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Admission

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Undergraduate students are admitted to Marymount University as first-year, transfer, certificate-seeking, and nondegree or visiting students. Qualified first-year and transfer students also may apply to the Honors Program. Through Marymount’s Educational Partnerships program, individuals may be enrolled off-site as degree or certificate-seeking students. The university offers post-baccalaureate certificate programs for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree, and such students are also considered undergraduates. Application procedures for students in each category follow.

Undergraduate Student Admission

Marymount wishes to attract students whose educational interests and intellectual abilities are consistent with the goals and character of the university. The university’s undergraduate curriculum provides a balance between liberal arts education and career preparation. The curriculum also prepares students to become educated citizens in a complex society and equips them with the skills and knowledge necessary for entry or advancement in their chosen career fields.

In reviewing applications for admission, Marymount University places primary emphasis on the strength of an applicant’s academic record — the high school record for an entering first-year student or the prior college studies of a transfer student. The university also takes into consideration national test scores, breadth of academic preparation, positive recommendations, and personal character in making its decisions. All submitted documents become university property and cannot be returned.

First-Year Applicants

At Marymount, a first-year student is defined as a first-time college student. Most first-year students enroll at the university directly out of high school.

First-Year Student Admission Requirements

Applicants to the first-year class may be considered for admission if their high school grade point average (GPA) is 2.6 or better on a 4.0 scale. Standardized test scores are now optional for students applying to Marymount for the fall 2016 semester or later. Students who have a high school GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale do not need to submit their SAT or ACT scores for admissions consideration.*

*If students' high school GPAs are lower than a 3.0 or they are home schooled, they are required to submit standardized test scores. Students may also submit scores if they believe they will reflect positively on their admissions decision. If a student is applying to a Marymount scholars program, standardized test scores are required.

The following minimum high school courses are recommended:

English	4 units
Foreign Language	3 units
Mathematics	3 units
Science	2 units*
Social Sciences	3 units

*It is strongly recommended that applicants to the Malek School of Health Professions programs have completed high school biology and chemistry.

Applicants who do not meet these regular admission standards are referred to a committee that evaluates each student’s academic potential to admit those who have the best prospect for success.

All applicants must submit the following items to be considered for admission:

a completed application form with the nonrefundable application fee of $40
the recommendation form completed by a high school counselor or other appropriate school official
evidence of graduation or expected graduation from an accredited high school (Marymount will also consider on a case-by-case basis students who have participated in an approved home-school program)
essay or untimed writing sample of at least 250 but no more than 500 words
a high school transcript showing academic performance and a minimum of 15 high school credits in preparatory courses

In reviewing an applicant’s high school record, the Admissions Committee is more concerned with the quality of preparation than with the numerical distribution of courses. The Admissions Committee also takes into consideration the educational objectives and specific needs of the particular applicant.

Students entering Marymount with college-level coursework or work experience may be eligible for credit. See Other Credit-Acquisition Opportunities for further information.

Transfer Applicants

A transfer student is a student who has completed at least one semester of college coursework at another accredited college or university, as well as any student who holds an associate or bachelor’s degree.

Transfer Student Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission, transfer applicants with 30 or more college credits must present a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale from previous postsecondary institutions. Transfer applicants with fewer than 30 credits must also meet first-year admission requirements. Please refer to individual school sections for additional requirements for specific programs. All applicants to the traditional B.S.N. program should note additional requirements; applicants to the accelerated second-degree nursing program should review additional requirements.

Applicants who have been enrolled in a college or university prior to applying to Marymount must submit the following:

a completed application form with the nonrefundable application fee of $40
the recommendation form completed by the dean of students at the last college attended, a college professor, or current employer
official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions (delivered in a sealed envelope that bears the registrar’s signature and/or seal or via an authorized online delivery system)

Students who have been admitted for transfer to Marymount University will receive a formal transfer credit evaluation by the university registrar. It is the responsibility of the student applicant to provide the transcripts necessary for this evaluation. Marymount only accepts coursework for transfer credit from an institution accredited as degree-granting by a regional accrediting body for higher education at the time the coursework was completed. See transfer policies for more information. Transfer students may also receive credit for Advanced Placement coursework or similar programs, as well as for work experience. See Other Credit-Acquisition Opportunities for further information.

