In order to review applications with care and attention, we begin reviewing completed files even before the stated application deadline. For that reason, if you wish to change your testing plan (test optional or test included), we ask that you do so no later than the application deadline for your application plan. Requests should be made by e-mail to admission@centre.edu to be confirmed by a member of our staff. If you have a complication or change of heart after the deadline, contact us. We will work with individual cases if our process allows.
How We Decide
In making admission decisions, we give most weight to quality of high school coursework, achievement in those courses, and teacher evaluations. Application evaluation is complex and takes time.
Coursework
Most of our students completed high school programs with honors, advanced, AP, or IB courses. Competitive applicants will have taken the most demanding courses available at their high schools. The committee will consider carefully the applicant’s high school profile and the options offered at that school.
GPA
We recalculate each GPA using an unweighted, 4.0 scale. We include only core academic courses in the recalculation and will consider the trajectory of grades across the high school years.
Extracurricular Pursuits
Centre’s evaluation process places emphasis on steady involvement, leadership, and prominence of organizations and activities in which students are involved. Students should include any work experience on their application as well.
Application Essay
The essay allows the admission committee to get a more personal sense of the applicant. It should demonstrate the student’s ability to write a well-crafted piece.
Teacher Recommendation
We accept teacher recommendations from core academic course teachers who have taught the student in their sophomore, junior, or senior year.
Standardized Tests
Centre has adopted a test-optional admission policy for those applying for Fall 2021, 2022, and 2023. If a student chooses to apply without submitting test scores, other parts of the application will be weighed more heavily in our holistic, student-centered review process. Students who choose to apply without submitting an ACT or SAT score will still be given consideration for all merit scholarships, including premier scholarships. International students must still show proof of English proficiency.
See FAQ’s regarding Centre’s test-optional review process.
If a student would like us to consider their test scores in our review process, score reports may be sent from the respective testing services, included on a student’s high school transcript, or emailed to admission@centre.edu by your guidance counselor. An applicant can self-report scores by submitting a screenshot or PDF of the score report via email to admission@centre.edu.
Centre superscores both the SAT and the ACT, meaning that if you have taken either test more than once, you should submit all your scores, and we will add your highest section scores together to give you the highest possible combined score.
International applicants applying to Centre do not need to submit the SAT or ACT but must demonstrate proficiency in English. Official results from either the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (DET) are acceptable. Our required minimum for the TOEFL is 90, IELTS is 7.0 and DET is 115. Detailed information for international applicants is here.
College Credit in High School
Centre’s policies in these areas are designed to reward extraordinary achievement while at the same time supporting our belief that the best Centre College experience is a four-year experience. It is our philosophy that everything a student does prior to high school graduation is preparation for college, and all Centre students enter with exceptional academic credentials. Some of those credentials include college course work and others do not. Consequently, we limit the amount of credit first-year students can be awarded prior to their enrollment at the College.
Centre’s Pre-matriculation Policy
BULLETS:
- A maximum of 24 hours of pre-matriculation credits may be awarded to first-year students from all sources (e.g., Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, dual-credit, all other college credit).
- Credit will not be awarded for any course or examination completed prior to the start of the junior year in high school.
- Students who legitimately exceed the 24-hour limit may choose which credits will be awarded, and may adjust his or her choices later subject to the constraints of any other College policies.
- Regardless of credit granted, students must complete at least one general education course in residence in the following three areas: social studies, science and fundamental questions.
- Regardless of credit granted, individual major programs have the prerogative to place students in an appropriate course, to waive lower-level requirements, and to determine equivalencies to courses in their curriculum.
AP, IB, CLEP, & International Exam Credit
Centre awards a minimum of three hours of credit for scores of 4 or 5 on most Advanced Placement exams. Credit for foreign language requires validation by an institutional exam. Academic programs may award additional credit and assign course equivalencies.
American History 3 elective
Art History 3 ART 260 or 261
Art: Studio, drawing 3 elective; portfolio review for ARS110
Biology 4 elective
Chemistry 4 CHE131
Computer Science 3 elective; may bypass CSC117 with department approval
Economics: micro/macro 3 elective; ECO110 if 4 or 5 in both
English Literature and Composition 3 elective 4
Environmental Science 3 elective for 4; ENS210 for 5
European History 3 3 elective
French Language/Literature 61 FRE210, 220
German Language/Literature 61 GER210, 220
Government/Politics: American 3 elective
Government/Politics: Comparative 3 elective
Latin: Vergil/Cat.-Horace 61 CLA210, 220
Music Theory 3 MUS110
Calculus AB 3 MAT170
Calculus BC 6 MAT170, 1712
Physics B 4 PHY110
Physics C 4 elective (PHY110 if 4 or 5 in both)
Psychology 4 PSY110
Spanish Language/Literature 61 SPA210, 220
Statistics 3 MAT130
World History 3 3 elective