SHAPE YOUR FUTURE at UNION
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“DANCER 11,” A STEEL SCULPTURE CREATED AND DONATED BY JACK-HOWARD POTTER ‘97, OVERLOOKS JACKSON’S GARDEN, A CERTIFIED WILDLIFE HABITAT ON CAMPUS.
About Union
WHO WE ARE
STUDENT LIFE
Founded in 1795 in Schenectady, N.Y., Union College is a leading residential liberal arts college focused exclusively on undergraduates.
Minerva program: 7 Minerva Houses host 500+ events yearly, from Asian cinema and Moroccan culture nights to apple picking, poetry slams, theater trips and dinners with professors.
ACADEMIC LIFE Majors + Minors: 58 Student-faculty ratio: 10:1 Research: All students complete a Sophomore Research Seminar. And most —roughly 80%—do research or a creative project with faculty through funded summer research on campus or a senior thesis or capstone project. Some 500 students take part in the annual Steinmetz Symposium, an all-campus research showcase that has been an exciting part of the Union academic experience since 1991. Interdisciplinary: Mix arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences and engineering in unique combinations. International programs: Nearly 40 programs in 25 countries, from Argentina and Germany to Russia and Vietnam
92%
OF STUDENTS LIVE ON CAMPUS ALL FOUR YEARS
Athletics: 24 athletic teams in Div. III, and both men’s and women’s hockey in Div. I; intramural and recreational options; fitness and wellness programs Student organizations: 130 student-run clubs including academic, community service, cultural and identity, environmental, governance, media, performance, political interest, religious and spiritual, social action and sports Residences: Options include first-year and upperclass residence halls, Minerva and Greek houses, senior apartments and 13 theme houses, devoted to the arts, community service, entrepreneurship, the LGBTQ+ community, literature, political discourse and other interests. Greek life: 10 residential fraternities and sororities, which students may join sophomore year Green campus: Named by The Princeton Review as one of the nation’s top eco-friendly colleges. Sustainability initiatives include Ban Bottled Water Day, Café Ozone, Earth Week, electrical vehicle (EV) charging stations, Octopus’s Garden, Ozone House, U Bike, U Sustain and Zipcar.
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STUDENT BODY
2,150 FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATES FROM 40 U.S. STATES AND 50 COUNTRIES
22% OF STUDENTS ARE FROM UNDERREPRESENTED BACKGROUNDS
10% OF STUDENTS ARE INTERNATIONAL
ACADEMICS
58
MAJORS AND MINORS IN THE ARTS, ENGINEERING, HUMANITIES, SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
CAMPUS COMMUNITY 4
100%
OF STUDENTS ARE MEMBERS OF UNION’S INNOVATIVE MINERVA HOUSE PROGRAM.
14 (UPPER-LEVEL CLASSES)
21 (INTRODUCTORY CLASSES)
AVERAGE CL ASS SIZES
RANKINGS
TOP 10:
BEST VALUE LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES (MONEY MAGAZINE)
TOP 30:
NATIONAL UNDERGRADUATE ENGINEERING PROGRAMS ACCREDITED BY ABET (U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT)
TOP 50:
BEST NATIONAL LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES (U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT)
RECOGNIZED AS: ONE OF THE ‘HIDDEN IVIES,’ A SELECT NUMBER OF EXCEPTIONAL SCHOOLS THAT OFFER A BROAD LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION CONSIDERED TO RIVAL THE IVY LEAGUE
FINANCIAL AID 5
UNION MEETS
100%
OF DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED
FINDING THE RIGHT BALANCE Bianca Mielke MAJOR: Electrical Engineering MINORS: Dance and Mathematics
B
ianca Mielke finds that engineering gives her a basic understanding of the world around her, while dance centers and energizes her. She wanted to study both in college. “At Union, unlike what I saw at other schools, I could acquire strong engineering and science skills and also perform as part of a full dance department. I never felt like I had to give up one thing for something else. I took a dance class every term. I love the fact that I could exercise both sides of my brain in the same day.� With an interest in engineering management and patent law, Bianca took part in a Union mentoring partnership in which she worked with a patent lawyer at General Electric Co. in Schenectady for two years. Senior year, she accepted a full-time job with GE while finishing courses toward her degree. During her time at Union, Bianca also volunteered for Big Brothers Big Sisters, served as a peer tutor and studied at the Czech Technical University in Prague.
