Last week, I was able to attend an event held by Sewanee: The University of the South to learn more about what their university is like. They brought in recent alumnae to also share their experiences, which was great to hear from the students about their experiences, and I was able to get a good idea of the school culture. When you are looking at what colleges to visit, it can be helpful to attend an information session or a fair (like the PROBE Fair coming up September 20th!) to learn more about the colleges before narrowing down your list of places to see.
Campus: Sewanee, or "the domain," is in Sewanee, TN, about 45 minutes outside of Chattanooga, and about 1.5 hours outside of Nashville. The campus sits on top of a mountain, has about 1,700 students (3,500 total people live in Sewanee), and has 13,000 acres of land! Since the student body is smaller, and the setting is 99% residential meaning that students stay on campus all 4 years, it is a very close-knit community. For a student who wants a family away from home, Sewanee seems to really fit that mold. They are well-integrated into the community, with a student-run fire department, a farm, and an elementary school on campus! So, students who also want a personalized experience, while also having multiple opportunities to expand their horizons could look to Sewanee to see if it's the right fit. It is owned by the Episcopal Church, but only 25% of students identify as that denomination, so all faiths are welcome; it is expressed through some of the traditions on campus. Here are their list of majors and minors.
Traditions and Student Life: Sewanee is rich in their traditions and the acronyms they commonly use.
Order of the Gown: Since the 1870s, faculty members and students have been sporting the academic
gown around campus to signify their membership in the Order of the Gownsmen.
Students can first be inducted into the OG after their freshman year if they have
achieved a set grade point average. Belonging to the OG offers students many perks
such as priority room draw and class registration just to name a few. It's an honor society that each student becomes a part of before graduation, since this is the same gown that the student wears to the graduation ceremony; when the student gets his/her gown can vary based on when they are inducted. Also, students can pass gowns down, so there could be gowns from several generations within a family, or you can pass it on to a friend or sibling if you'd like.
EQB: Ecce Quam Bonum is the University motto, derived from Latin, meaning to dwell in unity with one another, and describes Sewanee's highest aspiration for community. It's based on the principles from the verse Psalm 133:1. It's also used as a salutation.
PMO (Perpetual Motion) is a student-led performing dance company that started in 1989 and is designed to give students an opportunity to perform for the Sewanee community in many forms and styles of dance. It's choreographed by students, and you don't have to have dance experience to join. It's one of the biggest events of the year!
All Saints: Where all the big events are held, such as graduation, commencement, and other school events, is the chapel at the center of campus. It also faces East, in the direction of Jerusalem, which is an interesting fact I learned.
The Sewanee Angel:
In a folk story it is said that the Domain of the University of the South is a place so
beautiful that angels dwell within its the gates. These angels protect all inhabitants
and visitors on the Domain. Sewanee angels are more than happy to become your
guardian angel and protect you off the Domain as well. In order to pick up your
angel you must tap the roof of your car as you drive through the gates when
departing campus. Upon your return, you tap the roof of your car to release your
angel. Sewanee Angels are also a group of students who greet guests at University events, like convocation.
Clerg: McClerg is their dining hall, called Clerg for short, and since Sewanee has a farm on campus, 20% of their food is locally sourced. The alumnae spoke fondly of Chef Rick and all the work he does there. He will send you emails about what's being offered, there are options for all types of diets, and there are even cooking classes that you can take part in! Some Professors will have office hours there so you can meet with them while you both enjoy a meal, and the tables are round, so you are always engaging and talking with other students. Clerg's motto is : Eat Well, Be Well.
FYP: Finding Your Place is a freshman mentorship program, where students are paired in a cohort with older students and faculty members. They come before school starts in August to do a variety of activities, from field trips to lectures, and the class lasts until mid-October. It's an optional program, helping students find their niche and get involved in the culture of Sewanee.
PRE: This is another first-year opportunity for students before school starts, called PRE-Orientation, it provides students with a 3 day experience with other freshman and upperclassmen to participate in activities such as rock climbing, swimming, hiking, caving, to name a few. It ends the 3 days with a casino night for all the participants.
Shake Day: Greek life is 74% of the student population, with many local and national fraternities/sororities on campus. Rush happens during second semester, and even though the percentage is large, it seems to be a student activity that is still open. Most events on campus, whether greek-affiliated or not are open to all students, so didn't seem to be a lot of separation between students and if they were a part of a greek organization or not. The phrase used was "visible not defining." Shake Day is essentially their Bid Day. For students not involved in Greek Life, there are other activities that go on this day so all students have something fun to do!
SOP: Sewanee Outing Program is a program where students can explore both the domain, Tennessee, and trips across the US. It has kayaking, hiking, caving, cycling, backpacking, and a lot more! The trips are led by student leaders, and can be very competitive to attend, but also very cost effective. Otherwise, for campus use, the SOP is free.
YSR: Yea, Sewanee's Right! is their greeting or chant. It's used for alums when passing each other in their Sewanee gear as a greeting, or can be used in athletic events as a chant. It's at the end of their fight song, and has become Sewanee's signature saying.
Admissions and Scholarships: Sewanee has several application options, with Early Decision I and II, Early Action, and Regular Decision, the decision depends on the student's level of commitment to Sewanee. Since demonstrated interest is a part of the application evaluation process, it's important for students who are thinking about going to Sewanee to consider their level of commitment. During the application process, TUM (Tell Us More), is a tool that Sewanee uses to engage with the student on their application and in their follow-up. They also have an opportunity for students to set up a 30 minute interview on campus with a senior to ask questions, which is a great way for students to get things answered first-hand. 1/3 of their class is filled with Early Decision, since demonstrated interest is such a key piece, but if you're still unsure or mulling over if it's the right fit, then Early Action (non-binding) or Regular Decision may be better so you can visit and get more of a feel for the school. Sewanee's application process is seen here. Also, they are test-optional, but will accept ACT/SAT scores if you have them, and will accept a student self-reporting scores. Sewanee is also on The Common Application.
There are several scholarship opportunities for students, and specifically for students from Georgia, there is the Georgia4, which is an automatic $4,000/year scholarship that is awarded to all admitted students from Georgia.
Visit: Taylor Baird, our representative, will be at the Athens PROBE Fair on September 20th, and plans to visit North Oconee later this semester, so be on the lookout! The campus has three different ways to visit: weekday, weekend, or a summer visit. Be sure to look at the link provided to check out how to set that up!
