ADMISSION TO NEW COLLEGE

| Admission Deadlines | Admission Factors | Admissions Counselor Assignment |
| Appeals by Denied Applicants | Application Parts | Applying Online or by Mail|
| Disability Accommodation | Early Admission | Immunization Requirements |
| International Documents and Testing | Mission | 
| Pre-enrollment for Tuition Deposits | Residency for Tuition Purposes |
| Retaining an Offer of Admission | SUS Admission Requirements | Transfer Credit Policy |
| Additional Information Regarding Admission Criteria and Procedures |

MISSION

In keeping with our mission to provide an undergraduate liberal arts education of the highest quality in the context of a small, residential public honors college, enrollment at New College is limited by space available.  We practice selective admission, seeking those students who are able and eager to take responsibility for their own educations, and who will benefit from the College’s demanding academic program and flexible curriculum. In addition to meeting the basic qualifications for admission into the State University System of Florida, successful applicants should demonstrate evidence of the following:

• intellectual potential
• strong academic preparation
• self-motivation
• initiative
• tenacity
• curiosity
• concern for others
• above average ability, academic motivation, and self-discipline

New College encourages applications from all qualified applicants, and does not discriminate in admission decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, age, disability, gender, marital status, national origin, or veteran status.

ADMISSION FACTORS

To fulfill enrollment goals as set forth by the President and the Board of Trustees, and in keeping with the resources and philosophy of the College, the New College Admissions Committee (AC) limits the number of students who will be selected.  Satisfaction of minimum State University System admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance; preference for admission is given to applicants who demonstrate great academic promise. 

The AC selects students on the basis of a broad range of factors, including the following:

·         pattern of courses completed

·         grades

·         writing

·         standardized exam scores

·         class rank

·         educational objectives

·         past conduct

·         letter(s) of recommendation

·         family education background

·         socioeconomic status

·         family obligation

·         extracurricular involvement

The Committee considers each application as objectively as possible, to determine whether applicants demonstrate the academic ability, creativity, and/or talent for success in the College’s academic program, as well as the potential for positive contribution to the College community.

The Admissions Committee may consider an applicant’s demonstrated interest in attending New College and allocation of limited guaranteed scholarship resources as criteria for admission to New College.

Part-Time Students

The Office of Admissions does not accept applications from students who seek part-time study.  All New College students enroll as full-time degree-seeking students.

Students Who Have Earned a Bachelor’s Degree or Other Postsecondary Degree

The Office of Admissions does not accept applications from students who would already hold the bachelor’s degree, another four-year degree, or the master’s or other advanced degree by the time of enrollment.

ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR ASSIGNMENT

Each student is assigned to an admissions counselor, and is strongly encouraged to stay in touch with that person for additional information on the College, and for advice on how to present the strongest application possible.  For admissions counselor contact information, go to www.ncf.edu/admissions, or contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@ncf.edu or 941-487-5000.

ADMISSION DEADLINES AND NOTIFICATION DATES

Fall 2008:  Applicants for the Fall 2008 class are strongly encouraged to complete the admission application file well before December 1, 2007.  The College will release admission decisions according to the deadlines for completing the entire admission application file: 

To complete an application file for admission review, all of the materials expected for the application file must be postmarked or transmitted by the deadline and received by New College Admissions no later than 10 days after the deadline. 

*The College reserves the right to close the class earlier than the date(s) specified if enrollment goals have already been met. 

Spring 2008:  Decisions for the Spring 2008 class are scheduled for release on a rolling basis beginning in October of 2007.  Applicants for the Spring 2008 class should make sure all materials expected for the admission application file are received by New College Admissions no later than December 31.  However, the College reserves the right to close the class earlier than the date specified if spring enrollment goals are met before that date, and reserves the right to cancel the spring class admission cycle if the College has already met its enrollment goals for the year.  Should the admission cycle be cancelled, spring class applicants can request to have the application updated for consideration for the Fall 2008 class.

