Freshman Admission

Application Process

Fall applications for freshmen may be submitted after September 1 of the senior year. There is a nonrefundable application fee of $40 for Massachusetts residents, $50 for other U.S. citizens, and $60 for international applicants. Upon acceptance a nonrefundable enrollment fee of $200 is required to confirm a place in the entering class.

Applications must be received and complete (including SATs or ACTs, fee, essay, transcript, and related documents) not later than February 1 for fall semester and October 15 for spring semester.

Students may submit the completed application to their guidance counselor, who will forward it to the University with a transcript. Students not currently in high school must assume the responsibility for ensuring that all necessary documents are submitted by stated deadlines.

International students are eligible for fall admission only and their applications are due by February 1. They must also submit TOEFL scores, a certified affidavit of financial support, and a bank statement.

Required/Optional Tests

Freshman applicants are required to submit results of the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT I) administered by the College Entrance Examination Board or the ACT (American College Test) administered by the American College Testing Program. Fall semester applicants must take the SAT or ACT on or before the January test date unless they wish to be considered on the basis of their junior year test scores. SAT II tests are not required but can be used for placement.

Test results must be sent directly to the University from the College Board Test Center or directly from the high school guidance office. The University's Amherst campus College Board Number is 3917.

Advanced placement and graduation credits will be awarded by most departments to candidates who obtain scores of 4 and 5 on the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) Advanced Placement Tests; scores of 3 are given credit on a more limited basis. Candidates seeking advanced placement and graduation credit in foreign languages may also take the SAT II language tests.

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) enables students to earn college credit by examination. Fall semester applicants planning to take CLEP exams should do so no later than April of the year of entrance.

Admission Standards and Decision-Making Process

About 20,000 freshman applications are expected for September 2002 enrollment for approximately 3,600 vacancies. The most important criterion in the admission decision is the high school academic record as measured by the quality of courses, grade point average, class rank, and grade trends. Standardized test scores (SAT I or ACT), an essay, and recommendations are also considered. Decisions are made on a rolling basis beginning in December for fall semester and in September for spring semester. Most freshman applicants will receive an admission decision no later than April 15 for fall enrollment and November 15 for spring enrollment.

Candidates' Reply Date

The University participates in the Candidates' Reply Date option which permits an accepted applicant to delay notification of intention to enroll until May 1. Details are sent to accepted applicants.

Board of Higher Education Requirements

Massachusetts public universities must consider minimum eligibility for admission in accordance with the published standards established by the Board of Higher Education:

High School Unit Requirements

For exemption details, contact your Guidance Office.

Commonwealth Honors College

This honors college is a campuswide program; students from all majors in every college may earn their way into Commonwealth College. However, each year, a limited number of academically talented students are admitted to the College based upon their high school performance.

Entering freshmen with minimum combined SAT I scores of 1300, high school rank within the top 10 percent, and a grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale will be given the highest consideration for admission to Commonwealth College. Those admitted to the honors college are expected to participate in a special orientation program.