Early College is a great way for high school seniors to gain college credit while finishing high school.  Our program is well suited to homeschoolers and other self-directed learners who are looking to engage with other like minded students.

Early College students at Goddard College have a choice to be in Undergraduate Program residency option 1 (UGP1) or Undergraduate Program residency option 2 (UGP2). For students enrolled in traditional high schools, UGP1 tends to be a better fit with their schedule to graduate since the spring semester ends in early June.  The UGP1 begins its fall semester in late July/early August. In contrast UGP2 starts in late August, but the spring semester ends in early July.

Below are some quick facts about Early College:

  • If the student is a resident of Vermont, the State of Vermont will pay the cost of their tuition, but the student needs to pay for residency fees.  Early College students may apply to VSAC for help with residency fees.  To be eligible, file the FAFSA. Note: Early college students are not eligible for Federal student loans.
  • Early College students enroll in the Individualized Bachelor of Arts.  This gives them the most flexibility in designing their course of study for the year.  
  • Early College students are treated the same as first year undergraduate students. 
  • The faculty advisor and program director will work with the students’ school counselor to make sure all of their high school requirements are met so they will graduate from high school.  
  • In the Early College program it is possible to earn all of the credits needed to finish high school  as well as earn 30 semester hour credits toward a Bachelor’s degree.  
  • Goddard College operates on a pass/fail system, no grades or tests. Passing is the equivalent of a “C” grade or higher.
  • Students receive narrative evaluations at the end of each semester. These evaluations will be part of the student’s official transcript.

ADMISSION CRITERIA

Admission to the Early College Program is limited to students who are at least 16 years old and enrolled full time in high school or in an approved home-school program.

Applications to the Early College Program will be assessed using the same criteria for admissions to Goddard’s Undergraduate Program. Criteria includes an assessment of the following:

  • Interest: Does the application reflect an understanding of Goddard’s student-driven, low-residency model? Has the student articulated why Goddard is the right fit for them?
  • Willingness: Has the student expressed a willingness to think critically about their personal and academic experiences? Has the student expressed a willingness to take responsibility for their learning?
  • Readiness:  Does the student’s academic record (high school or college transcripts, letters of recommendation, and reflections in the personal essay) demonstrate sufficient preparation for writing-intensive, independent, and critical work in the liberal arts and sciences?

HOW TO APPLY

1. Application

2. Transcripts

  • Transcripts and other official records must be submitted electronically by the credit-awarded institution directly to admissions@goddard.edu. If etranscripts aren’t possible, please contact our office for mailing information.
  • Submit high school transcripts or other proof of successful completion of secondary education (such as GED record). Students who were homeschooled or unschooled should submit a secondary education report. You do not need to submit high school transcripts if you have completed two full years of undergraduate education.
  • Submit all transcripts from previously attended colleges or universities.
  • While test scores are not considered for admissions decisions, you are strongly encouraged to submit AP, IB and CLEP scores with your application as you may be eligible to earn college credit. If you are applying for admission to the BA in Education with Teacher Licensure, you must submit Praxis Core test results.

3. Personal Essay

Write no more than 1,000 words addressing the following: Write about your readiness for undergraduate study in a program that is largely self-directed and writing-intensive. What life and academic experiences have inspired and prepared you to undertake undergraduate study? What do you intend to study? Please describe possible learning goals for your first semester. What resources might you turn to for grounding and guidance? What elements of your intended degree concentration are attractive to you?

4. Recommendations

One (1) letter of recommendation must be submitted in support of your application. Letters can be from a teacher, mentor, advisor, or someone else familiar with your work.

You must also ask your guidance counselor to submit a Secondary School Report Form.

Recommenders can fill out the form through our application platform or email their recommendations to admissions@goddaard.edu.  Please tell your recommenders to include your full first and last name in your recommendation letter.

5. Interview

All applicants to Goddard’s undergraduate programs are required to complete an interview with an admission counselor. The interview is designed to help the counselor assess your understanding and readiness or self-directed study. It also provides you with an opportunity to ask questions about the low-residency model or other aspects of the Goddard curriculum. Interviews are generally done over the phone and are 20-30 minutes in length.