Chatham University offers personalized education, and professional admissions counselors consider each applicant as an individual. Prospective students are encouraged to contact the Office of Admissions directly for guidance and advice about their circumstances.

Admissions Procedures for First-Year Students

Admission to Chatham University is determined by the candidate’s academic record, her promise as a student at Chatham, and commitment to continued personal growth. Information provided by the student is reviewed by the Office of Admissions.

Admission to Chatham is based on a careful review of all credentials presented by the candidate. Chatham gives preference to students from a strong college preparatory background. Chatham encourages a minimum of four years of English, three years of mathematics, three years of science, and three years of social science. The meeting of minimum requirements does not itself ensure admission. Acceptance is contingent upon a candidate’s completion of secondary school requirements.

Application

Application forms may be obtained from the Chatham University, Office of Admissions, Woodland Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, 412-365-1290 or 800-837-1290; or by e-mail at admissions@chatham.edu Or via the web at www.chatham.edu. Chatham also accepts the Common Application for admission to the University. All application forms should be returned to the Office of Admissions with a nonrefundable application fee of $35. The application fee may be submitted by check or money order made payable to Chatham University.

Admission

First-year student admission is for applicants entering directly from high school, without enrolling in prior post-secondary course work (other than courses completed while attending high school).

Students accepted no later than April 15 and deposited by May 1 are guaranteed a place in the class and priority housing. In most cases, an applicant will receive notification of admission decision within two weeks following the completion of the application process. Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the application process by March 1 (for fall enrollment) to receive preferred consideration for Chatham’s generous financial aid programs.

First-year student applicants must submit the following:

• Completed application for admission
• Nonrefundable application fee of $35 (check or money order payable to Chatham University)
• Official high school transcripts
• SAT (Chatham code: 2081) or ACT (Chatham Code: 3538) scores
• Essay or writing sample
• One or more letters of recommendation from guidance counselor or teachers.

Students may apply using our SAT optional policy and choose not to submit their SAT scores at the time of application. If not submitting their scores, in additional to the required application materials, they must also submit the following:

• Résumé
• Graded essay
• Complete an on campus interview (highly recommended)
• Portfolio (optional)

If an applicant feels that these materials do not adequately represent her academic abilities or explain her academic history, she is encouraged to submit additional explanatory materials to strengthen her application.

Further, prospective students are strongly encouraged to arrange an admissions interview by calling for a personal tour and meeting with an admissions counselor. The Office of Admissions is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and selected Saturdays during the academic year (prospective students should call ahead for the availability of Saturday visits). Campus tours are offered Monday–Friday at 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 2:00 p.m. If it is not possible to schedule a campus visit, prospective students should contact the Office of Admissions to schedule an interview with an alumnae representative in their area.

Completed applications and supporting materials should be sent to Chatham University, Office of Admissions, Woodland Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15232.

Admissions Procedures for Transfer Students

Chatham University welcomes inquiries from transfer candidates from junior and community colleges and other four-year institutions in the United States as well as other countries. More than 25 percent of Chatham students are transfer students. Both the high school record and performance at the college level will be considered. (To apply as an international transfer student, see page 35.)

Application

Application forms may be obtained from the Office of Admissions, Chatham University, Woodland Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, 412-365-1290 or 800-837-1290; or by e-mail at admissions@chatham.edu. Prospective students may apply on-line at www.chatham.edu. Chatham also accepts the Common Application for admission to the University. All application forms should be returned to the Office of Admissions with a nonrefundable processing fee of $35. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. In most instances, candidates are notified of an admission decision within two weeks of the completion of the application process. In addition to the application, required materials include an official high school transcript, including standardized testing scores (SAT or ACT); official transcripts from all former institutions attended; essay or writing sample; and one or more letters of recommendation. Transfer students can apply using our SAT optional policy. If the student has over 24 transferable credits, they do not need to provide their high school transcript. A campus visit is strongly encouraged.

Transfer Credits

First-year candidates who have received college credit for college-level courses and who can produce an official transcript from an accredited college or university may expect to receive credit for courses within the liberal arts tradition for which she has earned a minimum of C-. A preliminary evaluation of transfer credits is made at the time of admission to provide the applicant with an indication of her class standing. A final evaluation is made by the Chatham registrar before registration.

All transfer credit must be submitted to the University prior to initial matriculation. Courses submitted for transfer after initial matriculation will not be accepted. This includes all AP credit, CLEP credit, and courses completed at previous institutions of higher education.