Common Questions
- I submitted Part 1. What do I do now?
- After submitting Part 1, you can submit the Common Application. Then, submit the University of Rochester Application Supplement. All application forms are available here. If you have any questions, please contact us.
- What is the difference between the paper application and the online application?
- If you complete an application online, the application fee is $35. If you'd rather download, print, complete, and submit the application forms, the application fee is $70. No matter how you choose to apply, there is no difference in how we read applications...carefully and one at a time.
- May I reactivate a previous application to Rochester?
- If you applied last year, you can reactivate your original application by letting us know you want to re-apply. If you applied more than one year ago, you're required to submit a new application. If you're currently attending another college, you'll be re-applying to Rochester as a transfer student.
- What are the testing codes for the University of Rochester?
- SAT - 2928
ACT - 2980
- The University of Rochester considers the highest combined SAT/ACT score, even if they are from different test dates. Only your highest scores will be considered in our final admissions decision. Each time you submit scores, we will update your record with any new higher scores.
- We encourage you to submit your scores each time you take the SAT. Sending your scores each time helps us to consider you for all available degree programs, special programs, and scholarships.
- What are the minimum requirements for admission?
- There are no minimum requirements for admission to the University of Rochester. Each student's application is reviewed using a committee process that entails a comprehensive evaluation of each candidate.
- The typical Rochester student has:
- ranked in the top 10 % of their high school class
- taken 2 - 7 AP or IB courses
- maintained a median academic unweighted GPA of 3.8
- submitted an SAT score between 1900 and 2200 or an ACT score between 29
and 33
- These are only the bare numbers to describe a University of Rochester student. We also value unquantifiable strengths such as initiative, creativity, enthusiasm, and leadership, and we're also careful to ensure our student body of close to 1,100 new students represents the full spectrum of diversity, including hometowns, ideas, and experiences.
- What is Early Decision (ED)?
- Early Decision is for freshman applicants who are certain Rochester is for them. If you apply through Early Decision, your admission process will be different than Regular Decision. Under Rochester's ED plan, you finish your application by November, complete and sign the ED Confirmation Form, and are notified of your admission status in December, rather than late March. If admitted ED, the Early Decision agreement requires you to enroll at Rochester and withdraw any applications submitted to other schools. If you are an ED applicant who is denied admission, you will not be reconsidered for freshman admission with the regular decision pool. In some instances, an Early Decision applicant's decision may be postponed and will be reconsidered for admission along with the Regular Decision pool and notified in late March.
- You can only apply Early Decision to one institution.
- What's Priority Review? Is it different from Early Decision?
- Unlike the Early Decision option, Priority Review is not binding. By applying through PR, you identified yourself as being serious about your academic career and well matched for Rochester's admitted student profile.
- As a Priority Review applicant, you will receive your admissions decision earlier than regular decision applicants (around February 15), therefore you must submit your entire application by 12:00 am EST, December 1. If you are applying to a Dual Degree program or one of Rochester's Combined-Admission Programs, you cannot apply for Priority Review.
- Early Action
- The University of Rochester does not have an Early Action plan.
- How will I be notified of your decision?
- Students will receive admission decision letters by mail.
- How much do interviews count?
- Interviews can certainly help your chances of being offered admission. If you wish to compete for scholarships, you should definitely interview.
- What is your admission selection process for home-schooled students?
- To assess the preparation of home-schooled students, we require an admission interview and official score results for two SAT II Subject tests. We also recommend submitting a
standard
transcript with grades and course descriptions and a letter of recommendation from an instructor other than a parent. AP or IB tests will be accepted in lieu of SAT II subject tests.
- Read our home school policy.
- Do I have a better chance of being admitted if I am a legacy?
- While we appreciate the special connection that family of alumni possess, we must be assured that you will be able to succeed here before we can extend an offer of admission. Therefore, while we make every effort to admit qualified legacy applicants, admission rates are relatively similar to those of non-legacies.
- I've submitted my application. When will I hear back?
- We do not offer rolling admission; that is, we wait until we have received most or all of our applications for the fall semester to begin making admissions decisions. Therefore, you will likely hear back from us in mid- to late March (by April 1). In the meantime,
contact us if you have any questions.