APPLYING ONLINE OR BY MAIL

The Office of Admissions prefers that students apply online, using the Common Application available at www.commonapp.org.  Students may also download the application from the College’s website at www.ncf.edu/admissions or request a hard copy application by e-mail (admissions@ncf.edu), phone (941-487-5000), or mail (5800 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota FL 34243-2109). 

APPLICATION PARTS

• Application for Admission with essay and $30 application fee:  Any student for whom the application fee presents a financial hardship is invited to submit a NACAC application fee waiver request (approved and signed by the school counselor) or a College Board application fee waiver request.
• Transcript(s):  Transcripts must be sent directly to New College Admissions by each school for all work attempted in secondary or postsecondary school, whether or not credit was earned. Failure to provide this information may result in denial or revocation of an offer of admission.  Students who seek to enroll without graduation from a regionally accredited secondary school program may be requested to provide curriculum information in addition to their transcripts.  Students who completed high school by GED must file an official transcript of GED test scores and an official high school transcript of all work attempted.  Transfer applicants earning the AA degree from a Florida public community college may request to have the high school transcript requirement waived unless the transcript documents the foreign language entry requirement. 
• Standardized Test Results (SAT or ACT):  Either exam is acceptable.  Official SAT results should be sent to institution #5506. Official ACT results should be sent to institution #0750. Any student for whom a test registration fee presents a financial hardship may wish to review SAT fee waiver information or ACT fee waiver information.  Transfer applicants earning the AA degree from a Florida public community college should request to have the exam requirement waived.
• Recommendation:  The recommendation should be sent directly to the Office of Admissions by the academic instructor, guidance counselor, or academic or PTK advisor.  Substitutions should be approved by a member of the Admissions Committee.
• Interview:  An interview with a member of the Admissions Committee is required only for early admission candidates. 

INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTS AND TESTING

Applicants should take account of possible international mail delays to ensure that their materials arrive in time for deadlines.  In addition to the items listed above, applicants from school systems abroad and all international applicants (students who are not US citizens or Permanent Resident Aliens of the United States) should review the list of documents below for any additional requirements to complete the admission application file for review.

• Translation:  Documentation of secondary-level and any college- or university-level studies presented in any language other than English must be accompanied by a professional, certified English translation.
• Evaluation:  Documentation of secondary-level and any college- or university-level studies that do not have US accreditation must be evaluated (course-by-course with grades) by a NACES-member service such as www.jsilny.com or www.wes.org.  Translations and evaluations supplement, but do not replace, the original documents.
• TOEFL Score:  Any international student who is a non-native speaker of English should arrange to submit an official score report from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).  The TOEFL score must be no more than two years old and sent to institution #5506.  The minimum TOEFL score required for admission to New College is 560 (paper test), 220 (computerized test), or 83 (Internet-based test).  If the TOEFL is not available, the College will accept a minimum score of 6.5 on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam as a substitute.  Scores must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions by the testing service.  For more information see homepages www.toefl.org and www.IELTS.org. 
• Any Additional Examination Results:  Results from any external secondary school exams, such as A-Levels, CXCs, etc., must be sent to the Office of Admissions by the exam council toward completion of the application file for admission review.  These exam results may also be required by the NACES-member service that evaluates international school documents. 
• New College of Florida Financial Statement for International Students:  The Office of Admissions will send this form to admitted international students no earlier than six months prior to the term of entry.  International students are required to prove their ability to cover all educational and living costs (after any assigned scholarship funding).  Most international students are not eligible for need-based financial aid, and some categories of scholarship funding are not available to international students.     
• New College of Florida Visa Clearance for International Students:  This form is required of international students who currently hold a U.S. visa.  The form is available for downloading at www.ncf.edu/admissions, or can be requested as a hard copy.

MINIMUM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR FLORIDA’S PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

Satisfaction of minimum State University System requirements does not guarantee acceptance.  The Florida State University System admission requirements (and updates to these) are listed in the Florida Counseling for Future Education Handbook.  Go to www.facts.org, click on “Advising Manuals” and then on “Florida Counseling for Future Education Handbook.”

