Admissions

The Admissions Committee seeks applications from students who have the ability to succeed in Goucher’s rigorous innovative curriculum and who will contribute positively to the vibrant and diverse campus community. The college is especially well suited to students who are looking for both a challenge and personal attention from professors, are interested in discussion and debate, are eager to explore many fields of knowledge in different cultural settings, and are willing to pursue and attend activities outside the classroom.

In Goucher’s selective and highly individualized admissions evaluation process, members of the Admissions Committee review every application thoroughly. Admissions officers pay particular attention to evidence of proven academic ability, preparation, and promise, as well as to evidence of intellectual curiosity and excitement around intellectual pursuits. The most important factors in assessing a student’s academic preparation for Goucher are curriculum rigor and breadth, and performance in college preparatory courses. First-year candidates must be on track to earn a secondary school diploma. An applicant’s essay is important, as are personal qualities, special talents, and extracurricular and employment activities when being considered for admission.

Goucher College offers an admissions test-optional program, where test score submission is optional when applying for admission. When completing the Common Application member page for Goucher College, applicants will be asked to indicate their preference for use of test scores in determining admission. Test scores for enrolled students must be on file prior to matriculation. Goucher will use enrolled students’ test scores for research, placement, and academic counseling.

Goucher practices primarily need-blind admissions, which means the vast majority of decisions are made without regard to a candidate’s financial situation. Students who believe they need financial assistance to attend Goucher are encouraged to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Goucher subscribes to the Code of Ethics and Professional Practices established by the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC). Goucher admits students of any age, race, sex, color, religion, and national or ethnic origin and does not discriminate on the basis of disability or sexual orientation.

Applying for Admission to the First-Year Class

The information supplied in the Application for Admission enables the Admissions Committee to learn about a candidate’s record of academic achievements, interests and talents, as well as personal accomplishments. Goucher honors receipt of the Common Application or Goucher Video Application.

Required Documents for Fall Semester First-Year Admission Consideration (Common Application)

A complete application consists of the following documents (international and homeschooled students, please see additional guidelines below):

• School Report Form or College Advisor letter of recommendation.
• Cumulative (grade 9 forward) official high school transcript(s) with listing of courses in progress. Secondary school graduates’ transcripts must list date of graduation
• Senior grades from the first quarter, trimester, or semester. (Students who submit an application before quarter, trimester, or semester grades are available should include a listing of courses in progress.)
• Recommendation letter from an academic teacher (English, math, science, foreign language, or social science)

Required Documents for Fall Semester First-Year Admission Consideration (Goucher Video Application)

At Goucher, we understand that the traditional admissions process-while great for many students-does not showcase everyone’s true talents and abilities. We believe access to higher education should be about potential, not just previous achievement.  While most students will continue to complete and submit the Common Application, the Goucher Video Application (GVA) was created to provide another opportunity for students to demonstrate what makes them unique, why they would flourish at Goucher, and how they will fit into our community of learners.  The video prompt is, “How do you see yourself flourishing Goucher”?  Work must be submitted by the Early Action (non-binding) deadline, December 1.  Notification mails on February 1 and candidate reply date is May 1.

A complete application consists of the following documents:

• Short video (no more than two minutes) that responds to the prompt “How do you see yourself flourishing at Goucher?”
• Digital Application
• Signed statement of academic integrity
• Two academic works from your high school years (one of which must be a graded writing assignment)

Secondary School Preparation

The breadth and depth of a student’s secondary curriculum, as well as academic achievement are extremely important factors in preparing for and transitioning to Goucher College. Sound preparation includes at least 16 units of college preparatory subjects. Most successful applicants exceed this academic subject unit minimum. Since Goucher’s curriculum requires a distribution of subjects over a wide range of academic fields, the applicant’s high school program should include the following:

Each unit is equivalent to one year of study.

Application Entrance Plans

Early Action/Goucher Video Application

Candidates who consider Goucher among their top choices should apply under the Early Action entrance plan. The Goucher Video Application follows the same time line. Applicants who submit a complete Early Action application or Goucher Video Application by December 1 will be notified on February 1. The Early Action entrance plan and the Goucher Video Application option are non-binding. Students accepted as Early Action applicants or Goucher Video Application applicants have until May 1 to submit the nonrefundable enrollment deposit and Reply to Offer of Admission.

Regular Decision

The Regular Decision application deadline for the fall semester is January 15. Applicants will notified by April 1. Students accepted as Regular Decision applicants have until May 1 to submit the nonrefundable enrollment deposit and Reply to Offer of Admission. Students whose application and supporting materials are submitted after February 1, or remain incomplete, may not receive notification until after April 1.

Requirements for Selected Applicants

Deferred Admission

Admitted students may defer admission for no more than two consecutive semesters.  In order to do so, students must submit written notification of their intent to defer to admissions@goucher.edu.  A nonrefundable enrollment deposit and Reply to Offer of Admission must also be submitted.

