Admission

As the nation’s tenth oldest college, and the oldest for men, Hampden-Sydney offers solid reasons for students to attend: a complete undergraduate research library, well-trained and caring faculty members, successful job and graduate-school placement, superior facilities, advanced technological capabilities, internship and study-abroad opportunities, a competitive athletic program, and many social and extracurricular activities. On its safe, spacious campus, Hampden-Sydney also provides unequaled encouragement for students to rise to any level they choose. The rigorous academic program, based in the liberal arts and protected by a strong Honor Code, emphasizes analytical and communications skills to prepare students for just about any career. At the College men become leaders.

QUALIFICATIONS Prospective students are expected to have mastered a solid, demanding college-preparatory program before entering Hampden-Sydney, including at least four units of English, two units of one foreign language, three units of mathematics, two units of natural science (one of which must be a laboratory course), and one unit of social science. In addition, a third unit of foreign language and a fourth unit of mathematics are recommended. The records of successful applicants often include examples of impressive school and community extracurricular contributions in addition to their academic preparation.

For the class entering in the Fall of 2023, Hampden-Sydney does not require its applicants to submit the results they have achieved on the SAT, given by the College Entrance Examination Board, or the ACT, given by the American College Testing Program. If a student chooses not to submit standardized test scores, we will require an essay and an interview with an admission officer as a part of their application materials.

For further information on these tests, candidates are encouraged to contact their office of college counseling at their secondary-school or visit the College Entrance Examination Board at www.collegeboard.org (the Board’s code number for Hampden-Sydney College is 5291); or the American College Testing Program at www.act. org (the ACT code number for Hampden-Sydney College is 4356).

APPLICATION CREDENTIALS For an application to Hampden-Sydney College to be considered complete, it must contain an Application for Admission, a transcript of high-school grades (and any previous college grades for transfer applicants), an essay, and one teacher recommendation. A student may apply electronically at www.hsc.edu. Hampden-Sydney also accepts the Common Application in lieu of its own form and gives equal consideration to both.

Candidates wishing to support their applications with additional personal recommendations may do so up to a recommended maximum of three. While finding recommendations helpful in the selection process, we are not necessarily impressed by sheer volume, which often makes objective evaluation more difficult.

CAMPUS INTERVIEWS Candidates considering Hampden-Sydney College are strongly encouraged and, in some cases, may be required to visit the campus for a personal interview. Tours of the campus, and conferences with professors and/or coaches can be arranged. Requests for appointments should be directed to the Office of Admission at (800) 755-0733. The Office is located in Graham Hall and is open year-round from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Open House programs are held throughout the year, to which students receive an invitation.

ADMISSIONS PLANS

EARLY DECISION PLAN The Early Decision Plan is reserved for highschool seniors whose first choice of college is Hampden-Sydney and who, if accepted, agree to enroll at Hampden-Sydney College, provided their financial aid award is sufficient. You must file your Early Decision application by November 1 of your senior year; supporting documents should arrive as soon as possible after your application is submitted.(You may still apply to other colleges, but not under an Early Decision Plan.) Our decision letter is typically mailed to you 14 business days after your application file is complete. You must confirm your place in the class by submitting a non-refundable reservation deposit postmarked two weeks post acceptance and withdraw all applications to other colleges and make no further ones. If you are deferred, you receive thorough, unbiased consideration once further grades are received in your behalf.

EARLY ACTION PLANS I AND II The Early Action Plans are for high-school seniors whose applications are received by either October 15 (Early Action Plan I), or December 1 (Early Action Plan II). Supporting documents should be filed as soon as possible after your application is submitted. Decision letters are typically mailed from the College within 45 days after your application deadline. While we strongly encourage all admitted students to deposit within two weeks of acceptance, you are expected to confirm your place in the incoming class by May 1.

REGULAR DECISION PLAN Under the Regular Decision Plan, you should submit your application to the College as early as possible, but no later than Hampden-Sydney’s application deadline of February 1. Supporting documents should be sent as soon as possible after your application is submitted.

Decision letters are typically mailed from the College within 21 days after your application deadline. While we strongly encourage all admitted students to deposit within two weeks of acceptance, you are expected to confirm your place in the incoming class by May 1.

EARLY ADMISSION PLAN Hampden-Sydney recognizes that some students with records of superior academic achievement and promise may require fewer than the usual four years of high school to prepare for college. Under the Early Admission Plan, qualified candidates whose credentials are received by July 1 after their junior year receive an acceptance or deferral no later than July 31. Availability of space could be a determinant in the College’s willingness to consider Early Admission candidates.

Candidates applying under the Early Admission Plan must have earned a high-school diploma or present official evidence in writing that a diploma will be forthcoming upon the satisfactory conclusion of the student’s freshman year at Hampden-Sydney.

If Early Admission candidates elect to take the college admission tests, they must do so by May of their junior year. Although they must file their applications by July 1, the final date for submission of transcripts, letters of recommendation, and scores is July 15. Candidates must visit HampdenSydney for an interview.

Applicants accepted under this plan must send their reservation deposits within three weeks after acceptance. This deposit is not refundable.

FINANCIAL AID Applicants wishing to be considered for financial aid (federal grants, College grants and scholarships, loans and work-study awards) should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA; code number 003713). The FAFSA will be available on October 1 and should be completed by the corresponding application deadline of the student’s chosen application plan. Students may complete the FAFSA at www.studentaid.gov.

