Admission and Financial Aid Policies for Undocumented Students

Students who are not U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents must follow the international student application procedures.

Admission Policy

To complete an application for admission, students must submit the following materials:

• Application Fee or fee waiver request (Note: $40 fee is waived if Part 1 has been submitted online by November 15)
• Common Application
• Common Application Macalester Supplement, including additional essay for international students
• Secondary School Report and Mid-Year Report
• Two Teacher Recommendations from core academic subject areas (English, social studies, foreign language, mathematics, or science)
• Official High School Transcript that includes all classes beginning with 9th grade
• Admissions Test Scores:
  • SAT (Macalester code 6390) or ACT (Macalester code 2122)
  • TOEFL or IELTS, unless English is the first language or primary language of instruction

In deciding which applicants will be offered admission, we carefully review each student’s high school record. We look for evidence that the applicant has taken a rigorous curriculum, performed at a very high level, and will contribute to the campus community in other ways. Competition for space in the class is high. Macalester generally considers more than 1,000 applications for the 55-65 spaces available through the international admissions process.

Financial Aid Policy

Macalester's long-standing commitment to internationalism and multiculturalism includes a significant financial aid fund for qualified students. Applicants requiring financial assistance should be aware that all awards are based on demonstrated financial need.

Candidates who need financial assistance must complete the:

• International Student Financial Aid Application

OR

• College Scholarship Service (CSS) Financial Aid PROFILE

Awards would come in the form of a Kofi Annan International Scholarship, student loan, and a campus employment opportunity. Financial aid is applied to academic-year expenses and generally is not available for travel or summer expenses. Scholarship amounts vary and are based on the need of the individual student. It is important to note that if we cannot meet your demonstrated financial need, we will not offer you admission.

It is the College’s policy to include student employment as part of its need-based financial aid packages. With the passage of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, every employer in the United States must now check the legal status of all employees (including student employees) hired after November 6, 1986, or face the threat of criminal penalties. For this reason, before a student can be employed by Macalester College and begin working, he or she must complete the I-9 Form in the Student Employment Office and provide the documents that prove identity and eligibility to work in this country. Any student who is not legally permitted to work in the United States will have to decline any student employment offered as part of their need-based financial aid.

Questions about applying to Macalester as an undocumented student may be directed to:

Philana Tenhoff
Assistant Director of Admissions
ptenhoff@macalester.edu
1-800-231-7974