2005 - 2006 Undergraduate Admission to the College

Westminster admits students whose academic records indicate that they possess the skills and maturity necessary for success in college work. Students are admitted without discrimination as to race, color, nationality, creed, sex, physical handicaps, or veteran status. Although the college does not require a specific pattern of school subjects, it does strongly recommend a standard college preparatory high school academic program.

Admission to the college does not constitute acceptance into all of its programs. Students applying for admission into the Education and Nursing Programs should consult the appropriate sections of this Academic Catalog for additional admission requirements. Music students must audition to be accepted into the minor. Students applying to the Master of Education, Master of Business Administration, Master of Professional Communication, or Master of Science in Nursing programs should review the appropriate sections of this Academic Catalog dealing with graduate admission to the college.

Applications for admission are accepted on a continual basis and are processed until the beginning of each academic term.

Admission Requirements

New Freshmen

Individual applications are reviewed on the basis of a student's potential for success at Westminster. Academic preparation, which includes both coursework and grades, is most important. Also important to the review are items such as entrance exams (ACT or SAT), recommendations, and extracurricular activities. A campus visit to meet with an academic counselor is recommended, as it helps complete the picture for both the prospective student and the college.
A student currently enrolled in high school may be accepted for admission on the basis of six semesters of high school work. The college may require additional grade reports during the student's senior year, and will require final transcripts showing high school graduation.

Transfer Students

A student with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (C+) or better in academic courses from all previous college work, and who is in good academic standing at his/her previous institution(s) may be considered for admission as a transfer student.

Detailed information regarding Westminster College transfer policies can be found in the Undergraduate Degree Requirements section of this catalog.

Special Students

Special students are defined as students who are enrolled at the college but have not applied for, or been accepted into, a degree program. Special students, therefore, are those who plan to take courses for "interest only." Special students are subject to the academic regulations of the college.

Credit earned while in special student status is not considered toward a degree unless the student applies for admission to, and is accepted by, the college as a degree-seeking student.

Readmission of Former Students

Students who wish to register at the college after an absence of three or more academic semesters (not including May or summer terms) must apply for readmission through the Office of Admissions. Re-entering students are subject to the academic requirements in effect at the time of their re-entry. Westminster College makes every effort to honor coursework taken in previous years; however, due to curriculum changes, this cannot be guaranteed. Previous coursework in question must be reviewed by individual academic departments with a final agreement submitted in writing to the Registrar's Office.

Former students who have attended other colleges or universities during their absence must apply for readmission as transfer students and must meet all applicable requirements for admission. It should be noted that students who attend other colleges or universities during a summer session are not required to reapply. Transfer credit for such courses is subject to the college's regular transfer policies as stated in the Undergraduate Degree Requirements section of this catalog.

Concurrent Enrollment

Qualified high school students may enroll at Westminster, while still attending high school, for a maximum of six credit hours (per semester) with the permission of the Office of Admissions, the applicant's high school principal, and parent or legal guardian. Written recommendations from the appropriate individuals and an official transcript indicating a grade point average of 3.00 or higher in academic coursework must be submitted to the Office of Admissions.

Non-High School Graduates

Students who have not completed high school, or who have graduated from a non-accredited high school, may be admitted to the college on the basis of scores received on the General Educational Development examination (GED). A score of 50 or higher in each category and a minimum overall score of 54 is necessary for applicants who submit the equivalency certificate in lieu of a high school diploma.

Applying for Admission

When to Apply

High school seniors should apply for admission early in their senior year if they plan to enter the college during the following fall semester. Transfer and international students should apply at least three months prior to the beginning of the semester they plan to attend.

How to Apply

Students must submit:

An application for admission and $40 application fee. The form may be obtained from the Office of Admissions or on the web site at www.westminstercollege.edu.
An official transcript of high school credit sent directly to the Office of Admissions by the high school.
Official transcript(s) from each college or university attended (for incoming transfer students) sent directly to the Office of Admissions by each college or university. An official high school transcript may also be required of a transfer applicant who has completed fewer than 30 semester credit hours or 45 quarter credit hours of college or university work at another institution.
ACT or SAT test scores (for incoming freshmen).

All records submitted to the college become the property of Westminster College as part of each student's permanent record and are not returnable.

