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UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS
Francis Marion University encourages all qualified students to apply for admission. Equal educational opportunities are offered to students regardless of race, sex, religion, color, or national origin. CAMPUS TOURS – Campus tours for prospective students are offered through the Admissions Office at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. From Sept. 1 until May 31, tours are also offered on select Saturdays. Appointments should be made for all tours by calling 843-661-1231. OPEN HOUSES – The University hosts several open house programs each year for prospective students and their families. Dates are publicized in the media and posted on the FMU website or may be obtained by calling the Office of Admissions at 843-661-1231. All prospective students must submit a completed application and a $30 nonrefundable application fee. Students must also submit official transcripts from high school and all colleges (if any) attended. Appropriate test scores must also be submitted. Test scores must be printed on the transcript or sent directly from the testing agency. Admission decisions at Francis Marion University are made on a rolling basis, which means that as soon as a prospective student's file is complete, he or she will be notified of his/her admission status. If the prospective student is currently enrolled in high school or another postsecondary institution, tentative admission may be granted. A final decision will be made upon receipt of final grades and/or proof of high school graduation. Students are encouraged to apply at least six months prior to the intended date of enrollment. Each semester, the admission deadline is noon on the Friday prior to the start of classes. Students must also be accepted to the University before they will be considered for housing assignments or academic scholarships. Withholding information or providing false information to the University can result in a student's application being rejected, admission rescinded, or dismissal from the University. Acceptance is valid for one academic year, provided there is no enrollment at another institution. If the admitted student enrolls at another institution, he/she must reapply to FMU. Provisionally admitted students who defer enrollment must reapply. FMU accepts SAT (critical reading and math) and ACT test scores. The University also administers an institutional SAT (ISAT) and an institutional ACT (Residual ACT) to incoming students who have not taken the SAT or ACT in high school or who need to improve their scores. Scores from the ISAT and Residual ACT can be used only at FMU and cannot be transferred elsewhere. Neither the ISAT nor the Residual ACT can be used to qualify for the LIFE scholarship. The cost for either test is $50. Prospective students should call the Office of Counseling and Testing to schedule an appointment. The University accepts credit for Advanced Placement, CLEP, and International Baccalaureate. Please see the Academic Information chapter in this catalog for more information about these programs. Admissions categories and their specific requirements are listed on the following pages. The University reserves the right to make admission policy and fee changes. The following are requirements for general admission to the University. First-time freshman applicants will be evaluated on successfully completed college preparatory courses, high school grade-point average, and SAT (critical reading and math) or ACT scores. Special talents and other relevant factors, including extracurricular activities and service to community, will enhance an application but not overcome a poor academic record. In addition to the application and application fee, freshman applicants should submit the following:
NOTE: First-time freshmen who are missing one required high school course, provided it is not in English or math, may be admitted to the University on a provisional basis.Students must successfully complete a college course in the area in which they are deficient during the summer session prior to their first semester of enrollment or during their first year of attendance.Students missing more than one required course will not be admitted. Students who are denied admission to the University may appeal the decision to the Admissions, Advising, and Retention Committee. To make an appeal, the applicant should prepare a typed letter addressed to the attention of the Director of Admissions. The letter should explain why reconsideration of the admissions decision is warranted and should clearly describe any extenuating circumstances that will help the committee determine the applicant’s suitability for admission. The committee meets several times each semester. Back to Table of ContentsTransfer applicants must submit an application, the required $30 application fee, and have official transcripts sent from high school as well as each college attended. Test scores are not required for applicants who have earned at least 22 hours of college-transferable work. A 2.0 cumulative college grade point average is required. From Other PostSecondary Institutions The maximum amount of credit acceptable upon transfer is 65 semester hours from institutions accredited as junior colleges or two-year institutions. Transfer students are reminded of FMU's residence requirements, which stipulate that at least the last 36 semester hours of course credits must be taken in residence at FMU within five calendar years preceding the date the degree is granted. Also see residence requirements for students pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Transfer Students Who Previously Attended FMU Associate of Arts or Associate of Science Transfer Policy International students must be proficient in English and academically proficient in their own countries before they are accepted to FMU. The course of study must include course selections from English, history, mathematics, and science, and the application must include appropriate test scores. International students should attain the educational equivalent of an American high school diploma to be considered for admission to FMU. Further information about these requirements can be obtained from the educational system in the applicant's own country or from the Office of Admissions at FMU. International Student Acceptance Deadlines All International degree-seeking students must be accepted to FMU by: July 1 to begin classes in the Fall Semester. November 1 to begin classes in the Spring Semester. April 1 to begin classes in the Late Spring and Summer Semesters. Students are encouraged to apply to the university as early as possible to allow ample time to complete their application before these deadlines. The following steps must be completed in order for international students to be considered for admission to FMU:
