There are four admission plans for applying to the college i.e. early decision I and II, early action and regular decision. In the recent fall undergraduate admissions, Macalester College received 6,373 applications and accepted 39% of them, thereby being recognised as a highly selective college.
More than 2,000+ undergraduate students are enrolled at Macalester College from 50 states and 98 countries around the world. Macalester College offers programs in the field of liberal arts and science education. The college only offers programs at the undergraduate level. The academics of Macalester rank among the top 20 in the U.S.
The college is permanently test-optional meaning SAT or ACT scores are not compulsory for admission. Art samples or portfolios must be submitted through the application portal for pursuing education in the areas of fine arts, theater, dance or music. The college meets 100% of the full demonstrated need of every admitted student and all first-year applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships. Also check Scholarships to study in US
Highlights
| Application Portal | Common Application/ Questbridge Application |
| Application Fee | None |
| Acceptance Rate | 39% |
| Academic Calendar | Semester-based |
| Intake Seasons | Fall, Spring, Summer |
| Average SAT Scores | 670-750 (EBRW) 680-780 (Math) |
| Average ACT Scores | 30-34 |
| Work Experience | Not Required |
| Financial Aid | Merit scholarships, Loans, Grants |
Macalester College Admission Deadlines
The application deadlines for various application plans are given in the table below:
| Decision Type | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| Early decision I | November 1 |
| Early action | November 1 |
| Early decision II | January 1 |
| Regular decision | January 15 |
Macalester College International Student Admissions
Macalester College follows the same process for accepting applications from international as well as domestic students. International applicants must fulfill additional admission requirements such as submission of proof of English language proficiency, funding and applying for a visa. Online interviews are recommended for students to add a personal touch to the application. The overall admit rate for international students in the class was 11%.Also read Study in US Application Requirements
Application Portal: Common Application or Questbridge Application
Application Fee: No application fee
Basic Admission Requirements:
- Official secondary school transcripts
- Mid-Year Report and First-Term Senior Grades
- Early Decision Agreement (for early decision applicants)
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Proof of Funding
- Two letters of recommendation
- SAT or ACT scores (optional)
- Art samples or portfolio (for fine arts, music, dance or theater applicants)
- Online interview (recommended)
- Additional letter of recommendation may be submitted
English Proficiency Test Scores
International applicants whose native language is not English must submit accepted test scores as proof of English language proficiency. Duolingo, IELTS and TOEFL are accepted tests. The college does not provide minimum score requirements. The scores of admitted international students are as follows:
| Test | Minimum Scores |
|---|---|
| TOEFL-iBT | 100 |
| IELTS | 7.0 |
| Duolingo English Test | 120 |
US Visa Process for International Students
International degree-seeking students should obtain an I-20 to apply for a visa to study in the U.S. by submitting required documents to the Admissions Office. The documents required to obtain an I-20 are as follows:
- Copy of passport
- Recent bank/ financial statements
- International Student Certification of Finance (CoF)
After receiving the I-20, students must pay the required I-901 SEVIS fee and retain a printed copy of the payment receipt for the interview. The following documents must be carried to the visa interview:
- Passport must be valid for at least 6 months
- Form DS-160 non-immigrant visa application
- Receipt of application fee payment
- Photographs
- Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 student status
- Transcripts, diplomas, certificates or degrees from previously attended institutions
- Standardized test scores required for admission
- Evidence of intent to depart the U.S. upon completion of the study program
- Evidence of sufficient finances to pay for education, living and travel costs
Macalester College Undergraduate Admissions
Undergraduate programs offered at Macalester College include around 39 majors, 40 minors and 10 concentrations to choose from in liberal arts and science education. Some of the most popular majors include Political Sciences, Economics, Computer Science, International Studies, Mathematics. Macalester is a test-optional institute which means non-submission of SAT or ACT scores will not impact admission or scholarship.
Application Portal: Common Application or Questbridge Application
Application Fee: None
Admission Requirements:
- Official high school transcripts
- Mid-year report and first term senior grades
- Early decision agreement for early decision applicants
- Two letters of recommendation
- SAT or ACT scores (optional)
- Art samples or portfolio for fine arts, music, theater or dance applicants
- Online interview
- Additional letter of support (not required but accepted)
Macalester College follows a predetermined admission timeline. Early decision I applicants receive decisions by December 5, early action candidates by December 19, early decision II by January 30 and regular decision by March 27. Early decision applicants are expected to reply within 15 days from receiving the decision. Early action and regular decision applicants are given time until May 1.
To be at an advantage, study abroad applicants who wish to be admitted to Macalester College must apply in early admission rounds, particularly early decision since it includes a relatively small number of applicants and a bit higher chances of admission. Check Student reviews of Macalester College
FAQs
Ques. What GPA do you need to get into Macalester College?
Ans. An average high school GPA of 3.94 on 4.0 is recommended for admission to Macalester College.
Ques. How are international applications evaluated for admission?
Ans. The overall international student admit rate for the class of 2025 was only 11% indicating tough competition among applicants. Applicants are considered based on academic preparation, high school performance, essays, recommendations and other factors such as decision plan applied for.
Ques. Can I submit supplementary materials for admission to Macalester College?
Ans. The required application materials are sufficient for admission to Macalester College. However, students may submit additional writing samples, recommendations and other materials if they feel it is important for the evaluation process.
Ques. Are interviews required for admission to Macalester College?
Ans. Limited admission interviews are offered by Macalester College from August through February. Interviews are not required for admission to Macalester College however students can use it as an opportunity to personalize their application and tell the Admission Committee beyond what is in the written application.
Ques. How should I decide between early decision and early action?
Ans. The application deadline for both early decision I and early action for admission to Macalester College is November 1. However, early decision applicants are required to submit an early decision agreement. It is suitable for applicants whose first choice of institution is Macalester. The reply date for early decision applicants is December 20 whereas early action applicants have time to consider other institutions and reply by May 1.
Ques. Will applying without SAT or ACT scores affect admission?
Ans. Students who do not submit SAT or ACT scores will not be at any disadvantage for not submitting test scores. All applicants will be given the same consideration for admission as well as scholarships irrespective of submission or non-submission of test scores.
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Overview
Location in a city, diversity, LGBT-friendliness, class offerings, lack of fraternities, good academic reputation, pretty campus, that it was a relatively small, liberal arts college, and the strong study abroad program.
Scholarship
I received both loans and grants from Macalester and applied for aid through FAFSA. I don't remember the process very well. Macalester has fairly generous aid but I still ended up with a lot of loans. They don't really offer any specific big scholarships.
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