2007-08 - Pitzer College

330 ADMISSION TO PITZER
ADMISSION TO PITZER
ADMISSION TO PITZER
INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS
Pitzer College strives to attract a diverse student body with demonstrated strong
academic ability, maturity, and independence. Each applicant is evaluated on an
individual basis. Your application should show the ways in which you feel you will profit
from and contribute to Pitzer. Because different people can show their strengths in different
ways, the Admission Committee does not expect essays to be answered in the same way,
nor do we expect students who will benefit from Pitzer to have the same background.
Pitzer College adheres to the letter and spirit of the Statement of Principles of Good
Practice of the National Association for College Admission Counseling. Pitzer College
admits students of any race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, age, creed, handicap,
or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally
accorded or made available to students at the College, and does not discriminate in
administration of its educational policies, scholarships and loan programs, athletic and
other College-administered programs, and employment policies.
Campus Visits
A personal campus visit is strongly recommended. Prospective students should make
every effort to visit Pitzer and should expect to spend two or more hours on the campus.
An interview with an admission counselor not only makes it possible for us to
understand better the students’ individual strengths as candidates, but it also provides
the students an opportunity to gain further information about the College. If distance
and/or circumstances prohibit a visit to the campus, a telephone interview can be
arranged. Early Decision applicants are required to have an interview (either in person or
by phone) by December 1.
The Admission Office is open all year for campus tours and interviews, Monday through
Friday (except holidays) and on Saturday mornings during the fall semester.
Appointments for campus tours and interviews may be made by calling (909) 621-8129 or
(800) PITZER1.
First-Year Admission
High School Preparation
Your best preparation for success at Pitzer is the completion of a rigorous college
preparatory program. Continuing academic challenge is important, and that challenge
should continue throughout your senior year. Your studies should include a minimum of
four years of English (especially courses that emphasize writing); three years of social
and behavioral sciences; and three years each of a laboratory science and mathematics,
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and three years of the same foreign language. We strongly recommend that you take
advantage of honors and advanced placement courses offered at your school. All offers of
admission are contingent upon continued academic excellence through completion of the
senior year.
Application Process
Pitzer College’s admission criteria for first-year students provides applicants with greater
flexibility in presenting application materials that accurately reflect their diverse
academic abilities and potentials. Pitzer exempts students graduating in the top 10
percent of their class, or those who have an unweighted cumulative grade point average
of 3.50 or higher in academic subjects (i.e., courses in the humanities, mathematics,
sciences and social sciences), from having to submit standardized tests (i.e., ACT or SAT).
Applicants not falling into either one of those categories are required to submit at least
one of the following options:
• ACT scores, or
• SAT scores, or
• Two or more Advanced Placement test scores of at least 4 (one must be in
English or English Language, and one in mathematics or a natural science), or
• Two International Baccalaureate exams: one must be in English 1A and one
must be in the Mathematics Methods (Standard Level, or a higher-level course
in mathematics), or
• Two exams: One recent junior or senior year graded, analytical writing sample
from a humanities or social science course, AND a graded mathematics
examination, preferably a final or end-of-semester exam in the most advanced
mathematics course possible. The samples must include the teacher’s
comments, grades, and the assignment.
Application Forms
Pitzer College accepts the Common Application as its ONLY application for admission
for first-year students. All sections are required. Two required teacher references should
come from teachers in the humanities, mathematics, sciences, or social sciences. We also
require a SUPPLEMENT to the Common Application. You can access this form from our
website (www.pitzer.edu) or from the Common Application website (www.commonapp.org).
Hardcopies can also be obtained from your high school counselor or by contacting the
Office of Admission. You must also submit your high school transcript, and transcripts of
colleges attended, if any.
Application Deadlines
There are two options for applying to Pitzer: Early Decision and Regular Decision.
Students accepted for Early Decision must submit commitment deposits by February 1.
Regular Decision commitment deposits are due May 1.
Early Decision
Students who have decided, after a thorough and thoughtful evaluation, that Pitzer