Union College in New York

• Age of students: from 17 years old,
• Location: Schenectady, New York, USA
• Founded: 1795,
• Type of institution: private university college,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type: mixed.

Union College, located in Schenectady, New York, is an institution with a rich history and an outstanding reputation in the world of higher education. Established by the New York State Board of Trustees, it ranks 2nd on the list of higher education institutions in the state, becoming the first liberal arts college in the United States to offer engineering programs.

The college's 130-acre campus is within walking distance of downtown and conveniently close to major cities such as New York, Boston, and Montreal. The location near natural attractions creates a unique educational environment, combining city life and opportunities for outdoor activities.

One of the key principles of Union College is diversity in educational opportunities. Students can choose from 42 degree programs and 14 interdisciplinary programs, and 75% of them study more than one discipline thanks to its flexible academic structure and dynamic curriculum.

The college is also famous for its strong emphasis on research and internships.

• Ranked among the top 25 undergraduate engineering programs by U.S. News and World Report, ranked first among the best science labs by the Princeton Review.
• Dwayne W. Crichton Professor of Chemistry Mary C. Carroll was elected President of the American Chemical Society in 2023,
• Union Aerogel Laboratory holds a patent for a new method for the production of aerogels,
• Union's integrated scientific and technical complex accommodates a tandem pelletron accelerator in the ion beam analysis laboratory, a 400 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, a microcomputer scanner and other high-tech devices.
• The Laboratory of Thermal Science and Fluid Mechanics is also open for use by students.

• Union College, the second in New York State and the first created by the State Board of Trustees, holds a special place in the history of higher education. In 1845, it became the first liberal arts college in the U.S. to offer engineering programs. At the college, 70% of students do internships, 76% do research, 86% participate in internships or research. 60% of students regularly go on exchange studies, which is one of the highest rates among liberal arts colleges in the United States.
• Union College is famous for its variety of extracurricular activities, providing 112 clubs and organizations, including 28 club sports teams - competitive, entertainment and dance. There are 24 university teams of the DIII level (Freedom League) and 2 teams of the DI level (ECAC) in hockey for both men and women.
• Among scholarships, the college provides an average consumer scholarship of $49,000 and an average merit scholarship of $26,500 .

Several accommodation formats are available for students, primarily local residences of the university.

In its first year at Union, it assigns students to residences: Fox House, Richmond House, or West College, depending on their preference. The Residential Life department strives to cater to all room style preferences (classic or luxury) and create a calm, learning-oriented environment.

After the first year, housing is determined randomly, based on seniority, which makes it possible to choose a roommate.

First year:

• Fox House,
• Richmond House,
• West College,

Senior years:

• Davidson House,
• College Park Hall,
• Webster House.

Additional options:

• Themed Houses

If students are interested in art, technology, political discourse or volunteering, advocacy in literature, awareness, diversity, you can consider themed houses. These are unique residences both on and off campus where students with common interests can live together to support and advance their common goals.

• Apartments in College Park

Since the late 1990s, Union has been converting unique homes across campus into student apartments. The latest addition to this area is Garnet Commons, a new three-story apartment building with an area of 38,420 square feet.

• Minerva Houses

Each student and faculty member is part of one of the seven Minerva Houses, which bring the campus community together each year through a variety of activities. Students are given access to a significant budget that can be used to organize a wide range of activities. On the upper floors of all Minerva Houses there are residences where more than 240 senior students can live.

• Fraternity and Sorority Residences

Many of the Union's organizations have their on-campus residences owned by the college. Room and board are paid for through college, just like in other homes.

The diversity of the university's student community: 23% are local representatives of various ethnic groups, 10% are international students. 92% of students choose to live on campus for all four years of study.

More than 130 student clubs, organizations, and teams provide a variety of opportunities for participation. Students have access to 24 sports teams, including hockey teams representing the university at a competitive level.

Residential fraternities, sororities, and themed houses, including dozens of student initiatives, create an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual understanding.

Programs of help and service through the Community Center and the seven houses of Minerva, which organize hundreds of events each year, enrich student life and promote leadership skills. Volunteer opportunities provide students with a chance to contribute to society by harmoniously combining academics and social responsibility.

The university also offers a number of special programs, including Discovery Academy for adults with developmental disabilities, English tutoring, science programs for elementary school students, and others.

Annual events such as the Community Service Pre-Orientation Themed Experience, John Calvin Toll Service Day, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Honorable Event, Random Acts of Kindness Week, and Community Carnival strengthen community spirit and promote sociocultural exchange.

Themed houses such as Art House, Bronner House, Cinematic House, Dance House, Dickens House, Game House, Iris House, Maker House, Ozon House, Serenity House, Symposium House, Tech House, and Wells House provide students with the opportunity to connect in commonalities with common interests.

• Union College has 42 degree programs and 14 interdisciplinary programs,
• The dynamic curriculum and flexible academic structure encourage students to explore multiple areas of expertise. In fact, 75% of students are engaged in more than one discipline,
• More than 60 specializations for minors are offered, with three semesters per year (fall, winter, and spring). The average entry-level class size is 24 and the senior level is 14. The student-to-faculty ratio is 9 to 1. All classes are conducted by experienced teachers without the participation of assistants.
• Each student chooses a first-year course aimed at developing analytical reading and writing skills. Approximately 80% of students successfully write a thesis or faculty-supervised project, often presenting their research at the annual Steinmetz Research Symposium.
• The innovative Minerva program integrates the academic, residential, and community spheres of students' lives.

The 2077 full-time students seeking a degree represent 44% of the total number of accepted students. The gender breakdown is as follows: 56% of men and 44% of women. The presence of 23% of domestic students from different social strata and 13% of foreign students was noted. 92% of students choose to live on campus. The student-to-faculty ratio is 9 to 1.

For international applicants, there is no need to pay an application fee.

The programs do not require you to submit SAT/ACT scores, however, they are recommended for international students. For all applicants for whom English is not their first language, the results of the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test (DET) are mandatory.

The following scores are the most competitive for admission:

• TOEFL iBT 90 and above,
• IELTS 7.0 and above,
• DET 125 and above.

In some cases, full IB and A Level programmes may be considered. Additional requirements include essays (part of the online application), official transcripts from high school/exam results, letters of recommendation from teachers.

Union College relies on the CSS profile to analyze the financial needs of applicants.

It is standard that international students who do not have external financial support will contribute a minimum of $7,500 annually to tuition fees. In the previous year, the average level of assistance was more than $25,000 per year (annually).

Rewards based on students' financial need varied, ranging from $20,000 to more than $70,000 .

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision