Undergraduate Admission to Hood

Admission to Hood College is offered on the basis of a student’s academic preparation, demonstrated commitment to personal and educational development and potential for intellectual growth as a college student. These qualities are assessed through evaluation of the student’s application for admission, previous academic record and standardized admission test scores.

Undergraduate Admission Options

Hood offers five different avenues for admission to its undergraduate programs:

First-year student admission —intended for students who are in secondary school, or who have graduated recently from high school and have never enrolled at another college;

Transfer admission —intended for students who have graduated from secondary school and have matriculated at another college or university;

International student admission —intended for students who are not citizens of the United States and have graduated from secondary school or are looking to transfer from another college or university;

Hood Start —a program for exceptional high school juniors and seniors that allows them to take college courses for credit while in high school.

Campus Visits

Campus visits are encouraged for all prospective students. The undergraduate Admission Office schedules appointments for interviews and campus tours, and also hosts numerous campus visit programs through the year.

Contact information for undergraduate admission at Hood is as follows:

www.hood.edu
Toll-free: (800) 922-1599
Telephone: (301) 696-3400
Fax: (301) 696-3819
E-mail: admissions@hood.edu, transfers@hood.edu, international@hood.edu 

Applying for Admission—First-year students

Admission to Hood College is competitive and is offered on the basis of a student’s academic preparation, demonstrated achievement and potential for intellectual and personal growth.

Hood College is a participating member of the Common Application and as such, requires the following items as part of its application process:

• A completed Hood College application for admission. The Hood application is available by contacting the Hood College Office of Admission, or an online version can be found at www.hood.edu/apply. Students may also choose to submit the Common Application, www.commonapp.org 
• A $35 application fee (the fee will be waived for students submitting Hood’s online application). Applicants who are not able to pay the fee due to financial circumstances may request a fee waiver by having their high school guidance counselor submit an official Fee Waiver request on their behalf.
• The Secondary School Report form, completed by the student’s guidance counselor.
• Official high school transcript, sent directly from the school to the Office of Admission.
• Official results of the SAT or ACT examination. If the test scores appear on the high school transcript, the student will not need to submit additional score reports.
• If completing the Common Application, an essay is required. Topics are listed on the application form.

In some cases, the Admission Office may request additional supporting information in order to reach a final admission decision. This may include:

• Teacher recommendations, completed by a teacher who has taught the student in an academic subject within the past two years.
• A graded student paper.
• An on-campus or telephone admission interview.
• Additional 7th semester (mid-year) grades from the student’s senior year of school.

Personal interviews and campus visits are highly recommended for all students. An interview with a member of the admission staff, and any optional materials the applicant chooses to include, can help the admission staff learn more about an applicant’s potential for a successful educational experience at Hood.

In the admission process, the greatest weight will be given to the applicant’s secondary school record, including the curriculum completed and grades earned. Strong consideration is also given to the scores on standardized tests such as the SAT or ACT. There are no arbitrary Grade Point Average or test score requirements; each student’s record is assessed in light of his or her past accomplishments and potential for future success.

All applicants for first-year student admission are expected to have completed a full college preparatory curriculum, including the following:

• 4 credits of English
• 3 credits of mathematics (including at least Algebra I and II and geometry)
• 3 credits of laboratory or natural science
• 3 credits of social science
• 2 credits of the same foreign language
• one academic elective

For information regarding International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, credit by examination and transfer credit policies, please see Undergraduate Academic Policies.

Applying for Admission—Home-schooled Students

Hood College recognizes that a growing number of students and families may choose a home-schooling alternative in place of a traditional secondary school experience. In order to accurately assess a home-schooled applicant’s likelihood of success at Hood, we will require several forms of documentation in addition to the usual application materials.

Applicants for admission to Hood College who have completed some or all of their secondary education in a home-schooling environment will be required to submit the following:

• A transcript of all high school-level work, evaluated, signed and approved by the certifying home school agency.
• Two letters of recommendation (with at least one from outside the home)
• An admission interview (either in person or by phone)
• Official transcript of any college work completed or in progress.

If the student does not have a high school diploma or has not completed high school, we will require the results of an official GED examination. The Departments of Education in several states (notably, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and the District of Columbia) do not recognize a home schooling certificate as an equivalent to a high school diploma. The College must be able to certify that all degree-seeking students hold a high school diploma or its equivalent, or have proven the ability to benefit from a college education.

Transfer With Ease

Hood welcomes transfer students at every stage in their academic and professional lives. Our transfer agreements with other colleges help ease the admission process and guide students in their efforts to take appropriate courses prior to transferring to Hood. Students transferring to Hood from a community college are encouraged to enroll in classes that meet requirements for an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree.

Community college students are urged to consult their transfer counselor concerning transfer agreement and course equivalencies, or contact the Office of Admission.

