FAQ
How can I find out which admission counselor is responsible for my high school or region?
Each counselor in the Providence College Office of Admission is assigned a geographic territory that will be his or her responsibility. Counselors travel to these areas during the fall months to attend college fairs and visit with high school students and their counselors. Each counselor is responsible for completing the “first read” in our multiple read process of the applications that come from that specific geographic territory. The counselor will also present and advocate for that student in our Committee on Admission. We encourage both students and school counselors to be in touch with the counselor who works with their area. Find the admission counselor responsible for your area.
What should we do if we receive notification that an application piece that has been sent is missing?
Please understand that our Office of Admission processes over to 12,000 first-year and transfer applications and their respective separate “pieces” (recommendations, transcripts, test scores, etc.) between October and March. Some pieces may land in the wrong place during this process, or may never reach us at all. We ask that you resend the application piece so that it may be properly filed with the application. Documents can be sent through all major services, as well as Slate.
How does Providence College review an application?
The application process at Providence College is both a holistic and individualized process. Our admission counselors carefully review each application for admission, and work to select the students who are the best fit for PC from many different perspectives. There are no cutoffs of any type employed during the review – every student’s application is read thoroughly regardless of the student’s “numbers” (G.P.A., class rank, SAT/ACT scores).
The most important piece of the application for admission is the student’s high school transcript, which will give us a sense of the student’s academic fit to PC. We look closely at each student’s curriculum and G.P.A., considering both in the context of the student’s high school environment. Beyond the transcript, the subjective pieces of the application, including the list of extracurricular activities, the application essay, and counselor recommendation are all very important components of the review. If a student has submitted standardized test scores, they will also be considered, but do not outweigh high school academic performance.
Our website provides a more thorough explanation of our review process, and if you have any questions, we encourage you to call our office to speak with a counselor.
How does PC’s test-optional policy affect the way applications are reviewed?
The adoption of our test-optional policy for admission has not changed the way that the admission staff reviews applications, as the primary focus has always been on the student’s high school career rather than on a standardized test score. The high school transcript (the combination of curriculum and GPA) is the most important component of the admission review. The admission staff will then consider the subjective pieces of the application, including extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations. No additional requirements for admission have been added with the adoption of the test-optional policy.
Do you only accept a certain number of students from each high school or each geographic area?
No. There are no quotas in the Providence College application process that would restrict the number of students invited from the same high school or the same geographic area.
Will all students who apply to PC from my high school receive their decision letters at the same time?
All students who apply to PC at the same deadline will receive their decision notifications at the same time. For students who apply Early Decision (November 1), decision notifications are generally released by December 1. For students who apply Early Action (November 1), decision notifications are generally released by January 1. For students who apply Early Decision II (January 15), decisions generally will be released by March 1. For students who apply Regular Decision (January 15), decisions generally will be released by April 1. All types of decisions (invite, defer, wait list, deny) are released at the same time.
Are admission decisions available to applicants on the web?
Yes. All admission decisions are released via the Admission Status Portal. No decisions are sent through the mail.
What percentage of students at PC come from public high schools? Catholic high schools? Private high schools?
In our Class of 2025, approximately 53% attended public high schools, 35% went to Catholic high schools, about 20% attended private (non-Catholic) high schools, and about 2% attended charter schools.
If a student is denied Early Action, can they reapply during the Regular Decision process?
No. A deny decision at Early Action is a final decision, and a student may not reapply during the Regular Decision process. At PC, there is no competitive advantage to applying Early Action and the review process remains consistent from Early Action to Regular Decision. Therefore, if a student is clearly not competitive in our Early Action review process, we know that this student will also not be competitive during the Regular Decision review – this is why we do render deny decisions at Early Action.
Can a student reapply once they have been denied admission to PC?
If a student has been directly denied admission to Providence College, they must attend another institution for one year and apply to Providence College as a transfer student.
Who is eligible for merit scholarships? How do they apply?
All applicants to Providence College are automatically reviewed for merit scholarships. There is no separate application process. The merit scholarship review relies most heavily on the student’s academic performance. Competitive candidates for the merit scholarships have completed the most rigorous program of studies possible during their high school careers and have achieved grades that place them at the top of their class.
Do admission counselors share admission decisions/information with school counselors?
If the school counselor feels the admission information is necessary to their counseling relationship with the student, we will share admission decisions and other pertinent information. We do so as a professional courtesy, and with the understanding that all information shared is confidential. No admission decision is final until the student receives notification through their portal. Once a student has received their decision, school-based counselors can also view their students’ decisions within Slate.
