Our Best Advice

We did a survey of our staff in the MTSU Admissions Office and asked each one of them what one piece of advice they would give to our applicants in order to make their admission experience work smoothly. Here are their answers:

• Apply early.
  The sooner you submit the admission application, fee, and required documents, the sooner we can notify you about your admission status. Freshman applicants can apply as early as the beginning of their senior year and many will receive tentative acceptance based on their grades through the end of their junior year. Transfer applicants can apply the semester before they intend to transfer, with tentative acceptance decisions being made based on grades through the previous semester.

  The Fall application deadline is July 1 and the Spring application deadline is December 15. Plan ahead and follow through to make sure all of your documents arrive in a timely manner; it makes the process much easier for YOU as well as for us. (The Financial Aid and Housing Offices would also encourage you to submit their applications as early as possible!)

• Read the directions.
  First, read the admission requirements in the Undergraduate Catalog and the instructions that are included on the Admission Application. Second, refer to the schedule of classes for that semester. In particular, read the introductory information which includes how to register, when to register, how and when to pay your bill, and much more. A little reading will answer a lot of your questions!
    
• Fill out the necessary paperwork.
  We can't tell you if you're admitted or not without having your completed application, any necessary test scores, and official copies of your transcript(s). Likewise, we won't guess about your residency status if you haven't submitted a residency application and supporting documents. Nor will the financial aid office tell you how much aid you will be eligible for if you have not provided the appropriate paperwork.
    
• Don't be afraid to ask questions!
  University faculty and staff are here to assist you. If you've read the directions but still aren't clear on how something works, call the office that handles that area and ask for clarification. MTSU is a large campus, so be prepared that not every staff member can answer every question, especially when it's a question about an activity managed by another office. If you're not sure who to ask, try calling the campus switchboard (615-898-2300) for the number of the appropriate office. Your faculty advisor will also be an important source of information so get to know him or her.

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Admission FAQs

How do I apply for admission?
First, submit the Undergraduate Application for Admission along with the application fee. Second, using the instructions printed on the application for each type of student, request that any necessary transcripts and test scores be submitted to the Admissions Office. Instructions are available online for freshmen, transfers, and other applicant categories. We recommend that you send in the application first, before the transcripts and the test scores, so that we can create your admission file and match all other documents to the application.

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When do I apply for admission?
The application deadline is July 1 for Fall admission and the deadline is December 15 for Spring admission.

Freshman applicants are encouraged to apply during their senior year in high school and to submit their transcript as it stands at the point of application for admission. Transfer applicants can apply during their last semester at the current college and request that their transcript be sent to us at that time showing grades earned through the previous semester.

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What are the requirements for admission?
Please see our online documentation for freshmen, transfers, re-enrolling students, and other types of students. If you have any questions, please contact the Admissions Office for assistance from one of our counselors.

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I can't check my admission status in RaiderNet. What do I do next? Only students who have a final acceptance can access their admissions information on the 'Secure Area' of RaiderNet. Non-accepted students please contact the Admissions Office for assistance from one of our counselors.

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What is an "official" transcript?
It's an unpleasant fact of life that admissions offices sometimes receive transcripts which have been forged or altered. For that reason, MTSU, like most other universities, requires official copies of transcripts and other documents. By "official" we mean that the transcript was submitted directly from the sending institution to the Admissions Office under that school's sign or seal. Transcripts which have been issued to the student or another third party cannot be considered official.

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I've been denied admission, but I really want to attend MTSU. What do I do next?
The first step is to familiarize yourself with the admission standards used to evaluate your application. The freshman and transfer requirements are available online. If you do not understand why your application was denied, you can call the Admissions Office and speak to one of the admission counselors. If an application does not meet our admission standards, we ask the applicant to complete a personal statement form to give us more information about the applicant's academic, extracurricular, and work histories. The personal statement is your opportunity to tell the Admissions Review Board about any factors which should be considered in addition to your formal academic record when reviewing your application. The decision of the Admissions Review Board is final, but it is possible for an applicant who has been denied to re-apply at a later time after making some improvements academically.

If you applied as a freshman and are still in high school, you have several options. First, if your ACT or SAT score is below what we require, consider taking the test again to raise your score. Second, if you were denied because you lacked some of the required high school courses, you may be able to enroll in summer school to make up one or more of them. In many cases, the best approach is to enroll in a junior college or community college. This will allow you to take courses which would substitute for any required high school courses you are lacking. Also, as a transfer applicant, your ACT/SAT scores would no longer be a factor in the admission decision.

If you have been denied admission as a transfer applicant, we recommend that you return to your current college or to a community college and work on raising your grade point average. Showing improvement in the next semester will be a positive factor in reviewing your application the next time. One of the best ways to raise your GPA is to re-take classes which you previously failed -- by repeating the class and passing it, the new grade replaces the failing grade when your GPA is calculated. Consult your current college's catalog or handbook for information on repeating courses.

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How do you evaluate my transfer credit from previous schools?
The Admissions Office does the initial review of your transcripts and will send you a document which we call a "Transfer Evaluation" form showing each of your courses and their equivalent MTSU courses. Our academic departments assist us in determining whether another school's course is equivalent to one at MTSU.

