2023-24 Pomona College Catalog 
    
    Nov 09, 2024  
2023-24 Pomona College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG] Use the dropdown above to select the current 2024-25 catalog.

Admissions



Admission to Pomona College

Pomona College admits a first-year class representing a broad range of interests, viewpoints, talents and backgrounds. The College has been coeducational from the beginning, and Pomona considers diversity  to be an educational asset; it actively encourages a mix of ideas, backgrounds and experiences in its student body.

Pomona attracts more qualified candidates than it can enroll, making it impossible to state a minimum record that will ensure admission. The strength of the high school program, the record of academic aptitude and achievement and school recommendations are very important qualifications, as is a demonstration of readiness to engage fully with peers and faculty. Special talents or experiences in music, drama, dance, art, journalism, athletics, community service and other fields, as well as evidence of originality, energy, motivation and leadership potential are also considered in the admissions process. Students who have unconventional academic backgrounds should consult the Office of Admissions about submitting additional or other evidence of their readiness to undertake college work.

Guided by a need-blind admissions policy, financial need does not affect admissions decisions for U.S. citizens, permanent residents and/or for students graduating from a U.S. high school. The College actively seeks to enroll a number of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Pomona College Board of Trustees adopted the following policy statement on admissions:

The future of the nation and humankind depends upon the quality of the education received by young people. Institutions such as Pomona College should prepare their graduates to lead lives of creative leadership and exemplary service.

For that reason, the Board of Trustees believes the College’s student body should be drawn from a pool composed of the most intellectually capable and academically committed college-bound students in the nation. From that pool, the College should select students for its entering classes who represent a rich cross-section of backgrounds, talents, experiences and perspectives, and who offer significant prospects for achievement and leadership at the College and after their graduation. This is essential to the creation of a lively and stimulating educational environment that will prepare graduates for life in a changing world.

The development of a student body rich in talent and broad in its diversities must be intentional and energetic. The College encourages applications from candidates around the world. It is the policy of the College to review admissions candidates who are United States citizens and permanent residents without regard to financial circumstances and to provide financial assistance for those who enroll to the extent of their demonstrated need.

Anyone interested in preparing for Pomona, or any school official who directs preparatory programs, is invited to contact the Office of Admissions for advice on specific programs and admissions procedures.

For more information, write, call or email the Office of Admissions, 333 N. College Way, Claremont, CA 91711; phone: (909) 621-8134; email: admissions@pomona.edu.

Campus Visits

We advise the public to check our website for the most up-to-date information about student-led campus tours and on-campus information sessions. Interested students and parents are also invited to view our campus video at https://youtube.com/watch?v=0yM4MSU4eI0 or attend a virtual campus tour, live-narrated by a student guide. Virtual information sessions are regularly offered for interested students, parents and counselors. Other virtual visit opportunities are also available, and interested students and guests can register online at https://www.pomona.edu/admissions/connect.

Class visits and overnight visits in a residence hall are not currently available in 2022. Should they become available, information will be online at https://www.pomona.edu/admissions/connect.

We do not offer on-campus interviews, but optional off-campus interviews with alumni are available. Beginning in late August, interested students may submit an online request for an alumni interview. Information is available at https://www.pomona.edu/admissions/apply/how-apply 

Admission to First-Year Standing

We recommend applicants complete four or five academic courses each term of 10th, 11th and 12th grades. with four years of English, natural science and mathematics. We recommend two of those science courses are lab science and that students interested in STEM majors complete calculus. Additionally, we recommend three years each of foreign language and social science. However, these are not admission requirements but recommendations for the best preparation for Pomona’s curriculum. 

If your schooling has been disrupted due to COVID-19, you will not be at a disadvantage, and we are happy to discuss your best options with you. No designation for online courses due to COVID-19 is required on the transcript, nor is an update to admissions required if your school moved classes online. If you have been home-schooled or have pursued a unique educational path, contact us about submitting other evidence of your academic preparation for college.

