Frequently Asked Questions

We are unable to comment on student’s chances for admission. We encourage you to review our admission profile data for a sense of our competitiveness.

It is important to note the evaluation of applications by the Admission Committee is comprehensive and holistic. Although an outstanding academic record is important, we select students based on many attributes and are especially interested in those we believe will contribute to, as well as benefit from, our community. Students are selected on the basis of many attributes—academic record, extracurricular achievements, demonstrated leadership and community/family contribution, personal essays, and letters of recommendation. Admission decisions are comprehensive and there is no magic formula for selecting the perfect Emory University student.

"Demonstrated interest" is not a factor in our application review process. Things like visiting campus, attending a virtual session, or talking with or emailing your admission counselor have no impact on the evaluation of your application.

Further information about why we do not take demonstrated interest into account is in this blog post.

No. Both Emory College and Oxford College participate in Division III intercollegiate sports as part of the NCAA and NJCAA, respectively. As a Division III school, we are not permitted to offer athletic scholarships or allow athletic talent to influence financial aid in any way. As with all applicants, student-athletes are encouraged to apply for need-based financial aid if they need it and nominate themselves for merit scholarships.

Emory has a rich tradition of academic excellence and athletic achievement. Each year, our coaches are looking for high-caliber students to join their teams and continue to build on the legacy of the championship-winning Emory Eagles on both campuses. 

Coaches at both Emory College and Oxford College are familiar with admission policies and work closely with admission staff throughout the application process. Coaches can be an important resource for prospective athletes and their families. Coaches may offer advice and provide feedback to the admission office at any time. Coaches are allowed to make a commitment of support to a prospective student-athlete. However, only the Office of Undergraduate Admission can review an applicant, make an admission decision, and notify an applicant of that admission decision.

We value the legacy connections of applicants and encourage students to detail their university ties on their application. A legacy connection is considered as part of a student’s application but is in no way a guarantee of admission in our highly competitive pool of applicants.

In the admission process, legacy status includes grandparents, parents, and siblings of the applicant who have graduated from or are currently enrolled in any academic division of Emory University. Additional family connections (such as uncles, aunts, or cousins) will be tracked but do not constitute legacy status.

Emory does not offer evaluative interviews with admission staff or alumni. If you would like to speak informally with an Emory alumnus, please contact admission@emory.edu.   

Emory University does not require standardized tests for first-year or transfer students who plan to enroll in Fall 2025. This policy applies to both entry points of Emory University, Emory College of Arts and Sciences and Oxford College, all decision plans (both Early Decision rounds and Regular Decision, and Transfer students). It also applies to students under consideration for merit scholarships, including membership in any of Emory’s Scholar Programs.

Review this year’s test policy in detail.

When you apply, you will be asked "Do you want test scores (SAT or ACT) to be considered in the review of your application for Emory University?" Students can simply answer "no" on that question if they so choose.

In answering "no," the admission committee will not take any test scores into consideration, even if test scores come to us as self-reported scores on the application or as official scores on the high school transcript. We encourage students to know how they plan to answer that question when they apply.

If you change your mind after you've applied, applicants may update their "test optional" answer in the Emory applicant portal up to a certain point in time. The deadlines for those changes are based on decision plan and provided to the applicant via email and in their applicant portal.  

Emory continues to accept self-reported test scores. We will continue to superscore the SAT and the ACT.

We expect that standardized test scores will continue to demonstrate academic preparation. For students who choose to have us look at their scores, the admission committee will view the scores within the context of your application. 

Review this year’s test policy in detail.

Students will not have to share their reasons for not submitting test results. Additionally, students will not be disadvantaged in the review process if they do not submit scores.

In the absence of test scores, the admission committee will lean even more heavily on other application materials, including an applicant’s personal statements, short answer questions, letters of recommendation, transcript, and, where available, feedback from the Alumni Interview Program.

We will continue to look for students who have:

• Taken challenging classes in the context of their school and done well in them.
• Pursued outside-of-class educational, volunteer, or work opportunities, whether in person or virtually.
• Authentically shared of themselves through their application personal statements and short answer questions.

Review this year’s test policy in detail.

Fall 2025 transfer applicants are not required to submit test scores. Review the test policy in detail.

No. The exception to this is students who apply to both Emory College of Arts and Sciences and Oxford College under an Early Decision plan, as both colleges are part of the same university. You are free to apply to multiple colleges and universities under Regular Decision or rolling admission plans.

Students admitted under Early Decision must withdraw their applications from other institutions immediately. We strongly urge students to apply Early Decision only if there is no possibility of later breaking the Early Decision contract.

Binding means you are entering into a contractual agreement stating that Emory University is your first choice school, and that, if admitted with adequate financial aid, you will enroll here and withdraw all other college applications.

