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Admission of Freshman: Most Frequently Asked Questions

How do I qualify for admission?
Admission is selective and based on the student's high school record, including:
  • Class Rank
  • Grades and course selection
  • Data obtained from application form
  • National test results (ACT and/or SAT)
When should I apply for admission?
It is recommended that you apply early in the fall of your high school senior year. To be assured consideration for merit-based scholarships, the Admissions Office must receive a completed application by February 15.
How do I request an application?
What items must be submitted to be considered for admission?
What courses should I be taking in high school to be prepared for Hope?
A minimum college preparatory curriculum of:
  • Four years of English
  • Three years of mathematics which include geometry and two years of algebra
  • Two years of a foreign language
  • Two years of social sciences
  • Three years of science including one year of a lab-based course in biology or chemistry
  • Five other college preparatory courses
Does Hope College prefer the ACT or SAT?
The Admissions Committee will accept either the ACT or SAT as a component of the completed application and for scholarship selection.
Will Hope College require the Writing Section of the ACT or SAT?
In February, 2005, the ACT test included an optional writing section. In March, 2005, the SAT included a writing section to be completed by all test takers.

Hope College will not require that a writing section be completed in order to apply for admission for the 2008-09 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.
How do I receive more information on the ACT and/or 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?
Each year, completed application files are read throughout the fall, admission decisions are made in late November, and notifications regarding admission decisions are mailed in mid December. Following the first notification date in December, applicants will be notified regarding their admission decision within three to five weeks after their files are complete in the Admissions Office.
 
If I am admitted, when do I have to decide if I am going to attend Hope?
Admitted applicants 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. Students admitted after May 1 are expected to pay the deposit within 15 days of gaining admission.

$200 of this deposit is applied to fall tuition and $100 is used as a security deposit. Upon graduation or completing a non-returning form, the security deposit is refunded, less any outstanding charges.