Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do you have to “know” someone to get in to St. Ursula?
No, our admissions requirements are the same for everyone, even if you know someone who currently attends or if your sister or mother is an SUA graduate.

2. How many girls will you accept this year? Who decides the number?
Currently Saint Ursula Academy maintains an overall enrollment of 650-700 students. This means that from class to class there may be some difference in size. However, the admissions committee uses 170 as a base number from which to work in creating a new class.

3. How do I study for the entrance test?
The best preparation for the entrance test is to continue to do well on your subjects in school. Keep up with your homework and study for all tests, even if you think you know the material. Look at the link on our web site, www.saintursula.org, that provides specific study tactics and techniques for the High School Placement Test.

4. How do you decide who gets in?
An Admissions Committee is appointed and each student that takes the entrance test and fills out the application will be considered for admission by this committee.

5. Are the classes really hard?
The classes are challenging because the school uses a college preparatory curriculum. Each student is challenged to meet her own potential in a variety of subjects, however, it is done with tremendous support from the faculty. Teachers at Saint Ursula are passionate in supporting their students in their pursuit of education.

6. What is the difference between St. Ursula and other schools?
- St. Ursula Academy students have a mean ACT score of 27.
- 100% graduate
- 89% received college scholarship offers last year of $23-million
- St. Ursula is located in the heart of the Cincinnati’s cultural center, offering community classrooms at the Cincinnati Art Museum, Playhouse in the Park and much more!
- St. Ursula Academy students attend four 90-minute classes a day.
- Some advantages of the 4-Bell Day:
    1.Longer class periods allow teachers sufficient time to introduce a concept and completely explain it. Students have the time to explore a concept, to put it into practice, or to complete a discussion, all in the same class period.
    2. Students have fewer subjects to handle at one time, making their academic life much more manageable.
The longer class period prepares students for the length of a typical college class and the depth in which a topic is covered.

7. Is it hard to get on a sports team?
In order to play any athletic sport, the student must live in the state of Ohio. Each season there is a team that has a “no cut” policy for students looking to participate. However several of our teams do cut, but have a variety of levels available (varsity, reserve, and freshman squads).

8. What advice can you give me about deciding which school to attend?
Visit each school so you are comfortable and able to make the right decision
for you based on what you experienced, not on what you heard. You, the student, need to find the right match.

9. How do you decide who is appropriate for the Educational Services Program?
Our Educational Services Program (ES) Coordinator, Ms. Gerri Walsh, along with the admissions committee will consider admissions decisions for the ES Program. Program requirements are listed on our web site at www.saintursula.org/admissions.

10. What kind of grades/scores do you need to get in?
St. Ursula Academy seeks students who score above average on the entrance test and demonstrate a potential for succeeding as participating and contributing members of the St. Ursula student body.

11. What if I’m not Catholic?
St. Ursula welcomes students of all religions to apply and receive the strongest educational experience available. St. Ursula Academy teaches and models excellence in a nurturing environment and we believe all young women can benefit from that.

While St. Ursula is a Catholic high school, we believe young women of ANY faith can flourish by experiencing a challenging education that also teaches them to become better, stronger women by engaging in self-reflection and positive action.

12. What is the Tablet PC?
The Tablet PC is a laptop computer with display that spins and a pen component. Textbooks, homework assignments, and student grades are accessible through Blackboard, DyKnow, and PowerSchool using the Tablet PC.

- Students use the Tablet PC to write or type notes, highlight textbooks, do homework assignments, and write papers all in the same place, maximizing their organization.
- Students use the Tablet PC to communicate with their teachers, fellow students on collaborative projects, coaches, club moderators, class mates, and parents.

Using the technology that is second nature to this generation of student is part of educating the 21st century learner.