Undergraduate Admission and Financial Aid FAQs

 

Applying and Admission FAQs

What is required for admission to Marist College?

The application requirements for first-year applicants include:

• Completed Undergraduate Admission Application, with the application fee. We accept the Marist application or the Common application with a Marist supplement.
• Official transcript(s): from all high schools attended, including your most recent grades available at the time of application.
• Writing sample: a response to one of the essay topics from the application.
• One Letter of Recommendation: Counselor letter of recommendation is required. Teacher letter of recommendation is now optional for the Fall 2021 application cycle. 
• Optional: Official or self-reported SAT and ACT scores can be submitted for consideration. Details regarding Marist’s test-optional policy can be found here.
• Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) results, if English is not your primary language.
• Certificate of Financial Resources form (for non-U.S. citizens).
   

What are the admission deadlines?

Application Plan	Application Deadline
Early Decision I	November 15
Early Action	November 15
Early Decision II	February 15
Regular Decision	February 15

 

When are admission decisions mailed?

Application Type	Notification of Decision
Early Decision I	Mid-December
Early Action	Mid-January
Early Decision II	Late February
Regular Decision	Mid-March

 

What are the most important criteria in the admission review process?

The admission committee takes multiple aspects into consideration during the application review process, including your academic preparation and performance, extracurricular and leadership accomplishments, recommendations, essay, standardized tests scores (if submitted), and interest in Marist.

Still, the most important aspect of our review is the rigor and performance of your high school program. We look for students who have challenged themselves to take the most demanding course load available. Selecting upper-level courses, such as honors or AP classes, shows us that you are pushing yourself academically and intellectually, and not simply looking for the easy "A".

What courses should I take during my senior year to be best prepared?

We encourage you to challenge yourself as much as you can without overdoing it. During the admission process, we focus on the five major subject areas: English, history/social sciences, math, lab science, and foreign language. Therefore, going above and beyond the basic requirements in these areas is beneficial.

During my senior year, I could take calculus, but there are some great electives available. Should I take the electives courses instead?

This is a common question. Often times, if you've accelerated your academic program, by your senior year there are a number of electives available to you. While the elective courses may seem most interesting, we prefer to see a senior year schedule filled with the core academic areas -- English, history/social sciences, math, lab science, and foreign language. So, if you're choosing between electives and advanced coursework in calculus or physics, we'd advise you to select the latter. While we welcome students to select electives, we encourage you to first fill your schedule with coursework in the major academic areas.

Does it matter if I complete my application online or on paper?

The admission committee values online and paper applications exactly the same, so you are encouraged to complete whichever form is easiest for you.

Is there a required SAT or ACT minimum score?

There are no minimum score requirements that need to be met to apply to Marist.

Do I need to submit SAT Subject Tests?

Marist does not require its applicants to submit SAT Subject test results.

What if I can't afford the application fee?

If the admission application fee poses a financial hardship on your family, the college will waive the cost. We will accept the College Board Fee Waiver form (available from and completed by your high school counselor) or a letter written on your behalf on official stationery from someone at your high school who can attest to your inability to pay this fee.

I've taken some courses at a local college. Can I transfer those credits to Marist?

College courses which you have taken during your high school years may be considered for, and if appropriate, awarded transfer credit to Marist College. The courses must be taken at an accredited college or university, and students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in the course. Marist will review the course level and material to determine if it is viable for transfer.

Will Marist accept AP or IB credit?

Many students can accelerate their college program by earning advanced standing through AP and IB credit in high school. Please view the lists below of what is required on the exam(s) and how many credits the student will receive. All official test results should be submitted directly to the Registrar Office.