C. FIRST-TIME, FIRST-YEAR (FRESHMAN) ADMISSION
Last Updated:
October 29, 2003
Last Revised: March 1, 2004
Mercer University has several distinct programs for undergraduate degree-seeking students: 1. Our "traditional" program is offered on our main campus in Macon, Georgia; it is a daytime program geared toward traditional age, first-time college students. 2. Mercer offers an evening and weekend continuing education program geared toward adults held at off-campus centers around the state of Georgia. 3. Our branch campus in Atlanta offers upper division undergraduate courses leading to a BBA in business. 4. Our Georgia Baptist College of Nursing offers undergraduate nursing degrees on the Atlanta Campus. Admission requirements and policies vary by program. The responses in this section are based on our dominate undergraduate program, the Macon campus traditional program.
Applications | Admission Requirements | Basis
for Selection
SAT & ACT Policies | Freshman
Profile | Admission Policies | Early Decision
and Early Action Plans
Applications
CDS C1. First-time, first-year (freshman) students in fall 2003. Degree-seeking,
first-time, first-year students who applied, were admitted, and enrolled (full-or
part-time) in fall 2003. Students who began their studies in the summer are
included. Applicants include only those students who fulfilled the requirements for
consideration for admission (i.e. who completed actionable applications) and who have been
notified of one of the following actions: admission, nonadmission, or application
withdrawn (by applicant or institution).
| Total men applied | 1,232 |
| Total women applied | 1,802 |
| Total Applied | 3,034 |
| Total men admitted | 1005 |
| Total women admitted | 1,398 |
| Total Admitted | 2,403 |
| Total full-time, first-time, first-year (freshman) men enrolled | 278 |
| Total part-time, first-time, first-year (freshman) men enrolled | 1 |
| Total full-time, first-time, first-year (freshman) women enrolled | 323 |
| Total part-time, first-time, first-year (freshman) women enrolled | 0 |
| Total first-time, first-year (freshman) enrolled | 602 |
CDS C2. Mercer does not maintain a wait list.
Admission Requirements
CDS C3. High school diploma is required and GED is accepted.
CDS C4. A general college-preparatory program for degree-seeking students is
required.
CDS C5. Distribution of high school units required - based on Carnegie units (one unit equals one year of study or its equivalent).
Units Required |
|
| Total academic units | 16 |
| English | 4 |
| Mathematics | 4 |
| Science | 3 |
| Of these, 2 units must be lab | |
| Foreign language | 2 |
| Social studies | 1 |
| History | 2 |
Basis for Selection
CDS C6. Mercer's Macon campus undergraduate program does not have an
open admissions policy.
CDS C7. Relative importance of each of the following academic and nonacademic factors
in first-time, first- year, degree-seeking (freshman) admission decisions. (Very
Important, Important, Considered or Not Considered)
| Academic | |
| Secondary school record | Very Important |
| Class rank | Not Considered |
| Recommendation(s) | Considered |
| Standardized test scores | Very Important |
| Essay | Not Considered |
| Nonacademic | |
| Interview | Considered |
| Extracurricular activities | Important |
| Talent/ability | Important |
| Character/personal qualities | Very Important |
| Alumni/ae relation | Considered |
| Geographical residence | Not Considered |
| State residency | Not Considered |
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Not Considered |
| Minority status | Not Considered |
| Volunteer work | Important |
| Work experience | Not Considered |
SAT and ACT Policies
CDS C8. Entrance exams
SAT I or ACT (no preference) scores are required, SAT II
is considered if submitted.
Test scores are used for placement as well as admissions. SAT I Math used for math
placement; SAT II Math, Chemistry and/or English Language used for placement.
Latest date by which SAT I or ACT scores must be received for fall term admission is July
1.
Freshman Profile
Includes all enrolled, degree-seeking, full-time and part-time, first-time,
first-year (freshman) students enrolled fall 2003 in the traditional Macon campus
program. Includes students who began studies during summer, international
students/nonresident aliens, and students admitted under special arrangements.
