Southwestern Adventist University

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SWAU requires first-time Freshmen to have graduated from high school or have a GED or state issued equivalency diploma and acceptable ACT or SAT scores. Students attending a college or university for the first time are classified as first-time, first-year freshmen. This includes students with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school) and students enrolling in the fall who attended college for the first time in the prior summer.

Admission Procedures for First-time Freshmen:

1. Complete and return an application to the Admissions Office.
2. Submit an official high school transcript, showing graduation date, to SWAU's Admissions Office. If the applicant has enrolled at any college, an official transcript of that academic record must also be submitted. Any applicant who has not graduated from high school must submit an official GED or state issued equivalency diploma, and an official transcript from the last high school attended. Home schooled applicants must submit an official GED or state issued high school equivalency certificate.
3. Submit an ACT or SAT score report. Applicants who have passed a college level English composition course and a college level math course are exempt from having to submit SAT or ACT scores. First-time freshmen must have a minimum combined SAT Critical Reading and Math score of 820 or a minimum ACT composite of 17 to enroll in any undergraduate program.  First-time freshmen who have an SAT Critical Reading and Math combined score between 740 and 810, or an ACT composite between 15 and 16, will be enrolled in the General Studies Program (see Special Program Policies in the Bulletin for details).  First time freshman applicants whose combined SAT Critical Reading and Math scores are below 740 or whose highest ACT composite is below 15 will not be accepted.  Southwestern's Counseling and Testing Center offers the SAT for applicants who have not taken either exam or who wish to take the SAT again.  SAT results from an on-campus exam cannot be transferred to other institutions.

Early acceptance is granted if acceptable test scores are submitted before a student graduates from high school but enrollment is conditional upon graduation and receipt of an offical final transcript.  The Admissions Office will notify applicants by letter regarding acceptance status after application and transcripts have been received. An applicant will be accepted in good standing as a regular student in a degree program when all requirements have been met. Acceptance allows the financial aid and pre-registration process to begin. 

First-time Freshmen must take a Math Aptitude Profile (MAP) before registering in order to determine specific math class options. English and Math scores on the SAT or ACT determine English and Math class options. See the English and Mathematics sections of the Bulletin for details. Contact us to request your copy of our Bulletin.

The difference between high school and college is like the difference between reading a chapter in the Bible or reading the whole book. It's huge. SWAU's freshmen orientation program or Cricket Camp will help you make the leap to college by teaching you the ins and outs of campus life the week before classes begin. By the time Cricket Camp wraps up on Sunday, you'll be a regular member of the SWAU family. Freshman orientation begins on Wednesday with a presentation for you and your parents. Spend the remainder of the weekend registering for classes, attending Sabbath School and Church, and decorating your dorm room. By the time Monday rolls around, you'll be ready to begin your college career.