Admission to Freshman Standing
Candidates normally will have completed a minimum of four or five academic subjects each term, through the 10th, 11th and 12th grades. The Admissions Committee considers the rigor of the program and quality of the record, as well as the pattern of subjects. At a minimum, four years of English, three years of foreign language and at least two years each in laboratory and social sciences are expected. Four years of mathematics are expected and a four-year course of study that includes one year of geometry, a second year of algebra, a year of trigonometry and analytical geometry and a year of calculus is highly recommended. Courses in computer programming and statistics, while desirable, should not be substituted for these fundamental courses. Students interested in pursuing a science major should include in their high school curriculum one year each of courses in physics, chemistry and biology, emphasizing laboratory work and problem solving.
In evaluating a candidate’s high school program, extra weight is generally given to honors, International Baccalaureate and AP courses, if they are available in the school. Although courses in areas such as journalism, debate, leadership and religious doctrine, as well as courses in music, art or theatre are valuable, they are not considered academic courses in assessing the strength of the candidate’s high school program. |