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THRIVING AT THE INTERSECTIONS Tawreak (Ty) Gamble-Eddington MAJORS: History and Political Science MINORS: Political Economy (Organizing Theme), and Spanish and Hispanic Studies
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ith two majors and two minors, Ty Gamble Eddington is perfectly poised at the intersection of disciplines. “I do a lot of interdisciplinary work in classes such as history, economics and sociology,” he says. “My minor in political economy, which I designed myself, explores how politics and economics are intertwined.” Even his hobbies relate to his areas of study. “I watch early European documentaries and political news channels for fun,” he says. An aspiring lawyer with an interest in international relations, Ty has had many opportunities to connect his classroom education with real-world learning while also focusing on his career goals. He studied Holocaust history in Warsaw on a Union summer mini-term, and worked with incarcerated and homeless individuals on a fall term abroad in Cordoba, Argentina. On campus, he conducted research on Argentinian human rights with his political science professor. “I couldn’t have asked for more,” he says. “I really love all of my classes, and I have wonderful professors and advisers who are experts in their fields and who helped me chart the best course for my future.”
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STUDENTS BUSTLE BETWEEN CLASSES ON A SPRING DAY.
Learn more about Minerva House activities: union.edu/minerva
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LIVE, LEARN AND LEAD IN MINERVAS Gianluca Avanzato MAJOR: Political Science MINORS: Classics and German
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s coordinator of Golub House, one of seven student-run Minerva Houses, Fulbright Scholar Gianluca Avanzato created a Hindi/Urdu language table his first year on campus. “Anyone with an interest could come to Golub at lunchtime and practice the language with other students,” he says. “I also worked hard, along with many others, to put on our annual Oktoberfest. There’s always a large crowd of diverse faces, interesting presentations by our classics and German professors, and good food.” With their wide-ranging and imaginative cultural, social and academic programs, the Minervas, Gianluca says, “offer a comfortable, inclusive and dynamic space for students to interact with each other and faculty. They’re great places to actualize thoughts and aspirations. There are so many different creative events that are accessible to the entire campus community.” When not busy with Golub House, Gianluca kept active as a member of Interfaith Union, a mentor for first-year students and a Writing Center fellow. He recently published his first book, a collection of poems titled “City of Hills.”
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On the Path to Success
PROFESSIONAL ADVISING: Get personal guidance from knowledgeable career center staff. Make the most of faculty mentoring for business, law, medical and graduate school. Work with a dedicated adviser who promotes applications for national and international scholarships and fellowships.
INTERNSHIPS + IMMERSION: Gain real-world experience in such fields as the arts, business, government, health, science and technology. Apply to fully funded, Union-sponsored community service summer internships. Participate in unique on- and off-campus opportunities, including Steinmetz Symposium research day, funded summer research and field experiences across the globe.
WHERE A UNION EDUCATION TAKES YOU Top fields for alumni include business management, communications, education, engineering, finance, health care, government, law and technology.
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UNION STUDENTS INTERN AT 500+ ORGANIZATIONS WORLDWIDE Here are a few: Ameriprise Financial, Black Entertainment Television, CondĂŠ Nast, FloDesign Wind Turbine, General Dynamics, General Electric, Goldman Sachs, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Los Angeles School on Wheels, Merrill Lynch, MSG Network, NASA, The National Museum of Dance, The Nature Conservancy, The Penguin Group, Reebok International, U.S. Senate, Yale Bioethics Institute
AT BECKER CAREER CENTER, YOU WILL: Align your personal passions with your academic and professional pursuits. Explore the Union Career Advisory Network (UCAN) and connect with some of the 13,000 alumni and friends of the college serving as career mentors. Power up your business etiquette, interviewing and job search skills. Expand your connections through Unionsponsored job fairs. Learn how to market yourself effectively, from crafting persuasive cover letters to networking like a pro.
98%
OF NEW GRADUATES ARE EMPLOYED OR PURSUING AN ADVANCED DEGREE OR FELLOWSHIP
LIFE AFTER UNION Nancy Miorelli ’11 MAJOR: Biology
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s a curious, near-sighted child, Nancy Miorelli learned to look down instead of up at the world around her. The creatures she saw crawling on the ground would inform her future. With her Union biology degree and experience doing research in Albany’s Pine Bush Preserve, she went on to earn a master’s in entomology. Working at an ecolodge and reserve in Ecuador, she led night walks and other programs for tourists and children that highlighted the role of insects in the ecosystem. Her penchant for letting bugs rest on her face earned her an online following. “Of course, a 4.5-inch cockroach sitting on my face triggers a lot of ‘Can you believe this?’” she says. Nancy’s blog, Ask an Entomologist, explains bug behavior in easily understandable ways. Now living in Ecuador’s capital city of Quito, Nancy also makes jewelry from Tagua nuts and jewel beetle shells, and sells them on her Etsy shop, SciBugs. The proceeds help rebuild earthquake-ravaged Ecuadorian communities. “I want people to love and see the natural world—even the small natural world—as I do,” she says.
