Freshman Applicants

Admissions Qualifications
Admission is selective and based on the student's high school record, including

1. Grades and course selection 
2. Standardized test results (ACT and/or SAT)
3. Common Application information

When to Apply

We recommend you apply early in the fall of your high school senior year. November 1 is the Early Notification Deadline.  Students whose applications are complete by November 1, 2012 will receive their admissions decision by Thanksgiving. Applications completed after November 1 will be reviewed and decisions sent on a rolling basis.

Your complete application includes:

1. Completed Common Application (online or paper version, including the Hope College supplement)
2. Application Fee ($35 online/$50 paper)
3. High school transcript 
4. ACT or SAT scores

If you have questions about your application or the admissions process, or if you are having trouble accessing your account, please contact the Admissions Office.

Transfer Credit

For questions regarding transfer credit and transcript evaluations, please contact Liz Steenwyk, Assistant Registrar & Transfer Student Advisor. You may also use our Transfer Equivalency System to check for courses that have been pre-approved to transfer to Hope.

Courses you need to be prepared for Hope

We strongly encouraged students to take college preparatory classes in high school. A typical admitted freshman will have taken 4 years of high school English, 3 years of mathematics, 3 years of science, 3 years of social studies, and 2 years of foreign language. When available and appropriate, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes are encouraged, and students can attain college credit for qualifying scores on the AP or IB tests.

ACT or SAT?
The Admissions Committee will accept either the ACT or SAT when reviewing students for admission and scholarships. 

What about the Writing Section of the ACT or SAT?

In February 2005, the ACT test included an optional writing section. In 2005 the ACT and SAT standardized tests implemented a writing section be taken by all test takers. 

Hope College will not require that a writing section be completed in order to apply for admission for the 2012-13 academic year. However, students who complete the writing sections are welcomed to have the test results sent to us for inclusion in their admission files.

When should I take the ACT and/or SAT?

The ACT and/or SAT should be taken in the spring of the junior year or the fall of the senior year of high school. 

I need more information on the ACT and SAT

For more information on the ACT and/or SAT, contact your high school guidance counselor or: 

ACT (American College Testing Program)
Box 414 Iowa City, IA 52240
(Hope College's ACT reporting code is #2012) 

SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test)
Box 592 Princeton, NJ 08540
(Hope College's SAT reporting code is #1301) 

Hope College should be a direct recipient of test results.

When are admissions decisions announced?

Notifications regarding admission decisions are mailed by Thanksgiving. Following the first notification date in late November, applicants will be notified regarding their admission decision within 2 to 3 weeks after their files are complete in the Admissions Office.

When do I have to decide if I am going to attend Hope?

Admitted students are asked to submit a $300 enrollment deposit by May 1 to confirm their intention to enroll at Hope College. This $300 deposit is refundable until May 1, but becomes non-refundable after May 1.