Articulation Agreements

To facilitate the entrance of transfer students from Northern Virginia Community College into baccalaureate programs, the university has an articulation agreement with this institution. The agreement informs students of course equivalencies between the institutions. Information about these equivalencies is available from counselors at Northern Virginia Community College, from Marymount University’s Office of Admissions, and from Marymount’s Center for Teaching and Learning. To find details online, visit www.marymount.edu/Admissions, choose "transfer students," and then select "transferring credits."

International Student Applicants

An international student is defined as an individual wishing to enroll who is neither a U.S. citizen nor a permanent U.S. resident.

Visitors in B-1/B-2 status are not eligible to register. These individuals must change their status to an F-1 student visa in order to study at Marymount University. Contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office or International Student Services Office for more information regarding this immigration regulation and other immigration-related questions.

International Student Admission Requirements

All applicants must submit the following to be considered:

a completed application form with the nonrefundable $40 application fee
a letter of recommendation from the applicant’s school principal, teacher, or academic advisor, which must be written in, or translated into, English
official academic records translated into English that show at least 3 years of academic performance

There are additional items based on the applicant’s status as a first-year or transfer student, as follows:

International First-Year Applicants

An international first-year applicant is defined as a first-time university student with fewer than 12 completed university credit hours. The following must be submitted in addition to the aforementioned items:

one official transcript, sent directly from the high school attended or authenticated by the Ministry of Education or the U.S. Embassy in the applicant’s home country, and if applicable, include official exam results and evidence of high school graduation
official standardized exam score report

For the exam score report, students for whom English is their first language must submit either an SAT or ACT score report. Students for whom English is a second language must submit official results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Pearson Test of English (PTE), SAT, or ACT, meeting minimum scores, or successfully complete one of the following: ELS- Level 112, Inlingua- Level 8, LADO- Levels 9 and10, Mentora College-One college advanced elective, any college test preparation program, or any college certificate program.

If you graduated from a high school where the main language of instruction was English, please contact the undergraduate admissions office to verify whether the language proficiency requirements can be waived.

International Transfer Applicants

An international transfer applicant is defined as a student with 12 or more completed university credit hours. The following must be submitted in addition to the aforementioned items:

official transcripts, sent directly to Marymount from the college or university attended
for applicants with fewer than 30 completed college or university credits, complete, official high school transcripts and official standardized exam score reports, as listed under First-Year Applicants requirements
official course-by-course evaluation for university work completed outside the U.S., from one of Marymount’s approved evaluation agencies — World Education Services, Inc or the World Educational Credentials Evaluators;
evidence of language proficiency

For the language proficiency requirement, students for whom English is a second language must submit a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Pearson Test of English (PTE) or have successfully completed one of the following: ELS- Level 112, Inlingua- Level 8, LADO- Level 9&10, Mentora College-One college advanced elective, any college test preparation program, or any college certificate program. Applicants providing evidence of completion of English composition at a U.S. university with a minimum grade of C and at the same institution where the completion of 30 or more credit hours from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university are exempt from this test score requirement.

Minimum Score Requirements for Nonnative Speakers of English

SAT	450 Critical Reading, 950 Critical Reading/Math
ACT	18 English section, 19 composite
TOEFL	550 paper-based, 79 Internet-based
IELTS	6.0 overall
PTE	54 overall

Conditional Admission

Conditional admission is an option for international graduate applicants who meet all admission requirements except demonstrated English proficiency. Students seeking conditional admission must enroll in one of Marymount University's Partner Language Institutes. These programs help students develop their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills to a level appropriate for university study. Completion of an intensive English program other than the programs listed does not meet the conditional admission requirement.

ELS Educational Service's English for Academic Purposes Program: Students who successfully complete ELS Level 112 will be fully admitted and may enroll in a degree program without presenting a TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score. More information about the program can be found at www.els.edu.

Inlingua: Students who earn a Certificate of Completion of Level 8 intensive program and present an official transcript from Inlingua will be fully admitted and may enroll in a degree program without presenting a TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score. More information can be found at www.inlinguaenglish.edu.