Your transcripts will not be evaluated until your application and all supporting documents are received, so it is to your advantage to act early in getting all colleges you have attended to send us official transcripts. More information about transcript evaluation is available online.

Once we have evaluated your transfer work, contact a transfer advisor in the department where you intend to major. Your advisor will help you map out your degree plan and determine which classes you still need to take.

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Can I get credit for AP, CLEP, or other tests I have taken?
Yes, provided that the particular test is one that we accept and your score meets or exceeds our requirements. A complete list of accepted tests and required scores is available online or in the MTSU Undergraduate Catalog.

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How do I get credit for my military experience?
Middle Tennessee State University awards military credit one of two ways: (a) Submit a DD214 indicating time served and honorable discharge. This may give a student up to 6 physical education credits. (b) Submit an AARTS (Army) or SMART (Navy/Marines) transcript. Students who served in the Air Force may submit a Community College of the Air Force transcript. This may give a student up to 54 elective credits.

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Registration FAQs

How do I register?
First things first -- you cannot register for classes until your application has been processed and approved by the Admissions Office. Once that has happened, you will be mailed a letter from the Admissions Office referring you to the university's WEB registration system called PipelineMT/RaiderNet. If you are a new freshman, summer orientation is mandatory; if you are a transfer student and have applied for the Fall semester, you will be invited to attend a summer orientation session but academic advising is required. These orientation sessions are called "CUSTOMS" and they take place in June and July. Students who attend CUSTOMS learn how to use PipelineMT during their visit to campus and will be able to register earlier for Fall classes than freshmen and transfers who do not attend orientation.

You register for classes by entering the "call number" for each class, as given in the schedule book. You will be informed whether there are seats available in each class, and if there are no more available seats, you will be told what other sections of that course still do have seats. PipelineMT has other features, too. You can get your current account balance and, at the end of the semester, be informed about your grades.

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What is my personal identification number (PIN)?
Each student needs a personal identification code (PIN) in order to use PipelineMT/RaiderNet to register for classes. Students will go to www.mtsu.edu/changepw to get their username and set their initial password.

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When will I be able to register?
There are two priority registration periods each year -- April for Summer and Fall registration, and November for Spring registration. Currently enrolled MTSU students, re-enrolling MTSU students, graduate students, and transfer students who have already earned a bachelor's degree are eligible to participate in priority registration. All other new students start registration about a week after the priority period ends. Remember - you must be admitted to the University first! Priority application deadlines are July 1 for Fall admission and December 15 for Spring admission.

We also encourage you to speak with a faculty advisor before you register for classes. His or her advice will help you take the right classes and in the right order.

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How do I get a schedule book?
We no longer print a schedule book. Students should refer to PipelineMT for an online schedule of classes that is always up-to-date. After signing onto PipelineMT, click on WebMT to view the Summer 2007 schedule; click on RaiderNet to view schedules for Fall 2007 and after.

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How do I know what classes to take?
There are two important resources you should obtain and get to know: your faculty advisor (assigned by the department where you intend to major) and the Undergraduate Catalog. The catalog lists the general studies requirements (the classes everyone takes, regardless of their majors) as well as the requirements specific to your major. The department where you intend to major may have additional worksheets or workbooks which will help you plan your schedule, but the most important resource is your faculty advisor. He or she will be able to tell you which classes to take and in which order, information which is vital to the successful completion of your degree.

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How do I get an advisor?
If you know what you want to major in, call the department that offers the major and ask them to assign you to a faculty advisor. A listing of phone numbers and room locations for the academic departments is available online.

If you don't know yet what you want to major in, you will be advised by the Academic Support Center (615-898-2339).

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I'm having trouble registering over PipelineMT, who can help me?
Call the Help Line at (615) 898-5094.

I've already registered, how do I add/drop classes?
Schedule changes are also done using the internet (http://www.mtsu.edu) and selecting the PipelineMt option. There are a few days immediately before the semester starts during which time students who have already registered are not able to make schedule adjustments -- refer to the calendar in the schedule book to find out when these periods are. The calendar will also tell you the deadlines for adding classes, dropping classes with no grade, and dropping classes with a "W" (Withdrawn) grade.

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Residency FAQs

I have been charged out-of-state fees, but I live in Tennessee. What do I do?
The Admissions Office is charged with classifying new undergraduate students as residents or non-residents, according to the guidelines established by the state legislature and the Tennessee Board of Regents. Those guidelines are available online. If there is any reason to question your status as a permanent resident of Tennessee, we will classify you out-of-state until we receive a completed residency application and supporting documents. You can obtain a copy of the residency application online or by calling the Admissions Office. The residency application should be filed with the Admissions Office at least ten days in advance of the start of the semester so that we will have time to process it before your fees are due.

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My residency application was denied, can I appeal that decision?
Yes, you can contact the Student Affairs Office at (615) 898-2750 to schedule an appeal before the Residency Appeals Committee. Students appealing their residency decision have the option of meeting in person with the Committee to explain their situation. You cannot contact the Appeals Committee until after your residency application has been denied by the Admissions Office.

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