Admission to Albion

Application for First-Year Admission

Admission to Albion College is selective and based on a review of the applicant's academic credentials, personal qualifications, and potential for success at the College. Albion admits students without regard to race, color, creed or national origin.

The Admissions Committee reviews applications on an individual basis, paying particular attention to the unique qualities each candidate possesses. The committee considers the following factors in evaluating an applicant's credentials: rigor of curriculum pursued, grades, co-curricular involvement in high school, community and religious activities, letters of recommendation received, and results of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Testing Program (ACT).

All candidates for admission are expected to be graduates of an accredited high school or preparatory school and have at least 15 units of academic credit in the following subjects: English, mathematics, social science, science or foreign language.

Students may submit an application for admission at any time. Normally, however, students apply after September 1 of their senior year in high school. In order to receive equal consideration for admission and financial aid, students should apply and have all required credentials on file by March 1 of their senior year.

Each application form must be accompanied by a fee of $20. This is a processing fee which is non-refundable and is not credited on any subsequent payments to the College. Students who submit the application on the College's World Wide Web site are not charged a fee.

Applicants seeking fall admission must pay a $300 enrollment deposit to the College postmarked no later than May 1 to secure their place in the fall class.

Applicants seeking spring admission should submit their $300 deposit before December 15.

Early Decision
The Early Decision program is designed for qualified students who have decided that Albion College is their first choice institution. Under this plan, students must apply by November 15 and will receive notification of their admission status by December 15. Candidates seeking financial aid also will receive a preliminary financial aid offer. Students accepted under the Early Decision option must submit their $300 non-refundable enrollment deposit by January 15.

Applicants who are not admitted under this option may be deferred, and their credentials will be reconsidered during the regular admissions process.

Entrance Tests
Scores from the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) of the College Entrance Examination Board or from the American College Testing Program (ACT) are required of all applicants. It is recommended that applicants take one of these tests no later than January of the senior year. Albion College's code number is 1007 for the SAT and 1956 for the ACT. Information about the SAT may be obtained from the College Board at www.collegeboard.org. Information about the ACT may be obtained from the American College Testing Program at www.act.org.

Campus Visit
A visit to the campus and a personal interview are highly recommended. As a service to campus visitors, guided tours of the campus are provided. The admissions staff will also arrange visits with faculty members or with specific academic departments. We appreciate knowing your plans two weeks in advance so we may better accommodate you when you arrive on campus.

The Admissions Office is open on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. It is also open most Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon except during the summer.

Specific information pertaining to the curriculum, the faculty or admission to Albion College may be obtained from:

Admissions Office
Albion College
611 E. Porter St.
Albion, Michigan 49224
Telephone: 800/858-6770
E-mail: admissions@albion.edu
World Wide Web: http://www.albion.edu

Advanced Placement and CLEP
Albion College is a participant in the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). Under this program, a high school student who earns a grade of 4 or 5 on an Advanced Placement Examination automatically receives college credit and may receive advanced placement in the area of his or her proficiency.

A student who receives a grade of 3 may be given advanced placement, and at the discretion of the department, the student may be given college credit as well.

Some College departments also participate in the College-Level Subject Examination Program (CLEP) of CEEB. Albion College permits students to obtain a maximum of eight units of credit toward the bachelor of arts, and to fulfill core and/or major requirements through CLEP. Students should contact the Registrar's Office for information on which departments accept CLEP credit. There is a one-half tuition fee for all credit received through CLEP.

Maximum Credit Available Through Examination--No more than eight units of credit can be obtained through any combination of locally designed departmental examinations and the College-Level Examination Program. No more than 12 units of credit can be obtained through any combination of the Advanced Placement Examination, locally designed departmental examinations, and the College-Level Examination Program.

Immediate Sophomore Standing--An entering student who presents six or more units obtained through the Advanced Placement Examination, locally designed departmental examinations, and/or the College-Level Examination Program will obtain immediate sophomore standing.