LADO International Training Institute: Students who earn a Certificate of Completion of Level 9 & 10 intensive program and present an official transcript from LADO will be fully admitted and may enroll in a degree program without presenting a TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score. More information can be found at www.lado.com.

Mentora College: Students who successfully complete one of the following programs will be fully admitted and may enroll in a degree program without presenting a TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score.

Any Mentora College Advanced Electives: English for Specific Purposed class with the final score of 85% or higher

Any Mentora College Test Preparation program with the final score of 85% or higher

Any Mentora College Certification Program

More information can be found at www.mentoracollege.edu.

Transfer nursing applicants and accelerated second-degree B.S.N. applicants are not eligible for conditional admission.

International Student Application Deadlines

Admission applications and all supporting documents must be received no later than the date indicated for the corresponding semester:

For fall semester (late August to mid-December): August 1

For spring semester (mid-January to early May): December 1

For summer semester (late May to early August — first year students may not begin in the summer semester): March 15

Obtaining an I-20

An I-20 is a certificate of eligibility for F-1 visa status. Marymount University issues the I-20 for admitted students who submit the following items:

a completed International Student Supplemental Information (ISSI) form upon admission (Visit www.marymount.edu/Admissions, choose "international," and then select "once you're admitted.")
an enrollment deposit to reserve a space at Marymount (This deposit is credited to the student’s account. The deposit must be in the form of a check drawn on U.S.-based branches of U.S. banks in U.S. dollars, or with a valid credit card. A non-refundable deposit of $300 is required for both commuter and residential students.)
a legible photocopy of passport ID pages
a valid international address
an official original bank statement showing sufficient funding in U.S. dollars for one year of study, as outlined on the current International Student Supplemental Information (ISSI) form (This statement must be signed and stamped by a bank official and dated no earlier than six months prior to the issuing of the I-20.)

Students currently enrolled in a U.S. high school or university must submit the following additional items:

a completed Transfer Clearance Form, available on the Admissions website under International Students
photocopies of all previous I-20s
photocopies of all previous U.S. visas

For the most current and accurate information about immigration and visa requirements, please visit www.travel.state.gov/content/visas/en.html.

Honors Program Applicants

Marymount is dedicated to fostering the intellectual development of each individual student. To this end, the university offers educational opportunities to students of various qualifications, and the Honors Program is the most prestigious opportunity for academically gifted students. All academic schools are represented within the program, and students from all majors are encouraged to apply. Established in 2003, Marymount’s Honors Program has been founded on a traditional understanding of the liberal arts and works toward two main goals: building a supportive intellectual community and maintaining academic rigor in its distinctive curriculum.

The Honors Program at Marymount University reflects the principles of the original liberal arts (artes liberales), literally "the subjects of study proper to free persons," as developed at the Universities of Paris, Oxford, and Cambridge in the Middle Ages. At Marymount, these principles of the traditional liberal arts are inculcated both at home and abroad. Both a specially designed, academically stimulating curriculum and a commitment to encourage "the life of the mind" through evening lectures create an environment where honors students will continuously seek intellectual challenge. See The Honors Program curriculum.

Honors students at Marymount receive substantial scholarship support; priority registration; formal recognition during graduation ceremonies; exclusive lounge facilities; travel funds for academic conferences; and opportunities to participate in trips and programs — most chosen by the students — in the Washington area as well as Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. Honors students choose officers to represent them in the Honors Student Organization and nominate faculty for the annual Honors Fellow.

Incoming first-year and sophomore students, as well as students transferring from other honors programs, may apply to the Marymount Honors Program, but admission is competitive and limited to 20 new participants each year. The following criteria are recommended for those seeking program admission:

minimum high school or college GPA of 3.5
minimum composite (Math and Critical Reading) SAT score of 1200 and/or composite (English, Reading, Math, and Science) ACT score of 26
strong background in English composition and literature
For international students who took the Test of English as a Foreign Language, a minimum score of 617 on the paper-based test or 105 on the Internet test. For applicants who took the test of the International English Language Testing System or Pearson Test of English, consult the Office of Admissions for score requirements.

Those seeking admission to the program must submit an Honors Program application, including an essay and faculty recommendations, in addition to the general university admission application. Additionally, applicants must participate in an interview with the Honors Program director or an Honors Committee member.

