Students submit their official high school transcripts as part of their application. Spelman College requires students to complete 16 or more units in a high school college preparatory curriculum, and 12 of those units must be academic subjects. This includes four years of English and three to four years of math, science, foreign language and history/government. Students should take advanced algebra with trigonometry or precalculus and at least two lab-based sciences. The school prefers its applicants to take academically challenging courses, like honors and Advanced Placement courses. Although students must maintain at least a "C" average for admissions, the 2009 to 2010 freshman class had a higher average grade point average at 3.63.
Students applying to Spelman College have to take either the SAT or ACT. Though no minimum requirements exist for test scores, the average SAT score was 1078, and the average ACT score was 23 for the 2009 to 2010 freshman class. The school requires a copy of the official test scores sent directly from the testing authority, such as the College Board for the SAT. Students can request to send their test scores directly to Spelman on the day that they take the test or any time after they have received their scores. Students whose primary language is not English must also submit their Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores as well.
Students must submit two letters of recommendation as part of their admission application to Spelman College. A school guidance counselor should write one of the letters, while a teacher should submit the other. Teachers can submit these letters separately, or students can submit them as part of their application in a sealed envelope.