High School Courses:  To be eligible to enroll, freshmen and lower-level transfers will need to have graduated from an accredited high school or the equivalent, e.g., GED plus 2 years of formal study of the same foreign language. 

The high school record should include the following 18 units of college preparatory course work:

4 years of English

3 years of mathematics (algebra or higher)

3 years of science (including 2 years of lab science)

3 years of social science

2 years of the same foreign language

3 years of additional academic electives

Minimum Performance Standards:  To be eligible to enroll, freshmen and lower-level transfers must meet the requirements of one of these three SUS admission profiles:

• Earning a 3.0 weighted high school GPA (as calculated by New College of Florida) in academic core courses.  (SAT or ACT score required, but the state does not require a minimum score with this GPA.)
   
• Meeting these sliding scale requirements for high school GPA and exam scores:
   

• Graduating in the top 20% of a Florida public high school class (Talented Twenty) with the appropriate 18 units and an SAT or ACT score (no minimum score required by the state).

Transfer Applicants

To be eligible to enroll, all transfer students must have a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.0, and be eligible to return (in good academic standing) to the most recent school. 

Upper-Level Transfer Applicants

Upper-level transfers are students who will have earned the AA from a Florida public community college by the time of enrollment at New College (with the exception of dual enrollment students, as noted below).  They are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores, and will only be required to submit the high school transcript if it documents the foreign language entry requirement. 

Although completion of a Florida public community college AA degree guarantees admission to at least one member institution of Florida’s State University System, it does not guarantee admission to all programs or all member institutions.  New College and some limited access SUS degree programs, due to design and/or limited size, have admission requirements that are more selective than those of the general State University System.

Dual Enrollment Students

High school students who are enrolled in college courses should apply as freshman (first-time-in-college) admission candidates, unless they plan to earn 12 or more semester hours of college credit during the summer after high school graduation.  This holds true even for students earning the associate’s degree concurrently with graduating high school.  Note:  this will not adversely affect transfer credit.

Applicants Who Do Not Meet the Minimum Requirements

The Admissions Committee will consider for admission an applicant who does not fully meet minimum admission requirements, but who has special attributes, special talents, or unique circumstances that may contribute to a representative and diverse student body. These factors may include socioeconomic status, family education background, and family obligations.  The Admissions Committee may admit the student if it determines that the applicant can reasonably be expected to do satisfactory work at New College of Florida.

Conduct

The College may refuse admission to a student whose record shows previous conduct not in the best interest of the College community.

EARLY ADMISSION

New College of Florida provides an early admission program for mature high school students to enter the College prior to graduation from high school.  Applicants for early admission are evaluated on an individual basis and must demonstrate strong capability for academic work based on the high school record, writing sample, college entrance exam scores, recommendation(s), and required interview.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION

In the case of applicants with disabilities, the College will grant reasonable substitution or modification of any admission requirement pursuant to Board of Governors Regulation 6C-6.018, Florida Administrative Code, where the Admissions Committee determines, based on evidence submitted by the applicant and through consultation with the College’s Disabilities Services Coordinator, that the failure of the applicant to meet the requirement is due to his or her disability, and does not constitute a fundamental alteration of the College’s academic program.

New College will consider this information within the following guidelines:  (1) documentation regarding the disability will need to be provided on a voluntary basis, (2) all information will be kept confidential, (3) refusal to provide information will not subject the applicant to adverse treatment, and (4) information will only be used in conjunction with the College’s voluntary efforts to overcome the effects of conditions that may have resulted in limited participation of persons with disabilities.

APPEALS BY DENIED APPLICANTS

Denied applicants may appeal the decision with a written petition addressed to the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid.  A denied applicant’s appeal must be received no later than May 25 for Fall 2008 admission, or January 2 for Spring 2008 admission.   

The President of New College will review the petition of any denied applicant appealing the Committee’s decision regarding substitution or modification of an admission requirement on the basis of a disability.  The President’s decision on appeal shall constitute the College’s final decision.

The Academic Council will review the petitions of all other denied applicants.  The request must indicate extenuating circumstances and/or appropriate alternative evidence of academic ability and achievement, motivation, and responsibility, indicating potential for success at New College. Petitions that are denied by the Academic Council may be further appealed to the Provost.

