The Committee on Admissions considers each applicant on the basis of high school academic performance, standardized test scores, activities, letters of recommendation, and the personal essay.

Admission Calendar

Application Deadlines

Calendar

Date	Event
November 15	Early Decision I application deadline
November 15	Spring Semester Transfer application deadline
December 1	Early Action application deadline (all Early Action applicants will be considered for academic scholarships)
January 15	Early Decision II application deadline
February 1	Regular Decision application deadline
March 1	Sewanee Financial Aid Application and FAFSA Deadline
April 1	Fall Semester Transfer application deadline

Decision Notifications

Calendar

Date	Event
December 15	Early Decision I notification
February 15	Early Decision II notification
January 31	Early Action and Academic Scholarship notification
Late March	Regular Decision and International notification

Enrollment Confirmation Due Dates

Calendar

Date	Event
January 15	Early Decision I enrollment confirmation due
March 1	Early Decision II enrollment confirmation due
May 1	Enrollment confirmation due

Secondary School Preparation

Sewanee admits students who are prepared for its challenging academic environment. The following are typical of what we would expect to find in the application file of a competitive candidate:

A challenging high school curriculum which typically includes:

• four years of English
• two or more years of a foreign language
• three or more years of math including algebra I and II and geometry¹
• two or more years of lab science (most students have four)
• two or more years of social science, including history
• full high school transcript with strong high school GPA showing consistent or increased strength in class work
• either SAT or ACT scores OR apply as a test optional applicant
• extracurricular activities such as clubs, sports, church groups, or work experience
• clearly written admission essay
• recommendations from teachers and school counselors with an optional recommendation from church leaders, work supervisors, or volunteer coordinators

1	Three years of college preparatory mathematics (two years of algebra, one of geometry) are considered the minimum preparation for a student to attempt the required mathematics course at Sewanee; most entering students have taken four years of math.

College Entrance Examination Options

Applicants must submit either SAT or ACT scores, or apply as a test optional candidate. Information on the SAT and ACT is available from the applicant’s secondary school or counselor.

Test of English as a Foreign Language

For non-native English speakers to be competitive in our applicant pool, Sewanee requires a minimum TOEFL score of 223 (computer-based), 577 (paper-based), or 90 (internet-based) respectively. Scores from any of the three testing formats may be submitted, but only one is necessary. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) may be used instead; Sewanee requires a minimum score of 7. The University does not offer a conditional admission program for students lacking fluency in English.

Homeschool Applicants

Sewanee welcomes applications from homeschool students. The Committee on Admissions asks that such applicants complete additional steps so that it can fully understand the talents, strengths, and accomplishments of each applicant.

• The Common Application’s Homeschool Supplement allows the homeschool supervisor to explain educational philosophy, grading scale, and outside evaluation.
• A letter of recommendation from a teacher, tutor, or professor outside the applicant’s immediate family provides insight into the rigor of curriculum.
• SAT and/or ACT results provide the Committee on Admission with a standardized reflection of the applicant’s preparation for Sewanee’s rigorous curriculum.
• An interview with a member of the admission counseling staff may be conducted in person, by phone, or via teleconference.

Campus Visits

Campus visits for prospective students are not required for admission but are strongly recommended. The campus visit is one example of student-initiated interest in the University that the Committee on Admissions considers when making admission decisions. A typical visit includes a group information session with an admission counselor and a student-led tour with optional opportunities for attending a class, meeting with a faculty member or coach, or an informational interview with a current student. Other special visit opportunities include residential life tours, specialized facility tours, lunch with a student host, and a nature walk.

Students may schedule a visit by registering on the Office of Admission’s website. Group information sessions and campus tours are available year round and non-evaluative interviews are available during the academic year. Campus tours are offered regularly throughout the year in both the morning and afternoon. On select Saturday mornings during the academic year, a group information session with campus tour is offered at 10:30 a.m. All non-evaluative interviews are conducted by carefully selected and trained seniors in the college, and provide a formal opportunity for prospective students to engage with a current student. Interviewers are interested in learning about not only the student’s academic achievements, but also about their extracurricular activities and interests.

The Office of Admission, located in Fulford Hall, is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Central Time).

Overnight visits in dormitories are available to high school seniors Sunday through Wednesday on a limited basis for a one night stay only during the academic year. Prospective students wishing to experience an overnight stay in a dormitory must contact the Office of Admission at least 10 days prior to their visit.

Early Decision Plan

Early Decision is an option for those students who consider Sewanee as their number one choice. If admitted under Early Decision, an early decision applicant agrees to withdraw all applications to other colleges and universities and enroll at Sewanee. There are two Early Decision opportunities for which students may apply. Early Decision candidates are eligible to be considered for all potential financial aid awards through both the academic scholarship and/or need-based financial aid processes; however, financial aid awards are mailed to admitted students in March.

Applicants who are NOT admitted under Early Decision are released from their binding agreement and may be deferred to the regular admission cycle. These deferred candidates must submit a completed Mid-Year Grade Report, along with any additional supporting documentation, if applicable, in order to receive full consideration under regular admission.

The student applying for early decision should:

1. Indicate “Early Decision I” or “Early Decision II” on the Common Application. Complete and submit the binding Common Application Early Decision Agreement.
2. Submit all required documentation on or before November 15 for Early Decision I, or January 15 for Early Decision II. If all documentation requirements are not met by the respective application deadline, the application will be treated as a regular decision application.
3. A student admitted to the University under either binding Early Decision plan agrees to withdraw any applications to other colleges and to enroll at Sewanee.

Early Admission After the Junior Year

Students may apply for admission after the junior year of high school. Although Sewanee does not encourage early admission to the college, this plan is sometimes appropriate for select students. The early admission candidate should have exhausted most of the academic courses offered by his or her high school and be ready academically, emotionally, and socially for the college environment.

An early admission candidate must complete the same requirements and meet the same deadlines as a regular candidate with the following additions:

1. An interview is required on campus with either a member of the admission staff or a member of the Committee on Admissions.
2. Written recommendation and approval must be received from the candidate’s counselor, principal, or headmaster for early admission action, including a statement that the student is prepared emotionally, academically, and socially for success in the college environment.
3. The candidate should present academic credentials as strong as or stronger than the average student who typically enrolls at Sewanee (i.e., an A-/B+ average in academic courses from high school and at least 1860 on the SAT or 28 on the ACT).
4. The candidate must state (in writing to the Committee on Admissions) why he or she wants to forego the senior year in high school and enter college as an early admission student.

Although the committee prefers that the candidate meet all requirements for the high school diploma, this is not a requirement for acceptance as an early admission candidate.

Transfer Applicants

Students seeking to transfer to the college from other accredited colleges must complete the Common Application for transfer students, the College Instructor Evaluation form, and the Registrar’s Report. In addition, transfer applicants must submit a final high school transcript, official transcripts from each college attended, and either official SAT or ACT exam scores.

Credit for transfer students is subject to approval by the Office of the Associate Dean of the College. The College Standards Committee, in consultation with the chair of departments concerned, may be called upon to evaluate transfer credit for courses of uncertain interpretation.

Quarter hours are converted to semester hours at two-thirds face value. Thus five quarter hours equal three semester hours.

To receive a degree, students transferring from other institutions must meet the college’s graduation requirements. Each such student must spend at least four semesters in residence in Sewanee enrolled on campus as a full-time student. Because each student must earn at least 64 semester hours of credit at Sewanee, transfer credit is limited to 64 semester hours.

The application deadline for transfer candidates is April 1 for the fall semester and November 15 for the spring semester.