Application Requirements

How do I arrange a campus visit?

Agnes Scott welcomes prospective students throughout the year, with the exception of exam times, holiday breaks, and when campus is closed. Read about our visit programs and choose the best option for you.

How do I apply to Agnes Scott?

Our admission requirements vary depending on the category of student. Follow the link that best describes you:

• U.S. high school students
• Transfer students & nontraditional students
• International students
• High school joint enrollment

What courses should I be taking if I want to attend Agnes Scott?

You need to have a solid base in the five major academic categories: math, science, English, social studies and foreign language. It is also advisable that you take at least a few college-level courses, whether they be AP/IB classes or a dual-enrollment course at a local college. Other than these general guidelines, there are no specific courses that the admission committee expects.

What are you looking for in an applicant?

The admission office is looking for students who have proven academic capabilities and who have dedicated themselves to extracurricular activities that are important to them. The admission committee will evaluate the courses each student has taken relative to the courses offered at their high school, looking for evidence that they have taken academically challenging courses. Consistent achievement in high school is one of the best indicators of how well a student will perform at Agnes Scott. Other factors the committee considers include involvement in a few select extracurricular activities such as school clubs, community or religious groups, athletics or the arts. The committee also notes any honors or awards a student has received and any part-time work in which they are engaged.

Does Agnes Scott accept AP or IB credit?

Yes, Agnes Scott will offer credit for certain scores on AP and IB exams. View our current AP Credit Policy and our IB Credit Policy.

How important are SAT or ACT scores in your admission decision?

Agnes Scott is a test optional institution. Students may choose if they wish for us to evaluate an SAT or ACT score, and no penalty is incurred should students wish to proceed without test scores. We review applications holistically based on several factors, including courses taken, grades received, college essay, activities and honors, recommendations, and, if submitted, test scores. Test scores are not required to be submitted to qualify for merit-based or need-based scholarships or financial aid.

Do you require an on-campus interview?

The Office of Admission recommends an interview prior to application, either in-person or virtually, with your admission counselor. These are informal discussions where we can get to know you and your interests, as well as an opportunity for you to ask your admission counselor questions you may have about Agnes Scott College.

What is the FAFSA? Is it required?

The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and is required for you to be considered for need-based assistance. Families who do not believe they will be eligible for need-based assistance should still consider filling out the FAFSA, because they may be eligible for some assistance and having a FAFSA on file allows Agnes Scott to consider a student for institutional aid. Learn more about financial aid at Agnes Scott.

Is there a deadline to apply for financial aid?

We recommend submitting the FAFSA by your application deadline. To qualify for our best academic merit scholarships, we encourage students to apply and submit a FAFSA by February 1 (for 2024). Transfer and nontraditional students are also encouraged to submit a FAFSA by their application deadline, but we must receive a valid FAFSA no less than two months prior to the start of the student's first semester to qualify for financial aid.

How is financial need determined?

The FAFSA first estimates how much your family can contribute to your education, then determines if your family is eligible for federal assistance. Agnes Scott receives FAFSA results for each student who completed the FAFSA, and based upon that information, aid eligibility is calculated. The aid may consist of one or more of the following types: scholarships, grants, loans and work study. Students and their families have the option to accept or decline any part of a financial aid package.

What are the tuition, room and board and other expenses?

See our Cost of Attendance webpage for current fees.

Will my financial aid award change from year to year?

Financial aid packages reflect a family’s financial situation each year, so you must re-submit the FAFSA each year. If your family’s financial circumstances have changed during the previous year, it is possible that your need-based assistance will reflect the change. However, merit-based scholarships do not change in relation to a family’s financial situation.

Yes, you will have the opportunity to double major or design a major at Agnes Scott.

Self-designed majors are for students who want to use the current curriculum at Agnes Scott to create a distinct major. Students interested in designing a major must write a proposal, seek a faculty mentor and have their proposal approved by the faculty executive board. Two self-designed majors that were recently approved are in East Asian Studies and in Latin American and Caribbean Studies.

Do you offer academic advising?

Yes, students will be assigned a SUMMIT Advisor and peer advisors the summer before their first semester. Your SUMMIT Advisor will help you select the courses best suited to achieve your ultimate career and/or graduate school goals. Learn more about SUMMIT Advising at Agnes Scott.

Who will be my advisor?