In some instances students who are transferring from other postsecondary educational institutions in the United States may be accepted for admission to FMU without TOEFL scores. This could occur if the student has a high verbal score on the SAT and/or acceptable grades on freshman English courses at the institution from which the student is transferring. Admission to undergraduate courses for one semester or summer session may be granted to students from other colleges and universities whose courses of study have been approved by their academic deans or registrars. Transient students must complete an undergraduate Application for Admission, and transient permission from the student's home institution must be received in writing by the FMU Office of Admissions prior to enrolling. CONCURRENTLY ENROLLED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS High school students who want to take one or more FMU courses must:
Teacher Cadets must submit an application for admission along with a recommendation from the high school that is based on the Center for Education Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA) criteria for eligibility in the Teacher Cadet Program. Admission will be for EDUC 290 only. The $30 application fee will be waived. The Honors Program at Francis Marion University gives gifted students in all majors the opportunity to work with the faculty in small and stimulating classes, engage in interdisciplinary study that synthesizes knowledge from different disciplines, and achieve their full intellectual potential. Participants in the Honors Program are encouraged to take an active role in the learning process and to be active learners, critical thinkers, and contributing members of today's global society. Initial eligibility for the Honors Program is determined by SAT scores. A minimum score of 1100 on the SAT (critical reading and math) qualifies an entering student for the Honors Program. Second-semester freshmen must earn an overall grade point average of 3.0 in order to become or remain eligible for the Honors Program. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors must earn an overall grade point average of 3.25 in order to become or remain eligible for the Honors Program. Students who have not attended continuously one or more semesters (fall or spring) and have not attended another postsecondary institution since leaving FMU must reapply by submitting an application for admission, which may be obtained in the Office of Admissions. ADULT STUDENTS WITH NO PRIOR COLLEGE COURSEWORK (DEGREE SEEKING) Students who are at least 25 years old and who have not attempted any prior college coursework, regardless of the length of time they have been out of school, are eligible for consideration under the Adult Student Admission Policy. Students applying to FMU under this policy must have a high school diploma or equivalent. If an adult student has prior college coursework, then the transfer student admission requirements must be met. (See Transfer Student in this section.) Adult students with no prior college coursework must submit the following:
Prior to enrollment, students admitted as adult students will take placement tests in English and Mathematics for accurate placement in these areas. Adult students may receive academic credit for life experience by CLEP or foreign language examinations. FMU recognizes home schooling as an alternative to traditional high school. Home-schooled students are required to meet regular standards for admission. In order for college preparatory work to be considered, home schools in South Carolina must be recognized by one of the state's Home School Supervisory Associations. Home-schooled applicants from out of state will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and should document home-school affiliations from their home state. In order to apply for status as a non-degree seeking student, the applicant must submit an application and proof of high school graduation or its equivalent. Non-degree seeking students wishing to change their enrollment status to degree-seeking must meet University admission requirements. No more than 30 semester hours earned as a non-degree seeking student may be applied toward a degree.Applicants who are veterans must meet applicable University admission requirements. South Carolina law authorizes state-supported colleges and universities to permit legal residents of South Carolina who are 60 years old or older, providing such persons do not receive compensation as full-time employees, to attend classes for credit or non-credit on a space available basis without the required payment of general University fees. While the application fee and general University fees are waived for these persons, all other fees must be paid. FMU recognizes that the choice to attend college is one of the most important decisions a person can make. The University also recognizes that this decision has an impact upon a student's entire family. In response to this unique time in the life of a student and his/her family, parents and/or guardians are encouraged to attend FMU's Orientation Program with their students. Each program includes information regarding academic advising and registration. Students and their families have an opportunity to meet with faculty, staff, and students during this orientation. Information sessions are also provided to assist students as they prepare for the transition from high school to college. The Orientation Program is required for all new freshmen and transfer students. The cost of the Orientation Program is covered by the Matriculation Deposit with additional charges for an extra guest or an overnight stay.
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