The standards for admission to Worcester
State College emphasize a strong academic background. These
standards represent minimum requirements; meeting them does
not guarantee admission, since a wide range of factors are
considered. The first step is figuring out what type of
applicant you are. You can choose from the following list:
You are in your senior year of high school
and applying as a traditional applicant. Your high school
academic record is the single most important factor in our
evaluation process for freshman admission. The quality and
level of courses, grade point average, and grade trends are
all important factors. SAT I (including the essay portion)
and/or ACT scores also are required, as well as a personal
essay. Your work experience, teacher recommendations and
extracurricular activities may strengthen your overall
credentials for admission. SAT II test scores are not required
but may add support to your application. The TOEFL or ELPT is
recommended for students who are non-native speakers of
English. Specific requirements for some majors such as
education, nursing and occupational therapy are described
below.
As a Massachusetts public state college, the
College determines freshman admission eligibility in
accordance with the published standards established by the
Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (MBHE). Meeting these
minimum standards does not guarantee admission to the college.
MBHE Massachusetts High School Unit
Requirements (College Preparatory)
Sixteen college
preparatory courses (each course is equivalent to a year-long
high school class) are required as a minimum. These
include:
| Department |
Courses |
| English |
4 courses |
| Mathematics |
3 courses (Algebra I &
II and Geometry or Trigonometry, or comparable course
work) |
| Sciences |
3 courses (including 2
courses with laboratory work) |
| Social Sciences |
2 courses (including U.S.
history) |
| Foreign Languages |
2 courses (in a single
language) |
| Electives |
2 courses
|
Minimum Grade Point Average in
Required Courses
The grades you earn in college
preparatory courses will be averaged into a grade point
average (GPA). In calculating your GPA, you will receive extra
credit for accelerated courses (for example, honors or
Advanced Placement courses.)
Your grades will be converted to
a 4.0 scale, where "A" = 4.0, "B" = 3.0, "C" = 2.0, and "D" =
1.0. On this scale, a 3.0 GPA is roughly equal to a "B"
average. A 3.0 minimum GPA is required, unless the student
attains one of the GPA/SAT combinations listed on the chart
below.
SAT I or ACT Test
Requirement
For students with a GPA of 3.0 or
above, the college reserves the right to establish additional
criteria, such as a minimum SAT I or ACT score and/or minimum
class standing.
For those students with a GPA
below 3.0, a clear-cut minimum SAT I /ACT score will be
applied as a minimum standard, in accordance with the chart
below. Students who meet the minimum GPA requirement of 3.0
should not use this chart.
|
GPA |
SAT
I |
ACT |
|
2.51-2.99 |
920 |
19 |
|
2.41-2.50 |
960 |
20 |
|
2.31-2.40 |
1000 |
21 |
|
2.21-2.30 |
1040 |
22 |
|
2.11-2.20 |
1080 |
23 |
|
2.00-2.10 |
1120 |
24 |
Students who have graduated from
high school three years ago or more should apply as a
non-traditional student (see section below) and may present
SAT I/ACT scores at their option.
GED Recipients
Candidates for admission who have
completed the high school diploma requirement by earning the
General Equivalency Diploma (GED) must submit official GED
score reports with a minimum attainment in the 75th percentile
in all subject areas; an official copy of the high school
transcript showing work completed and/or attempted with grades
earned; and a personal statement of no fewer than 150 words
outlining academic and career goals as well as life experience
and/or a professional resume. GED applicants must also submit
official SAT I/ACT score reports if 21 years of age or
younger; students 22 years of age or older are not required to
submit SAT I/ACT scores.
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Transfer Applicant
You have already attended one or
more accredited* institutions of higher learning. In order to
transfer credits to Worcester State College you must attain a
C– or better in each course. Developmental or remedial courses
are not transferable. Transfer applicants must meet one of the
following requirements:
• 12-23 transferable college
credits and a minimum 2.5 college GPA;
• Up to 23 transferable college
credits, a minimum 2.0 college GPA, and a combination of high
school grades and SAT/ACT scores that meet admission standards
for freshman applicants (see above); or
• 24 or more transferable college
credits and a minimum 2.0 college GPA.
If you have earned college
credits while enrolled in high school, you must meet the
admissions standards outlined above for freshmen
applicants.
