Admissions Requirements | John Witherspoon College

John Witherspoon College Christ Centered Education

Visiting the College

John Witherspoon College cordially invites prospective students, families, and friends to visit. Contact our Office of Admissions.

Admissions Criteria and Application Process

John Witherspoon College seeks students who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and who desire to make all learning and all of life captive to Christ. As a classical Christian college, JWC looks for students who are eager to immerse themselves in theology, philosophy, history, classical languages, rhetoric, science, literature, music, and the arts.

Admission to John Witherspoon College is determined by the Admissions and Scholarship Committee. The Committee reviews and evaluates each application as a whole, in terms of academic ability, personal maturity, spiritual discipline, social skills, work ethic, and motivation. Academic preparation is important, but it constitutes only one factor in student success. Accordingly, JWC admits students whose academic record may be marginal if they demonstrate a passion for the Witherspoon vision of classical education and a commitment to working hard.

Because John Witherspoon College is a community of Christian scholars seeking to cultivate lives of truth, beauty, and goodness, the Committee looks especially for students who will be good colleagues, who desire to learn wisdom with all humility and who want to live as responsible, mature members of a close-knit community.

General Admissions Policies

Age and Academic Credentials. To be considered for admission, an applicant must have earned a high school diploma or GED, or document relevant experience that demonstrates the student’s ability for college-level academic work. The minimum age for admission is sixteen. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the administration.

Character. As a Christian institution, JWC admits applicants of good character. An applicant previously charged, arrested, or convicted of any crime will be required to have a personal interview with the Director of Admissions and/or the Admissions and Scholarship Committee prior to any decision regarding admission. Providing false or misleading information or withholding pertinent information, may be cause for dismissal or other disciplinary action. The College reserves the right to refuse admission/readmission to any student or applicant based upon a determination that admission of the applicant would not be consistent with the foundational standards of the College.

Acceptance. Upon acceptance, an admissions representative will issue a formal letter to the applicant. All admissions documents submitted become the property of John Witherspoon College.

Home School Admission and Enrollment Philosophy. John Witherspoon College welcomes students with a home school background. Home school students must meet the same requirements as students from private and/or public high schools as specified below.

Freshman Admission Requirements

Academic Requirements. Applicants qualifying for Unconditional Admission to John Witherspoon College must meet two of the following academic criteria:

22 ACT/1020 SAT (combined critical reading and math scores)
72 CLT score
5 Core GPA
Top 50% of graduating class

Applicants who qualify for Unconditional Admission must have a minimum of 18 ACT/860 SAT (combined critical reading and math scores) (or 60 CLT score) and a 2.0 Core GPA whether or not these criteria are used to qualify for admission.

The Core GPA is computed by John Witherspoon College based on the student’s performance in a preselected set of high school or college preparatory courses. This required (core) set of courses is as follows: four units of English, three units of math, three units of social science, three units of natural science, and two units of either foreign language or fine arts (may choose one of each). The Core GPA will be computed with the official grading scale utilized by the high school or college where the course credit was awarded.

Conditional Admission. Applicants who do not qualify for Unconditional Admission, including applicants who do not have a GED or a high school diploma may be admitted on a Conditional basis. Students will be admitted conditionally upon consideration of ACT/SAT/CLT score, academic work completed, personal recommendations, extracurricular activities, and demonstrated leadership.

Personal Requirements. In addition to the College’s academic requirements, prospective students should provide both a Pastoral and an Academic Evaluation. (Application and forms are available on the College website.)

Each applicant should also submit a personal essay of at least 750-1000 words, answering one of the following questions:

What was your favorite class or area of study in high school? Why?
Who has had the greatest influence on your life?
What are your favorite books, movies, and music? Why?
When and how did you accept Christ as your Savior?
What does it mean to you to be a Christian?
What do you imagine yourself doing ten (10) years from now?

Statement of Non-Discrimination

John Witherspoon College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, nationality, ethnic origin, or disability in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, hiring practices or any other school-administered programs. It does reserve the right to make academic, admissions and employment decisions based on religious principles as permitted by the Constitution, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended), and applicable federal and state laws.

Statement of Integrity

At JWC, integrity is at the heart of our mission. It is a commitment to be truthful and honest, to honor commitments and walk in a way that glorifies God, adhering to the highest standards of moral and ethical conduct. We value God-honoring decisions and expect our actions to be consistent with our words.

Academic Integrity

STUDENTS

John Witherspoon College expects high standards of integrity from all students. By enrollment at John Witherspoon College, students agree to refrain from the use of unauthorized aids during testing (including, but not limited to, devices such as digital cameras, cell phone cameras, pen-based scanners, translation programs, and text-messaging devices), to refuse to give or receive information about examinations, and to submit only work that is the result of their own efforts and research.

Plagiarism is a serious offense that compromises academic integrity. The MLA Handbook defines plagiarism as follows: “A writer who fails to give appropriate acknowledgement when repeating another’s wording or particularly apt term, paraphrasing another’s argument, or presenting another’s line of thinking is guilty of plagiarism.” Breaches of these standards warrant academic and disciplinary consequences.

The Student’s Pledge is part of the John Witherspoon Student Code of Conduct. Students indicate that they have read, understood, and pledged to comply with the Code of Conduct by setting their hand to this Pledge.

As a John Witherspoon College student, I represent the Lord Jesus Christ and the College to the academic community, the local community, the church, and the world. Therefore, I pledge to uphold this Code of Conduct at all times while a student at John Witherspoon College. I pledge myself to honor my role as an ambassador of Christ in my attire, activities, conduct, and culture. I pledge to conduct myself with a high standard of academic honesty, integrity, and wisdom. And I pledge my commitment to community life at John Witherspoon College – to love and honor others and actively cultivate an environment of grace and personal holiness.

FACULTY

Likewise, Faculty members must express themselves truthfully and honestly in all facets of their academic work and personal relationships. They must seek to model such values for students and instill these values in them.

Faculty must teach students the importance of doing their own work in all assignments, exercises, and examinations, oral or written. The use of others’ work must be disclosed properly and fully in citations, footnotes, endnotes, bibliographies, and/or other appropriate forms, and only within the limits allowed by the instructor and commonly recognized academic standards.

Faculty should take steps to verify whether students have avoided plagiarism, misrepresentation, misappropriation of the work of others, or any other form of academic dishonesty, whether intentional or the result of reckless disregard for academic integrity.

A pattern of academic dishonesty by students is grounds for disciplinary action by the instructor and the CAO and could lead to dismissal from the College. Similarly, faculty members found guilty of willful violation of standards of academic integrity will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including, termination of employment.

Doctrinal Integrity

BOARD, FACULTY, STAFF

Each member of the Board, Faculty, and staff shall affirm his/her adherence to the Statement of Faith of John Witherspoon College, expressly by subscribing the Statement each year, according to provisions set forth in the Bylaws, affirming without reservation the inerrancy, infallibility, and authority of the Scriptures.