Admissions

Frequently Asked Questions
for Prospective Undergraduate Students

What kind of financial aid do you offer?

All our aid awards are need-based, and about half our students receive substantial grant aid from the college, in addition to loans, grants, and jobs on campus through the federal and various state programs. In order to be considered for aid, you need to file the College Scholarship Service's PROFILE and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). See Financial Aid for more information.

Do you offer merit awards?

All our aid awards are need-based. St. John's does not offer any merit awards. We have chosen this policy for two reasons: First, we are a small college with limited resources, and we want all of our financial aid funds to support those students who could not afford to come without aid. Second, we believe it would be detrimental to the type of classroom environment we hope to foster for some of our students to be recognized as more "meritorious" than others; we want all our students and their ideas to be given equal consideration in the give-and-take of class discussions.

In Annapolis, the intramural sports program is a mainstay of campus life, offering a regular seasonal cycle of sporting events for men and women. Flag football (with rules like you'll see nowhere else), basketball, soccer, team handball, and softball are particularly popular. Participation is voluntary, of course, but everyone is assigned to a team, and the rule is that anyone who wants to play is included. There are no intercollegiate sports, but crew, fencing, croquet, and women's soccer are offered as "club sports."

In Santa Fe , the campus's proximity to the Sangre de Cristo mountains enables students to enjoy skiiing, snowboarding, mountain biking and hiking activities.  The Rio Grande and Chama rivers offer excellent whitewater canoeing, kayaking and rafting. The Outdoor Programs Office offers several trips and organizes many outdoor activities for the student body. A wide range of athletic equipment is available for student use.Do you have a study abroad program?

Because our curriculum is all-required, we do not have a study abroad program, but many of our students do study or travel abroad during the summers. Our Career Services Office keeps information on study abroad programs offered through other institutions and can help St. John's students find suitable opportunities.

Do you offer AP credit or IB credit?

St. John's does not offer any sort of credit (even for work done at other colleges) or advanced placement because our curriculum is all-required, but we do recognize the level of work represented by AP or IB courses and we take that into account in reaching our application decisions. Students who have completed such work would not be "repeating things" here because our approach to the material and the kinds of issues we try to consider are not primarily rooted in an accumulation of facts or technical information.

Will my credits transfer to other colleges if I leave St. John's?

All work done at the college is fully accredited and transferable to other colleges and universities. The college provides the receiving institution with a key that breaks our program down into conventional units by subject area.

How do your students go on to graduate school without any majors?

It is a common misconception that to enter a particular field of graduate or professional study you need a corresponding undergraduate major. Our students regularly go on to advanced study at leading institutions all across the country in almost any field imaginable, even though they have all followed the same undergraduate program. The college, in fact, ranks in the top 10% of all colleges and universities in the United States in the percentage of its students who earn doctoral degrees. See Career Services for more information: Annapolis or Santa Fe.

You have rolling admissions. When should I apply?

Normally, you should apply in the fall of your senior year for the following fall's freshman class. Although we have no deadline, we urge you to apply for admission no later than March 1. If you need financial aid you should be sure to file your forms no later than February 15. Spots in the entering class and financial aid are given out on a first-come, first-served basis, so the earlier

Can I apply for early entrance (without finishing high school)?

Each year the college admits a handful of students who do not plan to complete a high school diploma. Usually, these students are coming to college midway through their senior year or directly from 11th grade. Applicants for early entrance should have strong records and good reasons for leaving high school early. Typically, these applicants have completed all the solid academic work available to them in their high schools and need to move on to be challenged.

Do I or don't I need to submit SAT scores?

It's up to you. Technically, the college does not require most applicants to submit any standardized test scores. In practice, over 80% of our applicants do submit them. No one is admitted or denied admission simply on the basis of such scores; they are only one of many factors we consider. Applicants who will not earn high school diplomas must submit the results of any nationally recognized standardized test (SAT, PSAT, or ACT). Foreign students must submit the results of SAT1.

Do you accept home-schooled students?

The college has several home-schooled students. Applications from home-schoolers must include the results of a nationally recognized standardized test (SAT, PSAT, or ACT) and a detailed account of the curriculum followed. Otherwise, the application procedure is the same as for regular applicants.

Is there a theatre department?

There is no theatre department, but drama is a very popular activity on both campuses. Student-run drama clubs, The King William Players and Chrysostomos, are open to all interested students and stage several productions each year.

What about the visual arts?

The college offers an extensive extracurricular arts program. In Annapolis, fine arts workshops taught by local artists are free to currently enrolled students are available in painting, drawing, pottery, and writing. A museum-quality art galleryhosts several shows over the course of each academic year.

In Santa Fe,  the Fine Arts Gallery is the visual component of the College's liberal arts academic program. It provides an aesthetic and intellectually stimulating showcase of art in various media, created by locally and nationally recognized artists, students and art societies.

Are music lessons available?

Music is studied as part of the program. Many students enjoy playing instruments or singing, and already have extensive backgrounds when they arrive at the college. As an extracurricular activity, students and faculty form small instrumental and choral groups each year. In Annapolis, two evenings a year are set aside for performances from the college community. Lessons are usually available through someone on campus or in the local community; the faculty or music library staff can assist students who are interested in pursuing lessons to locate appropriate instruction. In Santa Fe, ballroom dance is taught in the Great Hall. Many dances are covered including swing, waltz and tango. Even the clumsiest student can be transformed into the smoothest dancers.

What is your minority enrollment?

Typically, 5-8% of our students come from minority backgrounds. Because everyone in the college is taking the same program, minority and international students find that they are immediately part of mainstream campus social and academic life rather than members of some identifiable subset.

How do I access medical and counseling services?

Each campus has a student health center. Several days a week, a nurse practitioner is on campus; physician appointments are made as necessary by the Health Center staff. The services of the Health Center are free of charge to all students regardless of whether they carry their own health insurance or use the one available through the college. A counselor is also on staff. Appointments can be made directly by students. The counselor makes appointments with the psychiatrist as necessary.