Freshman Applicants

We want to discover the Real You.

An interview is not required, but we encourage you to visit SNC, discover our school and students first-hand, and meet us in person. Or meet us at a college fair or high school visit during the fall semester, when our Admissions counselors travel all over the country. Your guidance counselor can tell you if an SNC Tahoe representative will be visiting your area.

You can also help us better understand who you are by submitting a personal statement, academic letter(s) of recommendation, and/or a School Report from your high school counselor with your application.

Visit Us   Freshman Cost Calculator

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Admission Requirements – Your Academic Record

You are a freshman applicant if you have not taken any college classes since receiving your high school diploma (or equivalency). If you have taken any college classes since graduation, apply as a Transfer Student >.

Your application will be considered for standard acceptance if you have a minimum 2.6 cumulative Grade Point Average to date, and SAT Math and Critical Reading scores above 400 or an ACT comprehensive score above 19.

• Scholarships

If your GPA is 2.8 or higher you will automatically be considered for a merit-based scholarship. Incoming freshman students with a 3.5 GPA and/or scores of 1250 combined on the SAT I or 28 on the ACT are eligible to apply for the Honors Program.

• Credit for High School

We expect that you have successfully completed a college preparatory curriculum. This typically includes four years of English, three years of mathematics (including two years of algebra and one of geometry), two years of social studies, and two years of laboratory science; two years of a foreign language are encouraged but not required. You may be eligible for transfer credits for A.P. and other advanced coursework completed during high school.

• Special Circumstances

We recognize that not everyone follows a traditional path through high school. If you have a Home School or high school equivalency diploma, or your academic record falls below our standards, you will still be considered for admission. It is especially important that you provide as much information as possible to help us understand your unique situation.

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How to Apply

The admissions process can be intimidating! Please contact us if you have any questions.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, although we strongly recommend that you complete your application as early as possible. You will usually receive a decision within two weeks of completing all your application requirements.

#1 Submit Your Online Application

• You can enter a personal statement directly into the application.
• Information about submitting the Common Application is at How to Apply >.

Start Your Application

#2 Submit Your Required Documents

• Request your official high school transcript(s) sent directly to SNC Tahoe
• Request your SAT or ACT scores sent directly to SNC Tahoe (SNC CEEB Code: 4757)
• Optional: you can add a personal statement (if you did not include one in your application), a School Report from your high school counselor, and/or Letter(s) of Recommendation to your application file.

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Special Circumstances

Home Schooled Students

Home-schooled students must submit a curriculum list and course descriptions. In addition, home-schooled students must submit an SAT or ACT score report including two SAT subject tests, one in mathematics and one in English Literature or History.

Admission with High School Equivalency Degree

A high school equivalency degree is accepted in place of a regular high school diploma. However, applicants with a high school equivalency receive close scrutiny to determine if they have the appropriate academic experience to succeed at Sierra Nevada College. Applicants must have a minimum score of 50 in each sub-category, and must include a detailed personal essay discussing why they left school and why they wish to enroll at Sierra Nevada College. We also require an official ACT or SAT score report. A personal interview with a member of the Admission staff may be required.

Provisional Acceptance

Students whose academic record falls outside our standards may be eligible for Provisional Acceptance. These students will receive additional mentoring and support services, and must maintain satisfactory academic progress.

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Transfer Credits for Freshman Applicants

College Credit while in High School

Entering first-year students who have taken college courses during their junior or senior year of high school or in the summer prior to entering Sierra Nevada College must report such work to the Office of Admission. At the student’s request, the College Registrar will determine whether such work will receive credit at Sierra Nevada College.

Advanced Placement (AP) Credit

The Advanced Placement Examinations of the College Board usually are taken during the senior year of high school in conjunction with certain courses. Depending on the subject, three to six semester credits of college credit may be granted for each AP examination in which a student earns a score of 5, 4, or 3. Official notification from the College Board must be provided to the College in order for the student to gain such credit.

International Baccalaureate Exam (IB)

Three to six semester credits of College credit will be granted for each IB exam in which a student earns a score of 7, 6 or 5. Official notification from the IB Program must be provided to the College in order for the student to gain such credit.

Military Credit

Students may be granted credit for military school coursework, based on the recommendations for institutions of higher education in the appropriate volume of the American Council of Education Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. The student must provide the Registrar with an official Armed Forces transcript in order to have such credit evaluated.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

SNC grants credit for the CLEP examinations. Please contact the college for further details.