It should be noted that Hampden-Sydney has been able to provide a high percentage of indicated need for our applicants for admission.

TRANSFER STUDENTS Transfer Students must complete at least four semesters of full-time study (or the equivalent) at Hampden-Sydney to satisfy degree requirements. They may enter in either the fall or the spring semester.

Besides the required high-school credentials, transfer students should provide official transcripts of all undergraduate studies already undertaken, along with a letter of recommendation from a dean or other appropriate official. While academic work completed at the college level is a more current indicator of a student’s potential success at Hampden-Sydney, the Admissions Committee also considers the high-school record and test scores. Personal interviews are strongly encouraged.

SUMMARY OF ADMISSION PLAN REQUIREMENTS

Nature of plan: Early Decision

(Hampden-Sydney is first choice) Early Action I and II Regular Decision Early Admission

(after three years of secondary school)

Application: Submitted on or before November 1 of senior year I. Submitted on or before October 15 of senior year II. Submitted on or before December 1 of senior year Submitted on or before February 1 of senior year* Submitted on or before July 1 after junior year

Other credentials due:

Notification of decision sent to applicant: As soon as possible after application is submitted

14 Business days after deadline As soon as possible after application is submitted

45 Business days after deadline As soon as possible after application is submitted

21 Business days after deadline

By July 15 after junior year

By July 31 after junior year

Reservation deposit due: Postmarked on or before January 15 Postmarked on or before May 1 Postmarked on or before May 1 Within three weeks

*Freshman candidates considering applying after March 1 should contact the Admission Office to determine the availability of space.

Qualified transfer students desiring to enter in the fall semester should apply by April 1. Those interested in second-semester admission should apply by December 1.

Hampden-Sydney normally offers junior-year standing to students holding an A.A. degree in liberal-arts subject matter from an accredited community or junior college. A 3.0 (B) or higher grade-point average is usually required for automatic junior-year standing. Up to, but not exceeding, 60 credit hours may be given for course work similar to that offered by HampdenSydney for students applying under this category.

A student from another institution must have earned a grade of “C” or better in all courses which he presents for transfer. Credit is normally awarded only for those courses equivalent to courses offered at Hampden-Sydney College.

A transfer student must meet all of Hampden-Sydney’s proficiency and distribution requirements, either as a result of his previous college work or after matriculation at HampdenSydney. After a student has been accepted for admission, the Registrar will evaluate the student’s official transcript and award applicable credit.

The College normally denies admission to a transfer applicant if he is ineligible to return to the college from which he wishes to transfer, or if his previous college work fails to show promise of success at Hampden-Sydney.

Transfer students who expect to receive six credit hours for composition courses taken elsewhere must take and pass the Rhetoric Proficiency Examination at the beginning of their first semester of residence.

DUAL ENROLLMENT Dual enrollment credits for students earning college credits while enrolled in high school are handled like transfer credits (please see previous section). It is the student’s responsibility to see that an official transcript from the community college listing the dual enrolled courses is sent to the Admissions Office at Hampden-Sydney before the student enrolls, so that appropriate dual enrollment credit can be awarded.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT A student who achieves a score of four or five on an advanced placement examination of the College Board will receive up to eight hours of academic credit and exemption from corresponding core requirements. Exemptions from requirements for the academic major are determined by the appropriate department (see chart under “Academic Policies and Practices”). A student who chooses to take a course for which he has been granted advanced placement will not receive additional credit. It is the student’s responsibility to see that official AP score reports are sent to the Registrar’s Office at HampdenSydney before the student enrolls, so that appropriate AP credit can be awarded.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS Hampden-Sydney is committed to the recruitment of international students. Special application forms are available from the Admission Office for: • non-U.S. citizens living abroad; • non-resident aliens temporarily living in the United States; • permanent residents of the United States (unless their last two years of education were completed in the U.S.); • U.S. citizens with foreign diplomas or degrees.

Applicants seeking to begin studies in the fall semester should submit applications and supporting credentials by February 1. All documents written in languages other than English must be accompanied by certified English translations. The Admissions Office will not process applications until all supporting documents have been received.

Students from abroad are eligible for admission if they have completed, with good grades, the academic (classical) secondaryschool program offered in their country. All applicants who speak or write English as a second language are required to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). Test results should be sent to Hampden-Sydney. Information concerning the TOEFL and the IELTS can be found at www.ets.org and www.ielts.org, respectively. More information can be found at: http://www.hsc.edu/admission-andfinancial-aid/apply/international-student-applicant INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE A student who achieves a score of six or seven on a Higher Level International Baccalaureate Examination will receive three to six hours of academic credit and/or exemption from the corresponding core requirements. Decisions regarding credit are made by the department concerned on an individual basis. A student who chooses to take a course for which he has been granted international baccalaureate credit will not receive additional credit.

MEDICAL INFORMATION The College does not require medical information prior to admission; however, following his acceptance each student must complete a medical questionnaire and physical examination form. That form must be returned to the Student Health Center before matriculation.

FURTHER INFORMATION Any questions concerning admission to the College should be directed to:

Admission Office P.O. Box 667 Hampden-Sydney, VA 23943 (800) 755-0733 or (434) 223-6120 FAX (434) 223-6346 E-mail: admissions@hsc.edu www.hsc.edu