options than ever. You have public schools, which funded primarily by state or national government. Then there are private which may or may not make a profit off of their operations. You’ve probably heard of some for-profits like University of Phoenix or Capella University. Public and private colleges have their pros and cons. These typically revolve around cost and perks:
Basically, this choice depends on your tastes and your budget. If you are looking for a more cosmopolitan experience, a public college would be best for you. If you thrive better in smaller, more intimate groups, private is for you. Private for-profit schools, like University of Phoenix or Cappella University, cost less than private non-profits on average.
5. Contact schools
Based on the criteria you selected above, start seeking out schools. This may seem obvious, but only look at schools that fit your criteria. At this point, it might be tempting to go after the most prestigious, even if just for curiosity sake. Resist the urge and only look at schools that fit your criteria.
Visit your prospective colleges when possible. You want to see firsthand where you would be spending those countless, grueling hours of study. Often, a visit to a campus can give you insight into a school that a website just can’t. To set up an appointment at non-profit schools, your first step is typically to call or email their admissions office, which can usually be found on a website. This will allow you to talk to a live admissions counselor and get answers to any remaining questions. As you talk to counselors, remember that you are the customer. You have the right to make sure that they meet the criteria you set.
Private for-profits are easier to meet with. You can submit your information to multiple schools through our Degree Finder Tool. If you want to inquire at multiple schools, go to our online form.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT JUST ENROLL AT THE FIRST SCHOOL YOU COME ACROSS! Shop around. Talk to multiple schools even if it takes a little more time and even if the admissions counselors are very persuasive. Talk to students and other outsiders to get their opinions. This will give you more options.
6. Weigh your options
Before you say ‘yes’ to any admissions counselor, take a timeout to weigh your options. After all, this choice will consume your life for the next two to four years. Hold up your choices objectively and compare them to your criteria. Try to predict how your options will play out five, ten, or twenty years down the road. Will you be glad you did it thirty years from now? The main idea is, don’t let this become an impulse decision. Take your time to make a decision you can live with.
7. Decide how you will pay for your education
Once you have chosen your college, review your financial situation. Although Pell grants and Stafford loans can pay for much of your schools expenses, you will need to review how much of your own funds you will be able to use to pay for college. You will want to use as much free money and as little debt as possible to finance your education.
In most cases, you can prioritize your financing in the following way to keep your school debt low or eliminate it altogether:
- Pell grants and scholarships – These are free of any future obligation or interest, which means you never have to pay them back. Use as much of these as you can to finance your college degree.
- Cash – This means money from your own pocket. The upside: you never have to pay it back and there’s no interest. The downside: it is your own money.
- Family loans – The next best thing to using your own cash is borrowing that money from a trusted family member or friend who is willing to give you a loan for little or no interest. The upside: it won’t reflect on your credit score in the future and they will usually be reasonable about repayment terms. The downside: you have to pay it back and you will likely see your creditor at holiday parties (awkward).
- Student loans – Although these loans typically have lower interest rates, they are loans nonetheless that do accrue interest. Use these loans sparingly to avoid paying excessive interest later.
- Credit cards – Whether it is an American Express card or a line of credit that is pretending to be a student loan, financing your education through consumer credit cards is dangerous. The thing that makes them especially dangerous is their high interest rates, which can range from 12% to 30% or more. Exhaust all of the above options before using consumer credit.
Granted, you may not know exactly how much you can qualify for in Pell grants or Stafford loans until you enroll in schools. After all, you can’t even apply for financial aid unless you’re registered for classes. Nevertheless, it is smart to figure out everything you can do before making the big decision to enroll.
8. Enroll in the college of your choice
After going through this process, you are ready to enroll in the school of your choice with confidence, knowing you’ve done your homework. This will be as easy as phoning the admissions counselor you spoke to previously. They will be able to get you started on your application and any other paperwork.
Congratulations! If you followed the eight steps, you have gotten off on the best foot possible. Chances are, you will have fewer second thoughts, regrets, or unnecessary expenses down the road because you took the time to do it right. If you are ready to talk to an admissions counselor today, go to an online form now.
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Every day is a new lesson. Every experience is a new subject. Every setting is a different classroom.
Ask me about my degree. Ofttimes, I feel as if I am pursuing a BS (pun intended) in Single Parenting/ Savvy Business Practices/ Sales and Marketing/ Health/ Nutrition/ Fitness/ Dating?/ Pursuit of Happiness. I’m sure I can add to this list as time progresses! I am a full-time woman, full-time mom, and full-time student with a full-time career. I am actually quite the norm these days. As an online college student, my senses are heightened, and I realize that there is opportunity to learn in everything I do, even in challenges and failure.
Challenges arise. There is no denying that! But that doesn’t preclude us from learning. That is what should drive us further to strive harder. Meeting challenges head-on daily is akin to conditioning. The best athletes train and condition daily, even through injury. I’m no athlete; but I am a champion. Success comes incrementally. With each success, some rain must fall. Failures may cast shadows on my path. What I have learned is I only truly fail when I stop trying. Life is one BIG lesson. In my life, failure is not an option; however, I have failed at some things to only learn that, for whatever reason, that particular “thing” wasn’t really meant for me!
“There are no failures – just experiences and your reactions to them.” ~ Tom Krause
Single parenting, while balancing a career and education, is perhaps one of my biggest yet most rewarding challenges. Although I may have obstacles and perhaps some failures, I know that parenting is my priority. The lesson I am teaching while pursuing my education is invaluable!
My daughter sees the example I set in real time. I don’t have to “tell” her about good choices; I “show” her daily. She sees my hard work in my studies as well as in my business practices. Eventually we will both reap the rewards of it all. The sacrifice of time is sometimes unavoidable. The sacrifice of sleep is an option that many of us elect to remedy loss of time.
Time management is a challenge in many peoples’ lives. I know from experience that this can be the ultimate breaking point between overcoming challenges and failing. You must plan your time in order to make the most of it. But how? My question as well! You would think this would be easy, but it isn’t. Time escapes even the best of planners. My intention, as I grow along this journey, is to improve in managing time and making it all look easy, while getting adequate sleep, nutrition, and exercise. Sounds easy enough… we will see. Welcome to my world of balancing and circus tricks… and life lessons!
What lessons have you gleaned from being a mom, a student, or both? Tell us in the comments below!
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