Students who have taken and succeeded in challenging courses in high school are more likely to be prepared for Pomona courses. However, if you attend a school that doesn’t offer advanced course options, you will not be at a disadvantage in the admissions process. Neither do we expect or require applicants to take every class at the highest level of rigor, but to challenge themselves where appropriate. We consider what courses are available to you in evaluating your curriculum (including honors, AP, IB and other advanced designations) and your own choices. Typically, we have a profile of your school, which indicates what is available and how much choice you might have about your curriculum, but if you feel the need to explain any of your choices, feel welcome to do so. 

Application Forms

Pomona College accepts the Common Application and the Coalition Application, both of which are available online. Pomona College also accepts the QuestBridge application.

Early Admission

Students who have completed the junior year of high school may be considered for admission to first-year standing. Such candidates for early admission should contact a member of the admissions staff to discuss their readiness for college life and academic work and to provide evidence that they have exhausted the academic opportunities offered at their school or through home study.

Early Decision

When Pomona College is the clear first choice, students are encouraged to apply under one of the Early Decision options. This may allow them to resolve their college choice earlier in the senior year. The deadline for applying through Early Decision I is Nov. 15, and candidates are notified of their admissions decisions by mid-December. The deadline for Early Decision II applications is January 8; candidates are notified of their decisions by mid-February.

Students who apply to Pomona under an Early Decision option may simultaneously apply to other colleges through non-binding, unrestricted admission plans (including Early Action) but may not also apply through Early Decision at other colleges. As a “binding” decision between the College and the candidate, applicants admitted to Pomona under Early Decision agree to withdraw all other applications, to initiate no new ones and to enroll at Pomona. Students who are uncertain whether Pomona is their first choice should apply under the Regular Decision plan.

An Early Decision applicant must submit all of the materials described in the section Application Instructions for First-Year Candidates, indicate Early Decision on the application form and sign the Early Decision agreement. Financial aid application instructions for Early Decision candidates can be found online under Financial Aid.

Early Decision candidates will receive one of three decisions:

  1. The candidate is admitted and is expected to enroll.
  2. The candidate is deferred. These candidates will receive their final decisions with the Regular Decision applicants pending mid-year grades, additional testing information, supplementary writing samples or other information requested by the Admissions Committee.
  3. The application is denied. In these cases, the Admissions Committee’s decision is that the student would not be admitted in the Regular Decision group and would not benefit from further review.

International Students

The College welcomes cultural and linguistic diversity but has no English as a Second Language or other remedial programs for non-English-speaking foreign students. Application deadlines are the same for students studying in and outside the United States. Financial aid for international students is limited, although every admitted student applying for financial aid at the time they submit their application will have 100% of their demonstrated need met. In the past few years, 40-50% of incoming international students have received need-based financial aid. International students who need financial aid also may apply for transfer admission. An International Applicant FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) webpage is available at https://www.pomona.edu/admissions/apply/international-applicants-faqs. Additionally, an electronic version of our international student information sheet is available by request.

English Language Assessment

Students who have attended a secondary school where English is not the primary language of instruction must submit with their application materials either official or self-reported results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Duolingo English test. We accept the following versions of the TOEFL exam: TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition and TOEFL ITP Plus for China Solution. The minimum scores for admission are 100 (TOEFL iBT and iBT Special Home Edition), 627 (TOEFL ITP Plus for China Solutions), 7 on the IELTS or 120 on the Duolingo English Test. There are no minimum requirements for sub-scores. While applicants may self-report scores, all enrolling students will be required to submit an official score report, and any discrepancies between self-reported and official test scores may jeopardize a student’s offer of admission. Duolingo, Vericant or InitialView interviews are considered optional supplements to an application and do not serve as a substitute for the required test for applicants whose primary language of instruction is not English.

The College will not use the results of the English-language assessment tests as placement exams.

