Students must submit high school transcripts and ACT* or SAT* scores. Students are required to complete the College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC listed below and meet ACT or SAT requirements.)
Admission of entering freshmen is based on the completion of the College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) specified below with either a specific minimum grade-point average (GPA) or both a specific GPA and minimum standard test score. Students must submit a high school transcript reflecting satisfactory completion of the following College Prep Curriculum requirements. (Provisional admission may be granted with a seven-semester high school transcript provided the transcript indicates that courses to complete the CPC are underway; final admission will require a complete transcript.) The high school CPC requirements set forth below are applicable to students graduating from high school beginning with the spring of 1996 and are subject to change in accordance with the Institutions of Higher Learning.
| Carnegie Subject | Units | Contents and Remark |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | Courses must require substantial communication skills (i.e., reading, writing, listening and speaking). |
| Mathematics | 3 | Algebra I or its equivalent plus two math units higher than Algebra I |
| Science | 3 | Biology I or its equivalent plus two units higher than Biology I |
| Social Studies | 3 | United States History (1 unit), World History (1 unit), Government (1/2 unit), and Economics (1/2 unit) or Introduction to World Geography (1/2 unit) |
| Advanced Electives | 2 | Option 1: Foreign Language I and Foreign Language II Option 2: Foreign Language I and Advanced World Geography Option 3: Any combination of English, Mathematics higher than Algebra I, Science higher than Biology I, Advanced Elective category, any AP course, any IB course |
| Technology | 1/2 | The course should emphasize the use of technology as a productivity tool. Instruction should include utilizing various forms of technology to create, collaborate, organize, and publish information. The application of technology as a productivity tool, rather than specific hardware and/or software packages should be the focus of the course. |
| Arts | 1 | Includes any one Carnegie unit (or two 1/2 units) of visual and performing arts course(s) meeting the requirements for high school graduation. |
| Pre-High School Units | Courses taken prior to high school will be accepted for admission provided the course earns Carnegie credit and the content is the same as the high school course. |
Mississippi residents who fail to meet full admission standards as listed above may, as a result of review, be admitted to the fall or summer semester. The review shall involve a consideration of high school performance, ACT/SAT scores, placement testing, and special interests and skills, as well as other non-academic factors. If the initial review indicates inadequate readiness in English, reading, or mathematics, applicants may be required to participate in counseling and testing, which will be held on campus prior to the beginning of the summer session. Applicants who successfully complete the counseling and testing program may be admitted to the university.
*All entering freshmen with the following subtest scores will be required to take remedial courses in the respective subject area: English-16, Math-18, Reading-18.
High school students who desire to enter The W prior to high school graduation must meet one of the following criteria:
Admission of entering home-schooled freshmen requires an official home school transcript reflecting satisfactory completion of the College Prep Curriculum and a minimum GPA. The student must also submit official ACT or SAT scores. Students who do not have official transcripts must submit a portfolio showing work completed and official ACT or SAT scores to warrant evaluation. As part of their evaluation, students may be asked to complete a screening test to assist the institution in its admission decision.
Applicants who have not graduated from a regionally accredited high school and were not home-schooled must submit qualifying scores on the General Education Development Test (GED) and any transcripts reflecting academic performance in high school. Submission of scores on ACT (minimum 18 composite) or SAT (minimum 970 or higher) are also required.
Mississippi residents who fail to successfully complete the counseling and testing program may be admitted with the requirement that they enroll in the Summer Developmental Program. This is an intensive program that concentrates on those high school subject areas (writing, reading, and mathematics) essential to success in first-year college courses. Students who successfully complete this summer program will be allowed to continue in the fall term with mandatory participation in the Academic Support Program during their freshman year. Developmental courses taken during the Summer Developmental Program are remedial and neither count toward a degree nor are computed in a student's grade point average.
Students who fail to successfully complete the Summer Developmental Program will be counseled to explore other post-secondary opportunities.
Please note the following Board Policy Statements from the Institutions of Higher Learning:
Certificate of Admission (Policy Statement Subsection 606)
Each applicant to any university within the system must receive and have in his possession a letter or certificate of admission signed by the officer designated by the Institutional Executive Officer of the university before presenting him/herself for registration. No student shall be permitted to register or attend classes without such certificate. No officer shall issue a letter or certificate of admission to any student whose application has not been completed in accordance with the regulations of the Board.
Rejection of Application (Policy Statement Subsection 607)
A. FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Applications containing false, contradictory, questionable, or uncertain data, or which fail to comply with the fundamental requirements or the policies of the institutions as established by the Board shall be rejected.
B. FRAUDULENT STATEMENTS AND REPRESENTATIONS
Whoever, with intent to defraud the state or any department, agency, office, board, commission, county, municipality or other subdivision of state or local government, knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals or covers up by trick, scheme or device a material fact, or makes any false, fictitious or fraudulent statements or representations, or makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or entry, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) or by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
This section shall not prohibit the prosecution under any other criminal statute of the state.