What matters to us

Every application submitted to us is reviewed by multiple members of the admission staff. We're looking to say yes and it's how you craft your application that gives us the ability to do so. While your academic history is written and complete for the most part by the time you apply, there are other areas of the application we consider to make a successful application. 

  1. Review the high school course requirements and admission details.
  2. Review the steps to applying.
  3. Review any applicant specific requirements.
HIGH SCHOOL COURSES

A strong high school performance demonstrating consistent or increasing strength in coursework is paramount in our admission review. Typically, successful Sewanee applicants are on track to complete the following courses. We appreciate that applicants come from a variety of educational backgrounds which is why the course requirements are broad.

4 years  English
3 or more years Math (inc. Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry)
2 or more years Laboratory Science
2 or more years Social Science (inc. History)
2 or more years Second Language (other than English)

 

Completing Your application

Sewanee only accepts the Common Application. Here are the things we are looking for when we read yours:

Common Application
  • Clearly written essays
  • Extracurriculars: Activities that speak to your passions
Admission Deadlines
  • Applicants will indicate their desired admission round/deadline on their Common Application.
SAT/ACT Scores
  • Apply test-optional. Applicants must indicate this on the Common Application prior to submitting. Review our policy below.
  • Applicants can self-report scores using this self-reporting form or send directly from the testing agency (SAT code 1842, ACT code 4024)
  • ACT Science is now optional. Superscores will be calculated with and without the Science section and applications will be evaluated with the higher of the two superscores.
2 Letters of Recommendation
  • Applicant will need 1 core junior or senior teacher recommendation and 1 counselor recommendation. 
  • The teacher should be able to speak to their experience teaching the applicant in their class by clearly describing the academic, character, and personal achievements of the applicant.
  • The counselor/principal is someone in the college or upper school office that can speak more broadly to the impact the applicant has made at the school.
  • We will accept, via email, up to 2 additional recommendations. 
Review Additional Requirements

Admission details

Incoming Class Profile

Sewanee strives to bring a diverse group of students to campus every year. Students come with many layers that add to the fabric of the Domain. 

Applying Test Optional

Sewanee's test-optional admission policy allows students to choose to submit their ACT scores, their SAT scores, or no scores at all. If you choose to submit standardized test scores, we encourage you to self-report them using the form below. Sewanee does super score, so send all of your available test scores. If you have submitted your test scores, but decide later that you would prefer to apply test-optional, that change will be honored as long as you notify your admission counselor by email by your admission deadline. If you indicate that you plan to apply with test scores but do not submit them by the Regular Decision deadline, we'll review your application as test-optional, provided the rest of your application is complete.

Demonstrated Interest

Sewanee is a close community and one that benefits from students who are 'all-in'. Because of this, a review of your engagement with our office through campus visits (online or in person), college fairs, appointments, high school visits, phone calls, texting, etc., is part of our application review process.

Extracurriculars

The application process isn’t about cramming your résumé with as many items as possible. It’s about giving us the best idea of who you are as an individual. So, while it’s fine if you are a world-class surfer who started the next great tech start-up while mounting an impressive run on The Great British Bake Off, it’s also fine if you’re not! Your extracurriculars have the potential to tell us about your unique passions and interests, and that’s all we’re looking for—to get to know you.

Start Your Sewanee Story
Start Your Sewanee Story

Realizing that you want to go to Sewanee is the easy part. The second easiest part is simply applying.

Additional information for...

First-Year Applicants
Students who plan to enroll at Sewanee as first-time college students.
First-Year Applicants
Homeschooled Applicants
Your high school education is unique to you.
Homeschool Applicants
International Applicants
Sewanee students hail from 31 countries. Want to make it 32?
International Applicants
Transfer Applicants
It took you a while to find us. We're glad you did.
Transfer Applicants
Deferred Enrollment
Considering a gap year? That's cool. We want to hear about it.
Deferred Enrollment