CDS C9. Percent and number of first-time, first-year (freshman) students enrolled in
fall 2003 who submitted national standardized (SAT/ACT) test scores.
| Percent submitting SAT scores | 96% | Number submitting SAT scores | 575 |
| Percent submitting ACT scores | 39% | Number submitting ACT scores | 235 |
| 25th percentile | 75th percentile | |
| SAT I Verbal | 540 | 630 |
| SAT I Math | 540 | 650 |
| ACT Composite | 22 | 28 |
| ACT English | 22 | 29 |
| ACT Math | 22 | 28 |
Percent of first-time, first-year (freshman) students with scores in
each range:
| SAT I Verbal | SAT I Math | |
| 700-800 | 8% | 11% |
| 600-699 | 34% | 39% |
| 500-599 | 47% | 39% |
| 400-499 | 10% | 11% |
| 300-399 | 1% | 0% |
| 200-299 | 0% | 0% |
|
|
100% | 100% |
| ACT Composite | ACT English | ACT Math | |
| 30-36 | 16% | 21% | 13% |
| 24-29 | 48% | 43% | 56% |
| 18-23 | 34% | 31% | 27% |
| 12-17 | 2% | 5% | 4% |
| 6-11 | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| below 6 | 0% | 0% | 0% |
|
|
100% | 100% | 100% |
| Average Test Scores | SAT I Verbal | SAT I Math | ACT Composite Score |
| 2003 enrolled freshmen | 585 | 594 | 25 |
CDS C10. Percent of all degree-seeking, first-time, first-year (freshman) students who had high school class rank within each of the following ranges:
| Percent in top tenth of high school graduating class | 40% |
| Percent in top quarter of high school graduating class | 72% |
| Percent in top half of high school graduating class | 94% |
| Percent in bottom half of high school graduating class | 6% |
| Percent in bottom quarter of high school graduating class | 1% |
Percent of total first-time, first-year (freshman) students who submitted high school class rank: 69%
CDS C11. Percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking first-time, first-year (freshman) students who had high school grade-point averages within each of the following ranges (using 4.0 scale).
| Percent who had GPA of 3.0 and higher | 92% |
| Percent who had GPA between 2.0 and 2.99 | 8% |
| Percent who had GPA between 1.0 and 1.99 | 0% |
| Percent who had GPA below 1.0 | 0% |
| 100% |
CDS C12. Average high school GPA of all degree-seeking first-time,
first-year (freshman) students who submitted GPA. 3.6
Percent of total first-time, first-year (freshman) students who submitted high school GPA:
99%
Admission Policies
CDS C13. Application Fee
Undergraduate application fee is $50. Fee can be waived for applicants with
financial need or relative of alumni.
CDS C14. Application closing date
Application closing date for fall: June 1.
Priority date is March 1.
CDS C15. First-time, first-year students are accepted for terms
other than the fall.
CDS C16. Notification to applicants of admission decision sent.
Mercer notifies regular decision applicants every three weeks, beginning in January.
CDS C17. Reply policy for admitted applicants.
Must reply by May 1.
CDS C18. Deferred admission:
Maximum postponement period is one year.
CDS C19. Early admission of high school students.
High school students are allowed to enroll as full-time, first-time, first-year
(freshman) students one year prior to high school graduation if deemed academically
eligible.
CDS C20. Common application.
Mercer accepts the Common Application distributed by the National Association of
Secondary School Principals.
Supplemental forms are required.
Mercer is a not a member of the Common Application Group.
Early Decision and Early Action Plans
CDS C21. Early Decision
Mercer offers an early decision plan for first-time, first-year
(freshmen) applicants for fall enrollment.
First or only early decision plan closing date: December 1
First or only early decision plan notification date: December 15
For the Fall 2003 entering class:
Number of early decision applications received: 68
Number of applicants admitted under early decision plan: 51
Number of applicants enrolled under early decision plan: 20
Students applying under this plan may not apply to other colleges through
an Early Decision plan and must submit their materials no later than December 1. If
admitted, the student agrees to withdraw all other admission applications, pay a $300
non-refundable enrollment deposit and commit to attending Mercer for the fall.
CDS C22. Early Action
Mercer offers a nonbinding early action plan whereby students
are notified of an admission decision well in advance of the regular notification date
but do not have to commit to attending Mercer.
The early action plan is designed for those who would like an early decision notification, but who do not wish to make an early commitment to attend. Also, students interested in being considered for the most attractive scholarship opportunities are encouraged to apply through the early action plan.
Early action closing date: November 1
Early action notification date: November 15.
For the Fall 2003 entering class:
Number of early action applications received: 1019
Number of applicants admitted under early action plan: 967
Number of applicants enrolled under early action plan: 275
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