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See what students say:

Academics

Students fortunate enough to attend St. Mary's College of Maryland receive a "toptier education" wherein they have ample "opportunity to try new things and explore their interests." That extends beyond the applauded "research-based curriculum" to the environment-"the campus is absolutely gorgeous"-and even the food in the "great dining hall." Where St. Mary's shines most, however, is in its academic offerings, which "reflect the challenges that [students] will face in the workplace," particularly for those in the STEM field who "can really get a leg up by doing publishable work even prior to grad school." In this, the faculty are routinely praised for "always [being] super helpful," noting that they "care about your experience and want you to understand the material" and "genuinely try to engage students during lectures." Enrollees feel they're able to properly assess their teachers because of the "small class sizes," which means "you get to know your professors really well, and build relationships and networks with them." This sort of backing makes the rigor tolerable, at least according to those who say "I've...definitely had to work hard but also had the support of professors when I needed it" and note that "They are willing to work with you, to enable and encourage you to have the best academic experience possible!"

Student Body

Though the St. Mary's community isn't the most diverse campus around, students emphasize that they are very proud of the diversity they do have, describing their "very creative" and "unique" peers as "extremely accepting." Undergrads are quick to note that "minority communities [are] visible and present" and that the school is "super inclusive [with regards to] LGBT+ students." This applies to personal opinions as well; while many individuals identify as "fairly liberal," classmates are described as "very open to different cultural viewpoints." In fact, some even refer to the friendliness as "quite bold" in that "I've never been at a place where more people will randomly walk up to you and just start a conversation." Indeed, "You can't walk for five minutes in any direction without getting a friendly greeting from someone." Of course, you'll definitely find a range of personality types, "from the athletes to dancers to light-saber fighters" as well as "hippie/hipsters, and nerdy academic students." Ultimately, when it comes down to it, there "seems to be a place for everyone to fit into at St. Mary's."

Campus Life

There's never a dull moment at St. Mary's thanks to an "extremely active" campus life (and the potential for getaways to nearby DC). Undergrads have the opportunity to participate in "a wide range of clubs from windsurfing to student government to theater and sword fighting." Moreover, "there are multiple events on campus each week including guest magicians, comedians, and musicians," as well as "a murder mystery." The quality of those events has recently improved, as well, with the addition of "a brand-new stadium" which has led to an increasing number of students attending sporting events. And those looking to see a sillier side of their faculty appreciate the various "social events where you can play a game of Cornhole with your professors and get to know them more." St. Mary's gorgeous waterfront location also gets a lot of love: "During the warmer months the river center has free kayak and boat and paddleboard rentals for students and many students go swimming in the river or just sit on the docks." As for weekend-specific activities, it's not only common to find "parties [happening] all over campus," but "most of the time you can just walk [in]...and join...without an invitation."

Contact & Visit

Campus Visits Contact

Contact
Katelyn Woods
Assistant Director of Admission

Address
Office of Admission
47645 College Drive
St. Mary's City, MD 20686-3001

Phone
(240) 895-5000

Email
admissions@smcm.edu

Experience College Life

Most Popular Places On Campus
Campus Center
Waterfront
Nancy R. & Norton T. Dodge Performing Arts Center
Michael P. O'Brien Athletics and Recreation Center
The Jamie L. Roberts Stadium

Most Popular Places Off Campus
Historic St. Mary's City
Solomons Island
Lexington Park (for food and shopping)
Point Lookout State Park
Patuxent River Naval Air Station (for internships and museum)
Annapolis, Baltimore, and Washington, DC, are all within a two-hour drive of campus.

Campus Tours

Campus Tours
Appointment Required: Yes
Dates: Year-round
Times: Varies
Average Length: 1 hour

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews
Yes

Information Sessions
Available

Times
Varies

Faculty and Coach Visits

Dates/Times Available
Year-round

Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

Advance Notice
1 week

Contact Email Address for Visit
ljtucker@smcm.edu

Class Visits

Dates/Times Available
Varies

Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available

Transportation

Types of Transportation Available to Campus
St. Mary's College is within 2 hours by car from three major airports. From Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI), follow airport signs to I-97 South and the driving directions from the north (Baltimore) below. From Reagan National (DCA) and Dulles International (IAD) airports, following the driving directions from Washington, D.C.

Driving Instructions to Campus
Take I-97 South to MD Route 3 in Bowie, Maryland. Follow Rt. 3 to MD Route 4 in Upper Marlboro. Take Rt. 4 South through Prince Frederick and cross the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge at Solomons. About 3 miles after the bridge turn left at the first traffic light onto MD Route 235 South. Travel 4.5 miles through Lexington Park, turning right onto Shangri La Drive. Proceed through the next traffic light. Bear left at the fork in the road on Willows Road and drive 3 miles to the stop sign at MD Route 5 South. Turn left and continue 4 miles to the College. Once you see the beautiful St. Mary's River on your right, turn left onto College Drive. From Washington, DC Take the Capital Beltway (I-495/95) to Exit 11A for MD Route 4 South. Follow Rt. 4 through Prince Frederick and cross the Thomas Johnson Bridge at Solomons. Follow detailed directions ""from the north"" in italics above. From the South (Richmond) Take US Route 301 North over the Potomac River Bridge. Turn right at the second set of blinking lights onto MD Route 234. Follow Rt. 234 approximately 23 miles to where it ends at MD Route 5. Turn right (south) on Rt. 5, traveling through Leonardtown and continue 15 miles to St. Mary's College. The campus is located on Route 5. Once you see the beautiful St. Mary's River on your right, turn left onto College Drive.

Local Accommodations
http://bit.ly/3PrL6kE

Admissions

Applicants: 3,109
Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average HS GPA: 3.50







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