Muhlenberg College is committed to the ideal of excellent standards of scholarship. The College selects students who give evidence of ability and scholastic achievement, seriousness of purpose, quality of character and the capacity to make constructive contributions to the College community. Careful consideration is given to each applicant as a scholar and as a person, with the object being to assemble a class that is academically talented and diversified.

Admission Requirements

Admission to Muhlenberg is based upon a thorough review of each candidate's scholastic performance records and personal qualities. There is no precise admissions "formula;" various factors are carefully considered in each decision made by the Admission Committee. The following credentials are of primary importance:

Secondary School Record

The minimum requirement is the satisfactory completion of a secondary school college preparatory program of at least 16 Carnegie units. These units should include four of English, two (preferably three) of one foreign language, three of mathematics, two (preferably three) of science, two of history and major academic electives. Exceptions to these requirements will be considered on an individual basis in cases of documented learning disability, home schooling or other exceptional situations.

The Admission Committee recognizes and encourages secondary school enrollment in accelerated and advanced placement courses. The strength of an applicant's four-year secondary school program and achievement is of utmost importance in each admissions decision.

Standardized Tests

Results of the SAT or ACT  are evaluated in the conjunction with the applicant's secondary school record. Test results are requested as an additional indication of potential for academic success at the college level. Non-U.S. citizens for whom English is not the first language should submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

In the Spring of 1996, the Muhlenberg faculty and Board of Trustees voted to make the SAT and ACT an optional part of the admissions process on a five-year experimental basis. Students choosing not to submit the SAT or ACT are required instead to complete an SAT-optional supplement and to provide a graded paper with the teacher's grade and comments on it. Such students also are required to interview with a member of the Admission staff. Students wishing to be considered for non-need merit awards and/or honors programs at Muhlenberg, as well as our various cooperative programs with other institutions, must submit the results of the SAT or ACT testing. Additional details regarding Muhlenberg's optional standardized testing policy are available from the Office of Admission and are included in each application packet.

Personal Qualities

While the strength of an applicant's academic preparation is of primary consideration, the Admission Committee is also very interested in each applicant as an individual. Muhlenberg College is a small community that thrives upon the variety of contributions made by its members on all levels. The College therefore seeks students who will contribute to the campus personally as well as academically. Evidence of an applicant's personal qualities is considered through the breadth and depth of extracurricular pursuits, the personal essay and the recommendations from the student's school advisor and two teachers of major academic classes. A personal interview with a member of the Admission staff is also helpful in this regard.