HIRAM COLLEGE

APPLYING FOR ADMISSION TO HIRAM COLLEGE

Statement of Admission Philosophy
One measure of a college's success is its ability to meet the needs of its students. The Hiram College Admission Committee makes admission decisions accordingly.

Hiram's academic program best serves students who are prepared to respond to the challenges of a rigorous college curriculum. Therefore, the Admission Committee considers the applicant's high school record, including the college preparatory courses taken, grades received, and scores on standardized national examinations. Furthermore, it evaluates each applicant's energy, motivation, potential, emotional maturity seriousness of purpose and attitude toward learning. Each application is reviewed carefully.

Hiram seeks students who are more than just academically prepared. The College prides itself on its strong sense of community and the diverse backgrounds and varied interests of its students. The Committee considers the ways in which each applicant will bring quality and vitality to the Hiram community. Such things as writing ability, recommendations, extracurricular activities, non-academic interests, and creativity all become part of the admission decision.

Hiram College is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and endorses the Statement of Principles of Good Practice.

The Admission Calendar
Candidates for admission for fall semester (August) should apply as early as possible and not later than March 15; for spring semester (January), no later than November 1. Admission after these dates is on a space available basis. If you wish to be considered for academic scholarships, you should apply no later than February 1. We will inform you by letter if any required portions of your application (i.e. secondary school report, transcript of grades, teacher recommendation, and SAT I or ACT scores) are missing. You will typically be notified of the Admission Committee's decision within four to six weeks of the date your application is complete. A Hiram College catalog will be mailed to you when you are admitted. If you are admitted to Hiram and plan to enroll, you must make a $200 deposit in U.S currency by May 1 for fall semester and December 1 for spring semester. The May 1 Candidate's Reply Date is established by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). Deposits are not refundable, so you should be certain that Hiram College is your clear first choice before submitting your deposit.

Secondary School Report and Transcript
Fill in the top portion of the Secondary School Report before giving it to your guidance/college counselor or headmaster. He or she should complete and return this report to Hiram College along with your secondary school transcript. The Secondary School Report and transcript must be in English or accompanied by an English translation. Transcripts, school records, diplomas and school leaving certificates must be certified true copies of the originals mailed directly from the school or agency issuing the documents. A certified true copy of the original must accompany a translation. We request that you list your final year courses on the application. You may be asked to submit grades for these courses at a later date. If you matriculate at Hiram, your secondary school transcript will become part of your official file and available for your review; your Secondary School Report will not.

Admission Tests
You are required to submit your scores on the SAT I: Reasoning Test (Scholastic Aptitude Test of the College Entrance Examination Board) or the ACT Assessment (of the American College Testing Program). You may ask that your scores be sent to us directly or they may be reported on your secondary school transcript. Hiram's identification code for the SAT is 1297; for the ACT it is 3280. Although not required, if you have taken or plan to take SAT II: Subject Tests, please indicate so on your application. While optional, SAT II scores are useful to us in advising, course selection, and placement. If your state or school district requires that you pass one or more proficiency tests in order to receive a high school diploma, your school will be asked to confirm that you have passed these tests.

If you are an international student for whom English is not a first language, you are required to submit your scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). At the time you register for the test, you should request that the scores be sent to us directly. Hiram's identification code is 1297. Admission to the traditional program requires a minimum score of 550, with all subscores at 50 or above. Applicants who score between 485 and 550 may enroll in Hiram's English as a Second Language (ESL) program.

Teacher Evaluation
After completing the top portion of the form, please give it to a teacher who has taught you in an academic subject during your final two years. Please choose a teacher who knows you well and is familiar with your ability to write and reason critically. If you wish to submit another recommendation from a teacher, coach, or club advisor, you may ask him or her to write to us directly. The Teacher Evaluation Form and any additional recommendations must be in English or accompanied by an English translation. If you matriculate at Hiram, these evaluations will not become part of your official file.

Essay
The ability to express ideas in writing is critical to college success, and therefore Hiram requires that you write an essay as part of your application. We give you four questions from which to choose so you may pick the one you find most intriguing or challenging.

International Student Profile
Students who are not permanent residents or citizens of the United States should complete all questions relating to country of birth, country of citizenship, first language, and TOELF on the application. In addition, they must fill out the Foreign Student Financial Aid Application of the College Board. Information from these forms will be used to prepare an I-20.

Application Fee
A fee of $25 is paid online. Payment is made with either a Mastercard or Visa. This fee is not refundable.

Merit Scholarships
All applicants to Hiram College are eligible to compete for merit-based scholarships (ie., awarded without consideration of financial need) through the Freshman Scholarship Program. These scholarships recognize past achievements and encourage students to strive for excellence during their college years. Scholarships are renewable for four years and are awarded to students following admission to the College. Scholarships range from $3,000 to $12,000 per year, for a total of $12,000 to $48,000 over four years. All admitted students are given scholarship consideration at the time of their admission. Scholars are selected on the basis of the application materials, which must be submitted by February 1.

Financial Aid
If you are a permanent resident or citizen of the United States applying for need-based financial aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which is available from your guidance or college counseling office. You can also request it from the Center for International Studies.

A final decision on your application for financial aid will be made after you have been admitted to the College and we receive the results of your FAFSA. Because it takes from four to six weeks for the results to reach us, you should file the FAFSA as early as possible after January 1 and no later than March 1. We recommend you make photocopies of all documents you complete in making application for financial aid for your records. It is not necessary to have already filed income tax forms prior to applying for financial aid. Awards of financial aid are generally sent beginning in early March. At Hiram, admission decisions are made without regard to family financial circumstances.

If you are an international student, you must complete the Foreign Student Certificate of Finances of The College Board. While the College does not offer extensive need-based assistance to international students, there are opportunities for campus employment and you may wish to take advantage of various tuition payment plans including an early payment option which can reduce a student's portion of the cost of tuition, room, board and fees by 5%.

If you have questions, please contact us. All correspondence regarding admission, financial aid and scholarships should be addressed to:

Vice President for Admission and