Colby admits students as candidates for the degree of bachelor of arts. Admission is highly selective, and evaluation is based on data concerning academic achievement and ability, as well as qualities of intellectual promise, interest and excitement in learning, character, and maturity.

The College actively seeks applicants who have special qualities or talents to contribute to the Colby community, as well as those who represent diverse geographical, racial, religious, and economic backgrounds. Such candidates are expected to be within acceptable ranges of academic ability and preparation.

The quality of a candidate’s preparation is judged by the academic record, references from school administrators and teachers, and results of tests administered by The College Board or by the American College Testing Program.

To ensure a common educational base, a minimum of 16 academic preparatory units is strongly recommended, including four years of English, at least three of a single foreign language, three of college preparatory mathematics, two of history or social studies, two of laboratory science, and two years of other college preparatory electives.

Colby supports the efforts of secondary school officials and governing bodies to have their schools achieve regional accredited status, in order to provide reliable assurance of the quality of the educational preparation of its applicants for admission.

Eighty-four percent of the members of the Class of 1999 graduated in four years. The six-year graduation rate of the Class of 1997 was 88 percent.

December 1: Deadline for filing applications for midyear transfer admission. Notification: December 31.

January 1: Deadline for filing applications for winter option early decision admission and financial aid. Notification: January 31.

January 15: Deadline for filing applications for regular admission.

March 1: Deadline for filing fall transfer applications and financial aid requests. Notification: May 15.

April 1: Notification of action by admissions committee and of financial aid awards to the applicants for first-year student admission who did not apply early decision.

May 1: Admitted regular applicants confirm intention to attend Colby by payment of $300 advance tuition deposit.

Interviews  Interviews, though not required, are recommended and are available on campus from May 1 to mid-January. Appointments may be scheduled between 8:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. on weekdays and on most Saturday mornings in the fall.

Interviews with alumni can be arranged for students who are unable to visit the campus and who would like additional personal contact and information about the College.

Campus Visits  A visit to Colby is encouraged. Guides are normally available at the Admissions Office on weekdays, and tours may be arranged on many Saturday mornings in the fall. A list of motels near the campus is available from the Admissions Office.

High school seniors who wish to spend a night on campus may do so through the Colby Host Program. The program operates five days a week (Sunday through Thursday) during selected months of the academic year. Requests for accommodations through the host program should be directed to the Admissions Office. Accommodations are limited to one night.

For those driving, Colby is located near exit 33 of I-95. Waterville also may be reached by bus, by air to nearby Augusta, or by airport limousine from the Portland Jetport or the Bangor International Airport.

Tests  Colby requires either the College Board SAT-I Reasoning Test or the ACT tests. Submission of the College Board SAT-II Subject Tests is optional, but a foreign language Subject Test is recommended for students seeking to fulfill the College’s language requirement in this manner. All required tests must be taken no later than January of the senior year. Early decision candidates must take these tests earlier in their senior year or in their junior year. Applicants must request that test results be sent to Colby directly from the appropriate testing agency. Students taking the College Board tests should contact College Board SATProgram, P.O. Box 6200, Princeton, NJ 08541-6200. Students taking ACT tests should make requests to ACT, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, IA 52243. The Colby College test code is 3280.

Advanced Standing  Colby participates in the Advanced Placement Program of The College Board, providing academic credit for students qualified for advanced standing. Those interested take the College Board advanced placement tests and have the results submitted to Colby for evaluation. Students scoring 4 or 5 receive credit from the College. Scores of 3 and below are evaluated by the appropriate academic department. Students who earn between 15 and 29 hours of advanced placement credit may, upon application, use that credit to count toward one semester of the eight-semester residency requirement. Students who earn 30 hours or more may, upon application, count those credits toward two semesters of the eight-semester residency requirement.

Colby also recognizes the International Baccalaureate and offers advanced placement and credit based on individual Higher Level examination results as well as performance on the full IB Diploma program. At the discretion of individual academic departments, advanced placement and credit may be earned for scores of 5, 6, and 7 on Higher Level examinations. Students may earn up to a full semester of standing in this manner. A full year of credit may be earned for an IB Diploma point total of 34 or better, assuming all examination scores are 5 or better.

Finally, students who receive an A or B (superior level) on A-levels or comparable scores on the Leaving Certificate (Ireland), the Arbitur (Germany), or the Baccalaureate (France) may be eligible for credit and advanced placement. Credits will be granted in consultation with the appropriate department and only after the student has shown satisfactory progress during his or her first semester at Colby.

