Converse is a small South Carolina women’s college big on opportunities. We shape young women of today into leaders of tomorrow by fostering exploration, discovery, commitment and vision, and offer optimal conditions to develop critical life skills.

Through our commitment to the study of the liberal arts, we help our students develop as complete persons—intellectually, socially, physically and spiritually. Our academic strengths range from the sciences, education and interior design to music, politics and theatre.

Academic Excellence

• Distinguished teaching faculty: 89% hold the PhD or other appropriate terminal degree and 57% are women. Converse does not employ teaching assistants, and senior professors frequently teach freshman and sophomore classes. Student advising is conducted only by full-time faculty.
• The Nisbet Honors Program provides academically gifted students with opportunities to learn in specially-designed honors seminars, conduct independent research with faculty mentors, meet nationally known visiting scholars and gather socially to discuss intellectually challenging topics.
• The Daniels Center for Leadership and Service is a partnership between academic affairs and student affairs that provides opportunities to learn, serve and lead on campus and in the community.
• Converse is the only women’s college in the world to be named an All-Steinway School, an honor earned by a select group of colleges and conservatories that primarily use Steinway & Sons concert and practice pianos.
• Converse Model Arab League and NATO teams consistently earn the highest national awards.
• Comprehensive study/travel courses led by experienced faculty and study abroad programs at major universities around the world enable students to use the world as their classroom, with opportunities on every continent except Antarctica. The Chapman Study Abroad Endowment provides scholarships for study abroad opportunities. Converse also offers full-year and semester-long study-abroad programs at colleges and universities in Australia, England, France, Iceland, Spain and many other countries.
• Converse’s academic calendar includes a four-week January Term designed for participation in study/travel, internships and the pursuit of other learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.

Degrees, Majors and Academic Programs

• Undergraduate Degrees: BA, BS, BFA, BM
• 44 undergraduate majors and 21 minors

Graduate Degrees: MAT, MEd, MLA, MM
Education Specialist Degrees are available in administration and supervision and in curriculum and instruction.

The College of Arts and Sciences offers majors in:

• Accounting
• Art (art education, art history, art therapy, interior design and studio art)
• Biology
• Business Administration (economics, finance, human resource management, international business and marketing)
• Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Computer Science
• Creative and Professional Writing
• Economics
• Education (comprehensive special education, deaf and hard of hearing/ interpreting, early childhood, elementary, learning disabilities, mental disabilities, and secondary)
• Engineering (dual degree program offered in partnership with Clemson University)
• English
• Foreign Languages (French, German and Spanish)
• History
• Individualized Major
• Mathematics
• Modern Languages
• Politics
• Psychology
• Religion
• Theatre

Career, Pre-Health and Pre-Professional Programs offered include Arts Management, Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Law, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Ministry, Pre-Occupational Therapy, Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Physician Assistant, Pre-Veterinary and ROTC.

The Petrie School of Music offers majors in

• Composition
• Music Therapy
• Music Business (concentration)
• Performance
• Music Education
• Piano Pedagogy
• Music History
• Theory

Student/Faculty Ratio

Converse students receive personal attention and are known by faculty and staff. A low undergraduate student–teacher ratio of 9:1 enables professors to serve as mentors both inside and outside of the classroom.

Student Stats

• 1,938 total enrollment (773 undergraduates, 1,165 graduates)
• From 15 states and 14 countries
• Approximately 20% ethnic minorities and 2% international

Athletics

Converse competes at the highest level of any women’s college in the nation - NCAA Division II - as a member of the Conference Carolinas. Converse fields teams in basketball, cross-country, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis and volleyball.

Residence Life

• Traditional undergraduate students live on campus in seven residence halls, creating a culture of community. Freshmen roommates are hand-paired, and students may also request a specific roommate.
• Because room and board costs are included for all on-campus residents, each student is afforded three meals each day the college is open. Students may also eat in Sneakers, the campus grill, using their flex dollar plan.

Profile of 2007 Incoming Class

173 Incoming Students
95% of enrolling students have a GPA of 3.0 or higher
Middle 50% SAT: 1000-1220
Middle 50% ACT: 20-26

Scholarships and Financial Assistance

• On average, Converse awards $7 million annually in scholarships for academics, leadership, music, visual arts, theatre and athletics.
• Approximately 93% of students receive some form of financial assistance through scholarships, federal student assistance programs, loans and work-study programs.
• Average aid package: $19,900
• Requirements for academic scholarships are available upon request.

Freshman Admission

Admission to Converse is competitive and based upon the applicant’s academic transcript, standardized test scores and recommendations.

• Priority deadline for freshmen scholarships - February 1
• Priority deadline for transfer scholarships - March 1
• Candidate reply deadline for enrollment deposit (freshmen only) - May 1

2007- 08 Tuition and Fees

• Tuition $24,500
• Room and Board $7,550
• Total $32,050

Undergraduate Admission Guidelines

Admission to Converse is competitive on the basis of strong academics and personal qualifications. We encourage you to apply as early as possible in your senior year in high school. Fall admission is the preferred term of enrollment for music students. International students should file applications early in order to provide sufficient time to submit the required English proficiency and funding support information. All candidates should file the following with the Office of Admissions:

• A completed application
• $40 non-refundable application fee
• An official transcript of at least six semesters of secondary school; complete college record for transfers
• Official SAT or ACT scores for freshmen
• Teacher or counselor recommendation
• A sample of applicant’s written work
• An application for audition (music applicants only)
• Official TOEFL scores for students whose native language is not English (For international students only)
• Declaration of Finance form (For international students only)