Admissions

The Admissions Committee seeks applications from students who have the ability to succeed in Goucher’s rigorous liberal arts 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 formal 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 academic ability, preparation, and promise, as well as to evidence of intellectual curiosity and excitement for the spirit of intellectual pursuits. The most important factors in assessing a student’s academic preparation for Goucher are curriculum rigor and intensity, and performance in college preparatory courses. First-year candidates must be on track to earn a secondary school diploma. Home-educated students without an accredited secondary school diploma or GED must provide formal documentation upon completion of a home school program approved by the state or local board of education. Admissions essays are important, and personal qualities, special talents, and extracurricular and employment activities are also considered in the admissions process.

Goucher College has adopted an admissions test-optional program, where test score submission is optional when applying for admission to the college. 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. Applicants can elect to have previously submitted test scores used in the process of determining admission, or may elect not to have submitted scores used to determine admission. However, test scores must be submitted to be considered for merit scholarship consideration. Merit scholarship decisions are made, in part, based on test scores. Finally, 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 that 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 therefore encouraged to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Goucher subscribes to the Statement of Principles of Good Practice, 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 home-educated students, please see additional guidelines below):

• Common Application and Goucher member page, including nonrefundable $55 fee (or officially recognized College Board/NACAC fee waiver), and applicant’s signature.
• An essay (500-word minimum) chosen from topics listed on the application of choice.
• Secondary School Report or College Adviser Evaluation with 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.)
• Teacher evaluation from at least one person who has taught the applicant in an academic subject (math, English, history, laboratory science, foreign language).

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 show us 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 at 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 at Goucher?”
• Digital Application
• $55 application fee or waiver
• Signed statement of academic integrity
• Two 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 Decision

Candidates who identify Goucher College as their top choice are encouraged to apply under the Early Decision entrance plan. This is a binding admission entrance plan, and students admitted under this entrance plan are required to withdraw all other college applications, and are expected to enroll at Goucher. Applicants who submit a complete Early Decision application by November 15 will be mailed notification of the outcome of admission consideration on December 15. Students accepted on the Early Decision entrance plan must submit a $500 nonrefundable enrollment deposit and declaration of intent by January 15.

Early Action/Goucher Video Application

Candidates who consider Goucher among their top choices may 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 mailed notification of the outcome of admission consideration 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 return the Declaration of Intent and nonrefundable $500 enrollment deposit.

Regular Decision

The Regular Decision application deadline for the fall semester is February 1. The Admissions Committee mails  notification of the outcome of admission consideration on April 1, and in some cases as early as mid-March. Students accepted as Regular Decision applicants have until May 1 to return the Declaration of Intent and nonrefundable $500 enrollment deposit. 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 $500 enrollment deposit (plus $100 housing deposit for residential students) along with the signed Declaration of Intent included in the admit packet 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 subject to 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 recommended to arrange an on-campus interview.

Homeschool Students

Students who are homeschooled must present the following documents  for admission consideration:

• Common Application, nonrefundable $55 fee (or officially recognized College Board/ NACAC fee waiver), and applicant’s signature.
• Homeschool Transcript, including a description of the educational program, a listing of courses taken, as well as grades and/or progress reports from ninth grade onward. Applicants without a formal transcript are encouraged to use the Common Application Home School Supplement to indicate academic readiness for Goucher College.
• Two letters of recommendation, from teachers, employers, coaches, or community service leaders who are not immediate family members.
• An essay chosen from topics listed on the Common Application.

In addition to confirming a student’s continued academic success throughout the final year of study, a final transcript is required for students wishing to be considered for federal financial aid. For homeschooled students without a GED or a final transcript from an accredited curriculum, formal documentation is required indicating completion of a home school curriculum approved by the state or local board of education.

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 Certification of Finances (available on Goucher’s website) 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. 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 contact the admissions office for information about reactivating an application for spring semester enrollment.

Spring Semester Admission

First-year applicants interested in spring semester admission must use a 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 have approximately two weeks to submit their Declaration of Intent and nonrefundable $500 enrollment deposit.

Applying for Admission as a Transfer Student

Goucher seeks applications from qualified transfer students who have attended 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, including nonrefundable $55 fee (or officially recognized College Board/NACAC fee waiver), and applicant’s signature.
• An essay (500-word minimum) chosen from topics listed on the 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 or teacher 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 April 1, although the Admissions Committee will continue to review applications throughout May, June, and July. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and if accepted, applicants must return their Declaration of Intent with a nonrefundable enrollment deposit of $500, typically within two weeks of notification of admission.