*Worcester State College accepts
transfer credit only from colleges or universities that are
accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies.
Worcester State College is accredited by the New England
Association of Schools and Colleges, INC.
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Joint Admission Applicant
You must have an Associate's
Degree from a participating community college that
participates in the Joint Admissions program at the time of
applying. You must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA to be guaranteed
admission through this program, however competitive majors
such as Criminal Justice, Nursing, Occupational Therapy and
Education majors are not a part of the Joint Admission
agreement for Worcester State College, and therefore do not
guarantee any type of Admission.
If you have completed
your Associates Degree more than one year ago or have attended
another college or university since completing your degree,
you are NOT eligible for Joint Admissions, and you will need
to submit to us a traditional application for admission.
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Non-Traditional Applicant
You are applying for admission
more than three years after high school graduation. You do not
need to meet the admissions standards for freshmen. Instead,
you must show that you are capable of succeeding in college,
based upon your high school and/or college transcript grades.
Standardized test scores and other factors may be used as part
of the admission process.
A personal statement outlining
your experience in life or work, your career goals, and your
specific reasons for applying to Worcester State College is
recommended, but not necessary.
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International Applicant
An International Applicant is anyone who is not a U.S. citizen, is not a U.S. Permanent Resident, and has or is requesting a non-immigrant visa or status. Priority review will be given to international applicants who submit the following documentation prior to November 1st for the Spring semester and April 1st for the Fall semester.
• Official high school/secondary school transcripts or national exam scores;
• Official college or university transcripts, accompanied by a course-by-course formal evaluation by a professional evaluating agency in the United States (for courses taken outside the U.S.).
• Results of the TOEFL; minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper exam), 213 (computer exam), or 79 (Internet-based exam) is required. TOEFL scores must be submitted directly from the Educational Testing Services (ETS).
• Results of the SAT; a critical reading subscore of 450 or higher can be used in lieu of the TOEFL; the math subscore is used by the Admissions Office to determine quantitative ability. SAT scores must be submitted directly from the College Board.
• Financial/bank statement from a financial institution or agency indicating that adequate funds are available to cover all educational expenses incurred while at Worcester State College for one academic year (a minimum of $24,000).
• Affidavit of Support, Form I-134 from the person or people sponsoring your education in the U.S.
• International students, who have attended another college or university in the United States, must forward a copy of their F-1 visa and current I-20 with their application.
Transcripts and other documents submitted in languages other than English must be accompanied by an English translation from a recognized agency or organization.
PLEASE NOTE: Worcester State College will not issue I-20
paperwork until the full tuition deposit is paid.
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Learning-Disabled Applicants
You have a documented learning
disability and you are applying as either a freshman or
transfer student.. You do not have to take tests such as the
SAT I or ACT for admission to Worcester State College.
However, you must submit documentation (i.e., IEP, etc.) of
your learning disability that is current within three years of
your application for admission.
If you are a freshman applicant
with a language-based learning disability you may substitute
two alternative college-preparatory electives for the foreign
language course requirement.
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English as a Second Language (ESL)
Student
You are an ESL student. You may
be eligible for exceptions to the admission requirements. For
example, you may substitute two electives for the two required
foreign language courses. You must take the Test of English as
a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the SAT II: English Language
Proficiency Test (ELPT), and should contact your guidance
counselor or the Admission Office for more information.
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Vocational-Technical High School
Student
You are applying as a senior at a
vocational-technical high school. You must earn the same
minimum GPA as other students and submit the SAT I or ACT
scores. Vocational-technical applicants must complete an
additional elective college-preparatory course, for a total of
three such courses, and satisfy one of the following
options:
• Complete at least one Carnegie*
unit of foreign language;
•Complete a fourth Carnegie unit
of mathematics or science, which need not be a laboratory
course; or
• Complete one Carnegie unit of
computer science.
* A Carnegie unit represents a
full academic year of study or its equivalent in a specific
subject.
This requirement will remain in
effect until the Massachusetts Department of Education (DOE)
implements its requirements regarding world language study for
vocational-technical students. At that time,
vocational-technical applicants will be required to met DOE
requirements for world language study for admission to
Worcester State College.
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