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Admissions and Financial Aid
HOW TO APPLY Union accepts the Coalition Application and the Common Application. Early Action deadline: Nov. 1 Early Decision deadlines: Nov. 1 and Jan. 15 Regular Decision deadline: Jan. 15 Leadership in Medicine (LIM) Program deadline: Nov. 1 3+3 Accelerated Law Program deadline: Jan. 15 Union is test optional. Interviews are recommended. Admitted students’ average GPA: A-/B+ ANNUAL COST Union’s comprehensive fee (tuition + room/board + mandatory fees) for 20202021 is $74,010. The estimated cost for books and personal expenses is $2,000. FINANCIAL AID
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Union meets the full demonstrated financial need of all admitted students. The average need-based financial aid package is $45,300. Merit scholarships are awarded to top applicants. Making U Possible grants are awarded to many families who otherwise might not qualify for need-based aid or would qualify for only minimal amounts. More than 60% of Union students receive financial assistance from the College. Use the Union College Net Price Calculator to estimate your eligibility for merit and need-based aid: union.edu/netprice FAFSA and CSS PROFILE forms must be filed to be considered for financial aid. Visit union.edu/financialaid for more information.
Where to Find Us
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. A revitalized city featuring a lively mix of restaurants, cafés, theaters, shops and a popular weekly greenmarket Part of Upstate New York’s Capital Region and thriving Tech Valley Within easy reach of major East Coast cities, ski slopes, and rural and wilderness areas, including the Adirondack Mountains Diverse industries with opportunities for student/faculty research, internships and jobs A short drive from Albany International Airport and minutes from the Schenectady bus and train stations
LEARN MORE Register for virtual visit options—including open houses, information sessions and campus tours— at: union.edu/ virtualexperiences
UNION COLLEGE
MONTRÉAL
MI 200
TORONTO
LE
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500
MIL
ES
800
MIL
ES
Schenectady, NY
CHICAGO
DETROIT
BOSTON ALBANY
15 NYC
PHILADELPHIA
IF YOU’D LIKE TO WALK AROUND CAMPUS, A SELF-GUIDED AUDIO TOUR IS AVAILABLE THROUGH
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS MAJORS & MINORS AFRICANA STUDIES AMERICAN STUDIES ANTHROPOLOGY ART HISTORY ASIAN STUDIES ASTRONOMY BIOCHEMISTRY* BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY CHINESE CLASSICS COMPUTER ENGINEERING COMPUTER SCIENCE ECONOMICS ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING ENGLISH ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE FRENCH AND FRANCOPHONE STUDIES GENDER, SEXUALITY AND WOMEN’S STUDIES GEOLOGY GERMAN STUDIES HISTORY LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN STUDIES MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS* MATHEMATICS MECHANICAL ENGINEERING MUSIC NEUROSCIENCE PHILOSOPHY PHYSICS POLITICAL SCIENCE PSYCHOLOGY RELIGIOUS STUDIES RUSSIAN AND EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES SCIENCE, MEDICINE AND TECHNOLOGY IN CULTURE SOCIOLOGY SPANISH AND HISPANIC STUDIES STUDIO FINE ARTS THEATER ORGANIZING THEME (SELF-DESIGNED) Build a major that’s 100 percent you. Follow a theme across multiple disciplines to design your own program. * MAJOR ONLY
ADDITIONAL MINORS ASTROPHYSICS DANCE DATA ANALYTICS DIGITAL MEDIA ENERGY STUDIES ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING FILM STUDIES GREEK JAPANESE JEWISH STUDIES LATIN LAW AND HUMANITIES NANOTECHNOLOGY PUBLIC HISTORY STATISTICS WORLD MUSICS AND CULTURES
JOINT PROGRAMS 3+3 ACCELERATED LAW PROGRAM (B.A. plus J.D.) 4+1 EDUCATION PROGRAM (B.A. or B.S., plus M.A.T.) 4+1 HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (B.A. or B.S., plus M.B.A.) 8-YEAR LEADERSHIP IN MEDICINE PROGRAM (B.S., plus M.S. or M.B.A., plus M.D.)
CONTACT US union.edu admissions@union.edu (518) 388-6112 Union College Office of Admissions Grant Hall 807 Union St. Schenectady, NY 12308