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. If accepted, students must return their Declaration of Intent with a nonrefundable enrollment deposit of $500, typically within two weeks of admissions notification. Complete applications received after December 1, and applications that require consideration of current semester college or university course work, will be reviewed in early January. In some cases, it is possible to consider late applications; however,  applicants are advised that submitting all required materials at the same time will accelerate the review process, and if admission is offered, enable a smooth enrollment transition.

Requirements for Goucher II Applicants

(Adult undergraduate degree program for those 24 years of age or older)

Because of the unique nature of the Goucher II program, admissions requirements are slightly modified. An application is complete for review when the Common Application (First-Year or Transfer Common Application) and Goucher member page are on file, in addition to the following items:

• 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 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 the age of 24. Students admitted to the Goucher II program in either the fall or spring semester will receive a Declaration of Intent with their offer of admission and must return it with a nonrefundable enrollment deposit of $150.

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 on page 17 indicates the various courses and associated scores required to receive credit at Goucher, as well as any courses and liberal education requirements satisfied by the AP coursework. For additional information on Goucher’s curriculum, please review the section on Liberal Education 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. Full-IB diploma recipients will be considered for advanced class standing. Official test results must be sent directly from the IB Organization to Goucher before credit may be applied toward a program of study. 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 at Goucher. 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 liberal education 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 liberal education 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 better.

Online Course Policy

As of October 2012, students may take up to a maximum of 8 credits (or 2 courses with exceptions noted below) via online courses and have them apply towards the 120 credit minimum required for a BA degree. Students may take two 3- or 4-credit online courses under this policy. Online laboratory courses that are 0 or 1 credit may be taken in conjunction with the two 3- or 4-credit courses and have the credit towards the 8 credit maximum (and not count as one of the two online courses allowed). Partial credit for courses is not allowed. The 2 course maximum applies to both Goucher and non-Goucher courses. Students may either take 2 online courses at Goucher and 0 online courses elsewhere; or 1 online course at Goucher and 1 online course elsewhere; or 0 online courses at Goucher and 2 online courses elsewhere. The policy is effective with courses offered in January 2013 or thereafter. It is not retroactive (i.e. current students who have already taken online courses will not receive credit for them). If the courses are taken at another college they must be from a regionally accredited, non-profit, public or private college or university. Freshman and new transfer students may not take an online course during their first semester at Goucher. An online course is defined by Goucher as any course that meets face-to-face (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 8 credit online total. All transfer courses must be approved by the Registrar before credit is granted.

*NEW* - Beginning spring 2017 students make take up to a maximum of 12 credits of online courses in total. 

Credit for Service in the Military

Students who have completed two years of active service in the armed forces are, upon completion of all other credits required for a degree, given credit for the physical education requirement of the Goucher degree. Students who have completed six months of active service are given credit for one term toward the physical education requirement for a 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 for further information, or the program director for credit and class standing evaluations. 

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 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 liberal education 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 contact the Admissions Office.

Noncandidate status allows students to attend Goucher on a nondegree-seeking basis. Noncandidate selection process requires the submission of a noncandidate application, and a high school transcript from an accredited secondary school and/or college-level transcript. Currently enrolled high school students wishing to pursue advanced courses as a noncandidate are required to submit an official high school transcript indicating the quality and level of high school work completed to date. A minimum of a 2.5 GPA is required of college-level work for admission. The associate provost for undergraduate studies serves as the academic adviser for full-time noncandidate students. Noncandidate course work with a C- grade or better can be transferred to a Goucher degree program transcript. Noncandidates previously withdrawn from the college who wish to return should contact the Admissions Office at 410-337-6100.

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 adviser 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 Saturdays throughout the year.  Admissions office visitors may participate in a group information session led by an admissions counselor as well as a student-guided, walking campus tour. During certain times of the year, and due to high demand, interviews 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 two weeks in advance, and are not normally available until the second week of the semester. Consult the admissions website for campus visit options and appointment availability. The following campus visit options are generally available weekdays throughout the year:

Monday-Friday Year-Round (with limited exceptions)

Travel Directions

Goucher College is located at 1021 Dulaney Valley Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21204, about eight miles north of downtown Baltimore. A map of the campus appears on the inside back cover of this catalogue.

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.