Application Instructions for First-Year Candidates

Pomona College accepts applications for fall entrance only. January 8 is the regular decision deadline and the deadline for all credentials other than senior- year midterm grades. Midterm grades are due by February 15. Candidates are responsible for submitting all items on time and are given access to an online portal where they can check on the completion and status of their application. Regular decision candidates for first-year admission will be notified of the Admissions Committee’s decisions by April 1.

The required credentials are:

  1. Application fee or fee waiver. There is a one-time, non-refundable application fee of $70 that covers a small portion of the costs of processing applications. However, we understand that this application fee may present a financial hardship for some applicants. If you plan to apply for financial aid, and the application fee presents a hardship for you or your family, please complete the Pomona Access Form at https://admissions.pomona.edu/register/pomona-access-pass. Upon completion of this form, the $70 application fee will be waived without requiring additional documentation. 
  2. Application. Pomona accepts the Coalition Application, the Common Application and the QuestBridge Application.
  3. School Report and Counselor Recommendation. These should be submitted by the student’s counselor. Applicants are not disadvantaged in the admissions process if they attend a large high school, and the counselor is not able to provide a highly personalized recommendation. This is one aspect of our holistic admissions review, and we do not expect every student to provide a detailed counselor recommendation.
  4. Two Letters of Recommendation. Confidential evaluations from two classroom teachers in core academic subjects (English, languages, math, science or social sciences) should be uploaded as part of the application or emailed directly to the Office of Admissions. Optionally, a recommendation from a teacher of an elective subject (music, art, journalism, etc.), or by a coach, employer or other individual who can speak to the applicant’s skills or special qualities may serve as an additional recommendation.
  5. Official Transcript(s) of High School Record to Date. Official transcripts of all academic work through the junior year and, as soon as grades are available, a transcript complete through the first semester or trimester of the senior year must be submitted by the applicant’s counselor or other school official. Each transcript should include an interpretation of the grading system and a clear designation of honors, International Baccalaureate or Advanced Placement courses. If transcripts are not in English, the applicant will need to provide official English translations. Transcripts for any college courses taken in high school may be required upon admission if these courses and grades are not on the high school transcript. Admission offers are made with the provision that the applicant’s academic performance continues to be as strong after the offer of admission as it was upon admission. A final transcript confirming graduation and good standing at the conclusion of the school year is required for enrollment.
    Title IV Compliance Statement: The Pomona College Office of Admissions will confirm all final transcripts arrive from a high school with a CEEB code, as well as the high school seal and/or signature. If a final transcript arrives from a high school that lacks a CEEB code or seal/signature, the Office of Admissions will investigate to confirm that the school is recognized by the relevant state Department of Education or home school association. In some cases the Office of Admissions may request a copy of the student’s diploma, GED certificate or homeschooling certificate the summer prior to enrollment in order to comply with Federal Student Aid regulations.
  6. Mid-Year Report. Counselors should submit this form by Feb. 15, along with an updated transcript containing the applicant’s most recent senior-year grades (typically, first-semester grades).

Optional:

  1. Standardized Test Scores. Results of either the SAT Reasoning (administered by the College Board) or ACT (administered by ACT, Inc.) tests are optional for applicants through fall 2024 entry. Under this four-year policy, students may choose whether ot not to self-report test scores on their applications. If questioning whether to self-report test scores, students are encouraged to decide how best to present themselves to the Admissions Committee and whether-or-not their standardized test results accurately reflect their academic ability and potential. For those who elect to self-report them, test scores will be reviewed holistically, in the context of other application materials and indicators of academic ability and promise, and an official score report will be required upon admission. If there is a discrepancy between self-reported scores and official scores, the offer of admission may be withdrawn. In the absence of standardized test scores, the Office of Admissions will continue to place emphasis on academic achievement, leadership and extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation from teachers and counselors. Applicants who do not include test scores with their application will not be disadvantaged in the admissions process.
  2. Interviews. Seniors may request an off-campus alumni interview beginning in late August. They are offered up to December 1. We do not track demonstrated interest in the application process, so interviews are entirely optional. To schedule an alumni interview, please register online at least three weeks in advance at https://www.pomona.edu/admissions/apply/how-apply. Please be aware that we cannot fulfill every interview request. International applicants may interview with an alumni interviewer or a private service. Third-party interviews are not conducted by Pomona staff or alumni, so, unfortunately, the interviewer cannot answer specific questions about Pomona College. Since there may be a cost involved for third-party interview services, interviews are not required. Fee waivers are also available by contacting admissions@pomona.edu. We accept interviews through InitialView and Duolingo. The Duolingo English Test combines an English proficiency test with a video interview and can be completed any time and place where web access is available. 
  3. Arts Supplements. The Admissions Committee encourages students with special talents in the area of dance, music, or theatre to submit evidence of their experience through an arts supplement. Additional information about arts supplements can be found at https://www.pomona.edu/admissions/apply/how-apply/supplements.

