Cliffs' Notes to College

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A Public Service Announcement

Admissions

  • Applications
    Before the University can make a decision regarding admission, it must receive the following: a UO Application for Undergraduate Admission; a $50 nonrefundable application fee; official high school transcripts showing courses through at least the junior year; upon graduation, submission of a final transcript confirming graduation and showing all academic course work; SAT I or ACT scores.
  • Minimum Requirements
    Fulfilling the minimal requirements does not guarantee admission to the UO. Because of space limitations, the University will admit the best-qualified applicants who meet minimum admission requirements.
    1. Graduate from a standard or accredited high school. The University will offer tentative admission if the applicant has met all admission requirements by the time of graduation. The University will grant final admission only after it has received transcripts verifying your graduation.

    2. Complete required the following high school course work:

      English--four years. All four years should be in preparatory composition and literature with emphasis on and frequent practice in writing expository prose.

      Mathematics--three years. Studies must include first-year algebra and two additional years of college-preparatory mathematics such as geometry, calculus, finite mathematics, advanced applications, probability and statistics, or courses that integrate topics from two or more of these areas. An advanced mathematics course is highly recommended in the senior year. Algebra and geometry taken prior to ninth grade are accepted. Regardless of the pattern of mathematics courses or the number of years of mathematics taken, the mathematics course work must culminate at the Algebra II (or equivalent) level or higher.

      Science--two years. Studies must include a year each in two fields of college-preparatory science such as biology, chemistry, physics, or earth and physical science. One year of laboratory science is recommended.

      Social science--three years. Studies must include one year of United States history, one year of global studies such as world history and geography, and one year of a social studies elective (American government is strongly recommended).

      Other college-preparatory course work--two years. It is highly recommended that these be years in foreign-language study. Computer science, fine and performing arts, advanced-level vocational and technical courses, and other college-preparatory electives may satisfy this requirement.

      Effective fall 1997: students will be expected to have completed two years of study in a foreign language.

    3. Earn a GPA of 3.00 or better. A cumulative high school GPA of 3.00 or better is required for admission; however, if your cumulative GPA is below 3.00, you may be considered for admission if you have a projected first-term GPA of 2.00 or better, based on a combination of high school GPA and SAT I or ACT scores.

      If your high school GPA is below 3.00, you may qualify for admission if a combination of your SAT I scores and GPA predict success at the University of Oregon. If your GPA is below a 3.00 and you wish to discuss the possibility of alternative admission, please contact the Office of Admissions.

    4. Submit the scores from your standardized tests. We will accept SAT I or ACT scores reported on high school transcripts, reported by the high school counselor on the UO Application for Undergraduate Admission, or sent to us directly from the testing services. If you plan to participate in intercollegiate athletics, we must receive your scores from the testing service.

      When you take the test, list the UO as one of your score recipients. Our school code number for the SAT I is 4846; our code for the ACT is 3498.

Establishing Residency
In Oregon, as in all other states, instruction fees at publicly supported four-year colleges and universities are higher for nonresident students than for resident students. Currently, nonresident students are assessed instruction fees that approximate the full cost of instruction.

The current rules and amendments used in determining residency seek to ensure that only bona fide Oregon residents are assessed the resident fee.

The following factors, although not necessarily conclusive or exclusive, have probative value in support of a claim for Oregon resident classification: Be primarily engaged in activities other than those of a student and reside in Oregon for 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the beginning of the term for which resident classification is sought; Reliance upon Oregon resources for financial support; Domicile in Oregon of persons legally responsible for the student; Acceptance of an offer of permanent employment in Oregon; and Ownership by the person of his or her living quarters in Oregon.

Costs of Education
1997/98 estimated expenses

  • Tuition and Fees: Resident full-time undergraduate, $3,650; Non-resident, $12,100.
  • University Housing, including room and meals, $4775
  • Books and Supplies, $675
  • Miscellaneous personal expenses, $1,950
  • Total: Resident full-time undergraduate, $11,050; Non-resident, $19,500

International Students

  • Tuition and Fees, $12,100
  • Health insurance: single students, $600; married, $1850
  • Housing and food: single students, $4,775; married $6,375
  • Personal expenses: single students, $1,950; married, $3,600
  • Educational supplies: $675
  • Nine month totals: single students, $20,100; married, $24,600


Residence Halls
You don't have to live in residence hall, but the University highly recommends it. Living in the residence halls has many advantages over finding a place in the Eugene/Springfield area. Some of the advantages are convenience, cost, and community.

You may find that living in the residence halls is much more convenient than living off-campus. You are closer to classes, meals are prepared for you, you won't have to drive to a laundromat or hunt for parking space close to campus. Your residence hall bill will come on your UO statement, so you won't have to keep track of several bills.

Costs are another advantage. For 1997-98 the financial aid office estimates that the average student living off-campus will pay $5,130 for rent for the academic year. A standard multiple room in the residence halls for the 97-98 academic year is $4,646. The financial aid estimate does not include many hidden costs, such as furnishings and deposits. Residence hall costs are fixed, unlike off-campus housing where winter utility bills will soar and the landlord can raise the rent. Other cost differences include free cable television, local phone service and internet access on-campus, as compared to the $23 per month cable bill, $25 month for local phone service and widely ranging internet access costs off-campus.

