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Facts & Questions
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Student ServicesAre students required to live on campus? Full-time students live in a Drake residence hall for all periods of enrollment within two years following high school graduation, unless they are married, live at home or live with relatives. How are residence hall and roommate assignments made, and when will I receive my housing assignment?The Office of Residence Life makes roommate assignments based on information students provide on their Housing Contract, which is mailed to admitted students. For the fall semester, students are notified of their housing assignment and roommate in late July. Can I access the Internet from my residence hall room?Yes, every room has two ethernet ports — one per resident — that give students full, high speed connections to the campus-wide network, World Wide Web and e-mail. In addition, Drake's entire campus is wireless. What is the dining hall food like?Students give it high marks for variety and quality. There are two main dining areas on campus, Hubbell Dining Hall and Olmsted Center. Along with main entrees, students choose from a deli, salad bar, pasta bar, grill, pizza-rette, international bar and dessert bar; there are vegetarian options as well. Additionally, two coffee carts are located on campus featuring Starbucks coffee as well as a variety of pastries and fruits to start your morning. What services are available if I get sick?The American Republic Student Health Center provides outpatient care and health promotion education to full-time students. Are there special services for students with disabilities?Student Disability Services offers a wide range of support services. All information provided to the office will be kept in strict confidence. Student LifeWhat is there to do on campus? Students get involved and demonstrate their talents in Drake's more than 160 campus organizations, ranging from student government to professional societies to intramural sports. There are also concerts, plays, art exhibits, lectures, and athletic events, most of which are free to students with their Drake ID. What are the Drake Relays?Launched in 1910, the Drake Relays is one of the top track and field meets in the world. There is a weeklong celebration during Relays each spring. At what athletic level does Drake compete?The Drake Bulldogs compete at the NCAA Division I level as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference and the Pioneer Football League (Division IAA, non-scholarship level). Does Drake have a Greek system?Yes; just under 30 percent of Drake students are involved in 13 national fraternities and sororities. What campus employment opportunities are available?A variety of on-campus jobs are available to students who just wish to work on campus and for those eligible for federal and state of Iowa work-study awards, based on calculated financial need. Approximately 80 percent of undergraduate Drake students also gain invaluable experience and a paycheck with off-campus internships and employment. Learning OpportunitiesWhat is Drake's academic calendar? Drake is on a semester system. Are classes offered in the summer?Yes; visit the summer sessions Web site for more information. Can I study abroad?Yes! Drake University offers more than 200 international study options on every inhabited continent, with learning opportunities in more than 150 cities in more than 60 countries. With all of these options, you can gain new perspectives, learn new customs and cultures and expand your world beyond the classroom and outside the United States. Many diverse programs are available for students to study abroad at a reasonable cost. Does Drake offer internships?Yes; Drake’s location in Des Moines, Iowa’s capital and largest city, ensures plenty of internship opportunities in areas like business, government, communications, health care and more. In fact, nearly 80 percent of Drake students graduate having had one or more internships. Do I need to bring a computer to campus?While it is not required to bring a computer to campus, it is strongly recommended. All campus residence hall rooms are wired for Internet access and the entire campus is wireless. Academic ProgramsWhat is the average class size? The average class size is 23 students. However, some introductory first-year classes are larger lecture classes, while First Year Seminars are limited to 20 students each. What is the student-faculty ratio?Drake’s student-faculty ratio is 14 to 1. May I begin taking classes in my major during my first year?Yes; most first-year students take courses in their major during their first year at Drake. Who are your academic advisers?Once you declare a major, you will be assigned an academic adviser who is a faculty member in that department. Prior to declaring a major, a faculty member will assist you in choosing classes. Do graduate students or teaching assistants teach students?No; only Drake faculty teach our classes. Do you have an honors program? Does Drake accept AP (advanced placement) credit?Financial Aid and ScholarshipsHow much is tuition, room, and board? Visit the costs page for this information. What is financial need?Financial need is defined as the difference between the total academic-year cost of an education at Drake (tuition, room, board, books, transportation and personal expenses) and the expected family contribution (EFC) determined by the FAFSA. What are the types of financial aid?There are two main types of financial aid. Merit aid includes scholarships awarded to students on the basis of academic merit, talent