When to Apply
Prospective students may apply to Hillsdale College any time after the completion of their junior year of high school. Hillsdale’s application opens on June 1, and the Common Application opens on August 1. Students may apply under one of the following application deadline plans:
Early Action I—The application deadline is November 1 for all required materials, and candidate notification is in early December. To secure their place in the incoming class, admitted students must submit the enrollment deposit of $300 by May 1.
Early Action II—The application deadline is December 15 for all required materials, and candidate notification is in early February. To secure their place in the incoming class, admitted students must submit the enrollment deposit of $300 by May 1.
Regular Decision—The application deadline is March 15 for all required materials, and candidate notification is in early April. To secure their place in the incoming class, admitted students must submit the enrollment deposit of $300 by May 1. All applications and supplemental application materials should be received prior to the March 15 final deadline, at which time all files will be reviewed as submitted.
Spring Admission—The application deadline is November 1. Admissions decisions are generally mailed in mid-November. Admitted students are required to submit the $300 enrollment deposit by December 15 to secure their place in the incoming spring class.
Scholarship Consideration—All applicants are given scholarship consideration based on the strength of their application. Early Action I applications will be considered for Leadership Scholarship (based on strength of the activity resume); Early Action II applications will receive priority academic scholarship consideration. No additional paperwork is required for either deadline. Hillsdale also partners with RaiseMe, a website and mobile app that allows high school students to earn “micro-scholarships” beginning as early as ninth grade. A completed profile should be submitted to RaiseMe by December 1 of the senior year of high school to receive scholarship consideration. Should an application be admitted, any RaiseMe scholarships are included in Hillsdale’s merit scholarship offer.
How to Apply
A formal application to Hillsdale College includes (1) a completed application using Hillsdale’s online application at hillsdale.edu/apply or The Common Application, (2) an official transcript of high school grades (and post-secondary grades, if available), (3) one written essay and three short answer responses, (4) two academic letters of recommendation, and (5) a resume of extracurricular activities, volunteerism, leadership, work experience, and awards. An admissions interview, while not required, is strongly encouraged and may help strengthen a student's application. Applicants may also submit the scores from the American College Test (ACT), the Classic Learning Test (CLT), or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).
Students may either (1) request that official transcripts and letters of recommendation be gathered and mailed by your high school counselor, or (2) request sealed copies of your transcript and letters of recommendation be given to you for mailing. Application materials may be mailed to the Admissions Office at Hillsdale College, 33 E. College Street, Hillsdale, MI 49242.
Homeschooled Students: Homeschooled students are required to submit all materials previously listed. Letters of recommendation should be written by individuals not related to the student. If the primary educator is a parent, a third letter should be submitted. An official transcript from a homeschooling guild or association is acceptable if applicable, or, in its place, a list of high school courses taken with grades and course descriptions with proficiency levels and textbooks used (usually 2-3 pages in length). The lack of a traditional high school diploma should not be seen as a deterrent.
Archiving Official Documents: All application and supporting materials submitted during the admissions process become the property of Hillsdale College and will not be returned. If a student does not enroll in the term for which he applied, the supporting documents will remain in the Admissions Office’s files for one academic year following the term for which they were submitted. To be considered for admission to subsequent terms, a new application and writing supplement must be submitted.
Additional Information: The Admissions Committee may require additional information or documentation deemed necessary in evaluating applications for admission.