The registrar evaluates prior college coursework and credit earned through alternative methods for applicability to degree requirements at Hood College. Credit is generally awarded for courses that are clearly applicable to a baccalaureate degree and for which the student earned a grade of C- or above. A maximum of 70 credits may be awarded for freshman and sophomore level work completed elsewhere. Although there is no limit for junior and senior level coursework, students will be awarded no more than a total of 94 credits for all college-level work completed.

For detailed information on transfer credit policies, see Undergraduate Academic Policies, Transfer Policy. 

Applying for Admission—Transfer Students

Students who have completed more than 12 hours of college credit at the time of application will be evaluated primarily on the basis of their prior college record and should submit the following materials for consideration:

• A completed Hood College transfer application and essay for admission. The Hood application is available in paper or electronic versions. The electronic version can be found at www.hood.edu/admission
• A $35 application fee (the fee will be waived for students submitting Hood’s electronic application).
• Official college transcript(s), sent directly from the college or university registrar to the Office of Admission.
• Only required if a student has been placed on probation, suspended, had disciplinary action or been dismissed from a college or university, the College/University Report for Transfer Students, completed by the academic adviser, registrar or dean of students at the student’s most recently-attended institution.

If a student has completed less than 24 transferable credits at the time of application, the following will also be required:

• An official high school transcript, sent directly from the school to the Office of the Admission
• Official results of the SAT or ACT examination scores. If the test scores appear on the high school transcript, the student will not need to submit additional score reports.

Students who have completed 12 hours or less of college credits at the time of application will be evaluated primarily on the basis of their high school record and standardized admission test scores. Such students should submit all materials as listed under “Applying for Admission— First-year students,” and must also submit their official college transcript(s).

Applying for Admission—International Students

International students, whether in the United States or abroad, may apply for admission as a first-year student or transfer student. International applicants are encouraged to submit their applications online. The admission decision will be made within one month from the time Hood receives all application materials. For the fall semseter (which begins in August) all first year and transfer applications must be received by March 15. For transfer students transferring from a U.S. institution, the deadline is June 15.

Applicants should note that all documents submitted as part of the admission process become the property of Hood College and will not be returned.

International first-year student applicants must have completed their secondary education or plan to complete it by the semester prior to enrollment. Applications that include all of the materials listed below will be reviewed for admission:

• A completed Hood College Application or Common Application (www.commonapp.com) for admission. Please remember to include an e-mail address with your application to help make future communication easier. The Hood application is available in paper or electronic versions. The electronic version can be found at www.hood.edu/admission
• A $35 application fee (the fee will be waived for students submitting Hood’s electronic application).
• Recommendations from a guidance director, guidance counselor, principal or headmaster.
• Official Secondary School (High School) Transcript. Effective immediately, international transcripts will only be accepted for consideration at Hood College if they have been translated and evaluated by a professional organization. We require a course- by-course evaluation. Please visit National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or Hood’s website for a list of acceptable credit evaluation agencies.

If you attended another college or university you will also need to have this transcript translated and evaluated by an approved agency.

• Official TOEFL Profile, SAT Profile or ACT Profile TOEFL minimum score of 79-80 Internet based/550 paper based/213 computer based, SAT minimum score 1050 composite (critical reading and math sections) or ACT minimum of 22 composite. An IELTS minimum score of 6.5 is required. TOEFL or IELTS preferred test for students from non- English speaking nations. Students with scores below these numbers may also apply.
• Financial Information:
  • If applying for an F-1 visa, you must complete the Hood College Undergraduate International application and provide the requested financial information.
  • If applying as a student under an immigration status other than permanent resident, please contact the Admission Office for details about which materials you may be required to submit.
  • A student may choose to use the College Board International Student Financial Aid Application and International Student Certification of Finances form to explain their financial situation, as long as they also submit supporting documents such as bank statements.
   

Optional information that will facilitate the admission decision:

• While not required, an additional essay on a topic of your choice and recommendation(s) from academic instructor(s) about your performance and ability will facilitate the admission decision.

International Transfer applicants

Applications that include all of the materials listed below will be reviewed for admission:

• A completed Hood College Transfer Application and the International Transfer application supplement. Please remember to include an e-mail address with your application to help make future communication easier. The Hood application is available in paper or electronic versions. The electronic version can be found at www.hood.edu/admission
• A $35 application fee (the fee will be waived for students submitting Hood’s electronic application).
• Official copies of all College/University Transcripts. If you attended a college or university outside of the United States you will need to have your transcripts translated and also evaluated. We ask that you have a course-by-course evaluation completed. Please visit National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or Hood’s website for a list of acceptable credit evaluation agencies.