in fine arts or athletics, and leadership and service. Need-based aid includes grants, loans and student employment awarded to students on the basis of their financial situation. How can I get an estimate of the amount of financial aid I may receive?The Drake Early Estimate service provides an estimate of the grants, scholarships and loans you may receive. How do I apply for merit aid?Eligibility for academic merit scholarships is determined from information submitted in the application for admission. Information and applications for the Fine Arts Scholarships are available from each of Drake’s fine arts departments, art and design music and theatre arts. Contact the coach of the sport in which you participate to obtain information on athletic scholarship opportunities. The National Alumni Scholarships have specific requirements and a separate application. How do I apply for need-based financial aid?To apply for need-based financial aid, you must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Drake’s federal school code is 001860, and the priority filing deadline is March 1. International students must submit Drake's financial aid form to apply for need-based financial aid. Should I wait to be admitted to Drake before I apply for financial aid?It is not necessary to be admitted to Drake before applying for financial aid. You should submit the FAFSA to the federal processor by March 1 to be guaranteed full consideration for all types of financial assistance. However, you will not receive a financial aid package from Drake unless you have been admitted to the University. What if I miss the FAFSA deadline?To be guaranteed consideration for all types of financial assistance, you must submit the FAFSA by March 1. However, Drake's Office of Student Financial Planning continues to award financial aid after the deadline on a funds-available basis. Therefore, even if you miss the deadline, you should file the FAFSA as soon as possible. What if my family hasn't filed tax returns before the FAFSA deadline?We recommend that you complete your tax return before filing the FAFSA. However, if you are unable to do so, do not wait to file the FAFSA. Estimate your income from the previous year's figures and adhere to the March 1 deadline. If my parents don’t claim me on their tax return, can I file for financial aid as an independent student?Tax filing status does not influence your ability to be an independent student for financial aid purposes. There are very specific questions, at least one you must be able to answer yes to, in order to be considered an independent student. How is eligibility for financial aid determined?The federal government analyzes your family's financial information from the FAFSA and calculates the contribution you and your family can make toward the academic year costs. Drake’s Office of Student Financial Planning reviews the calculation of your need and prepares a financial aid package. Will my financial aid award meet my full financial need?Due to limited availability of funds, Drake is not able to meet the full financial need of all students. Financial aid policies are designed to maximize the total amount of financial assistance to all eligible students. However, after financial aid awards are taken into consideration, all remaining costs are the responsibility of the family. Will my financial aid change from year to year?Your aid is affected by your FAFSA information, academic performance and housing arrangements. Your aid may be influenced by a change in any of these factors; however, if these items are exactly the same each year, your aid should be consistent. Do you award financial aid to students who are admitted for the spring semester?Yes; merit-based scholarships and need-based financial aid are awarded to spring applicants. To be considered for need-based financial aid, spring applicants should submit the FAFSA by November 15. No forms are required for merit-based scholarships. Do I need to file a FAFSA each year?Yes; awarding financial aid is an annual process, so the FAFSA needs to be filed each year. The FAFSA information is used to determine your eligibility for most types of financial aid. How do I report special circumstances that might influence my eligibility for financial aid?Loss of a job, death in the family or extreme medical bills are examples of special circumstances that can change your eligibility. Please call the Office of Student Financial Planning (800-44-DRAKE, x2905) to discuss your situation with a staff member. How will receiving outside scholarships affect my financial aid?If you receive outside scholarships, the Office of Student Financial Planning will attempt to maintain all previously awarded grants, scholarships, student employment and student loan opportunities to the extent that federal and state regulations permit. Is financial aid available for international students?International students may receive merit-based awards if admitted to Drake. While international students may not complete the FAFSA, they ARE able to receive need-based aid at Drake. They may file either the form available through the College Board or Drake's own application for need-based aid. Does financial aid transfer from other institutions?Financial aid does not transfer to other schools. Your eligibility for financial assistance will be determined by each institution to which you apply. Eligibility is based on the cost of each school; aid cannot be transferred. As a general rule, eligibility for a Pell Grant or Stafford Loan at another institution will make you eligible at Drake. Campus VisitDo I have to schedule a campus visit in advance? We recommend that you