I met with Director of Admissions Katherine Fainer (pronounced “Finer”) and Assistant Director of Admissions Joey Puleo on November 14, 2024.

Reducing food waste

Joey and Katherine treated me to lunch in the school dining hall, which, renovated in 2018, was clean, bright, and open. The signs to reduce food waste weren’t only on the screens above the food stations; there were no trays. Having no trays discourages people from loading up on more than they can eat. Students have unlimited meal plans, so they can eat as much as they want, but they can only carry a plate’s worth at a time. I applaud this simple but effective measure. 

Named for a saint

Seton Hall was started by the Diocese of Newark and named after the first American-born saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton. Fifty percent of the students identify as Catholic, but there’s a large portion of Muslim and Jewish students, and an interfaith prayer room on campus. Father Nick, a 30-something priest, heads the campus ministry, which has an active social media presence.

Affordability focus

The 2020 five-year strategic plan focused on affordability; in fact, they’re ranked #1 by AffordableSchools.net and ranked one of the best for return on investment by Bloomberg Businessweek. Bloomberg ranked the business school #8 in the nation for ROI. As a plus, every student is given a laptop at the start.

Colleges and schools

The Stillman School of Business is the biggest school, followed by Arts and Sciences. There’s a School of Diplomacy and International Relations. Despite being far from the nation’s capital, they’re only 14 miles from NYC and the United Nations. Those hoping to go on to law school might major in law and diplomacy. (Seton Hall’s law school is well respected.) The College of Arts and Sciences offers a new major in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience. The College of Human Development, Culture, and Media was launched in 2023 as “the singular place for interdisciplinary learning focused on innovation along the continuum of human development” (College of Human Development, Culture, and Media – Seton Hall University). You’ll find majors in communication, education, and graphic design here.

Dual-degree programs in health

The School of Health and Medical Sciences offers several dual-degree programs that lead to a master’s or DPT in five or six years: a 3 + 3 year physician’s assistant master’s degree; a 3 + 3 physical therapy doctorate; a 3 + 2 master’s in occupational therapy; a 4 + 2 master’s in speech pathology; and a 3 + 2 master’s in athletic training. Seton Hall also offers a joint bachelor’s/M.D. that involves four years of undergraduate work at Seton Hall followed by three years at the School of Medicine, providing the student scores in the top 20% on the MCAT. Pre-professional advising is strong. The graduate programs and the last five semesters of nursing take place 20 minutes away at the Hackensack School of Medicine, a facility with extensive simulation labs and even a cadaver lab.

“Catholic and, not Catholic but”

Seton Hall doesn’t have much Catholic iconography on its buildings or in classrooms. Still, Katherine said they are unapologetically Catholic: “Catholic and, not Catholic but.” Seton Hall is Catholic and a research institution. Students are required to take three theology courses. Freshmen take Journey of Transformation, which examines not only Christianity but other major religions. Sophomores take Christians and Culture in Dialogue. The third theology segment is called Engaging the World, with courses like Food and Faith or Faith and Science.

Another required course, University Life, helps freshmen transition to college. Each cohort of 15 students has a peer adviser and an academic adviser (by major) that not only introduces resources, but teaches how to use those resources. It’s not simply, “Hey, we have tutors.” They show you how to take advantage of those tutors. They help you introduce yourself to your group and start creating social ties within your cohort.

Athletics and special services

Seton Hall has DI athletics, and though they have no football team, avid basketball fans make a pilgrimage to every game. Counseling and psychological services are free and unlimited, as are tutoring and writing center sessions. Students receive accommodations for learning differences through disability support services. 

Who thrives at Seton Hall?

Students who thrive at Seton Hall have strong academic backgrounds and want a challenge, but they appreciate the low-stress, cooperative atmosphere. Undergraduate research proliferates; Seton Hall recently got a large grant to develop chips for computers, but all disciplines engage in research. If you want to develop close relationships with your professors, Seton Hall could be for you. Both the admissions folks and my private tour guide, Floey, said the sense of community at Seton Hall drew them to the school and keeps them there.

Applying to Seton Hall

Seton Hall University asks you to declare a major when you apply, and the admissions readers consider your fit to major when you apply, but you can apply as undecided to any of the colleges. In the past, some of the dual-degree health professions programs, such as the PA or PT, have been capped, but you’re likely to be OK if you apply during the Early Action period. The joint M.D. program is the most rigorous program to gain acceptance to, and there are increased academic criteria for most of the dual degree programs. Nursing is direct admit.