The Reading Process- Part 2 (Transcript/GPA)
We've talked a little bit about the high school transcript and specifically how we look at curriculum as we review applications. Now, let's talk about performance- measured by a student's grade point average- and how we use your GPA in the review process. First of all, we recalculate all GPAs at PC, and compute each applicant's grade point average on our own, Providence College, unweighted 4.0 scale. Why do we do this? Simply put, each year we receive applications from thousands of different high schools, and it feels like there are thousands of different grading scales out there. We see everything, from 4.0 scales to 5.0 scales to 100-point scales, to high schools that do not c

The Reading Process- Part 1 (Transcript/Curriculum)
Mid-November means that the Early Action application review process is underway! As I mentioned last week, the 15 members of the counseling staff completed our annual "reading meeting," and we've each started reading our first batch of applications. As you may know, we initially review applications by geographic territory at PC; and as you can see from my bio at the top of the page, that means that the applications I have on my desk this afternoon are from Western Massachusetts, the MetroWest area outside of Boston, and the states of Arizona, California, Hawaii, and New Mexico. (And, actually, in my office right now, I have applications from all of those areas - except for New M

Merit-Based Scholarship Opportunities Available to Students Applying to the Class of 2014
(Wow, that's a long title...) Greetings from the busy Office of Admission at PC, where the operations staff is getting all of our Early Action applications ready to review! Today, though, I want to talk a little bit about some new Merit-Based Scholarships that are available to students applying to attend PC next fall. Here's the scoop: Beginning with students applying for admission to the Class of 2014 (students entering in September, 2010), there are now three tiers of merit-based scholarships for which students may qualify: 1. Liberal Arts Honors Program 2. Academic Scholarships 3. Providence College Friar Scholarships

From Travel Season to Reading Season
The applications have arrived! November 1 has come and gone, and here we are at the start of our Early Action application review process in the Office of Admission. What happens now? First of all, the applications have to be prepared for the counseling staff to review. Information from applications submitted online through Common App is moved into our computer system, and applications that arrived by mail are entered into that same system. Then, our operations staff does an excellent job of matching up supporting credentials that have come in the mail (such as transcripts, teacher recommendations, etc.) with the application itself. After all of the application "pieces" have been

Early Action Deadline: This Weekend!
Good luck to all of you who will be completing your Early Action application this weekend, for our deadline of November 1. Happy Halloween, too! *Scott