All students at Agnes Scott have a number of assigned advisors to guide them in creating a unique liberal arts experience reflective of their particular interests and goals. Students will have a SUMMIT Advisor, or staff academic advisor, for all four years of their experience. For the first semester, there is also access to peer advising to learn from current Scotties. Both SUMMIT advising and peer advising will begin before the start of the first semester. When students declare a major, they will add a Faculty Advisor in their major program, with possibilities of more than one in the case of double majoring, pre-health tracks or pre-law tracks. Throughout the entire academic experience, students will have access to the Office of Internship and Career Services to work with their career coaches and advisors, as well as to connect with alumni in their field who may serve as mentors.

Do you offer study abroad programs?

Yes,  Agnes Scott offers a variety of faculty-led and independent study abroad programs that will enhance your area of student and fit your academic schedule throughout your undergraduate experience.

Do you offer independent research, collaborative research with members of the faculty or independent study?

Yes, Agnes Scott encourages independent and collaborative research. Many departments offer an upper-level seminar in which majors choose a topic to develop into a senior paper or presentation or in which they work with a professor on research. You will also have the unique opportunity to present your research at our Spring Annual Research Conference (SpARC). On this day in April, all classes are canceled so that students can attend the lectures given by their classmates.

Some professors have students assist with their own research. At a larger institution, these collaborative opportunities would go to graduate students, but at Agnes Scott, our focus is on undergraduates. Students will have the opportunity to be involved at every level, from research development to potential publishing or presentation.

What do students do with a liberal arts degree after graduation?

Agnes Scott students make their mark through a variety of post-college plans—they join the work force, enter graduate school or enlist with programs like the Peace Corps, JET or Teach for America. Whatever an Agnes Scott student does after graduation, their liberal arts degree has given them the tools to think and adapt in an ever-changing, global society.

Agnes Scott graduates are employed in a wide variety of settings, including General Mills, Turner Broadcasting, Federal Reserve Bank, Hewitt Associates, the Environmental Protection Agency and Time Warner.

According to Agnes Scott’s Senior Survey, about 25 percent of each graduating class plans to go directly to graduate or professional school. Recent graduate or professional programs that have accepted ASC students include Harvard, New York University, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Texas, University of Michigan, Emory University and University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. In addition, graduates go into fellowships including Fulbright, Jack Kent Cooke and Emerson.

Learn more about the Office of Internships and Career Development.

I’m not so sure about attending an inclusive women’s college. What’s it like?

Most graduates of women’s colleges will probably say that they never saw themselves attending a women's college. Post-graduation, research shows that the women's college experience is almost uniformly positive.

In “Four Critical Years,” Alexander Astin found that students in women's colleges “become more academically involved, interact with faculty frequently, show increases in intellectual self-esteem and are more satisfied with practically all aspects of the college experience compared with their counterparts in coeducational institutions. Women’s colleges increase the chances that women will obtain positions of leadership, complete the baccalaureate degree and aspire to higher degrees.”

When a student looks around, they see classmates and friends who, just by coincidence, are all women and gender minorities. Where else but an inclusive women’s college can every student leadership role be held by someone not historically given the chance to lead? This gives power and voice to many students who may not have had the opportunity to lead and who want the experience.

What is the environment like at Agnes Scott?

Agnes Scott College is a close-knit community where professors and students interact on a daily basis. Located in Decatur, GA, a historic residential community six miles from downtown Atlanta, Agnes Scott students have the best of both worlds, a small-town feel on campus inside a large metropolitan city.

What opportunities do you offer for internships and other experiential learning?

Because Atlanta is a thriving metropolitan city, there are an enormous variety of internships and experiential learning opportunities to explore career opportunities. The Office of Internships and Career Development supports students looking for one of these experiences. Agnes Scott students have interned at organizations including CNN, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, High Museum of Art, Merrill Lynch and The Carter Center. Learn more about internship opportunities here.

What kinds of student activities are available?

Agnes Scott provides a full range of activities, including competitive athletics, intramural clubs, recreational athletics, academic clubs, musical groups, publications, service organizations, social clubs, religious groups and political alliances. Membership varies by organization but generally is open to any interested student.

Where do Agnes Scott students live?

Agnes Scott requires all students, except Woodruff Scholars, to live in campus housing. Any exception must be approved by the Director of Residential Life. Students living within 30 miles of campus who live with their parent(s)/guardian(s) may apply for approval to commute. A variety of options are available to students based on their class standing, from traditional residence halls to theme houses and apartment living.

Can I have a car on campus?

