High-School Preparation

The student expecting to enroll at Olivet should concentrate on a college preparatory program in high school. A student with a solid background in English and literature, mathematics, natural science, and social science should learn effectively and succeed in college studies.

The student must have a minimum of 15 units (a unit is normally a full year, or two semesters, of one course) of academic work at an accredited high school in grades nine through 12, with an above-average grade in college preparatory subjects. The student should rank in the upper half of the graduating class.

The high school work should include a major in English, an additional major and one minor in fields of foreign language, mathematics, natural science, or social science. A major is three units of work; a minor is two units. Required preparation for a Nursing student includes one year of high school biology and one year of high school chemistry. In certain cases where the applicant ranks in the upper half of the high school graduating class, specific major and minor requirements may be waived. Subjects acceptable in these fields include:

English: history and appreciation of literature, composition and grammar, oral composition when given as part of a basic English course.

Foreign Language: a major is three units, two of which must be in the same language; a minor is two units in the same language.

Mathematics: algebra; plane, solid, and spherical geometry; trigonometry; and advanced mathematics (calculus). General mathematics may be accepted if the content of the course is essentially the same as algebra and geometry.

Natural Science: biology, botany, zoology, chemistry, physics, general science, physiology, astronomy, and geology. The major must include at least three units chosen from biology, botany, zoology, chemistry, or physics. The minor must have at least two units from the same subject.

Social Science: history, civics, economics, commercial or economic geography, sociology. The major must have at least one unit of history.

Students with academic deficiencies will be required to take remedial courses in English and mathematics.