“January freshmen” start their school year in January, continue through the summer term, and become sophomores in the fall. The accelerated schedule allows mid-year entrants to graduate in three and a half years and is an excellent option for transfer students or anyone who does not want to wait until the following fall to enter the college. This program is only offered on the Santa Fe campus.

Many students count the small size (usually 20 to 40 students) and the closeness of the January freshman class as its greatest advantage. Students get to know their classmates quickly and work closely with the faculty inside and outside the classroom. The program offers an intense and vibrant learning experience, and students make great strides in the first few weeks. With such concentrated studies, the words of Frank Bruni’s recent article in the New York Times about St. John’s ring even truer: “If digital devices and social media yank people from one trumpet blast to the next, St. John’s trains them to hold a note—to caress it, pull at it, see what it can withstand and what it’s worth.”

Being in Santa Fe for the summer semester is an added bonus. It’s a lively time on campus: the Graduate Institute is in session, as well as other institutes. One of the nation’s top tourist destinations, Santa Fe is at its very best musically and artistically this time of year, with buskers on the streets, a world-famous opera house and chamber music festival, theater and film events, and a multitude of art galleries. Mountains surround the town, and the area is a paradise for hiking, climbing, cycling, and river rafting; the campus itself is directly connected to mountain trails.

For additional information, please contact the Admissions Office at santafe.admissions(at)sjc.edu or 1-800-331-5232.