Honors applicants entering Marymount with college-level coursework may be eligible for credit. See Other Credit-Acquisition Opportunities for further information.

Additional criteria and application requirements can be found on the Honors Program’s website. Visit www.muhonors.com.

Undergraduate Certificate-Seeking Applicants

Marymount offers undergraduate certificate programs for individuals seeking specialized knowledge and skill. Individuals who wish to enter Marymount solely to earn a certificate, not in combination with a degree, must submit the following:

a completed application form with the nonrefundable application fee of $40
a final high school and/or postsecondary transcript indicating a minimum GPA of 2.0.

F-1 international students are not eligible to enroll solely in undergraduate certificate programs.

Students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree and wish to enroll in a post-baccalaureate certificate program should see admission information.

Nondegree Applicants

A nondegree undergraduate applicant is an individual who intends to enroll in a limited number of courses to increase vocational fitness, learn about recent developments in a field of interest, or transfer credits to a home institution. Nondegree applicants must submit the following items:

a completed application form with the nonrefundable application fee of $40
a final high school and/or postsecondary transcript indicating a minimum GPA of 2.0

For nondegree undergraduate applicants to summer programs and courses, students may choose to self-report their grade point average from their home institution. An official transcript must be submitted before credit will be awarded. If the self-reported grade point average is false and the student is not qualified for acceptance, the student will forfeit their deposit and will be withdrawn from the university. If the discrepancy is not identified until after the coursework is completed, college credit will not be awarded and no refund will be given.

An F-1 visa student who is not concurrently enrolled at another U.S. college or university is not eligible to apply as a nondegree student.

Nondegree Enrollment

An undergraduate nondegree student can apply no more than 15 credit hours earned under nondegree status to a degree. Nondegree students are not eligible for financial aid, may not live on campus, and may be unable to enroll in courses in some highly selective undergraduate programs.

During the academic semester, all nondegree students, including visiting nondegree students from institutions outside the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, receive academic advising from the associate deans for the schools of Arts and Sciences, Education and Human Services, and Malek Health Professions, and the assistant dean for the School of Business Administration. During the summer semester, nondegree students will receive academic advising from the Faculty Coordinator of Summer.

Off-site Special Program Applicants

Students enrolled in off-site programs through Marymount's Educational Partnerships program are required to submit official transcripts and, depending upon their academic objective, follow admission requirements consistent with degree- or certificate-seeking students.

Students who complete certificate programs and wish to be admitted as degree-seeking students must apply for admission to the degree program. Completion of a certificate offering does not guarantee admission to a degree program.

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Student Applicants

Students who already have a bachelor’s degree and wish to complete further study may apply to a post-baccalaureate certificate program. Applicants seeking a post-baccalaureate certificate must submit the following items to be considered for acceptance:

a completed application form with the nonrefundable application fee of $40
official transcript(s) showing at least a bachelor’s degree

Applicants should also read the school section offering the desired certificate program to learn of possible additional admission requirements.

F-1 visa students are not eligible to enroll in post-baccalaureate programs.

Unless otherwise noted, post-baccalaureate students follow the same academic policies as undergraduate students.

Courses needed to complete post-baccalaureate certificate requirements do not fulfill any graduate program course requirements.

Medical Requirements

A confidential medical examination record that includes a complete record of immunizations is required for all undergraduate students. This record must be completed before the student may register for classes. The form is available from the Admissions Office or the Student Health Center.

Some students are also required to have accident and/or health insurance. For details, please see Insurance.

Notification

Marymount University has a rolling admissions policy, unless otherwise noted in this catalog or on the Admissions website at www.marymount.edu/Admissions. The university notifies applicants as to whether they have met the criteria for admission after the application procedure is completed and the Admissions Committee has acted on the application.

All acceptances to Marymount University are tentative until the applicant’s final high school or college grades are received and conditions of the acceptance, if any, are met.

Provisional admissions may be offered for which students must meet the provisions outlined in the official admission letter in order to continue in the program.

Deferral of Enrollment

For certain programs, offers of admission may be deferred up to two times, not to exceed one year. A request for a deferral of enrollment must be in writing. Updated transcripts must be provided prior to enrollment.

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