Overview
An Overview of Agnes Scott College
Agnes Scott College is an independent liberal arts college for women located in metro Atlanta's historic district and residential neighborhood of Decatur, Georgia. Founded in 1889 by Presbyterians, Agnes Scott College's mission is to educate women to think deeply, live honorably, and engage the intellectual and social challenges of their times.
At Agnes Scott College, students ask a lot of themselves. They stand out among students from other Georgia colleges in that they think big, dream big, and aim high. The college's small classes and dedicated faculty engage students' minds and strengthen their skills and abilities. An innovative liberal arts curriculum and a wealth of opportunities will inspire students, helping them to discover new talents and passions. At Agnes Scott College, students study alongside approximately 900 students from 45 states and 27 countries.
The college comprises a diverse student body, including 33 percent under-represented minorities and 8 percent international students. Distinguished among Georgia colleges' communities, Agnes Scott's residential campus allows students to enjoy a sense of community, friendships, and learning that only a diverse residential life can provide. Residential options include residence halls, theme houses, and apartments.
The Agnes Scott College faculty is committed to teaching and helping students explore and discover who they will become. All tenure-track faculty members have a Ph.D. or other terminal degree. Furthermore, the college boasts a large population of students who want to become fluent across disciplines and across continents. In fact, more than 50 percent of students participate in study abroad.
Majors and Degrees
Agnes Scott College offers degrees that are competitive with other Georgia colleges and include 33 majors and 31 minors. The five most popular majors are English, psychology, biology, history, and economics. Agnes Scott students also have the option to create a self-designed program of study.
More than 500 courses are offered, including new minors in environmental and sustainability studies, organizational management, public health, and film and media studies. The distinctive First-Year Seminar program introduces students to college academic life by focusing in depth on a critical issue or compelling question. Recent First Year Seminar topics have been as varied as "The Immigrant Experience in America," "Galileo Tonight!: Science as Performance," and "Cryptology: Making and Breaking Secret Codes."
Pre-professional programs at Agnes Scott College include law, medicine, and health. Dual-degree programs are also available in nursing with Emory University, architecture and art with Washington University, and engineering with the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Even as an undergraduate, Agnes Scott students have the opportunity for collaborative research with the faculty. Furthermore, students can choose from study abroad programs at more than 147 universities in more than 50 countries. The college's students also find extensive internship opportunities in organizations as varied as the Federal Reserve Bank, the Carter Center, Turner Broadcasting, the National Organization for Women (NOW), and the Georgia Legislature.
Campus Life at Agnes Scott College
Agnes Scott College student life is founded on the student-governed honor system, to which each student voluntarily pledges her support for the regulations and spirit of community. Students are guaranteed to have fun, learn to lead, make lifelong friends, and make a difference through more than 80 student-run organizations and clubs on campus.
Students have the opportunity to attend functions such as Black Cat, a weeklong celebration to mark the end of orientation; Spring Fling; Pancake Jam, an exam tradition where students unwind over late-night breakfast; and informal social occasions with students from Georgia Tech, Morehouse, Emory, and other colleges in metro Atlanta.
Agnes Scott College Athletics
Agnes Scott College teams compete with other U.S. and Georgia colleges in six NCAA Division III sports including basketball, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. Athletic facilities include an eight-lane, 25-meter pool; training and weight rooms; tennis courts; a soccer field; and a 400-meter track.
Admission to Agnes Scott College
The submission of SAT and ACT scores is optional for non-homeschooled applicants. However, an application must include one of the following: either SAT or ACT scores; an evaluative interview with an Agnes Scott College representative; or an analytical or critical graded writing sample, which includes a description of the assignment, teacher comments, and the grade.