Special Admissions

Transfer Students
Each year Albion accepts students who have attended other colleges or universities. It is recommended that candidates possess a 2.5 grade point average for consideration. It is expected that the applicant will be in good academic and personal standing at the college last attended and that the previous college record has been strong enough to compare favorably with students already in attendance at Albion. Students are responsible for submitting, with their application, official transcripts from all institutions previously attended.

Students holding an associate of arts (A.A.) degree from a participating Michigan community or junior college are exempt from taking the First-Year Seminar and the Modes of Inquiry requirement, and they may be admitted at the junior level. However, the following graduation requirements must be met: the category requirement, the writing competence requirement and the Capstone Seminar. A maximum of 16 units (64 semester hours) may be transferred from accredited junior colleges.

Candidates who transfer from an accredited four-year college must complete no less than the last 12 units (48 semester hours) in residence at Albion. These students must also complete all degree requirements including the core and the writing competence requirement.

For more specific details regarding Albion's unit system and required course grades, refer to p. 101.

International Students
Albion College welcomes applications from students from other countries. International students are offered the full range of academic programs, housing choices and student services available to all Albion College students. In addition, the College provides many support services specifically for international students including: airport transportation, a comprehensive orientation program, academic and personal counseling, immigration regulations advising, trips to local cultural sites, and host family and community programs.

To be considered for admission to Albion, an international student must complete an application packet that includes the following:

1. The Albion College International Student Application form.

2. $20 application fee.

3. Certified copies of all secondary or university academic records, plus English translations where necessary. Because academic preparation in some countries is of a more advanced nature than that offered in an American high school, Albion College may award advanced standing to students who demonstrate such preparation in their academic credentials.

4. Official results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The College requires a minimum score of 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) on the TOEFL; students with scores below these minimums may qualify for conditional admission, pending completion of appropriate English language training. The International Admissions Office may be contacted for information on English as a Second Language (ESL) programs that can provide intensive ESL training for college-bound students.

5. The Statement of Financial Support form showing an adequate level of financial support for college study. See section below on ``Financial Aid.''

6. Two letters of recommendation.

7. An autobiographical statement, including academic and working background and educational and career goals.

The College has a rolling admissions policy, which means that completed applications will be reviewed and action taken at any time during the year. However, if a student is applying for financial aid or a scholarship, the deadline for application is February 1. Because competition is keen for places at Albion College and delays in overseas mailings may occur, it is advisable for international students to apply early.

Financial Aid--The College offers competitive academic scholarships for students from overseas. However, international students applying to Albion College should be prepared to assume at least 50 percent of the cost of study, not including foreign travel. Exact annual costs are listed on the Statement of Financial Support form that is a part of the international student application.

For further information about international student admission requirements, or for an international student application packet, please contact: 

Admissions Office
Albion College
611 E. Porter St.
Albion, MI 49224, U.S.A.
Telephone: 1-517-629-0321
FAX: 1-517-629-0569
E-mail: admissions@albion.edu

International Baccalaureate--The College recognizes the strength and rigor of the International Baccalaureate Program. Students will receive one unit (four semester hours) of credit for higher level passes with a score of 5 or more. Scores of 4 will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Normally, no more than four units (16 hours) of credit from this program will be awarded to an individual. Students must petition a department or the Petitions Committee for exceptions to these limits.

Other Candidates
Veterans--Veterans returning from military service and other eligible military personnel are admitted to Albion College under the training provisions established by the Veterans Administration. The College may allow credit for military service activities which have educational content to students who present acceptable military records. Such credentials should be submitted as part of the admission materials.

Auditors--A non-degree student may enroll as an official auditor. This obligates a student to attend classes and complete course requirements (papers, laboratory assignments, tests, and a final examination). The course appears on the transcript and the grade is posted, but no degree credit is earned.

Guest Students--Albion College accepts a number of guest students. All guest students must be in good academic standing at their home institution. Guest students assume responsibility for determining whether the course they take at Albion will apply to their program of study.