RESIDENCY FOR TUITION PURPOSES

The Office of Admissions determines the residency classification for tuition purposes for each student, prior to enrollment.

PRE-ENROLLMENT TUITION DEPOSIT

To accept the offer of admission, New College requires a $200 tuition deposit by the deadline given in the letter of acceptance, unless an extension is approved by the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid.

RETAINING AN OFFER OF ADMISSION

Final official transcripts are required of all incoming students.  To retain an offer of admission, the student should successfully complete all courses in progress, as well as courses planned for completion prior to entry to New College.  Failure to do so may result in a withdrawal of the offer of admission.  If an admitted student’s GPA falls below the minimum expected, the offer of admission will be withdrawn.

IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ENROLLMENT

Each student is required to provide documentation of immunity to measles and of immunization against rubella prior to new student registration.  The documentation should be submitted as soon as possible to avoid denial or cancellation of registration (Rule 6C-6.001(8), FAC).

Incoming students (or their parents if the students are minors) will receive information concerning meningococcal meningitis and hepatitis B from the College.  If they plan on residing in campus housing, they will be required to show documentation of vaccinations against these two diseases or, if they decline the vaccinations, will be required to sign a waiver acknowledging receipt and review of the information provided (1006.69, F.S.).

TRANSFER CREDIT POLICY

The College’s transfer credit policy is published on the Registrar’s website at www.ncf.edu/Registrar/TransferCredit/Transfer_Credit.htm.  To discuss transfer admission and transfer credit, contact the Transfer Coordinator by e-mail (admissions@ncf.edu), phone (941-487-5000), or mail (5800 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota FL 34243-2109). 

Placement

Faculty decide all course placement.  Once enrolled, the student should meet regularly with the faculty contract sponsor (advisor) to negotiate the types of courses, tutorials, and projects to be pursued, in preparation for filing the Area of Concentration form in the fifth semester.  Students seeking to finish their graduation requirements by the end of the seventh semester contract may choose to file the Thesis Prospectus in the fifth semester, to provide time for two full semesters of thesis work.  Faculty normally conduct the baccalaureate exam in the final semester.

Evaluation of Transfer Credit toward the Bachelor’s Degree

After a student has been offered admission to New College, the Office of Admissions may request an unofficial preliminary transfer credit evaluation from the Office of the Registrar.  After the student submits the formal intent of enrollment, the Office of Admissions forwards the student’s file to the Office of the Registrar for a formal evaluation of transfer credit.  In order to award transfer credit, New College of Florida needs a final official transcript from each previous institution.  Grade reports and unofficial transcripts are not acceptable.  All previous institutions should send final official transcripts directly to the New College of Florida Office of Admissions. Once these are forwarded to the Office of the Registrar, and the transfer credit evaluation has been completed, the Registrar will provide the student with a complete and final transfer credit evaluation, including an indication of the minimum number of contracts and Independent Study Projects still to be completed toward the graduation requirements.

As with all other institutions, there may be differences between the acceptance of credit for admission purposes and the applicability of credit for degree purposes.  Exemptions from contracts, an ISP, or Liberal Arts Curriculum requirements do not guarantee exemptions from Area of Concentration requirements or other degree requirements.

The maximum transfer credit granted at New College of Florida, regardless of the number of credits earned at another institution, is three semester contracts and one Independent Study Project. Please note, however, that even should maximum credit be awarded, more than four semesters of study may be needed to complete the requirements of an Area of Concentration and senior thesis.

Transfer Guarantee Appeal

Should any transfer guarantee be denied, the student has the right to appeal through the Registrar and then the Provost [see Rule 6A-10.024(4), FAC; Rule 6C-6.002, FAC; and 6C-6.001(11)(e), FAC].

A denied applicant’s appeal must be received no later than May 25 for Fall 2008 admission, or January 2 for Spring 2008 admission. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING ADMISSION CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES

Further details are available at www.ncf.edu/Admissions.