Freshman Admission Information
Standard Admission Requirements
- High school GPA of at least 3.00
- Graduate from a standard or regionally accredited high school
- C- or higher in fourteen college preparatory courses
- SAT or ACT scores
Standard Admission Process
Through our standard admission process, your application will be evaluated based on these criteria:
- Strength of academic coursework
- Grade trends
- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
- Academic motivation as demonstrated in the application essay
- Special talents
- Extracurricular activities, including community service or the need to work to assist your family financially
- Ability to enhance the diversity of the university
Extracurricular activities will be considered but will not compensate for low grades or weak course schedules.
Automatic Admission
For automatic admission, earn a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.25 and complete at least 16 college preparatory units with grades of C- or better in each course.
Changes Effective Fall 2010
For automatic admission, earn a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.40 and complete at least 16 college preparatory units with grades of C- or better in each course.
Alternative Admission
If you do not meet one or more of the standard admission requirements, review the options for alternative admission.
Standard Admission Requirements
1. Graduate from a standard or regionally accredited high school
If you graduated from a nonaccredited high school, were homeschooled, or earned a GED you must meet the alternative admission requirements.
2. Complete required course work
You must satisfactorily complete the following high school coursework. To meet minimum admission requirements, you must complete 14 units in the core areas below, with a grade of C- or better in each course. These requirements must be completed before you can enroll at the UO.
- English-four years. All four years should be in preparatory composition and literature with emphasis on and frequent practice in writing expository prose
- Mathematics-three years. Must include first-year algebra and two additional years of college-preparatory mathematics such as geometry, advanced algebra, trigonometry, analytical geometry, calculus, finite mathematics, advanced applications, probability and statistics, or courses that integrate topics from two or more of these areas. An advanced mathematics course is highly recommended in your senior year. Algebra and geometry taken prior to ninth grade are acceptable. Regardless of the pattern of mathematics courses or the number of years of mathematics taken, the mathematics course work must include Algebra II (or equivalent) or higher
- Science-two years. Must include a year each in two fields of college-preparatory science such as biology, chemistry, physics, or earth and physical science. One year of laboratory science is recommended
- Social Studies-three years. Complete three years of social studies from such areas as global studies, history, or social studies electives
- Second-language proficiency. Demonstrate with (1), (2), (3) or (4):
1. Two years of the same second language in high school; or
2. Two college terms of the same second language; or
3. Proficiency test (for example, SAT Subject Test or BYU Foreign Language Assessment); or
4. Other options for meeting the second-language requirement, including American Sign Language.
If you do not meet the second-language requirement, you may request in writing to be considered for an admission exception. Your request will be considered as part of the overall review of your application.
If you have not completed the required high school coursework, you may fulfill the requirements by doing one of the following:
- Take the following SAT Subject Tests: Math I or II, and a second test of your choice. Earn a total score of 940 or above for the two tests; or
- Take high school or college work to complete courses you missed in high school. A one-term transferable college course of at least three credits (quarter system) is equal to one year of high school work. We strongly encourage you to contact the Office of Admissions to verify that the courses you complete will satisfy your course pattern deficiencies
We offer tentative admission based on your sixth or seventh semester transcripts and your planned senior schedule. Final admission is granted only after we have received transcripts verifying succcessful completion of all admission requirements and your graduation.
3. Earn a GPA of 3.00 or better on a 4.00 scale.
If your GPA is below 3.00 on a 4.00 scale, review the alternative admission information.
4. Submit your scores from standardized tests
We accept SAT Reasoning Test or ACT scores (with optional writing component) reported on official high school transcripts, reported by the high school counselor on the paper UO Application for Undergraduate Admission, or sent to us directly from the testing service. If you plan to participate in intercollegiate athletics, however, we must receive your scores from the testing service.
When you take the test, list the UO as one of your score recipients. Our school code number for the SAT Reasoning Test is 4846; our code for the ACT is 3498.
5. Submit an application essay
Submit the required essay in which you tell us about a book or article you have read, whether you liked or disliked it, and why. Your work should reflect your own ideas and be written by you alone. Present your ideas in a focused, thoughtful, clear, organized, and meaningful manner. Write in a natural style and support your ideas with specific examples. At least one person should edit your essay prior to submission. Maximum essay length is 500 words.
6. Explain personal circumstances (optional)
Advise us early in the admission process of any personal circumstances that affected your academic performance, especially if you do not meet one or more of the admission requirements. Include a statement (500-word maximum) with your application describing any personal challenges you’ve overcome and explain their impact on your education. Details of any serious illness, diagnosed disability, personal difficulties, or family circumstances that have affected your education are encouraged. This statement is not required.
Apply for Admission