The following documents are required if you have less than 24 transferable college credits:

• Official secondary school (high school) transcript along with secondary school report form. Effective immediately, international transcripts will only be accepted for consideration at Hood College if they have been translated and evaluated by a professional organization. We require a course-by-course evaluation. Please visit National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or Hood’s website for a list of acceptable credit evaluation agencies.
• Recommendations from a guidance director, guidance counselor, principal or headmaster.
• Official results of the SAT (minimum composite score of 1050) or ACT (minimum composite score of 22) examination if the student’s first language is English.
• Official TOEFL Profile, SAT Profile or ACT Profile. TOEFL minimum score of 79-80 Internet based/550 paper based/213 computer based, SAT minimum score 1050 composite (critical reading and math sections) or ACT minimum of 22 composite. TOEFL or IELTS preferred test for students from non-English speaking nations. Students with scores below these numbers may also apply. An IELTS minimum score of 6.5 is required.
• Financial Information:
  • If applying for an F-1 visa, you must complete the Hood College Undergraduate Inter- national application and provide the requested financial information.
  • If applying as a student under an immigration status other than permanent resident, please contact the Admission Office for details about which materials you may be required to submit.
  • A student may choose to use the College Board International Student Financial Aid Application and International Student Certification of Finances form to explain their financial situation, as long as they also submit supporting documents such as bank statements.
   

Optional information that will facilitate the admission decision:

• While not required, an additional essay on a topic of your choice and recommendation(s) from academic instructor(s) about your performance and ability will facilitate the admission decision.

Hood Start

The Hood Start program allows exceptional high school juniors and seniors to get a head start on the college academic experience, earning college credits while in high school. The program is designed to help students become familiar with academic work at the college level and to interact with College faculty. Depending on their high school schedule, Hood Start students typically take 1-3 classes per semester. A maximum of 18 credits may be earned through the Hood Start program. Hood Start students may not exceed 11 credits in any given semester.

Students may enroll in the fall, spring or summer semesters, and have the opportunity to dis- cuss academic goals and post-secondary options with a Hood College academic adviser. Most classes at the 100- and 200-level are open to Hood Start students; they may enroll in 300-level courses when the prerequisites have been met or with permission of the instructor. Hood Start students pay reduced tuition at $135 per credit and are responsible for additional fees (lab, music practice rooms, parking permit), required course material and books.

• Be a high school junior or senior.
• Have a cumulative unweighted grade point average of 3.50 or greater in a college prepara- tory, honors, Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate curriculum.
• Have a minimum composite SAT score of 1150 (critical reading and math sections), a com- parable PSAT score, a composite ACT score of 25, or comparable PLAN score.

• Complete a Hood Start application form and essay.
• Submit a transcript of high school work.
• Submit official SAT, PSAT and/or ACT score reports.
• Submit School Report/Counselor Evaluation.
• Submit Teaching Recommendation from an academic teacher who has taught you during the past two years.
• Have a personal interview with either the Hood Start coordinator or with the Hood Start liaison in the Office of Admission.

Hood Start students are guaranteed admission into Hood College upon successful completion of Hood Start classes and high school degree requirements. Students interested in the Hood Start program must apply through the Admission Office; for information contact (301) 696- 3400, admission@hood.edu or www.hood.edu

Application Deadlines and Reply Dates

Deadlines for completed applications and dates when applicants will learn whether or not they have been accepted to Hood are as follows:

First-year students:  

Transfer Students:  

International Students:  

For first-year students and transfer students, applications for admission will be considered after the regular deadline on a space-available basis. Due to Department of Homeland Security regulations and the time required for the visa application process, we cannot accept applications for admission from International students after the posted deadline.

Enrollment Deposit

To confirm enrollment at Hood, all new undergraduate students are required to pay a one- time enrollment deposit. The enrollment deposit is $250; $550 for residential students. The entire deposit is applied to tuition and fees.

The deadline for payment of the enrollment deposit for Early Decision applicants is December 15. The deadline for all other application types is May 1 for fall semester entrants and January 15 for spring semester entry. The enrollment deposit is not refundable after these dates.

Deferred Admission

Students are admitted for the term for which they originally applied, unless they notify the Admission Office that they are unable to enroll for that term due to unusual or personal circumstances. Admitted students are permitted to defer their enrollment for 12 months, provided they do not alter their original admission status by completing additional coursework at another institution in the interim. Students who are deferring their admission must pay the enrollment deposit to hold their space in the class.

If an admitted student defers enrollment, and then attends another institution (whether coursework is completed or not), that student will need to be re-evaluated for both admission and for merit scholarships.

Equal Access for Students with Disabilities

Hood College actively supports the rights of students with disabilities to have equal access to education. In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Ameri- cans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Hood makes every reasonable effort to accommodate the needs of students with disabilities.

In order to receive appropriate advice and accommodations, students who have a disability must notify The Josephine Steiner Center for Academic Achievement and Retention as soon as possible. Early notification prevents delay in initiation of services and ensures the student full access to educational activities. The disability services coordinator and/or the medical staff, in consultation with the student, prepares a plan for services and forwards authorization for specified services (such as note-taking, interpreting, special housing) to the appropriate offices on campus.