Admission to Transfer Standing

Students are considered for transfer standing if they will have completed the equivalent of at least one year’s full-time college work at the time of enrollment at Pomona (a minimum equivalent of six Pomona courses). Students who will have completed less college work should apply for first-year standing. Students enrolled in early college or dual-enrollment programs are not usually eligible for admission to transfer standing because they have not yet graduated from high school.

Candidates who have previously applied to Pomona College should make that known when contacting the Office of Admissions about transferring or completing their application. Candidates who previously have been enrolled at Pomona must submit an academic plan for graduation.

All transfer students must spend a minimum of four semesters in full-time regular standing at Pomona in order to receive the B.A. degree; this may include study abroad. A student may not transfer more than 16 course credits toward the 32 minimum courses required to graduate. To convert credit, a four-credit semester-long class or a six-credit quarter-long class are the equivalent of one Pomona course.

Please see the Transfer Credit Policy in this catalog for further policies regarding credit transfer.

Each fall, we enroll a talented group of transfer students who have attended community colleges, public and international universities, private colleges, and those who have military experience.  Pomona College is proud to partner with the Honors Transfer Council of California to assist honors community college students in the transfer process to Pomona. Applicants who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces are encouraged to contact us for special assistance through https://www.pomona.edu/admissions/apply/veteran-applicants.

Upon admission, transfer applicants are offered a preliminary credit evaluation to help inform their enrollment decision. 

The final evaluation of credits granted for work taken at other institutions is determined by the Academic Procedures Committee after the candidate has been admitted. Course credit is ordinarily transferable if: 1) the prior college or colleges is/are accredited; 2) the course carries a grade of C or better; and 3) the course is comparable to a course offered by Pomona or another Claremont College. Pomona faculty members may be consulted on the question of course equivalency, and the candidate may be asked to submit catalog course descriptions, syllabi and reading lists in addition to complete transcripts. 

Visiting Students

Students attending other colleges who wish to attend Pomona for a semester or a year, but who do not intend to pursue a Pomona degree, may submit Pomona’s Visiting Student Application, found at https://www.pomona.edu/admissions/apply/visiting-student-applicants. Visiting students are admitted on a space-available basis and are not eligible for Pomona College financial aid.

Application Instructions for Transfer Candidates

Transfer candidates will be considered for fall entrance only. Applications and all supporting materials must be submitted by Feb.15, excepting the Mid-Year Report, which is due March 6.

Pomona College accepts the Common Application or the Coalition Application for transfer admission. Required documents may be submitted electronically or may be mailed to the Office of Admissions. 

Transfer applicants will be notified of the Admissions Committee’s decisions by April 1.