Early Admission  A small number of students are admitted without completing the senior year of secondary school. This is done only with the recommendation of the secondary school. Considerations of academic and personal maturity are important to the candidate and to the College in earlier-than-usual admission.

Midyear Admission  Each year more sophomore and junior Colby students study off campus during the second semester than during the fall, and 40 to 45 spaces for incoming students usually become available at the beginning of the January term. A student who applied for admission in the fall semester may be offered admission for midyear. For these students Colby offers three fall semester abroad options, which are described on page 31. A student who participates in one of the College’s fall-semester-abroad programs enters Colby with a group of friends acquired through the program and with enough credits to progress toward the degree at the same pace as his or her classmates.

Transfer Students and Veterans  First consideration in admission is for first-year students, but some transfer students are accepted each year. Admission by transfer is open to those with strong academic and personal records from accredited colleges or universities. Transfer application forms may be obtained from the Admissions Office.

Credits from accredited institutions are generally accepted for courses comparable to those offered at Colby in which grades of C or better are received. No more than 60 transferable semester credit hours may be applied toward a Colby degree.

Veterans may request advanced standing consideration for completion of service schools in advance of matriculation. Credit is not granted for military service or College Level Educational Program (CLEP) tests.

Health Records No student will be allowed to register, attend classes, or participate in any campus activities, including COOT (Colby Outdoor Orientation Trips), until health and immunization records have been received and approved by the Garrison-Foster Health Center. Documentation of a physical examination and of a TB skin test within the past six months is required. Proof of the following immunizations is also required: tetanus and diphtheria–primary series plus booster within 10 years, polio series plus booster, and two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines given after the first birthday. Not required but recommended is the hepatitis B series. Chicken pox and meningitis vaccines may be available through a home health care provider.

Maine state law requires that immunization records be complete, showing month, day, and year that immunizations were given, and that they include the signature and address of the health care provider; a valid copy of school immunization records or hospital/clinic records may also be acceptable. Details can be found in the Immunization Policy mailed to all students. If proof cannot be obtained, vaccines should be administered again by your health care provider before coming to Colby. Physical exams and immunization forms are expected to be completed by July 15.

Nonmatriculated Students Application to enroll as a nonmatriculated student must be made to the dean of admissions, who has the responsibility for the admission of all students. Registration in individual courses requires the approval of the course instructor and may be limited; matriculated students have priority in admission to courses with limited enrollments.

All persons seeking to take courses for credit must present evidence that they are qualified to pursue the intended courses and must pay the established fee. A limited number of gifted Waterville-area secondary school students may be recommended by their schools to take a course. Adults from the immediate Waterville area who are not degree candidates may qualify to take courses at one half the usual fee or may audit courses at no charge.

Persons wishing to enroll as auditing students must also apply to the dean of admissions and are referred to the section "Auditing Courses" on page 40.

International Students  Colby has traditionally encouraged the enrollment of students from other countries and is actively engaged in programs of international cooperation and exchange. Applicants to Colby must be able to understand and be understood in English. Oral and writing skills are essential for successful work at Colby. Colby requires the SAT-I Reasoning Test or the American College Test (ACT), if either of these tests is offered in a student’s home country. In addition, applicants whose native language is not English, who have attended a school in which the medium of instruction is not English, must submit the official results of the SAT-II Subject Test in Writing (English) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Submission of other SAT-II Subject Test results is optional. Arrangements may be made to take these examinations in various centers throughout the world by writing to College Board SATProgram, P.O. Box 6200, Princeton, NJ 08541-6200, U.S.A. To ensure that the results are sent promptly to Colby, please use the Colby College code, 3280. United States embassies and consular offices can provide pertinent information about these examinations. These offices often have booklets describing the tests and may have practice tests for applicants’ use.

Financial aid for international students is available in limited amounts. Applicants for financial aid should complete the Foreign Student’s Financial Aid Application and Declaration Form, which, upon request, is sent with Colby admissions materials. All applications are due in the Admissions Office, with supporting documents, by January 15.

An associate dean of students is responsible for intercultural activities, and an assistant dean of students is responsible for international activities and serves as the adviser to international students on immigration matters. An intensive English Bridge Program during the fall semester serves conditionally admitted students whose TOEFL or other verbal scores are below Colby’s minimum for acceptance. Individual English language tutoring is available to any international student at any time during the academic year.