Freshmen
- What does the Admission Committee consider when making a decision for admission?
- What courses do you recommend incoming freshmen take in high school?
- What are the average GPA and SAT/ACT scores for the incoming class?
- Does Puget Sound accept Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate program courses for credit?
- How are homeschooled students evaluated in the admission process?
- When are applications due?
- How should I pay my application fee?
- What is Early Decision (E.D.)?
- Does the admission criteria change if I apply E.D.?
- What are the advantages of applying E.D.?
- What are the drawbacks of applying E.D.?
- Is E.D. binding?
- How do I declare myself an E.D. applicant?
- What is the difference between the E.D. I option and the E.D. II option?
- How many E.D. and Regular Admission applications do you receive each year and how many do you enroll?
- Are there different financial aid forms required for Early Decision vs. Regular Admission?
- If I apply E.D., will I still be eligible for academic scholarships?
- When should I apply for financial aid?
- Do I need an interview? What if I cannot visit campus?
1. What does the Admission Committee consider when making a decision for admission?
In making admission decisions, the Admission Committee considers the following: content and rigor of high school course selection, grade point average, SAT I or ACT scores, class rank (if available), personal essay co-curricular interests, teacher and counselor recommendations and a recommended interview.
Admission is selective. The Office of Admission typically receives more than 5,000 applications for a freshman class of 675. Through our competitive admission process, we take great care to match an applicant's academic and personal accomplishments with our goal of enrolling an academically talented and diverse student body.
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2.What courses do you recommend incoming freshmen take in high school?
While there is not a set pre-college curriculum, the following courses will better prepare you for the quality of work required at Puget Sound:
- English: Four years
- Mathematics: Three or four years
- History/Social Studies: Three years
- Foreign Language: Two or three years of one language
- Natural/Physical/Laboratory Science: Three or four years
- Fine/Visual/Performing Arts: One year
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3. What are the average GPA and SAT/ACT scores for the incoming class?
The unweighted high school grade point average for the Puget Sound class of 2007 is 3.54. The average SAT verbal score is 638 and the average SAT math score is 616; the middle 50% ranges from 1170 to 1350. The average ACT composite score is between a 27 and a 28.
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4. Does Puget Sound accept Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate program courses for credit?
The University encourages student achievement in the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs. Through the Advanced Placement program, we will award college credit to students who have earned scores of 4 or 5, and in some areas of 3, on their examinations. In the International Baccalaureate program, college credit is awarded for higher level examinations with scores of 5 or above.
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5. How are homeschooled students evaluated in the admission process?
Puget Sound is dedicated to working with homeschooled students and giving them every chance of success. Please call the office of admission to speak with an admission counselor about our evaluation of homeschooled student applications.
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6. When are applications due?
The University offers both early and regular decision application plans. We encourage those who know Puget Sound is their first choice college to apply as an Early Decision applicant. Early Decision candidates receive attention for admission and financial aid in advance of regular admission applicants. All dates are postmarked dates.
Early Decision I
- Deadline: November 15
- Notification: December 15
Early Decision II
- Deadline: December 15
- Notification: January 15
Regular Admission
- Preference Deadline: February 1
- Notification: On or before April 1
- National Candidates Reply Date: May 1
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7. How should I pay my application fee?
The application fee for freshman admission is $40. Depending on the type of application you use, you have several options for paying this fee. Any checks sent to the University should be made out to the University of Puget Sound and sent to:
University of Puget Sound
Office of Admission
1500 North Warner Street #1062
Tacoma, WA 98416-1062
Puget Sound Paper Application
- Please submit a check payable to the University of Puget Sound with your application. Include the student's full name on the memo line of the check.
- We are not able to accept credit card payments for paper application submissions.
Puget Sound Online Application
- If completing the Puget Sound Application, the fee must be submitted online before the Web site will allow the application to be sent. There are two ways to do this:
- Debit/credit card (US banks only)
- Check submitted online (US banks only)
Common Application Paper and Online Versions
- If you submit the paper Common Application, please mail a check payable to the University of Puget Sound. Include the student's full name on the memo line of the check.
- Submitting the Common Application online offers a credit card option for paying the application fee. If you are applying with a fee waiver, you may submit your common application without a payment. Simply send your fee waiver request to the Office of Admission at the address above.
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8. What is Early Decision (E.D.)?
Early Decision is designed for students who know the University of Puget Sound is their first-choice college and agree to attend if offered admission. Early Decision candidates receive consideration for admission, scholarships, financial aid and housing in advance of Regular Admission applicants.