The required credentials are:

  1. Application fee or fee waiver. There is a one-time, non-refundable application fee of $70 that covers a small portion of the costs of processing applications. However, we understand that this application fee may present a financial hardship for some applicants. If you plan to apply for financial aid, and the application fee presents a hardship for you or your family, please complete the Pomona Access Form at https://admissions.pomona.edu/register/pomona-access-pass. Upon completion of this form, the $70 application fee will be waived without requiring additional documentation. 
  2. Application. Either the Coalition Application or Common Application for Transfer.
  3. College Report/Transfer Report. This form should be submitted by a current registrar or transfer adviser, or, at community colleges, a member of the counseling staff who has access to the student’s complete college record. If the candidate has attended more than one college, a copy of this form should be submitted by an administrator from the college most recently attended. 
  4. Two Academic Evaluations. These evaluations of the candidate’s academic potential should be submitted by two college instructors. Applicants may submit one additional optional recommendation of any type (e.g., employer, high school teacher, volunteer coordinator, etc.).
  5. Transcripts.
    • A complete transcript of the secondary school (high school) record showing the date of graduation (if applicable) and providing an interpretation of the grading system.
    • An official transcript from each college or university attended, including a statement of good standing or honorable dismissal. Failure to list and provide transcripts for all colleges attended will be considered sufficient grounds for requiring withdrawal from Pomona College.
  6. Mid-Term Report/Curriculum Report. Applicants should submit this form with mid-term grades and comments from their current term’s faculty. We will not make an admissions decision without these grades. However, if the applicant is not currently enrolled, or if their current term begins after mid-February, they may request a waiver in their online applicant status page portal. This form is due March 6.

Optional:

  1. Standardized Test Results. Results of either the SAT Reasoning (administered by the College Board) or ACT (administered by ACT, Inc.) tests are optional for applicants through fall 2024 entry. Under this four-year policy, applicants may choose whether ot not to self-report test scores on their applications. If questioning whether to self-report test scores, students are encouraged to decide how best to present themselves to the Admissions Committee and whether—or not—their standardized test results accurately reflect their academic ability and potential. For those who elect to self-report them, test scores will be reviewed holistically, in the context of other application materials and indicators of academic ability and promise, and an official score report will be required upon admission. If there are discrepancies between self-reported and official test scores, the offer of admission may be jeopardized. In the absence of standardized test scores, the Office of Admissions will continue to place emphasis on academic achievement, leadership and extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation from teachers and counselors.
  2. Interviews. Transfer applicants may request an off-campus alumni interview beginning in late August. They are offered up to early February. We do not track demonstrated interest in the application process, so interviews are entirely optional. To schedule an alumni interview, please register online at least three weeks in advance at https://www.pomona.edu/admissions/apply/how-apply. Please be aware that we cannot fulfill every interview request. International applicants may interview with an alumni interviewer or a private service. Third-party interviews are not conducted by Pomona staff or alumni, so, unfortunately, the interviewer cannot answer specific questions about Pomona College. Since there may be a cost involved for third-party interview services, interviews are not required. Fee waivers are also available by contacting admissions@pomona.edu. We accept interviews through InitialView and Duolingo. The Duolingo English Test combines an English proficiency test with a video interview and can be completed any time and place where web access is available. 

External Credit

It is possible to obtain Pomona College course credit for the following:

  1. Advanced Placement Credit. Scores of 4 and 5 on Advanced Placement Exams may be eligible for course credit. One eligible AP Exam will count as one elective course credit.
  2. International Baccalaureate Credit. Course credit may be granted for scores of 6 or 7 on higher-level International Baccalaureate examinations. One eligible IB exam will count as one elective course credit.
  3. College Courses Taken While in High School. Credits may be allowed for transferable courses that were not counted towards high school graduation requirements. 

A maximum of the equivalent of two elective course credits from the sources above may be used toward the graduation requirements of Pomona College. See the section Transfer Credit Policy in this catalog for more information.

Credit by Examination

Pomona College does not allow credit by examination, other than by the means described in the External Credit section.