Yes. If you have filed the required financial aid application materials by our financial aid deadline, you will receive a financial aid evaluation before the enrollment deadline. Generally, financial aid packages are supplied within 2 business days of being admitted.

Full details about financial aid requirements and deadlines can be found on the Office of Financial Aid website.

Absolutely. You can opt in to be considered for scholars on your Early Decision application. Remember that the Early Decision I application deadline is November 1. (But the deadline for EDII and RD is November 15 if you also want to be considered for scholar programs.)

Scholar awards are not finalized until early April. If your decision to attend Emory University is dependent upon receiving a merit-based scholarship, you are advised to apply under Regular Decision.

Students applying Early Decision I can apply for the scholar programs but need to meet the November 1 deadline. If your ability to enroll depends on receiving a specific amount of merit scholarships or need-based financial aid, we strongly encourage you to apply Regular Decision.

Scholar program awards are not finalized until early April, after the deposit deadlines for Early Decision I and Early Decision II.

Yes. Please do your best to have all materials in by November 15. 

Applicants are notified by March 1 if they have been selected as a finalist in one of the three programs (Emory Woodruff Scholars, Oxford Woodruff Scholars, or Goizueta Scholars). Students not selected as finalists will continue to be considered for admission under the decision plan they selected as well as for smaller merit-based scholarships.

Please know that not being selected as a scholar program finalist has no bearing on your overall admissibility to the university. Every year, many great students who are not finalists are admitted to the university and become active in the student community.

No. If you do choose to submit the Common Application in addition to your QuestBridge application, please be sure to include your QuestBridge application ID number with your other application.

We automatically waive the application fee for all students who apply with QuestBridge.

Yes. If you match with Emory University, you accept a binding offer of admission and are required to withdraw any applications submitted to other colleges and universities.

Note that all students awarded the match will have the option to select which campus to enroll in - the Atlanta campus (Emory College of Arts and Sciences) or the Oxford campus (Oxford College). This choice process normally occurs in December each year, after you receive news of your match award.

Undocumented students (with or without DACA) are not obligated to tell us of their status. However, we invite students to feel free to share their personal stories through their application. This can be done through the personal statement, short answer questions, or any other appropriate space on the application.

High school counselors also are welcome to share more about the student through letters of recommendation.

Yes. First-year students who are admitted are eligible for both merit-based scholarships and the Emory University Scholar Programs. Additionally, Emory meets 100 percent of demonstrated need for undocumented students (with or without DACA). For further information, please visit the Office of Financial Aid.

Admitted transfer students, including undocumented students (with or without DACA) are not eligible for merit scholarships. They are, however, eligible for financial aid. For further information, please visit the Office of Financial Aid.

Yes. You may upload this form as a "Supplemental Material" in your applicant portal.

Before or during the application process, our staff is not able to advise on what classes we will or will not accept. There are no specific courses required to apply as a transfer student.

After you have been accepted, we will review your official transcripts with the required accompanying descriptions of courses from your institution’s course catalog. If the class description is similar to what we offer, that course will count toward Emory graduation credit. We will award a maximum of 62 credit hours. Transfer credit is evaluated on a tentative basis and may not be finalized until the end of your first semester at Emory.

Credit evaluations will be processed four to five weeks after admission.

To graduate from Emory, you must obtain 124 total academic credits, 62 hours of which must be completed at Emory. Students who transfer with the maximum of 62 credit hours will need to complete 128 total academic credits, 62 hours of which must be completed at Emory. Emory does not grant academic credit for any form of distance education courses.

Transfer applicants interested in Goizueta Business School (GBS) should consider the following when applying:

• GBS accepts about 20 transfer students each year. These students start as juniors and should expect to complete four semesters of coursework at GBS.
• GBS prefers students complete the majority of their business coursework here at Emory, so students with a number of business classes from another institution are not good transfer candidates.
• When applying, you will have the option to select if you want to apply only to the Goizueta Business School or also want to be considered by Emory College as your second choice.

Yes, undocumented students (with or without DACA) can apply as transfer students. Learn more about applying as an undocumented student. 

Individuals already holding a bachelor’s degree are not eligible for admission to Emory College as a transfer or visiting student.

You can apply for nondegree admission if you have a bachelor’s degree and simply would like to take undergraduate courses as a nondegree-seeking student.

Once your application is downloaded and processed, an email will be sent to you with details on setting up your application portal. First, check your application status to view the receipt of application materials. Please note that it can take up to two weeks for submitted items to be received, processed, and checked off on your applicant checklist. If you’re still missing applications materials after this time, please check the missing items page for additional guidance.

Yes. All Early Decision II and Regular Decision applicants are required to have their high school counselor submit a midyear report and updated senior year transcript as soon as it becomes available. We do not accept midyear reports or transcripts directly submitted by the applicant. 