Recipients of merit-based scholarships who defer their admission can retain their scholarship only by not matriculating at another institution during their deferral period. Merit scholarship recipients who complete academic college coursework in excess of 11 credits during the deferral period may be awarded using transfer merit scholarship award levels.

Early Admission

Goucher College will review applications from students with outstanding academic records who have completed fewer than eight semesters of secondary school. Early admission applicants may only submit their application for consideration under the Regular Decision entrance plan. Early Admission applicants are encouraged to arrange an on-campus or telephone interview.

Homeschooled Students

Goucher welcomes applications from homeschool students. Applications are reviewed in the same manner as those from traditional high schools, and there are no special requirements that must be met to be considered.

A complete homeschool application includes:

• Application (Common Application or Goucher Video Application)
• Supplemental Materials required, if submitting the Common Application
  • A Homeschool Transcript listing courses taken, as well as grades and/or progress reports from ninth grade onward
  • School Report Form - Under the Homeschool section include a description of the education program, curriculum, texts used, and grading scale, along with other pertinent information indicating academic readiness for Goucher College
  • Counselor recommendation letter - The homeschool facilitator or parent can submit a recommendation letter
  • Academic recommendation letter from a teacher, evaluator, or tutor, who is not a member of the immediate family

International Students

Applicants who will require an F-1 visa to study at Goucher College are required to submit the following in addition to all required documents previously indicated:

• International Student Financial Aid Application (available on Goucher’s website) indicating an annual minimum level of family resources in support of study at Goucher College of US$30,000, and a certified bank statement. In order for Goucher to sponsor an F-1 student visa, documentation is required indicating ability to fund a Goucher education (direct and indirect costs) over a period of four years.
• TOEFL or IELTS exam results for applicants who are nonnative speakers of English: the Admissions Committee expects a minimum score of 80 on the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) exam, 550 on paper-based exam, or 213 on computer-based exam. The IELTS exam is also accepted; minimum IELTS score (listening+reading+writing+speaking) of 28 with no subsection score lower than 7.0 is required to be considered for admission to Goucher. Students who have been enrolled in a secondary school where English is the primary language of instruction are exempt from the TOEFL or IELTS exams.

Reactivating an Existing Application

Previous applicants who wish to reactivate their admission file may do so within two years of original filed application date. This request must be sent to admissions@goucher.edu. Students who submit a request by April 1 will be considered for the following fall semester.  Please e-mail admissions@goucher.edu for information about reactivating an application for spring semester enrollment.

Spring Semester Admission

First-year applicants interested in spring semester admission must use the Common Application and select the regular decision entrance plan. The priority deadline for submitting the completed application is December 1, and notification is rolling thereafter. Students notified of admission for spring semester must submit their nonrefundable enrollment deposit and Reply to Offer of Admission by January 15.

Applying for Admission as a Transfer Student

Goucher seeks applications from qualified transfer students who have attended regionally accredited colleges and universities or international institutions recognized by the Ministry of Education in that country.

Required Documents for Transfer Admission Consideration (please note special requirements for Goucher II applicants)

The Admissions Committee considers a transfer application complete for review when the following documents have been received:

• Common Application Transfer Application and Goucher member page.
• An essay statement as indicated on the transfer common application.
• Official college transcripts from all academic institutions attended. Applicants with fewer than 30 credits (or the equivalent of at least one year of full-time college course work) should submit official high school transcripts. Applicants currently enrolled in academic courses should send an additional transcript immediately following the completion of the semester.
• Letter of recommendation from a professor who has taught the applicant in an academic subject. The letter must be submitted on official letterhead and signed.
• International transfer applicants requesting an F-1 visa must also submit additional documentation as outlined under first-year requirements.

Fall Semester Admission

The priority deadline for submitting an application for the fall semester is May 1, although the Admissions Committee will continue to review applications throughout May, June, and July. No applications will be reviewed after July 15th. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible and are reviewed on a rolling basis. The nonrefundable enrollment deposit is due two weeks after receipt of admission letter.

Spring Semester Admission

The priority deadline for submitting an application for the spring semester is December 1. Notification of admission is released on a rolling basis. All applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible. No application will be reviewed after January 1st. The nonrefundable enrollment deposit is due two weeks after receipt of admission letter.

Requirements for Goucher II Applicants

(Undergraduate study for those 24 years of age or older)

The Admissions Committee considers a Goucher II application complete for review when the following documents have been received:

• Two letters of recommendation from individuals who know the applicant well enough to give an informed opinion about intellectual ability and capacity for sustained effort.
• Official copy of high school transcript indicating graduation (if the applicant has completed fewer than 30 college credits), and official college transcript(s).

