Is St. John’s Right for Me?
 

How Does Music Get Off the Page?

Why should I visit St. John’s?

 

It is a good idea to visit any college you’re seriously considering, but this might be especially true with St. John’s, given the distinctiveness of our academic program and the unique ways in which our students balance and meld their intellectual work and social life.

The only way to really understand the beauty of the learning experience at St. John’s is to directly observe the intellectual excitement of a seminar. The only way to really know our students—who they are, how they think, and what they value—is to spend time asking them questions and hearing what they have to say.

You are welcome to visit us year-round in Annapolis or Santa Fe. You may visit for the day, but we strongly recommend that you stay overnight if you can. A 24-hour immersion in life here should give you a pretty good sense of whether you’re a Johnnie in the making.

What will I do during my visit?
Visitors to St. John’s have many options, some of which depend on what days of the week they spend on campus. The seminar, the heart of the St. John’s program, takes place Monday and Thursday evenings. Visitors may also sit in on mathematics, language, and music tutorials or a science laboratory (which happen throughout the week) or attend the weekly formal lecture if they happen to be on campus Friday evening.

During your visit, you may interview with a member of the admissions staff and talk informally with students and tutors. Overnight visits, which are strongly encouraged, offer the opportunity to spend additional time talking with St. John’s students. The only expense for visitors is transportation. St. John’s covers the costs of housing and meals.
How and when can I schedule a visit
to the Annapolis campus?
Campus tours and information sessions are offered daily (Monday through Friday) at 9 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Visiting students should reserve a place on one of our tours by contacting the Admissions Office (800-727-9238 or admissions@sjca.edu) at least 24 hours in advance.

Overnight visits are strongly encouraged and are available for Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday during the academic year. To make arrangements for an overnight visit, call or e-mail the Admissions Office; space is limited, so please make reservations as far in advance as possible.

For more information regarding planning and scheduling a visit to the Annapolis campus, click here.
How and when can I schedule a visit
to the Santa Fe campus?
Campus tours and information sessions are available year-round. Click here to access our visit calendar and see what is available on the day you plan to visit.

Day visits, which can be as long or short as your schedule allows, typically include a tour, several classes, lunch in the dining hall, and an admissions interview

Overnight visits, which we strongly recommend, present a much fuller picture of the St. John’s experience, and can be arranged by calling 800-331-5232 or sending an e-mail to the Admissions Office; space is limited, so please make reservations as far in advance as possible.

Special admissions tours take place throughout the year. For more information regarding planning and scheduling a visit to the Santa Fe campus, click here.

 Phillipa Gowdy-Jaehnig ’10

Hometown: Decorah, Iowa

Extracurriculars: Student volunteering, music, intramural sports, community development

Plans: AmeriCorps VISTA, graduate school
  

Why should I visit St. John's? Perhaps the most important reason to visit St. John’s is to experience our unique classroom discussions. St. John’s classrooms are really different, and even a conversation can’t communicate what it’s really like; most visitors come away quite surprised. Many students can’t imagine not having to raise their hands in class, not having to show off for a teacher. At St. John’s we have a real mutual respect and the shared spirit of inquiry.

We have genuine conversations about important questions, and the exhilaration of that just has to be experienced. Visiting St. John’s also gives you a chance to take part in the out-of-classroom conversations with students and tutors.

 

This was really what clinched my college choice. The tutors take time to care about what students have to say. Even more importantly, the students are actually interested in talking about important issues outside of class—both continuing class discussions and exploring outside interests. Everyone is willing to listen, to express and reconsider their own ideas, and to let this kind of inquiry shape their lives. St. John’s is worth visiting just to experience this community and its commitment to learning together.