schedule your campus visit at least a week in advance so that we can tailor your visit to meet your specific interests and needs. Are there any visit programs planned for prospective students?The Office of Admission hosts many visit programs for students throughout the year. Can I stay overnight on campus?Overnight accommodations can be made only for seniors on Sunday through Thursday nights from February to May. Seniors may also stay overnight before the Admitted Student Days in the spring. Is it possible to meet with a professor or sit in on a class during my visit?Absolutely! Simply let us know what you would like to do when you schedule your visit. The more notice you can give us, the better we are able to accommodate your request. Please note that appointments with professors are based on the availability of the faculty. It is not possible to meet with a faculty member or sit in on a class during the summer or any academic breaks (i.e., semester, spring). Where can I get a map of campus?Click here. AdmissionWhat are your requirements for admission? Because each application for admission is reviewed individually, there is no single inflexible set of standards such as GPA, test score or years of courses. Please visit the admission page for more information. What is the average grade point average and test score?All applicants present a variety of academic and extracurricular credentials. Therefore, it's virtually impossible for Drake to use a set formula to determine who is admitted each year. We encourage students with a solid college preparatory curriculum who are active in their school and communities to apply for admission to Drake. Please refer to the class profile page for the academic profile of the current first-year students. Does Drake require any SAT Subject Tests?No, Drake does not require any SAT Subject Tests (formerly SAT II: Subject Tests). Students must submit an official copy of either an SAT or ACT test score. Will my decision be affected if I take the SAT or ACT more than once?No, the Drake will consider the highest composite score you have achieved on either the SAT or ACT. Can I apply online?Yes! If you do apply online, the $25 application fee is waived. Do you have an application deadline?The priority deadline for admission, scholarships, financial aid and housing is March 1. Applications and official documents received after this date will be considered on a space-available basis. Applicants for the National Alumni Scholarship must apply for admission and submit all other required admission and scholarship documents by December 1, 2008. Admission to the pre-pharmacy program in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has a December 1 deadline. Does Drake offer Early Decision?No, Drake does not offer Early Decision. We offer rolling admission and begin notifying applicants of their admission decisions October 15. There is a December 1 deadline for admission to the pre-pharmacy program in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, but this is not Early Decision. Is an interview required?No, interviews are not required of applicants. However, we strongly encourage you to visit Drake. Can I apply if I earned a GED?Drake does consider applications from students who have earned their GED. Students with their GED must submit an official high school transcript for the grades completed along with official SAT or ACT scores. The CampusHow big is the campus? Drake is situated on 150 acres within 10 minutes of downtown Des Moines. Students easily walk to class; you can reach campus destinations in an average time of about five minutes. Where is Des Moines located?Des Moines sits at the intersection of Interstates 35 and 80 in the middle of Iowa. It is an easy drive from several major cities, including Chicago (329 miles), Kansas City (192 miles), Minneapolis (243 miles), and Omaha (135 miles). The Des Moines International Airport, which is served by several major airlines, is 10 minutes from campus. How do I get to campus?Click here for driving directions to Drake University. What is the city of Des Moines like?Iowa's capital and largest city, Des Moines offers a variety of valuable internship and employment opportunities as a center for government, insurance, publishing, health care, banking, the arts, agribusiness and more. The metro population totals approximately 500,000. Des Moines offers several recreational options, including parks, museums, art galleries, a community playhouse, Civic Center, symphony, shopping districts, a botanical center and professional sports teams. What is the weather like in Iowa?Iowa has four separate seasons, each one different than the next. Winter usually involves snow and can be quite cold, while summer is warm and humid. Check out the current Des Moines weather conditions. Where do Drake students come from?Drake's 3,200 full-time undergraduate students hail from 47 states and more than 54 countries. About 85 percent are from the Midwest, with 30 percent from Iowa and 70 percent from out of state. Approximately 5 percent of our students come from other countries. Can I have a car on campus?Yes; students may bring a car to campus, even during their first year. An annual overnight parking permit costs $225. International AdmissionIs there a separate admission application for international students to complete? International students who are entering the U.S. on non-immigrant visas should complete the international student application for admission. All international student applications include a financial certificate and information on and forms for applying for financial aid. Should I complete an international student