A traditional age student who enters Goucher and separates from the college prior to age 24 without having completed an undergraduate degree, may apply to return as a Goucher II student at or after the age of 24. The nonrefundable enrollment deposit of is due two weeks after receipt of admission letter.

Credit from Programs and Other Institutions

Preliminary transfer credit evaluations are completed by the Admissions Office and furnished with notification of admission. Final transfer credit evaluations are completed by the Office of the Registrar. Questions regarding evaluation of previously earned credit should be directed to the Registrar’s Office at 410-337-6090.

Advanced Placement (AP) Credit

Goucher College recognizes AP exam score results of 4-5. Official AP scores must be sent directly from the College Board to Goucher (code 5257) before credit may be applied toward a program of study. The chart below indicates the various courses and associated scores required to receive credit at Goucher, as well as any courses and Goucher Commons requirements satisfied by the AP coursework. For additional information on Goucher’s curriculum, please review the section on Goucher Commons Requirements.

Pre-college Coursework and Examinations

Official copies of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, French Baccalaureate, German Arbitur, or the General Certificate of Education A-level test scores may be submitted to Goucher for first-time post-secondary credit and/or placement consideration. Evaluation and awarding of credit will be completed by the College Registrar and the appropriate academic faculty.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Goucher College may award credit and/or placement for higher level (HL) IB exams with grades of 5-7, and in some cases, standard level (SL) IB exams with grades of 5-7. See the following link for individual IB course credit equivalencies: IB Course Equivalency Credit  

French Baccalaureate

If a student has earned the French Baccalaureate, one year of credit (30 semester hours) will be recognized provided no grade is below 10 and all subjects are appropriate to Goucher’s curriculum. For each subject with a grade below 10 or for each subject not appropriate to Goucher’s curriculum, six semester hours of credit will be deducted. If a student failed the French Baccalaureate or completed course work through the First or Premiere level, six semester hours of credit will be recognized provided a grade of 10 or better has been achieved on the French examination.

German Abitur

Students with the German Abitur may be awarded credit for examination scores of 10 or higher (15 point scale). Evaluation of actual credit will be determined by the College Registrar and the appropriate academic center.

General Certificate of Education A-Level

Individual courses will be reviewed by the College Registrar and appropriate academic representatives for possible transfer credit.

First-Year Students Seeking Credit for College or University Coursework

In order to receive credit for college courses completed prior to graduation from high school, first-year students are required to have transcripts forwarded directly from those regionally accredited institutions to the Admissions Office. The credit evaluation will be completed by the Office of the Registrar after the applicant is offered admission. Only courses from a regionally accredited institution with a grade of C- or higher will be considered for credit. The maximum number of credits a student can transfer is 60; of these, no more than 15 may be from auxiliary winter or summer sessions. Study abroad transfer courses do not count towards the 15 credit summer/winter total. Students may petition the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies to take from 16-20 credits total in summer/winter sessions. Goucher provides placement exams in English composition, modern languages, and mathematics; college and university courses in these areas may be accepted, but only after Goucher placement test results are known.

Transfer Students Seeking Credit for College or University Coursework

Credits for courses completed at regionally accredited two- and four-year colleges or universities or courses completed at foreign colleges or universities accredited by the respective Ministry of Education with a grade of C- or higher may be transferred into Goucher, provided that these courses are in subjects generally recognized as appropriate for liberal arts colleges and are either comparable to courses offered at Goucher College or are applicable to a degree program at Goucher College. Such credits must be evaluated and approved for transfer credit by the appropriate academic program chairperson and the Office of the Registrar. Credit accepted for transfer to Goucher does not automatically apply toward Goucher Commons Requirements or the major/minor and must be evaluated by the Office of the Registrar and academic program director for approval.

Up to 60 transfer credits will be accepted by Goucher. Credits in excess of 60 may count toward the Goucher Commons Requirements and requirements in the major/minor, but students must earn a minimum of 60 Goucher credits to receive a degree from Goucher. These credits must be earned while in residence at Goucher or on a Goucher or Goucher-affiliate study-abroad program. No more than 15 of the 60 transferred credits may be from an auxiliary winter intersession or summer courses. No credit is given for academic courses with pass/fail or satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades unless the grade is defined on the transcript or the course catalog as “C-” or higher.

Online Course Policy

Effective 6/19/2020, updated 8/10/2020 *Goucher and non-Goucher online courses taken the summer and fall of 2020 will not count towards the 12 credits maximum of online/distance-learning courses that can apply toward the 120 credit minimum required for a BA degree.*

Effective 10/12/2020, *Goucher and non-Goucher online courses taken in winter 2021 and spring 2021 will not count towards the 12 credits maximum of online/distance-learning courses that can apply toward the 120 credit minimum required for a BA degree.*

Goucher is a residential college, consequently there is a limit on how many online/distance-learning courses a student may take to apply towards their Bachelor of Arts requirements. Students may take up to a maximum of 12 credits in total (with exceptions noted below) via online/distance-learning courses and apply them towards the 120 credit minimum required for a B.A. degree. 

