Private Colleges

Independent Colleges and Universities

• Filing periods vary with most beginning in January.

• Most have requirements comparable to the CSU/UC system.

• Most require SAT or ACT.

• CaliforniaColleges: lists filing dates and requirements for independent colleges and universities in California.

• AICCU: to search for independent colleges and universities in California.

• AICCU Mentor: common applications for independent colleges and universities in California.

• NAICU: to search for independent colleges and universities across the nation.

• Common APP: common applications for 277 selective independent colleges and universities across the nation.

 

Independent California Colleges and Universities
Alliant International University	Occidental college
American Academy of Dramatic Arts	Otis College of Art + Design
Art Center College of Design	Pacific Graduates School of Psy
Azusa Pacific University	Pacific Oaks College
Biola University	Pacific Union College
California Baptist University	Patten University
California College of the Arts	Pepperdine University
California Institute of Technology	Phillips Graduate Institute
California Institute of the Arts	Pitzer College
California Lutheran University	Point Loma Nazarene University
Chapman University	Pomona College
Charles R. Drew University	Saint Mary's College of California
Claremont Graduate University	Samuel Merritt College
Claremont McKenna College	San Diego Christian College
Cogswell Polytechnical College	San Francisco Art Institute
Concordia University	San Francisco Conserv. of Music
Dominican University of California	Santa Clara University
Fielding Graduate University	Saybrook Graduate School
Fresno Pacific University	Scripps College
Golden Gate University	Simpson University
Harvey Mudd College	So. Calif. Univ. of Health Sciences
Holy Names University	Soka University
Humphreys College	Stanford University
John F. Kennedy University	Thomas Aquinas College
Keck Graduate Institute	Touro University
La Sierra University	University of Judaism
Lagunna College of Art Design	University of La Verne
Loma Linda University	University of Redlands
Marymount College	University of San Diego
Master's College	University of San Francisco
Menlo College	University of So. California
Mills College	University of the Pacific
Mount St. Mary's College	Vanguard University
National University	Whittier College
New College of California	William Jessup University
Notre Dame de Namur University	Woodbury University

 

 

 

Applying to a Private College or University?

Important guidelines for applying to private and out of state colleges and universities:

1. Be aware of deadlines.  Check with their literature and websites for applications deadlines.  Some universities such as USC have a two process application with deadlines for both parts. 

2. Do not apply last minute.  The majority of the applications will include essays, letters of recommendations from teachers, and a letter of recommendation from your counselor.  For your counselor, you would need to give a minimum of three weeks notice before the letter is due.

3. Review the following common terminologies associated with private colleges:

Selective

Selective involves the use of academic criteria which are evaluated within the guidelines of minimum standards.  Considered might be qualitative measures and non-academic selection, which increases with the selectivity of the application.  Considered might be academic record, test scores, activities, awards, leadership, etc.

Believe it or not, there is no set range for selectivity.  Admission might be 14% or 85%, meaning that they admit 85% of the students who apply.

Rolling

Rolling admissions means that the institution processes applications and makes decisions as the applications become complete.  There is no deadline, or a late deadline.  Applicants are notified continuously.

Early Decision

This is the term used to describe the application process in which a commitment is made by the student to the institution, that, if admitted, the student will enroll.

Only a student who can make a deliberate and well-reasoned first choice decision should apply under an Early Decision plan because the institution will require a non-refundable deposit well before May 1, the national reply date.

• Students may apply to other colleges but may have only one Early Decision application pending at any time.

• Institution will notify the applicant of the decision within a reasonable and clearly stated period of time after the Early Decision deadline.

• If admitted, the student will enroll UNLESS aid award is inadequate.

• Immediately upon acceptance of offer, student will withdraw all other applications and make no subsequent applications.

Advantages:  Students learn EARLY in their senior year about their college choice.  Students need to have their entire testing profile completed early, be aggressive about visiting colleges, and be VERY organized about their college search process.

Early Action

Early Action permits the student to apply to an institution of preference and receive a decision well in advance of the normal response dates in the spring.  The candidate is NOT committed to enroll at that particular institution.

• Students may apply to other colleges.

• Institution will notify the applicant of the decision within a reasonable and clearly stated period of time.

• Student will not be required to make a commitment prior to May 1, but is encouraged to apply earlier.

Advantage:  If a student is accepted, he/she is not obligated to attend.