2020-2021 Undergraduate Academic Catalog

Reservation Deposit A reservation deposit must be submitted by new and readmitted students in order to enroll and register for courses. The reservation deposit is fully refundable if the request for refund is received before the reservation deposit deadline. All refund requests must be made in writing by the student. No refunds are available after the deposit deadline. Reservation deposit deadlines are as follows: Term Deadline Fall Semester May 1 Spring Semester Nov. 1 Summer Session May 1 Students admitted after the reservation deposit deadlines must submit their reservation deposits within two weeks of notification of admission. See cedarville.edu/paydeposit for reservation deposit details. Note: The College Now program has no reservation deposit requirement. However, you must observe the admission decision/ registration deadlines found at cedarville.edu/c ollegenow. New Student Orientation All new degree-seeking students are required to attend the orientation program for their term of enrollment (fall or spring). Undergraduate Admission Policies High School Preparation Although Cedarville doesn’t prescribe actual secondary school course requirements, we strongly recommend that you follow a college preparatory curriculum that includes the following: • 4 units of English (grammar, composition, and literature) • 3–4 units of mathematics (Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Precalculus) • 3 units of natural science (physical science, biology, and chemistry) • 3 units of social studies (history and government) • 3 units of a single foreign language If you plan to study pharmacy, engineering, science, mathematics, or nursing, take as many courses in mathematics and science as possible in your secondary school curriculum. It is common for applicants to present transcripts containing honors, advanced placement, and international baccalaureate courses. When choosing electives in your secondary education, select those that develop your interests and skills in the field you’re considering for a major. Grade Point Average Calculation The University will accept weighted and unweighted GPAs, along with SAT and ACT scores, for evaluation of admission and the awarding of academic and need-based scholarships. All grades earned for high school credit are considered. Please visit the University’s Financial Aid website for the most current policy on the use of GPA and ACT/SAT for determining financial aid. Homeschooled Students Transcript Policy Homeschooled students fit right in at Cedarville University, partly because Cedarville provides the same values-centered education. Cedarville’s homeschool graduates pursue majors in numerous fields such as engineering, broadcasting, Bible, music, political science, education, biology, history, communications, nursing, criminal justice, multimedia technology, and professional writing and information design, and nearly half hold a 3.5 GPA or better. Many homeschooled students take on leadership roles at CU. Several student-leaders, dramatic performers, and resident assistants come from a homeschooled background. Beginning with ninth grade, your transcript should include the following information: • Course title (i.e., Algebra I, English 10, etc.) • Grade earned — when providing grade information, be sure to provide a scale that shows the relationship between percentages and earned letter grades, even if you’re only reporting percentages. • Credit earned — the standard measure for awarding credit is the Carnegie Unit, which awards one (1) credit for completion of a full year course that meets daily. A sample transcript is available for your reference upon request from your admission counselor. Because curricula vary from one homeschooling program to another, it’s important for you to provide an explanation of your course of study and your educator’s teaching methods. • Who is ultimately responsible for setting up curriculum and selecting materials? • What type of curriculum and materials did your educator(s) use? • Who was responsible for providing instruction? Did you have tutors in some areas and not in others, etc.? • Who recorded your grades and how? • What type of independent, standardized testing was used to measure your progress against a larger population? (Include copies of this information with your transcript.) We’d also appreciate any additional information that would shed light on your academic experience. Standardized test scores should be reported directly from the ACT or SAT. High School Graduation Date Policy In general, the high school graduation indicated on the high school transcript at the time of admission to either the College Now program or as a first-time freshman may not be changed. In rare circumstances, College Now students, or first-time freshman may encounter difficulties in completing their high school curriculum by the date indicated on the initial transcript. If the circumstances are beyond the control of the student, the student may submit a written request for a change in the graduation date to Admissions. The request should include a letter of explanation from school officials along with an updated transcript containing the new graduation date. A committee consisting of the Director of Undergraduate Admissions and the Registrar will review the request for a change to the graduation date. If a student has completed all needed college preparatory courses to be considered a high school graduate, the request will not be granted. Cedarville University will not make a change in graduation year simply based on the financial advantage it may create for an applicant. The University reserves the right to make a final determination about graduation dates. Standardized Test Use General Use Cedarville University accepts ACT, SAT, and CLT tests for admission and financial aid purposes. Cedarville “superscores” all standardized tests. This means that Cedarville will take a student’s highest subscores achieved on any of the dates a student took a given test and then combine those scores together to create a new composite “superscore”. Cedarville recommends that students take the ACT writing test, but it is not required for admission. Cedarville does not require SAT subject tests. Cedarville’s SAT code is 1151 and Cedarville’s ACT code is 3245. Test scores should be reported directly from the respective testing agency. Scores may also be reported on the official high school transcript from traditional high school programs. Page 14 2020–21 Undergraduate Academic Catalog Admissions New Student Orientation