Students in Non-Traditional High School Settings

Students completing high school in non-traditional settings — including students who will have completed at least two years in a home-schooled environment or in online classes or programs by the time they graduate — are encouraged to apply to the University of Richmond. A high school diploma (or recognized equivalent) is required for admission. Because records from non-traditional environments vary, these students are offered several opportunities to provide additional information to the admission committee to further highlight their preparedness for the University of Richmond's academic environment.

In addition to the standard complete admission application, candidates in non-traditional settings are required to:

• Submit a brief narrative to application@richmond.edu explaining your decision to take high school coursework in a non-traditional setting; any special arrangements that may have been made for instruction (such as home school co-ops, etc.); how you were and are instructed; and what a typical day is like for you during the school year.
• Ensure that letters of recommendation are submitted from individuals other than your parents with whom you have had academic contact.
• Provide evidence of proficiency in history, natural science, and a second language. This may be met through the results of college coursework or AP examinations. For first-year students entering in 2025, The University of Richmond is planning a temporary change in admission practice by providing a test optional admission path, which also means that the evidence of proficiencies are recommended but not required. Standardized testing is recommended for students from non-traditional high schools if they have not taken classes that provide broader academic context, such as community college coursework. Standardized tests such as the ACT, SAT, Classic Learning Test (CLT), Advanced Placement Tests, and International Baccalaureate tests can help provide that context.
• If you are not provided with a transcript through an educational institution or cooperative, create and submit a transcript that will help us understand your high school curriculum. Include courses taken and grades earned from grades 9-12 (through the first semester of senior year), including units earned, a full description of the content, and texts used for each subject. If you have taken courses at a community college, university, or other organization, please submit transcripts from those institutions as well.
• If deemed academically competitive by the Admission Committee, interview with an admission officer either in person or telephone.