application if I am a U.S. citizen or resident studying overseas or in any other eligible citizen status?U.S. students currently studying overseas or in any other eligible citizen status should complete the international application. If you have academic records from overseas, Drake's international admission counselors will review your completed application file and make an initial admission recommendation. What kind of special services does Drake offer to international students?Drake has a fully staffed International Center that coordinates services to international students and overseas study programs. Services to international students include airport pickup; special orientation sessions prior to the start of each semester; immigration advising; general, non-academic counseling; and the Intensive English Program. What kind of financial aid is available for international students?International students may receive merit-based awards if admitted to Drake. While international students may not complete the FAFSA, they ARE able to receive need-based aid at Drake. They may file either the form available through the College Board or Drake's own application for need-based aid. Transfer AdmissionWho is considered a transfer student? If you have attended an institution of higher education for any period of time AFTER graduating from a high/secondary school, please apply as a transfer student. What courses will transfer to Drake?If you have attended another accredited institution, academic courses in which you earned a grade of "C" or better will be considered for transfer. Do transfer applicants need to supply high school information?If you are transferring to Drake and have not yet completed at least 24 semester hours, you must furnish all the information required for admission as a high school senior, plus an official transcript from each college or university you have attended whether or not you graduated or received credit for those courses. What are Drake's requirements for transfer student admission?Drake reviews all of your college work attempted at accredited institutions when considering your application for admission. We will calculate your GPA for all college work and use it for admission purposes only. Once you enroll, you will begin a new GPA, based only on credits earned at Drake; therefore only credit hours, not grades from previous institutions, will appear on the Drake transcript. A 2.5 overall GPA (on a 4.0 scale) is recommended for admission, but we do consider applicants with a minimum of a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Some colleges and schools at Drake require a higher minimum GPA for admission into specific programs (pharmacy, journalism, education, actuarial science, and accounting). Please refer to the Drake University General Catalog for the GPA requirements. How many credit hours can I transfer?A cumulative total of 66 semester hours of credit from all two-year institutions attended may be applied to a degree. To satisfy residency requirements, a maximum of 94 hours may be applied toward a Drake degree (125 hours for Pharmacy). A minimum of 30 hours must be completed at Drake. A maximum of 16 semester hours of vocational-technical credit may be granted at the discretion of the Drake college or school in which you enroll. If credit is granted, the Dean's office will notify the Student Records Office about posting the credits on your Drake record upon enrollment. These credits will not appear on your original transfer credit evaluation report. Does Drake accept military credit?Credits earned through military service experience may be considered for credit by the Student Records Office, which will review the required transcripts and the DD214 form and forward a recommendation to your college. Once the Dean grants credit, Student Records will be notified to post credit on your Drake record upon enrollment. Are transfer students required to attend an orientation session?Admitted transfer students do not have to attend an orientation session in order to register for classes. Registration can be completed by individual appointment starting in mid-April for summer and fall classes and in mid-November for spring classes. However, you are highly encouraged to participate in the orientation sessions that meet your needs. Orientation for transfer students occurs the beginning of each semester. Sessions are offered at flexible times to allow students to choose the sessions that are most convenient. Detailed information about transfer student orientation is mailed in early August for students entering in the fall. Students beginning enrollment in the spring semester will be mailed information in November about the orientation program at the beginning of that semester. If desired, transfer students accepted for fall semester may choose to attend any two-day summer orientation program for first-year students held in June. The two-day summer orientation not only provides beneficial information, it includes an opportunity to register for classes if you have not already done so. Even if you attended a similar program at your previous school, choosing one of these orientation options at Drake will provide information that is specific to Drake and eases the transition to a new school for most students. How do I transfer into the pharmacy program?Read all about it here. Are transfer students required to live on campus?Students must reside in on-campus housing for two years following high school graduation, unless married or living with a relative. More information about both on- and off-campus housing is available here.
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