FAQ - First-Year Students

Q: What are the most important criteria in the admission process?

A: The rigor of your high school program is what carries the most weight in the admission process. Have you pushed yourself academically and intellectually even in the subjects you don't like? Or, did you opt for the easy A in a college prep curriculum when you knew you would have been challenged more in the honors/AP track?

The level of courses you take says two things to us. One, it gives us a better sense of your preparation for the demands of college work. The higher level your courses, the better you will be prepared. Two, it says something to us about your intellectual motivation and curiosity. You are not satisfied to just get by with good grades. You are driven by the quest to stretch yourself conceptually and be challenged by your teachers and your classmates.

Other parts of your application that are important to us are your essay, recommendations (two from academic teachers and one from your counselor), extracurricular activities, and interview.

Q: What does Connecticut College require from home-schooled students?

A: If you are a home-schooled student, we welcome your application to Connecticut College. There are a few things you should keep in mind when you are submitting your application. First, you must have a high school diploma or the equivalent GED. In addition, your letters of recommendation should not come from your parents. Instead many students submit letters from classes they may have taken through a local college or from people they have volunteered or worked for.

You should also try to have an interview, if possible, with an alumni representative or an admissions officer either on campus or in your home state. The home-schooled students who are successful applicants to the College have generally availed themselves of community college or distance learning courses through an accredited educational organization, and have participated in extracurricular activities at the local level.

Q: What should I take senior year that will benefit me when applying?

A: The most competitive applicants are those who have maximized their high school's curriculum and taken the most demanding courses available. We expect applicants to go above and beyond their high school's minimum graduation requirements and continue on in all academic subjects all four years. Does this mean that we deny students who do not take a lab science senior year? Of course not, but the strongest applicants are those who have a full academic load senior year (English, math, lab science, social science/history, and foreign language).

Q: Is there more than one part to your application?

A: Yes. We have two parts to our application. All applicants must submit (1) the Common Application and (2) the Supplement to the Common Application. You must also submit one letter of recommendation from your counselor, two recommendations from academic teachers, and your transcript.

Q: Does it matter whether I complete my application online or on paper?

A: Our preference is that you submit both parts of your application electronically. You can submit both the Supplement to the Common Application and the Common Application electronically, and have your credentials from your school mailed the old fashioned way. Electronic submission allows us to spend more time reading your application than processing it. However, snail mail works fine for all of it if that is your preference.

Q: Is Connecticut Early Decision or Early Action?

A: Connecticut College offers two rounds of Early Decision (ED), but no Early Action (EA). For those who don't know what we're talking about, colleges and universities may offer an option for student to apply in November and be notified in December if they have been admitted. The difference between ED and EA is that ED is binding and EA is not. What this means is that you can only apply to one school ED and if admitted you must go, whereas you may apply to more than one school EA.

We refer to our two rounds of Early Decision as EDI and EDII. Those applying EDI will be notified in mid-December and those applying EDII will be notified in early February.

Q: What are your deadlines?

Two application documents are required to apply to Connecticut College as a freshman: the Supplement to the Common Application, and the Common Application. See the deadlines here.

Q: Do I need to submit standardized tests?

A: Connecticut College does not require that students submit standardized tests. If your standardized test scores do not reflect your full potential, we do not recommend that you choose to submit them to us. Learn more about our standardized test policy.

You are asked to indicate your choice of standardized tests you would like us to consider on the Supplement to the Common Application. You may choose to submit the SAT Reasoning Test, two SAT subject tests, the ACT, or no tests at all. If you choose to submit the SAT Reasoning Test, we will consider your highest Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing subscores from multiple test dates. If you choose to submit SAT Subject Tests, you may submit any two of your choice. If you choose to submit the ACT, the writing component is not required. You will not be disadvantaged in the admission process by choosing to not submit standardized tests.

Connecticut College's ACT code is 0556 and its SAT code is 3284.

Q: Why don't you require standardized testing?

A:  We do not require standardized tests. Learn more about our standardized test policy.

Q: What kind of test scores are submitted by applicants?

A: Keep in mind that Connecticut College does not require the submission of standardized tests. The middle 50% ranges for test scores submitted by admitted students for the Class of 2013 are: 

SAT Critical Reading 650-740
SAT Mathematics 640-710
SAT Writing 660-730
ACT 27-30
SAT subject scores range from the high 600s to low 700s.

Q: How do I know whether to submit my standardized test scores?

A: Our advice would be to submit your scores if you feel they are representative of your achievement and you believe they will enhance your application. Some students use our middle 50% ranges as a guideline. If their scores fall within our upper ranges, they submit them.

Q: Do you penalize students for not submitting standardized test scores?

A: No, you are not penalized for withholding your standardized test scores. Some students do not submit them simply because they like our philosophy on standardized tests.

Q: If I want to submit standardized tests, does it matter when I take them?

A: Yes, it does. Check with the College Board for test dates and register early. We recommend that you take either your SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests or the ACT for the first time in June of your junior year. If you feel the need to take them again, the October administration is recommended. We do not recommend that you wait until December of your senior year to take standardized tests for the first time.

Keep in mind that we do not require the submission of standardized tests, so whether you've taken your tests once or more than once, it will not be held against you if you choose not to submit them at all.

Q: How many freshman will there be this fall?

A: The expected class size for the Class of 2013 is 500 students.

Q: How many students apply and what is the acceptance rate?

A: For the Class of 2013, we received 4,732 applications and admitted 35.6% of them.

Q: Does it make a difference which teachers I ask for my recommendations?

A: Ask teachers who knows you the best, not necessarily the teachers in whose class you earned the highest grade. For example, you may not be a particularly gifted math student, but you went after class for weeks to get help and finished with a well-earned but lower grade than you are used to. Does your math teacher know the kind of student you are better than the AP English teacher in whose class you received an A? That is for you to decide. Please be sure two recommendations are from academic teachers and not a coach, arts or music teacher. They can submit one too, but we need to hear from at least two people who have taught you in an academic setting.

Q: What's the deal with AP and IB tests?

A:  We accept 4s and 5s on certain AP tests and 5s, 6s and 7s on certain IB Higher Level tests. Test scores that are accepted for credit are applied toward your degree requirements and may count towards your major and/or general education requirements, with departmental approval.

Q: How will I know if someone is visiting my school or region?

A: We have the travel itineraries of our staff on the "Admission Counselors on the Road" Web page found through the "Connecticut College Visiting You" link.  This information is posted each year by mid-September.

Q: When are freshmen due on campus?

A: Typically, orientation, testing, and registration for freshman applicants and transfers begin the last Saturday of August. Visit the Associate Dean for Freshmen and Sophomores site for more information.

Q: When are decisions mailed?

A: Decisions for Regular Decision applicants are typically mailed at the very end of March.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 9:36