First-Year FAQs

FAQs for All Students

• How will the admissions committee review my application?

  Macalester Admissions practices holistic admission review, meaning that our Admissions team intentionally considers a wide variety of factors and data in our application review process. Factors such as academic performance in context, recommendation letters, essays, leadership experience and potential, and extracurricular involvement are thoroughly reviewed by the Admissions Committee. The most important part of your application is something you’ve already been working on throughout high school: your performance in the classroom! It is this academic foundation that is the best predictor of success in college.

• Do you require test scores?

  Macalester follows a Test-Optional admissions policy. Applicants can choose to submit ACT, SAT, AP, and IB exam scores as part of their application. 

  Regardless of the presence of test scores, all applicants receive equal consideration for admission and scholarship opportunities. Choosing not to submit test scores will not disadvantage you in our selection process. 

  Applicants who submit test scores to our office may self-report them through the Common Application, submit them to admissions@macalester.edu, or request that official scores be sent to Macalester. Macalester’s testing codes are 2122 for the ACT and 6390 for the SAT.

  View theTest Policy for more details and data about how the Admissions Office uses testing in the selection process.

• Should I interview?

  Macalester interviews are offered to applicants who have begun their application process. Interviews are reserved for domestic applicants who are rising seniors, seniors, or prospective transfer students.

  Admissions interviews at Macalester are optional and not required. Your interview will be part of your application file, so it’s an opportunity to share or address anything you’d like included in your application.

  All interviews are conducted by a Macalester staff member and are only offered virtually.

  Interviews for rising seniors begin on August 1. Seniors who wish to interview must do so by February 1 of their senior year. Transfer students must request an interview by April 15. Each student may only interview once and interviews are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Learn more or schedule your interview here.

• What classes should I take in high school?

  The best preparation for college is a balanced and rigorous high school curriculum. For balance you should take classes in all five academic core subjects: English, mathematics, history or social science, laboratory science, and world language. Students should challenge themselves by taking the advanced curriculum available at your school. Some examples include, honors, Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. Most applicants will complete at least 20 academic core courses by the time they graduate high school.

  If you’d like the perspective of an admissions staff member on your course selection in high school, please contact admissions@macalester.edu.

• Can I receive college credit for classes I’ve taken? Can I use these credits to place out of classes at Macalester?

  For students admitted to Macalester through the first-year admissions program, Macalester will accept a maximum of thirty-two (32) Macalester credit hours earned from a college or university prior to matriculation at Macalester. Summer session college credits, Minnesota Post-Secondary Education Options Program credits, International Baccalaureate credits, General Certificate of Education (GCE), and AP Program credits are included under this limitation. For more information refer to the Registrar FAQ and  and Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) information.

• How selective is Macalester?

  Macalester has consistently seen an increase in applications in recent years and is a highly selective liberal arts college. In a typical admissions cycle, Macalester seeks to enroll roughly 550 incoming first-year students. For the last class, 28% of all applicants were admitted.

  To help choose the application round that’s the best fit for you and to learn about the options available to Macalester applicants, more information on dates and details can be found here.

• Do you have a minimum GPA?

  Since school systems vary a great deal, we look at an applicant’s high school record in the context of their school system, rather than listing a minimum GPA. We also recognize that many school systems around the world do not report a GPA or rank in class, and in those cases that information is not required. We look for evidence that the applicant has performed at a very high level academically and has pursued a rigorous curriculum that will prepare them for success at Macalester.

• What is Macalester’s policy on the use of AI in college essays?

  We believe AI can be a helpful tool in the writing process. Like any form of application assistance, we encourage students to use it responsibly. If you decide to utilize programs like ChatGPT, treat them like a teacher—AI can help edit or organize pre-existing ideas, but ultimately, your writing should be your own. AI usage becomes problematic when it creates rather than refines text. A copy-and-paste approach hinders your development as a writer, and if you were to use this method as a Mac student, you’d be in likely violation of academic integrity policies on campus. 

  Similarly, AI struggles to fulfill the essay’s core purpose: showcasing student personality. We walk away from the best essays feeling like we got to know you. Tools like ChatGPT, which produce generic, unimaginative writing, often sanitize the student voice we’re looking for. Your perspective matters more than anything else in this process–and as long as you’re being your authentic self, we know you can write an essay we’ll love to read. 

• What advice would you give to sophomores and juniors?

  Congratulations on starting your search early! Academically, sophomores and juniors should focus on their classes, paying attention to the recommended secondary school curriculum mentioned in the question “What classes should I take in high school?” and take advantage of the rigor available to them. Continue your involvement in extracurriculars you care about that are available. We encourage you to keep an open mind and start thinking about what your priorities (college size, setting, particular majors or extracurriculars, etc.) are for college. Then connect with the staff and students at those colleges to get a taste of the college experience before narrowing down a list. Macalester’s programming and visit opportunities can be found here.