Admission Requirements

If all admissions materials are received by December 1 of the student's senior year, then the Admissions Committee will evaluate the application and inform the student of an early action, non-binding admissions decision no later than Christmas Day.

The Admissions Committee utilizes the following criteria in making admission decisions:

1. Academic record (includes strength of applicant’s high school curriculum and academic achievement over the four years of high school)
2. Test scores from the SAT (Math and Reading) and/or the ACT
3. Recommendation letter or recommendation form from a teacher or counselor
4. Extracurricular activities (quality, leadership and distinctive participation)
5. Personal statement or essay (optional)

EARLY ACTION FRESHMAN ADMISSION
Students who have identified Mount St. Mary’s as one of their top choices may choose to apply for admission under the Early Action Program. These students must submit all the application materials, including the high school transcript and SAT results through the junior year, by December 1. The Admissions Committee will evaluate the application and inform the student of its decision no later than December 25.

Note that this early notification plan is nonbinding and, for those offered admission, does not require a response before the standard candidates’ reply date of May 1. Since we are typically reviewing Early Action candidates without the grades or SAT results of the senior year, this program is recommended for candidates with stronger academic credentials. Those not offered admission in this early period will receive full consideration later in the regular admission notification period.

REGULAR FRESHMAN ADMISSION
Students seeking regular freshman admission should submit their completed application to the university as early as possible in the senior year, but no later than March 1. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. Completed applications received after March 1 will be considered on a space-available basis. Students who possess strong academic credentials, and who may be considered for academic scholarships and the Freshman Honors Program, will be notified early of their admission decisions. This will facilitate their timely consideration for merit-based academic scholarships.

EARLY ADMISSION PROGRAM
Mount St. Mary’s operates a program of early admission for superior high school students in the local area. High school students who apply and are admitted enter as special students. The objective of the program is to allow superior high school students to take a course or two while they are completing their senior years in high school. The maximum number of credits that the high school student may take in this program is six, but usually a student will take only three credits in addition to his or her usual high school schedule.

In addition to an application for admission as a special student, the high school student must submit a letter of endorsement from his or her high school principal. No high school students will be admitted into the program without letters of endorsement from their principals.