Instructions for Candidates Accepting Admission

  1. Deposit. Enrolling students are required to make a non-refundable $500 deposit. Students for whom payment of this enrollment deposit constitutes a hardship may be eligible for a reduced deposit or may arrange a payment plan by emailing admissions@pomona.edu to explore their options. The College retains this non-refundable deposit until graduation or post-matriculation withdrawal, at which time any balance is refunded. No refund will be made to those who accept admission and withdraw before matriculation. 
  2. Final Transcript. An official transcript reporting final grades must be submitted as soon as possible after the close of the applicant’s last term. It should include a statement of graduation or honorable dismissal. Please note that all offers of admission are conditional, upon review of final grades. Students who do not submit final transcripts by July 1 for the fall term will be unable to matriculate.
  3. Housing Form, Emergency Contact Form, Family Contact Information Form. Housing assignments are based on the information provided by new students on the Housing Form. The Emergency and Family Contact forms collect information needed for future mailings regarding orientation, registration, medical services, housing and billing. These forms are available to admitted students shortly after they enroll.
  4. Physical Exam Form. Entering students must submit by August 1 a completed medical examination form. Without the submission of this form, students will not be able to matriculate.
  5. Student Health Insurance Enrollment or Waiver Form. Pomona College requires that all students carry health insurance. An entering student must enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) or submit a waiver form with proof of health insurance by September 3. 

Policy on Applicants’ Disciplinary and Criminal History Questions

Prior to enrollment, students will be required to answer the following question regarding disciplinary history:

Have you ever been found responsible for a disciplinary violation at any educational institution you have attended from the 9th grade (or the international equivalent) forward, whether related to academic misconduct or behavioral misconduct, that resulted in a disciplinary action? If Yes, please explain below.

If you are uncertain about the status of your school disciplinary or conduct record, you may wish to consult your school counselor or another school official prior to responding.

Prior to enrollment, students also will be required to answer the following question regarding criminal history:

Have you ever been adjudicated guilty or convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, or other crime?

Those depositing students who check yes will be sent a request to provide context and background information about their affirmative answer. This information will be reviewed by a special committee within two weeks of the receipt of the information.

Policy on Deferral of Enrollment

Students admitted as first-years to Pomona may request to defer their enrollment or take a gap year before matriculating. Students interested in taking a gap year should contact the Office of Admissions to discuss their options or for help deciding whether to apply for admission before or after a gap year. We do not approve requests to defer enrollment for less than one academic year or to attend Pomona part-time during a gap year. While deferring enrollment for one year is most common, requests for two-year deferrals will be considered under extraordinary circumstances, including multi-year religious obligations or mandated military service. Those requesting a medical deferral will need to provide documentation.

Students have until May 1 to request to defer their entry to the College. Requests should be accompanied or followed up by a gap year proposal, submitted by May 8. Students requesting a medical deferral have until July 1 to submit their requests. Non-medical deferral requests can be made at the time of enrollment through the enrollment response form on the student’s applicant portal. Deferral requests can also be made by email, by May 1, and should be sent directly to Executive Assistant Gina Green at gina.green@pomona.edu. Requests are reviewed and approved individually by the Dean of Admissions. An accompanying or subsequent written plan outlining how the student will spend their gap year must be submitted as well (due by May 8). 

Non-medical deferral of admission involves several requirements:

  1. Students may not enroll in a degree program nor expect credit be granted for any courses taken while on a gap year.
  2. Should a student pursue academic courses at a university without enrolling in a degree program during their gap year, final grades must be submitted to the Office of Admissions. Academic performance that is not consistent with previous performance achieved at the time of admission may result in a review of the student’s offer of admission.
  3. Students who defer enrollment must submit the non-refundable enrollment $500 deposit, with the commitment that the student will enroll at Pomona and will initiate no new applications to other colleges or universities. In accepting this deposit, Pomona College will guarantee the student’s place for the following academic year as a full-time, first-year student.
  4. The student must  reconfirm their intention to enroll for the fall semester by February 1, through their applicant portal. An email will be sent to the student in January to provide the student with portal access to reconfirm enrollment. Upon receipt of this, the Dean of Admissions will confirm their entry in the class.
  5. If the student intends to apply for financial aid from Pomona College for the academic year of enrollment, the student must contact the Office of Financial Aid  and submit financial aid forms by January 15.

