Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of school is St. Lawrence Seminary?

St. Lawrence Seminary is a private, Catholic, seven-day residential school for young men, founded in 1860 by Capuchin Franciscans. It is a community and institution that exists to promote, foster, and live principles proclaimed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and articulated in the Roman Catholic Church. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

Does everyone who goes to St. Lawrence become a priest?

No. St. Lawrence is a minor seminary. As such, its mission is to provide an opportunity for young Catholic men in high school to lay a foundation on which they can build a life of ministry in the Catholic Church as laymen, deacons, brothers or priests.

What percentage of St. Lawrence graduates go on to the seminary for college or on to religious life?

That’s a hard question to answer exactly. St. Lawrence Seminary currently has over 250 alumni that are active religious throughout the world. Most of our graduates marry and become active in ministry and as leaders in their parish. Many choose careers that provide our graduates an opportunity to impact people’s lives in a positive way.

How many St. Lawrence students are Catholic?

100% of our students are active, practicing Catholics.

What are your classrooms like?

Aside from our state-of-the-art computer lab, complete with 64 lightning fast IBM computers connected to the internet through two T-1 lines for rapid access to world-wide information, pretty typical! Our student-teacher ratio is 10:1, with 25 faculty members. Thirteen teachers have a B.A. or B.S. degree. Nine have Masters degrees, one has a PhD. and two have a D.Min. Our teachers are lay, religious, men, women, priests, brothers, married and single.

How do your students stack up academically with students from other schools?

St. Lawrence consistently sends 98% of our graduates on to post-secondary education. Over the past three years we’ve sent 100% on. About 96% enter four-year colleges or universities. The average composite ACT score of our seniors over the past five years is 22.5 In addition, our students excel in both Forensics and Math Team competitions throughout Wisconsin.

Do you offer college credit courses?

St. Lawrence Seminary offers an advanced program of study with Marian College of Fond du Lac. After successful completion of the coursework, Marian College issues a college transcript for the course. Our own professors teach these classes on our campus. The material included in these classes follows Marian College syllabi and utilizes college textbooks. Classes offered as part of the dual-credit program include: Literary Genres, and Modern World Literature, Calculus, Advanced Chemistry, and U.S. History.

What sports are offered at St. Lawrence?

In the fall we offer junior varsity and varsity soccer and cross-country. In the winter there is junior varsity and varsity wrestling and freshman, junior varsity and varsity basketball. In the spring we have junior varsity and varsity baseball and track. Throughout the year, those who do not participate in interscholastic sports play in a wide variety of intramurals. We also compete with other schools in forensics and math competitions.

Where do your students come from?

Our students come from all over the world. In academic year 2007-08 we have students from nine foreign countries and eighteen states. Our students come from all social and economic backgrounds, and come from places as different as rural Wisconsin and urban centers of foreign countries such as Ghana, Germany, and South Korea, among others.

How diverse is the student body?

St. Lawrence Seminary admits students of any race, color and national origin. The student population presently measures approximately 35% Hispanic, 28% Caucasian, 13% Vietnamese, 5% Korean, 4% Filipino, 3% Hmong, 3% African American, 2% African, 6% Mixed-Anglo and other.

How many students are enrolled at St. Lawrence Seminary?

Academic year 2007-08 began with 218 students. There were 60 freshmen, 58 sophomores, 53 juniors and 47 seniors.

Does St. Lawrence Seminary offer financial aid?

Yes. Every student receives a significant amount of aid. It costs more than $24,000 per student for a year's tuition, room and board. While annual tuition remains less than $8,500 per year, the average student’s family is only able to cover roughly half of that amount. From the very beginning of its long history, Saint Lawrence Seminary could not have continued its ministry without the substantial and faith-inspired generosity of individuals around the country. No young man has ever been turned away from St. Lawrence Seminary because his parents could not afford the tuition.

How is my financial aid determined? When are payments due?

The process begins when the Seminary’s Business Office contacts each family in the United States to inquire whether the family intends to apply for financial aid. If the family would like to apply for financial aid, the Business Office mails an application. This application is completed by the family and mailed directly to an outside, independent firm. This firm reviews both the completed application and any supporting, required information. It typically takes three to four weeks from the time the family mails the application to the firm until the application results come to St. Lawrence. The results are reviewed by the Business Office, which then determines the amount of financial aid. Once this step is finished, the Business Office contacts the family with the results. There are various payment plans available. International families can decide to make one or two payments. Domestic families can spread payments over one, two, four or ten installments. Payment can be made in cash, or by check, credit card or debit card.

How do most prospective students hear about such a small and remote school?

Well, first of all, St. Lawrence has been around for 148 years. Word of that kind of success often spread on its own. In addition, our alumni tend to spread out around the world and carry word about St. Lawrence Seminary with them, as do Capuchins around the world. The internet and our website help. But, the most important way people hear about us is from others who know about St. Lawrence, who have had a “St. Lawrence experience.” Our Rector often talks about meeting people who have had fleeting encounters with the school, and yet, decades later, have fond memories of it and never forget it. St. Lawrence has a way of getting into one’s being and never leaving.

Can students have cars at St. Lawrence Seminary?

No. Students are not allowed to have cars on campus. We do, however, offer Drivers’ Education as a class, for both international students and those from the United States. Students have frequent opportunities to go off campus, but they either walk, ride their bikes, or the school provides transportation.

When can I see my son? How often does he get to come home? When can I call him?

Sunday is family visiting day on campus. Students are allowed to sign out and leave campus, with the permission of the Rector, after Sunday morning liturgy, and can stay off campus until 7:00, when they must return for evening prayer. Students go home nearly every month. Thanksgiving (generally six days), Christmas (usually three weeks), and Spring Break (ten days) offer extended vacations. On average, there are three “home weekends” a year when students leave Thursday at about noon and return at about 8:00 Sunday night. The Rector may extend permission for students to leave at other times for special occasions such as family weddings or funerals. You are always welcome to send a “care package” to your son at his Seminary address. The Seminary publishes a list of times during which a student can normally be called to the phone; at other times the Seminary will take messages for the students. In cases of emergency, callers may ask to speak with the Rector. In addition, students have the use of phones from which to place outgoing calls. Students are not allowed to have cell phones on campus. Seniors may earn the privilege of bringing cell phones on campus for limited use if the Rector deems it appropriate.

What is the most important thing about the admissions process?

The most important part of the admissions process is the Weekend Visit. The Weekend Visit experience is an opportunity for young Catholic men to explore St. Lawrence Seminary as a prospective high school. This experience is open to current eighth, ninth and tenth grade students. The weekend, which runs Thursday through Sunday, allows students to experience Seminary life during the course of the school year. Weekend Visitors are involved in all the normal activities of the Seminary. They join the students in prayer, classes, meals, and recreation. During the weekend the prospective students take an admissions exam. The results are shared with both student and his parents before the end of the weekend. Parents are asked to join on Saturday and Sunday, as we consider this an important part of the weekend experience. A shared personal experience makes for a common ground from which prospective students and their parents can discuss attending St. Lawrence Seminary.

How do I find out more?

Contact us at (920) 753-7570 or by fax at (920) 753-7507. You can email us at admissions@stlawrence.edu. Our website is www.stlawrence.edu and has a lot more information.