Anyone who applies to the University of Oregon for admission is automatically sent a preview brochure which also contains an application for the residence halls. If you have applied to the University but have not yet received a Preview brochure, contact the Housing office at:

University of Oregon
University Housing
1220 University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon 97403
phone: (541) 346-4277
e-mail: housing@darkwing.uoregon.edu

Complete the application and send it to the University with the $30 application fee. Applications received by March 31 will be guaranteed a space in the residence halls for the following academic year. Your chances of receiving a space on-campus are high unless you're applying late in the process.

Students who apply in late-July, August, or September are at high risk to not get into a residence hall for fall term. During fall term the University is at its fullest point, and is usually unable to add new students until December or January. The University usually does not have difficulty housing new applicants for winter, spring or summer terms.

You cannot live in the dorms for just one term. By signing the residence halls contract you are agreeing to live in the dorms for the entire academic year. If you do move out, you will have to either find a valid replacement or pay a penalty fee for moving out early (which is $2 for every remaining day in the contract).

There is one exception to this rule. If you graduate or withdraw from all of your classes at the University, you will not be penalized.

Graduation Requirements
All students must demonstrate breadth in their education by completing specified course work in three groups: arts and letters, social science, and science. The number of credits required depends on which bachelor's degree a student plans to obtain.

Bachelor of Arts, Science, or Fine Arts Degrees
Students must complete a minimum of 16 credits in approved courses in each of three groups: arts and letters, social science, and science.

Bachelor of Architecture, Music, or Education Degrees
Students must complete a minimum of 12 credits in approved courses in each of the three groups: arts and letters, social science, and science.

Two groups must include two courses with the same subject code. Each group must include courses in at least two different subject codes.

Restriction and Notes

  1. You may use only three courses from a single subject code to satisfy group requirements, even though some departments have group-satisfying courses in more than one group. For example, the psychology department has courses that satisfy group requirements and others that satisfy social science group requirements.
  2. Approved group-satisfying courses are designated with > signs in the UO Schedule of Classes and on your transcripts.
  3. Only University-approved courses or their transfer equivalents are determined by the Office of Admissions may be used to fulfill the group requirements.

Fall Quarter 1998 Academic Calendar

April 27--Priority deadline to apply for reenrollment or reregistration for the fall. Contact Admissions, (541) 346-3201.

May 18-29--DUCK CALL initial registration for fall; registration continues until June 1.

July 1-31--Registration for fall term closed; DUCK CALL is not available.

September 11--Community Education Program (CEP) students may register on DUCK CALL.

September 21--Undergraduate progress reports and advising transcripts for all students available in major departments.

September 21-25--Week of Welcome. Contact Student Orientation, (541) 346-1159.

To Be Announced--Advising meeting for new undergraduate students. Contact Academic Advising and Student Services, (541) 346-3211.

September 25--Last day to drop classes or reduce credits and receive a 100 percent refund.

September 28--Classes begin.

October 1--First tuition installment due (1/3 of assessed tuition, plus all current and past-due balance).

October 5--Last day to: drop a class without a mark of "W" recorded and without a $10 fee; change grade options (Graded or P/N) without a $10 fee; change variable credits without a $10 fee.

October 6--Registration change fee begins--$10 per drop/change.

October 7--Wait-listed students should call DUCK CALL to check for possible removal. Last day to: add a class; process initial registration; change from audit to credit or credit to audit.

October 9--Last day to: apply for fall 1998 undergraduate or graduate degrees; priority deadline to apply for winter 1998 undergraduate degree. Last day to drop classes or reduce credits and receive an 85 percent refund.

October 16--Last day to drop classes or reduce credits and receive a 50 percent refund.

October 23--Last day to drop classes or reduce credits and receive a 25 percent refund: beginning Oct. 25 no tuition refund for dropped classes or reduced credits.

October 26--Priority deadline to apply for reenrollment or reregistration for winter 1999.

October 30--Doctoral final oral defense application due (submit to Graduate School, 125 Chapman).

November 1--Second tuition installment due (1/3 of assessed tuition, plus any current and past-due balance).

November 9--Winter 1999 Schedule of Classes 1999 available at UO Bookstore.

November 11--Veteran's Day holiday observed--classes are held; DUCK CALL is not open.

November 13--Last day to: drop a class with a mark of "W"--$10 per drop; change grade options (Graded or P/N)--$10 per change; change variable credits--$10 per charge.

November 16-December 4--DUCK CALL initial registration for winter 1999.

November 20--Master Statement of Completion due (submit to Graduate School, 125 Chapman). Last day for final oral defense of doctoral dissertations.

November 26-27--Thanksgiving holiday--no classes are held; DUCK CALL is not open.

December 1--Third tuition installment due (1/3 of assessed tuition, plus any current and past-due balance). Doctoral/Master theses and dissertations due Doctoral Certificates of Completion due.

December 7-11--Final exams.