April 22, 2014
We are announcing the following changes to the AO Admissions process, effective from the first round for April 2015 enrollment. For details, please refer to the AO Admissions Guidelines for the first and second rounds for April 2015 enrollment and for September 2015 enrollment, which are scheduled to be released in early May 2014.
Please note that there are no changes to the AO Admissions for September 2014 enrollment; it will be conducted as described in the admissions guidelines released in May 2013.
1. Introduction of the IB Track
Starting from the first round of AO Admissions for April 2015 enrollment, we will introduce a new "IB Track" for applicants who have obtained or are expected to obtain the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
・It will be offered three times a year: the first round for April enrollment, the second round for April enrollment, and the admissions for September enrollment.
・In addition to the eligibility requirements for AO Admissions Track A, applicants must have obtained or be expected to obtain the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma by March 31, 2015 (or by September 21, 2015, for the September 2015 enrollment AO Admissions). (Please note that even if an applicant is admitted based on expected completion, failure to obtain the Diploma will result in the loss of eligibility for admission.)
・The required application documents are, in principle, the same as those for Track A, with the additional requirement of submitting either an "IB transcript and Diploma (if already obtained)" or "Predicted Grades and a certificate of expected completion (if pending)."
・The first screening (document review) and second screening (interview) will be conducted on the same schedule as Track A.
2. Regarding Track B
(Changes to Required Application Materials)
Starting from the first round of AO Admissions for April 2015 enrollment, the following changes will be made to the "Required Application Materials."
・The "Activity Report" will be mandatory, not optional.
・The "Free Description" section within the "Reason for Application, Study Plan after Enrollment, and Personal Statement" will be mandatory, not optional.
3. Regarding Track C
(Changes to Required Application Materials)
Starting from the first round of AO Admissions for April 2015 enrollment, the following changes will be made to the "Required Application Materials."
・The "Activity Report" will be mandatory, not optional.
・The "Free Description" section within the "Reason for Application, Study Plan after Enrollment, and Personal Statement" will be mandatory, not optional.
4. Regarding the Second Screening
(Change in Instructions)
Starting from the first round of AO Admissions for April 2015 enrollment, the instructions for the second screening will be as follows for all tracks (A, B, C, and IB).
"An interview will be conducted for applicants who pass the first screening. Please assemble at the date, time, and location specified at the time of the first screening results announcement, bringing your examination admission ticket and writing utensils. The final admission decision will be based on a comprehensive evaluation of both the first screening and the interview.
Please note that the allotted time for each interview is approximately 30 minutes."