Notification of Admission

Applicants receive a letter notifying them of their eligibility for admission approximately two weeks after the Office of Admissions receives all required materials (application forms, transcripts, and test scores). Transfer students receive a separate summary of transfer credit evaluation.

Once the applicant has been advised of acceptance, a $250 tuition deposit must be submitted to guarantee a place in the entering class. Checks should be made payable to Westminster College and sent to the Office of Admissions.

The tuition deposit should be submitted within 30 days of acceptance, or (for those students applying for financial aid) within 30 days of the student's receipt of his/her financial aid award notice. Students who need additional time should contact the Office of Admissions. The deposit is credited to the student's account and is deducted from tuition at the beginning of the semester.

Students planning to live in campus housing must submit a housing contract and a $200 room reservation deposit by June 1 for the Fall semester to reserve their place in the residence halls. Housing deposits are refunded in full if a written cancellation is received on or before June 1 for the Fall semester or November 1 for the Spring semester.
Students planning to live in campus housing must also submit: 1) a medical release form, 2) confidential health questionnaire, and 3) immunization records to the Director of Residence Life. These medical forms are required of all students who live in campus housing.

International Students

The college accepts and enrolls students who are citizens of countries other than the United States. Full-time international students are issued Forms I-20 to enable them to apply for student visas.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for enrollment at the college, international students must be graduates of a secondary school and must show good potential for academic success by:

Presenting a transcript from a secondary school or post-secondary institution abroad - originals and official English translations - or in the U.S.
Presenting evidence of advanced level proficiency in English as shown by a score of 550 or above on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or equivalent on a similar test such as the Michigan Language Test.
Presenting verification of financial ability to afford tuition and estimated living expenses for two semesters.

International students who have attended another college or university in the U. S. and have completed 9 months of academic credit may be accepted as transfer students and may not need to present a TOEFL score.

Application Procedure

International students who wish to attend the college must begin the application procedure early. Students applying from outside the United States should begin at least three months before the semester begins. Students residing in the United States should begin at least two months before the semester begins.

All documents and materials for application must be received by the Office of Admissions at least 30 days before the semester begins.

International students must submit the following materials to the Office of Admissions:

Westminster College Application for Admission form and a $40 application fee (checks should be payable to Westminster College).
Westminster College International Student Financial Statement accompanied by a current bank statement from the student's sponsor.
Official transcripts of secondary school grades (or scores on the general secondary certificate examination) and/or college or university grades. Transcripts must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the student's school or ministry of education. The transcripts must have the official seal printed or embossed on them and must be accompanied by an official English translation.
Official TOEFL score or equivalent.

All materials submitted to the Office of Admissions become the property of the college and cannot be returned to the student or sent to another school. If the student's school or ministry of education issues only one copy of secondary school grades or examination scores, the Office of Admissions will make a certified copy and return the original to the student; however, in all cases copies must be made from originals. Duplicated copies will not be accepted.

When all of the above-mentioned materials and documents have been received by the Office of Admissions, a student's application is considered by the Director of Admissions and the student is notified in writing of the decision. Once a student has been accepted for admission, a Form I-20 will be sent to the student.

Credit for Advanced Standing

Transfer Credit

The college accepts credit earned at other regionally-accredited colleges and/or universities in which a grade of C- or better has been earned and which is appropriate to the degree being sought. Courses which are remedial in nature or below college level are not acceptable. For detailed information regarding Westminster College transfer policies, refer to the section on Undergraduate Degree Requirements.

Military Training and Experience

The college grants credit for selected military training and experience as recommended in the publication "Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services" of the American Council on Education. Students seeking credit for military training and experience should contact the Registrar's Office.

Credit for Experiential Learning (Prior Learning Assessment)

The Prior Learning Assessment program is under review for the 2005 - 2006 academic year. Changes will be posted to the Registrar's Office website.

The college evaluates college-level learning gained from workshops, military training and experience, in-service training, on-the-job experience, volunteer services, and life experiences for the purpose of granting credit toward the baccalaureate degree for such learning. Detailed information regarding the Prior Learning Assessment Program and additional information on Advanced Placement (AP), the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and Challenge Examinations may be found in the section entitled Undergraduate Degree Requirements in this catalog.