Application Process for Transfer Students

Transfer of Credits

Each year of the curriculum at St. John’s is required so transfer students begin as freshmen and must complete four years on campus. Generally, credits from other colleges and universities do not count toward a degree from St. John’s College.

HOW TO apply

• Select your campus: Annapolis or Santa Fe. You may only apply to one campus. Accepted students may change campuses before enrolling if there is space available.
• Select your application: the Common Application, the St. John’s Application, the Coalition Application, or the Discussion-Based Application. The application instructions below are applicable to the Common Application, the St. John’s Application, and the Coalition Application; you can find more information on the different procedure for the Discussion-Based Application. St. John’s has no application fee.
• Select your deadline: Early Decision 1 (November 1), Early Action (November 15), Early Decision 2 (January 15), Regular Decision (January 15), Rolling Admission-Fall (after February 15), or Rolling Admission-Santa Fe Spring (until January 15)

Required materials for all applicants

• Application
• Writing Supplement/Essays
• High school transcripts and any college transcripts
• Two recommendations

Required materials for some applicants

Optional materials

• Additional letter of recommendation
• Interview
• For those applying for need-based financial aid, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required and the CSS Profile is strongly encouraged at the same time you submit your application for admission. If applying Early Decision or Early Action, applicants should submit the CSS Profile at the same time they submit the application for admission and then submit the FAFSA when it becomes available (currently scheduled by the Department of Education for December 2023). If applying Regular Decision or Rolling Admission, applicants should submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile at the same time they submit the application for admission. All applicants, regardless of whether they apply for need-based aid, are eligible to receive merit scholarships and are assessed for merit scholarships on the basis of their application for admission.

Deadlines

Applicants for both St. John’s campuses may apply Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, or Rolling Admission for the fall. Students also have the option of applying for Rolling Admissions throughout the fall semester for a spring start through the January Freshman Program.

Please also remember our financial aid deadlines.

Admission Requirements

For admission to St. John’s, you should have a solid college-prep background, including two years of algebra, one year of geometry, and two years of a foreign language. Additional work in mathematics and foreign language is advised, as well as two or three years of natural science. We recommend taking the most challenging courses in your high school, whether AP, IB, or honors courses.

Test Scores

St. John’s is test optional for most applicants, meaning we do not require standardized test scores. About 75% of our applicants still submit some form of test score, and they may prove helpful to your application. Some applicants are required to submit test scores:

• Homeschooled students are required to submit SAT, ACT, or CLT scores.
• Students who have not or will not receive a high school diploma must submit SAT, ACT, or CLT scores, as well as GED results, if available.
• International students must submit the results of the SAT, ACT, TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo English Test. International students who are currently educated in English may choose an interview instead of submitting testing.

College Entrance Examination Board (SAT and TOEFL):

• Annapolis—5598
• Santa Fe—4737

The American College Test (ACT):

• Annapolis—1732
• Santa Fe—2649

Admission Interviews

Interviews are not required in order to apply for admission to St. John’s College, but we strongly recommend them. Interviews allow our Admission Committee to get to know you better, and you will also have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the college. You can request an interview during your campus visit, while we are traveling near your home, or via phone or video conference.

HomeSchooled Applicants

St. John’s welcomes applications from home-schooled students. In addition to the general requirements noted above, home-schooled students should submit documentation of the following:

• High School graduation, a GED, or its equivalent.
• SAT or ACT scores.
• An outline of the curriculum you have followed, arranged in chronological order by conventional subject matter, with brief descriptions of the course content and texts used.
• St. John's also accepts the Classical Learning Test (CLT) in lieu of the SAT or ACT.

ACCEPTING YOUR OFFER

Early Decision acceptances are binding, and students have two weeks after receiving their offer of admission to make their deposit. Early Action acceptances are non-binding. All Early Action, Regular Decision, and Rolling applicants have until May 1 to make enrollment decisions and deposits. If applying via Rolling Admission after May 1, applicants have two weeks after receiving the offer of admission to make their deposit. Students accepted to the January Freshman Program have until January 1 to make their deposit.

Starting College Early

St. John’s sometimes accepts an applicant who has graduated high school early or has chosen to start college without graduating from high school. If you are ready for college but haven’t taken the traditional path, you are welcome at St. John’s. Read more about starting college early at St. John’s.

Spring Admission

The Santa Fe campus offers a January Freshman Program. Freshmen who enter in January stay on campus the following summer to complete the first year. They can thus graduate a year earlier than if they had postponed their entrance until the following fall. The January Freshman Program is of particular interest to students who come to St. John’s from other colleges, or to those who have traveled or worked since graduation from high school, or to those who wish to enter St. John’s immediately after the first semester of their senior year of high school.