Apply by Nov 15th to meet the Early Action 1 deadline!

If you have not earned your high school diploma (even if you are currently enrolled in college courses through a dual enrollment program) or have graduated from high school but have fewer than 12 transferable college credits, you will apply as a First-Time Full-Time applicant.

Your requirements are:

• High school transcript: If you cannot secure an official high school transcript, we will gladly accept an unofficial copy that includes grades 9-11. All students are required to submit a final official transcript that demonstrates high school graduation prior to enrollment.
• Personal Essay: Your personal essay helps us become acquainted with you as a person and student, apart from courses and grades. It will also demonstrate your ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself. 
• Letter of Recommendation or Common Application Secondary School Report (recommended)

As part of our commitment to campus diversity, we do not charge an application fee.

OPTIONAL

• SAT or ACT Scores: Because McDaniel is proudly test-optional, you decide whether or not to submit your test scores. Please note that should you choose to enroll, we will request test scores from all future students for reporting purposes only. If you did not take the SAT or ACT, you will not be required to submit scores

REQUIRED IF APPLYING EARLY DECISION (BINDING)

• If you are applying Early Decision, you must complete, print, and submit the Early Decision Agreement Form with all three required signatures by the appropriate deadline.

If you have earned your high school diploma and have more than 12 transferable college credits, you will apply as a Transfer applicant.

Your requirements are:

• Official transcript(s) from all colleges or universities attended
  • Your transcript(s) will be reviewed not only for admission but also to evaluate which courses will transfer to McDaniel. Learn more about our Transfer Credit Review Process.
• Copy of your high school transcript that shows proof of high school graduation
• Personal Essay: Your personal essay helps us become acquainted with you as a person and student, apart from courses and grades. It will also demonstrate your ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself. 
• Letter of Recommendation (recommended)
• Residential Student Release Form: If you lived on campus at your most recent college and plan to live on campus at McDaniel, you will need to submit the Residential Student Release Form. The McDaniel Application includes an easy online form request to send to the Dean of Students at your most recent college. 

As part of our commitment to campus diversity, we do not charge an application fee.

OPTIONAL

• SAT or ACT Scores: Because McDaniel is proudly test-optional, you decide whether or not to submit your test scores. Please note that should you choose to enroll, we will request test scores from all future students for reporting purposes only. If you did not take the SAT or ACT, you will not be required to submit scores.

If you have already earned a Bachelor's Degree and wish to earn another at McDaniel, you'll need to complete the Application for Second Bachelor's Degree and submit an official copy of your undergraduate transcript with degree and date of graduation.

If you attended McDaniel in the past, and wish to return to complete your degree, you'll need to submit the McDaniel Application for Re-Admission along with an official transcript for any college you have attended since leaving McDaniel.

As a part of our re-admission review, we’ll confirm your eligibility to return to McDaniel with the following campus departments:

• Office of Academic Life
• Office of Campus Life
• Bursar's Office
• Financial Aid Office
• Registrar's Office

After we have received feedback from each department, we’ll be able to review and make a decision on your re-admission to McDaniel. 

Once you have been re-admitted and have submitted your re-enrollment deposit, we’ll connect you with the Office of Academic Life to complete the advisement and registration processes.

International students should first determine if they will be applying as a First-Time Full-Time or Transfer applicant. In addition to submitting the required application materials, you must also submit:

• English Translation of official secondary school transcript
  • Please include the last three completed years of schooling at minimum and your senior year schedule. Senior grades will be requested if needed. If you are seeking transfer credit, we also require an official credential evaluation. We recommend World Education Services (WES) for your credential evaluation but will accept an evaluation from any National Association of Credential Evaluation Services member.
• Official Test Scores
  • If English is not your first language or primary language of instruction, you will need to demonstrate English Proficiency by completing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), IELTS, SAT, or ACT. The minimum official scores to be considered for admission are:
    • TOEFL: 550 on the paper examination; 213 on the internet examination; 80 on the iBT (with a minimum score of 20 in each section)
    • IELTS: 6.5
    • Testing during COVID-19: With many testing sites closed, McDaniel College will accept IELTS Indicator Scores and/or the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition during the 2020-2021 application cycle. If you do not have access to any testing please reach out to the Associate Director of Admissions, Brooke Hain (bhain@mcdaniel.edu), to request a waiver.

• Financial Information
  • You must have submitted the required Certificate of Finances if you would like to have your application reviewed for need-based aid. International students will be considered for need-based institutional grants following acceptance. However, please be aware that even after need-based aid is applied, international students are typically responsible for $25,000-$40,000 USD per year. If a family cannot realistically contribute $20,000-$40,000 USD, it is unlikely McDaniel will be an affordable option.
    • Download the Certificate of Finances form
    • Should you choose to attend McDaniel, the Certificate of Finances will be an enrollment requirement in order to issue the F-1 visa.

• October 1
  • 2022-2023 FAFSA Application opens
• November 1
  • Early Decision I Application Deadline for fall semester
• November 15
  • Early Action I Application Deadline for fall semester
• December 1
  • Application Deadline for spring semester
• December 15
  • Final application deadline if you wish to be considered for the Honors program or additional Honors scholarships.
• January 15
  • Deposit Deadline for spring semester
• February 1
  • Regular Decision Deadline for fall semester (Applications will still be considered on a space-available basis throughout the July 15th final deadline.)
• March 1
  • Preferred FAFSA Submission Deadline (yes, you can still submit your FAFSA and receive financial aid after this deadline, however submitting your FAFSA by March 1 ensures you will be eligible for the maximum amount of financial aid!)
• May 1
  • National Reply and Deposit Deadline for Fall semester
• June 1
  • F-1 visa student Application Deadline for fall semester
• July 15
  • Payment Deadline for fall semester
  • Regular Decision Final Deadline for fall semester

December 1: Spring Application Deadline (Deposit Deadline: January 15th) 

March 1: Fall Priority Application Deadline (Deposit Deadline: May 1st) 

July 15: Fall Final Application Deadline (Deposit Deadline: 1 week after admission notification)