All students, including first-years, may bring a car to campus. You must purchase a parking permit at the beginning of the school year from the Department of Public Safety. Cars are not necessary to get around campus. On our 100-acre campus, it takes a maximum of 10 minutes to walk anywhere. Additionally, the city public transportation system, MARTA, has a train station in downtown Decatur, a 10-minute walk from campus. MARTA can take you to the airport and to many of the places you want to go in metro Atlanta.

How does Atlanta benefit a college student? Do Agnes Scott students have access to Atlanta?

Atlanta offers a wide range of internship and employment opportunities, as well as cultural and recreational events. Atlanta is also the home of over 20 metro area colleges and universities. Students can cross register for courses through the Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education (ARCHE).

What’s the social life like at Agnes Scott?

Social life at Agnes Scott is what you decide it will be. You can spend nights and weekends watching movies and eating popcorn with friends. You can go to Georgia Tech football games in the fall with plenty of others excited to join you. And, you can take a leadership role in a student organization or get involved in the college’s many community service activities.

One thing that social life is not at Agnes Scott, though, is imposing. There is not one particular culture or activity that defines the campus. You decide what your social life will be. You may decide to attend on-campus events and gatherings, go to parties around town or just spend a quiet evening on campus—it’s your choice!

How safe is the campus and surrounding area?

The on-campus Department of Public Safety works hard to maintain an atmosphere of peace and safety. The department is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by police officers who are certified by the State of Georgia and have full enforcement authority. The jurisdiction for the department includes all property owned or leased by Agnes Scott and extends 500 yards beyond the boundaries of the main campus; this allows officers to establish a perimeter around the school by patrolling adjacent streets in addition to the campus. This high visibility helps to discourage crime.

What services does the career planning office provide?

The Office of Internship and Career Development provides:

• Career interest and personality assessment for deciding majors and career goals
• Experiential learning opportunities, including the mentoring program, internships, externships and career observation days
• Resume workshops, clinics and an annual employer-judged exhibit
• Career fairs
• Part-time and summer job opportunities
• Graduate-school advising through individual meetings and group workshops
• An alumnae network for information gathering, interest verification and referrals
• Life skills education to help enhance your career satisfaction, including etiquette and dress for success dinners and senior transitions programming

What health services are available on campus?

Agnes Scott’s Wellness Center is located on the ground floor of Hopkins Hall and is open Monday through Friday. The Wellness Center offers comprehensive services including health and counseling services, consultation, education, stress management, massage therapy, nutritional counseling, dermatology and psychiatric care. Most services are free for students.

Can I participate in athletics?

Agnes Scott competes in six NCAA Division III sports: basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. Interested student-athletes should visit the athletics website for more information. Additionally, there are a number of recreational activities for students including yoga, triathlon training and rock climbing.

What should I do in case of an emergency?

Contact Agnes Scott's Office of Public Safety at 404.471.6355. They will be able to locate your student or their resident advisor or advise you in case of an emergency.

Where can students get proof of enrollment?

Students may receive a letter of certification from the Office of the Registrar, who may be contacted at 404.471.6289. This cannot be given until the student is attending classes in their first semester.

What is involved in the study abroad program?

The study abroad experience provides students with new perspectives on a global level and gives them clarity in pursuing their academic and career endeavors. Check out the Center for Global Learning.

What should I do if my student is having academic problems?

Students should contact the Office of Academic Advising and Office of Accessible Education or their SUMMIT Advisor to be connected with appropriate resources. In addition, tutoring, resources, and additional support are available through our various learning centers.

Are residence halls closed during breaks?

Yes, residence halls close for the semester and spring breaks, but students do not need to remove their belongings. Students must register for the Thanksgiving break if they plan to stay on campus. In certain approved situations, students may apply to stay in housing during semester and spring breaks.

What if problems develop with my student’s roommate or hallmates?

Your student should contact the resident assistant in their hall. RAs are upper-class students who live in the halls and are trained in roommate mediation and conflict resolution. RAs and RDs work with the Director of Residential Life on any larger conflicts and problems or when a room change is needed. Professional staff members work with the student to find the right solution.

What is the best way to get around Atlanta and Decatur?

MARTA is Atlanta's public transportation system; buses stop near campus and a train station is located in downtown Decatur, a 10-minute walk from campus. The Center for Student Involvement also coordinates the Scottie Shuttle, a free shuttle system for students with a different schedule daily.

When are tuition payments due?

Tuition and fees for the fall term are due by August 1; spring term fees are due by December 15. All accounts not paid in full by the deadline will be assessed a late fee. Enrolled students are able to grant parents or guardians access to their student account to view and pay bills. This process must be completed by the student in the tuition management system.