Undocumented Applicants

At commonapp.org you can create an account and choose Macalester for your college list. There are many resources to help you in your application process – including an Application Guide for First-Year Students. If you do not disclose this information in your Common Application, please call the Admissions Office to update your record as an undocumented student applying to Macalester. If you wish to be considered for financial aid, you must indicate your interest when you apply via the Common App. Macalester does not have an application fee.

Request that your secondary school(s) send Macalester official transcript(s) of all classes and grades beginning with 9th grade through junior year.

Required: Two recommendation letters

• One recommendation letter from a counselor or school official
• One recommendation letter from a teacher – An evaluation from a teacher in one of the core academic subjects (English, social studies, world language, mathematics, or science).

If you are applying Early Decision, the Early Decision Agreement certifies that Macalester is your first-choice college and agreement that, if admitted, you will enroll at Macalester and withdraw all other college applications. More about Early Decision

Early Decision and Early Action applicants must self-report in-progress senior grades using the In-Progress Grades form in your portal checklist. Grades must be submitted between the following dates:

• ED I between November 1 and November 18 
• EA between November 1 and December 5
• ED II between January 1 and January 16

Regular Decision applicants must request that a school official (counselor or registrar) send us an updated transcript by February 15 if senior year first-term grades are not on the initial transcript. If an updated transcript is not available before February 15, please contact [email protected]. 

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 [email protected], or request that official scores be sent to Macalester. Macalester’s testing codes are 2122 for the ACT and 6390 for the SAT.

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

If you have made a substantial commitment to the arts in the areas of fine arts, music, theater or dance, you are welcome to submit samples in your Macalester Applicant Portal after Macalester has received your application.

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.

Applicants are only required and encouraged to submit the two required recommendations. However, if you wish to have an additional letter of support, we ask that you choose carefully to ensure that the additional recommendation provides a new perspective not already present in your application.

In Macalester’s admissions process, undocumented students are considered domestic applicants.

In Macalester’s admissions process, students who have pending asylum cases in the U.S. are considered international applicants. We ask that they keep us informed of changes to their asylee status.

Student records, including applications, are protected by FERPA. The best way to indicate status is through your admissions application or by phone call. Emails are not a secure platform and we do not encourage students to share this sensitive information by email.

Applicants with a completed application are given full consideration for admission regardless of citizenship status.

Refugee/displaced/stateless students follow the same application process as all other applicants. Information about how to apply is available on our Apply webpage.

Applicants who are unable to contact school officials or teachers to submit their academic records, provide letters of recommendation, etc. due to circumstances beyond their control should contact [email protected]. There are certain requirements that cannot waive, such as education records/transcripts, but Macalester Admissions will consider alternatives and workarounds on a case-by-case basis.

There are a number of non-profit organizations and agencies dedicated to supporting refugees and displaced persons. If they are able, students should connect with their nearest EducationUSA Advising Center. In addition to helpful online resources, EducationUSA advisors may be able to help connect students with additional resources and support for applying to schools in the United States. Another resource is the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The UNHCR has numerous programs and resources, including helping refugees continue their education.

Macalester practices holistic admission review. Factors such as academic performance in context, letters of recommendation, essays, leadership experience and potential extracurricular involvement are thoroughly reviewed by the Admissions Committee. During the summer our counselors host a series of admissions-focused workshops. We recommend that you review the recordings for information about the college admissions process. 

All admitted students are considered for merit-based scholarships, regardless of citizenship status. No additional merit scholarship application is required.

Macalester’s long-standing commitment to internationalism and multiculturalism includes a significant financial aid fund for qualified students. The College meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students. Admitted undocumented students who are not permitted by law to work in the U.S. would receive an additional Macalester student loan to replace the amount typically earned through student employment.

Additionally, each year we select several admitted students from Minnesota for the Minnesota Opportunity Scholarship. For this particular need-based scholarship, preference is given to students who are  Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), first generation to college, and/or undocumented.

All refugees/displaced/stateless students, including students with pending asylum cases and are  residing in the United States, should follow the financial aid application process for international students. International Student Financial Aid

To apply for financial assistance, undocumented candidates must complete the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Financial Aid Profile. The CSS PROFILE costs $25 for the first school and $16 for each additional school you would like your information sent to. Eligibility for a fee waiver is assessed at the time you complete the PROFILE. The College Board offers some guidance to give you an idea of if you might qualify for a PROFILE fee waiver

MyinTuition and the Net Price Calculator estimates will not be accurate for undocumented students since these online tools are designed to include federal aid and work study eligibility. Information from the completed CSS Profile allows us to consider taxes, savings, and asset information for families in the financial aid application process.

Macalester is committed to meeting the full demonstrated financial need of every student we admit. Unfortunately, our financial aid budget is not unlimited, so the amount of financial aid an applicant requires is a factor as we decide which students will be offered admission. Students requiring large scholarships will face greater competition in the selection process.

There are systems of support for undocumented students at Macalester College. The Lealtad-Suzuki Center for Social Justice (LSC) works to provide support and resources for undocumented students. In addition, the LSC will host social gatherings and resource workshops for undocumented, refugee, displaced, US asylum seekers, and immigrant students throughout the academic year. 

Public safety officers at Macalester are employees of the College and are not contracted through the Saint Paul Police Department. The Macalester Department of Public Safety and the Macalester community believe all students are entitled to a safe and secure environment for community members to live, learn, and work regardless of citizenship status. Macalester does not permit Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on campus, nor does it allow enforcement of immigration law by campus safety officers without a warrant. 

No. Student records are protected by the Family Educational and Privacy Act (FERPA). This federal law protects the privacy of these records at educational institutions, including elementary and secondary schools, colleges, and universities.

Any current undocumented Macalester student who needs assistance understanding their rights can work with the Lealtad-Suzuki Center for Social Justice to locate confidential legal support in the Twin Cities.