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9. Does the admission criteria change if I apply E.D.?
The Office of Admission uses the same criteria for E.D. applicants as it does for Regular Admission applicants: content and rigor of high school course selection, grade point average, SAT I or ACT scores, class rank (if available), personal essay, co-curricular interests/leadership, teacher and counselor recommendations and a personal interview. It is also true that if you are an Early Decision applicant, the admission committee will give you additional consideration during the review process.
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10. What are the advantages of applying E.D.?
The benefits of applying E.D. are that you receive your admission decision much earlier than Regular Admission applicants, and your college search could be finished midway through your senior year of high school. Other advantages include advance notification of financial aid and consideration for Puget Sound scholarships and preference for placement in freshman class advising and housing.
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11. What are the drawbacks of applying E.D.?
The Early Decision plan works well for students who have selected Puget Sound as their first-choice college. If you are not certain of this decision, the Early Decision program may not be appropriate for you.
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12. Is E.D. binding?
Yes. As an E.D. applicant, you are expected to enroll at the University of Puget Sound if an Early Decision offer of admission is made. You also agree to withdraw all other college applications once this offer is made.
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13. How do I declare myself an E.D. applicant?
Simply by submitting the Application for Freshman Admission with the Early Decision Agreement completely filled-out and signed. If you are submitting the Common Application, you should include a letter indicating that you are applying Early Decision or attach the Early Decision Agreement from the University of Puget Sound Application for Freshman Admission completely filled-out and signed. You may apply Early Decision to only one college or university.
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14. What is the difference between the E.D. I option and the E.D. II option?
The primary difference between the two E.D. options is the date. The E.D. II option works well for students who have not had a chance to visit Puget Sound before the E.D. I deadline.
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15. How many E.D. and Regular Admission applications do you receive each year and how many do you enroll?
The Office of Admission receives approximately 200 Early Decision applications and enrolls approximately 150 students. For Regular Admission, the Office of Admission typically receives 5,000 applications for admission and enrolls 525 students. Puget Sound's freshman class numbers 675 students annually, allowing for an impressive 11:1 student-faculty ratio.
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16. Are there different financial aid forms required for Early Decision vs. Regular Admission?
Yes. Early Decision candidates should submit the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Financial Aid PROFILE for early tentative financial aid notification. For need-based financial aid consideration, Puget Sound requires submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which is available in your high school guidance office in December.
You may register for the CSS PROFILE via the Internet: www.collegeboard.org, or call The College Board toll-free at 800.778.6888 and include the University of Puget Sound (code #4067). You may also request a CSS PROFILE form from the University of Puget Sound Office of Admission by checking the appropriate box on the Early Decision Agreement of our Application for Freshman Admission.
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17. If I apply E.D., will I still be eligible for academic scholarships?
Yes. All prospective freshmen who apply for admission by the priority deadline of February 1, are automatically considered for merit and academic scholarships. These range from $3,000 to $13,000 and most are renewable annually. Additionally, Puget Sound offers scholarships for performance excellence in music, theatre, art and forensics. Several scholarships require the completion of a scholarship application form, while others do not. For a complete listing of scholarship and financial aid opportunities, please refer to the Financial Aid and Scholarship Information brochure, or call the Office of Admission at 800.396.7191 or 253.879.3211. You can also contact the Office of Student Financial Services at 800.396.7192.
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18. When should I apply for financial aid?
Early Decision I Applicants (Freshmen Only) for December 15 Notification
- File customized PROFILE: November 1
- File FAFSA by February 1
Early Decision II Applicants (Freshmen Only) for January 15 Notification
- File customized PROFILE: December 1
- File FAFSA by February 1
Regular Admission Applicants for March 15 Notification
- File FAFSA by February 1
- File AFA (transfers only) by February 1
Please note: The PROFILE form requires a two-step registration process. Please begin the process early in the fall to meet the above deadlines.
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19. Do I need an interview? What if I cannot visit campus?
We do not require that applicants complete an interview, but one is recommended. Interviews allow the Admission staff to get to know you and your interests beyond what a paper application can tell us. Visiting Puget Sound in person is the best way to get a feel for the campus and the community, and we would love for you to visit campus and have an interview. If visiting campus is not possible, we do travel to many areas of the country and could arrange to meet with you in your home state. To find out who will be traveling to your area, please go to the Contact Admission Staff page.
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