NASSAU, BAHAMAS – University of the Bahamas announced on Wednesday that it has added another pathway for prospective students to be eligible for admission before receiving their official Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) results.
The anticipated impact, according to a statement released yesterday by UB, is an increased efficiency in advising applicants about their admission applications in Spring, rather than in the Summer as was traditionally the case following the release of BGCSE results.
UB said its Academic Senate has adopted a new Policy on Admissions which permits applicants to be eligible for admission into a baccalaureate or associate degree programme based on a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 for a minimum of two years in high school and one term of the 12th grade or senior year, coupled with the results of a UB placement exam for English and Mathematics.
The new Admissions Policy takes effect in Spring 2019.
President Dr. Rodney D. Smith said by offering this additional option for admission eligibility, the University is improving its competitive edge.
“Many of the students who aspire to become university students, and who are submitting applications to institutions, tend to do this in the Spring and receive responses to their applications around the months of March and April,” Dr. Smith said.
“Since UB has been awaiting BGCSE results largely as a determinant for many of our applicants, we have been notifying prospective students of their admission applications in Summer, principally in August.
“By this time, students, including high achievers, have already heard back from colleges and universities abroad and have already made their choices.”
Dr. Smith said with this new policy, UB is being more proactive, competitive and student-focused.
He added that the University also anticipates that being able to accept students this early will also increase its appeal to high achieving students who would typically apply to and select their colleges and universities from earlier in the year.
Applicants are advised, however, that BGCSE results are still relevant as they will be used to determine placement in specific subject areas and for acceptance to programmes that have specific requirements.
This new eligibility pathway is in addition to several others which include the standard five BGCSE passes with a minimum “C” grade including Math, English, a Social Science and a Natural Science as well as other programme specific requirements e.g. for Nursing, Education, Music or Culinary Studies.
Applicants are also eligible for admission if they possess: –
- Four BGCSE or equivalent passes with a deficiency in either English or Mathematics, along with a Social Science and a Natural Science subject with “C” grades or higher.
- A combined SAT score of at least 1000 if taken during and prior to 2005 or a combined score of at least 1000 on the Mathematics and Verbal components of the SAT if taken after 2005 plus a high school transcript with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher, inclusive of at least one term of the twelfth grade or senior year.
- A combined score of at least 21 on the Mathematics and Verbal components of the ACT with a cumulative high school grade point average of 3.00 or higher.
- International Baccalaureate (IB) grade level 4 or higher in English and Mathematics and Advanced Placement (AP) grade level 3 or higher in English and Mathematics with a cumulative high school grade point average of 3.00 or higher.
- Successful completion of an Academic Enhancement programme at UB or an institution recognised by UB.
- Mature Student Status with placement at Basic College Mathematics and Writing and Rhetoric I on UB’s placement examination or BGCSE or equivalent passes in English and Mathematics with “C” grades or higher.
- Transfer Student Status, which is an applicant who must have completed at least fifteen (15) credit hours of college-level coursework, with a “C” grade or higher at an institution recognised by UB and who have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher.
Dr. Smith said this policy adoption will have a positive effect on both the University and students who are preparing for their enrolment.
“For the University, having this early admissions process will enhance our ability to plan and execute more efficiently, ensuring that the various academic affairs support and services are projected and put in place for the forthcoming year,” he noted.
“I imagine that this will also be good news for students from the Family Islands who are submitting applications.
“With this new eligibility mechanism that permits early acceptance, this will give students who apply, sit the placement exam and are admitted into the University more time to make the required travel and transition arrangements in order to begin their matriculation as UB students if they so desire.”
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