Deferral Requests and Proposals

  1.  Deferral requests are not granted automatically. A written plan must be approved by the Dean of Admissions prior to approval of a request to defer or take a gap year.
  2. Typical proposals are 300-400 words in length and provide details on what students expect to do during their gap year. Some students invent their own experience and engage in several different pursuits over the course of the year. Others find a full-time internship, meaningful work experience, local service opportunity or other type of year-long pursuit connected to a third-party organization. There is no formula. Proposals should clearly state how the gap year will be structured (from September to May with appropriate breaks throughout the year).
  3. Finally, we know sometimes plans change during a gap year. When unexpected issues arise, it is expected that students will find solutions and consult the Office of Admissions to ensure new/altered plans align with Pomona’s expectations of gap-year students. Flexibility and grace will guide the approval of new plans when things fall through, but it is expected that students will follow up and consult the Office of Admissions as soon as possible should plans change.

Medical Deferrals

Requests to defer admission for medical reasons are handled differently than gap-year requests for non-medical reasons. Students with medical reasons for requesting to defer their admission may make their request any time after they are offered admission, up to July 1. In requesting a medical deferral, students are asked to submit medical documentation (a letter from a doctor), which includes a treatment plan. Please direct requests for medical deferrals to Executive Assistant Gina Green at gina.green@pomona.edu.

Admissions Decision Rescission Policy

In all of its offers of admission, the Office of Admissions at Pomona College states, [this] “offer of admission is made with the provision that you maintain your strong record of academic achievement and personal integrity. We will review all final transcripts and ask that you have your school forward transcripts at the end of each grading period and send a final transcript confirming your graduation and good standing at the end of the school year.”

When an enrolling student fails to meet this academic or integrity standard, a transparent, student-centered review process is initiated by the Admissions Committee. The review process can include, but is not limited to:

  • A review of the student’s mid-year, third quarter or final transcript.
  • A conversation with teachers or college counselors at the student’s high school or university.
  • A conversation with the student to directly raise concerns regarding academic or integrity issues.
  • The request of written statements from teachers, counselors, students or other individuals who might be able to assist the Committee in understanding the academic or integrity issue of concern.
  • Consultation with the Vice President and Dean of Admissions.
  • The re-convening of the Admissions Committee for the purposes of reconsidering a candidate for admission using the new information within the context of our standard holistic review process.

During the review process a student can expect:

  • That the decision to rescind an offer of admission is not a foregone conclusion. Each student who fails to meet the academic and integrity standards outlined in their offer of admission will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Each student will be treated as an individual whose unique story will be heard and genuinely considered by the Committee.
  • To be provided with the email and office phone number of a senior admissions officer in order to keep the lines of communication between the Admissions Office and the student free and open.
  • That all reasonable attempts will be made to understand the circumstances that led to the academic or integrity issue of concern, be that via phone or written communication.
  • To receive a direct written communication from a senior admissions officer if his/her/their offer of admission is in fact rescinded.
  • That the student’s college counselor will be notified of the decision to rescind via a written communication.

Examples of academic or integrity issue that could merit an investigation or rescission process include but are not limited to:            

  • A decline in achievement in an academic course from A in 7th Semester to C/D/F in 8th Semester
  • A decline in achievement in an academic course from B in 7th Semester to a D/F in 8th Semester
  • Violating a school/university academic integrity policy during the final semester of enrollment.
  • A significant discrepancy between a predicted A-Level/IB score and an actual A-Level/IB score.
  • The intentional misrepresentation of a self-reported SAT, ACT, TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo score.

All decisions that are reconsidered and decided upon by the Admissions Committee under these circumstances are final and not subject to appeal. Admitted or enrolling students who feel an academic or personal integrity issue could arise or has arisen, or who have questions about this policy should immediately be in touch with the director of admissions.