The 12 credits maximum includes both Goucher and non-Goucher courses. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) degree program are exempt from this credit limit policy.

If the courses are taken at another college they must be from a regionally accredited, public or private college or university.

First-year students may not take an online course during their first semester at Goucher College.

Students may not fulfill the GCR of foreign language by exclusively taking online courses.

An online course is defined by Goucher as any course that meets in person for less than 60% of the course. Senior Thesis and Independent Work are not considered as online courses and do not count towards the 12 credit online total. All transfer courses must be approved by the Registrar before credit is granted.

Online laboratory courses that are 0 or 1 credit do not count towards the 12 credit online total. 

Partial credit for courses is not allowed.

Credit for Service in the Military

Students who have completed 6 months or more of active service in the armed forces are given credit for the physical education activity requirement of the Goucher degree. 

Second Degree

Goucher awards second bachelor’s degrees to students who hold bachelor’s degrees from accredited institutions, provided students complete at Goucher a minimum of 30 semester hours and fulfill the requirements for the major and all other Goucher College requirements. (Coursework completed for the first degree may be applied toward these requirements.) Contact the Admissions Office at admissions@goucher.edu.

Reinstatement of Students Previously Withdrawn

Suspended or withdrawn students who wish to resume studies at Goucher should submit a reinstatement form to the Office of the Registrar. This form is available on Goucher’s website. If academic work has been completed since leaving Goucher, a transcript should accompany the written request for reinstatement. Reinstated students who have been away from Goucher for more than two consecutive semesters and have completed fewer than 90 credits toward the degree must graduate under the Liberal Education Requirements or Goucher Commons Requirements in effect when they are reinstated. Reinstated students who have been away more than five years, regardless of the number of credits they have toward the degree, must graduate under the Goucher Commons Requirements in effect when they are reinstated. Major and minor requirements fall under the auspices of individual programs.

Returning from a Leave of Absence

A student who is returning from an approved leave of absence does not need to apply for readmission but must confirm his or her plans, where applicable, with Financial Aid, the Bursar, the Office of the Registrar, and Residential Life at least 30 days before the semester begins. Students on leave are responsible for meeting regular college deadlines for filing for financial aid and for registering for courses.

Non Candidates and Visiting Students

Students who wish to register as full- or part-time students, but not as candidates for the degree should complete the online noncandidate application.

Advancement to Candidacy Change of Status

The standards by which academic standing is determined for degree candidates do not apply to noncandidates. The maximum number of credits a student may attempt (i.e., be enrolled in beyond the add/drop period), as a noncandidate is 27. Noncandidates who have attempted 27 credits are required to apply for full-time degree-seeking admission or present an education plan to the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies requiring approval to remain a noncandidate.

Audits

Where space is available, courses may be audited for personal interest or career advancement. Audits require both the advisor and course instructor’s signatures.

Correspondence

All correspondence before notification of admission to the college should be addressed to the Admissions Office. Other correspondence should be addressed as follows: 

The college’s mailing address is: Goucher College, 1021 Dulaney Valley Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21204-2794. The telephone number is 410-337-6000. The website is www.goucher.edu.

Visiting Goucher

Visitors to the college are welcome throughout the year. The Admissions Office, located in the Rhoda M. Dorsey College Center, is open Monday through Friday, 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m., and selected weekends throughout the year.  Admissions office visitors may participate in a group information session led by an admissions counselor and a student-guided, walking campus tour. During certain times of the year, due to high demand, counselor conversations may only be available for high school seniors and transfer students, and must be scheduled in advance. Class visits and overnight stays must be scheduled ten days in advance, and are not available until the second week of the semester. Consult the admissions website for campus visit options and availability, or visit https://apply.goucher.edu/portal/visit-campus. 

Travel Directions

Goucher College is located at 1021 Dulaney Valley Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21204, about eight miles north of downtown Baltimore.

GPS users should input Goucher College, 1021 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, MD 21204.

A map of the campus can be found at www.goucher.edu/documents/Goucher-Campus-Map.pdf.

By plane: Limousine, taxicab, and shuttle services from the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) to local and downtown hotels are available and take approximately 40-45 minutes.

By train: All passenger trains arrive at Pennsylvania Station in downtown Baltimore. A taxi from the station to Goucher College takes approximately 20 minutes.

By car: Motorists traveling to Goucher College are advised to take exit 27A (Dulaney Valley Road south) off the Baltimore Beltway (I-695). The college entrance is on the left, at the first traffic signal, one-eighth of a mile from Exit 27A.  GPS users should input Goucher College, 1021 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, MD  21204.