34 Lynn Classical Students Celebrate Direct Admission to SSU

SALEM, MASS. – Several dozen students at Lynn Classical High School took their first step toward college-hood months ahead of their peers Monday when they took part in the school’s direct admissions program with Salem State University.

Titled “SSU Applies To You,” the program simplifies admissions and promotes equity by removing barriers like application fees and paperwork from the college enrollment process. There were 34 students admitted on campus as part of Monday’s cohort, with several other seniors and previously admitted students joining for the trip from school to campus.

The direct admissions process begins the spring of the prior academic year, when interested juniors enter the program by submitting an admissions interest form and authorizing the release of their high school transcript to Salem State. Come the following fall – in this case, at a ceremony on Monday, Dec. 9 – a cohort of qualified students are admitted to Salem State to effectively begin their senior year.

“Our direct admissions program offers students a streamlined approach to higher education, empowering them to plan their academic progression without fear of roadblocks, and further enabling them to focus on their final lap of high school,” said Stella Scata, director of admissions at Salem State. “The ‘SSU Applies to You’ initiative also speaks to the mission of Salem State University: increasing access and opportunity for all students, regardless of systemic inequities such as socio-economic status, background or familial educational pursuits.”

Today’s on-campus ceremony marks the third direct admissions event for Salem State in 2024. Previously, more than 30 Peabody High School students moved through the program on Oct. 4, while a group of nine students from Lynn Vocational Technical Institute were celebrated on campus on Oct. 15. All students are positioned to begin at Salem State in the fall of 2025 as members of the class of 2029.