Emory University does not require midyear reports and transcripts for Early Decision I applicants. If it is listed on your checklist, it is because we need it for another decision plan.

We understand these materials are usually not available until late December/early January. It will continue to appear as “awaiting” on your checklist until received. If an applicant’s school is unable to submit the midyear report by the stated deadline, we will accept and process late reports. 

In the meantime, application files for all decision plans, including Scholars, will be reviewed without midyear reports and transcripts. Read more about application requirements.

Yes, although this is not necessary or required by our office. You may upload materials through your applicant portal, selecting whatever category is most appropriate.

These materials could include a resume, digital portfolio, or link to a YouTube page. Any document that can be saved as a PDF can be uploaded through the applicant portal. All materials uploaded in the applicant portal are added to your application for review by the Admission Committee.

Our office is unable to process certain mailed materials that are large, laminated, or unable to be scanned. These include printed books, booklets, laminated papers, spiral-bound publications, CDs, and USB drives.

We encourage applicants to upload additional materials digitally, via the applicant portal, whenever possible. 

If paying the $75 application fee is a financial hardship, we are happy to waive the fee. All fee waiver requests are processed online through the Common Application.

To receive a fee waiver, simply answer “yes” to any question on the application referencing if you are eligible for a fee waiver with Emory University. No further documentation needs to be supplied to our office. 

If you have a paper fee waiver from NACAC or another such college-supporting body or organization, you may choose to upload this and share it with us via the applicant portal. This is not required, however, in order to receive a fee waiver.

We encourage you to submit all application materials online through the Common Application including required school documents. You may also upload many materials yourself through your applicant portal.

However, if application materials need to be mailed, please send them to:

Please ensure application materials include the applicant’s full name, exactly as it appears on their application, date of birth, and application ID number.

Students may wish to take a gap year or defer enrolling for a wide variety of reasons. Emory University views deferred enrollment as an opportunity for the student to pursue non-academic enrichment, personal fulfillment, service, social enterprise, growth, exploration, and self-discovery. The core purpose of our deferred enrollment policy does not include seeking full-time enrollment elsewhere.   

• Typically, gap years are approved for 1 year, and enrollment is expected in Fall 2026. Occasionally 2-year gap years are approved for military or religious commitments. 
• Students admitted at Oxford College can request a gap semester too, and enrollment is expected in Spring 2026.
  
• Spring Start students admitted at Oxford College are not permitted to defer their enrollment for a semester or a year. If a Oxford Spring Start student wishes to be considered for the fall semester, they can choose to cancel their enrollment and reapply.
• All gap year requests must be reviewed and approved by our office. 

If you are considering a gap year, review the policy below and then submit the deferral request form on the Admitted Student Website. Requests are reviewed by office leadership, and students can expect a response in 7-10 business days. 

Deferred Admission Policy: 

• Before a student can request a gap year, they need to pay the $845 enrollment deposit by the deposit deadline for their admission plan. 

• Deferred students must submit a final high school transcript and/or other appropriate academic transcripts. We recommend that your high school submit your final transcript in June 2025 rather than waiting until June 2026 to track this down. 
  
  
• Should a deferred student change their mind about enrollment while on a gap year, they agree to withdraw from Emory University before they apply to any other schools or institutions, out of respect for other students who want to attend Emory.    
  
  
• Emory is unable to hold a first-year spot for a student if they are no longer committed to enrolling here. Students are, however, eligible to reapply if they would like to consider other institutions along with Emory University. 
  
  
• Deferred students may not enroll in another college or university as degree seeking. A deferred student who enrolls in another institution as degree seeking during the deferral period will forfeit their admission to Emory University along with their enrollment deposit. 
  
  
• Deferred students may transfer credit for no more than two single semester courses taken during the gap year. Typically, one college course is three credit hours at Emory University, so a student can expect to transfer up to 6 credit hours. There is a process, the summer before enrolling, where the deferred student requests to have their college credit evaluated. We are unable to evaluate credit hours before this time. Learn more about transfer credit.  
  
  

Financial Aid and Scholarships: 

• Deferred students will receive their academic scholarship if awarded in their original admission offer.  
  
  
• Oxford College Woodruff Scholars can choose to defer their enrollment; however, they must forfeit their Woodruff Scholarship as a result.
  
  
• Deferred students will not be considered for any new merit awards or any invitations to the Emory Scholar Programs during their gap year. 
  
  
• Domestic applicants interested in need-based financial aid must submit new FAFSA and CSS Financial Aid Profile forms by the applicable deadlines. Additional information and deadlines can be found at www.studentaid.emory.edu/ 
  
  
• Students living in Georgia and eligible for the HOPE/Zell Miller award are encouraged to talk to the Office of Financial Aid about how taking degree-seeking courses at another institution during a gap year may impact their HOPE/Zell Miller award for Emory University.