Applying
Application Checklist
- Application for Admission
(Apply Online via the Drew Application or CommonApp. Apply by mail.) - $60 Non-refundable Application Fee
(waived for Early Decision) - Transcript with Enclosed Counselor Evaluation
- SAT/ACT Scores or a Graded High School Paper
- Teacher Evaluation
- Personal Statement
- Early Decision Agreement
(Early Decision applicants only)
Deadlines*
- Early Decision I – Dec. 1
- Regular Admission – Rolling, until May 1
(based on space available) - Dual B.A./M.D. – Dec. 7
- Spring Semester – Jan. 1
- Financial Aid/FAFSA – Feb. 15
- Fall Transfer – June 1
*Applications received after these dates will be
considered on a space-available basis
High School Applicants
At Drew, we take a holistic approach to reviewing your application and consider many factors in our decision including your high school grades, course of study, recommendations, essay, extracurricular involvement and either your SAT/ACT scores or a graded analytical paper.
Application Types
There are two ways to apply to Drew: Early Decision & Regular Admission.
Early Decision
Early Decision is a special program designed for students who are confident that Drew is their first-choice school. Students should only apply Early Decision to one institution. Early Decision is binding, which means as part of applying Early Decision, you are agreeing that if you are admitted you will enroll at Drew University, financial circumstances permitting. Students must also submit the Early Decision Agreement to be considered for Early Decision. If you are not admitted under the Early Decision program your application may be deferred to the regular decision pool in which case your admission will not be binding.
Why choose Early Decision?
- The $60 application fee is automatically waived for Early Decision applicants
- Early Decision applicants are given special consideration in the admission process
- Early Decision students are among the first students to be considered for admission and scholarships
- Early Decision is the fastest way to receive notification of your admission status
- Early Decision allows you to finalize your college search process sooner
Regular Admission
Regular Admission allows students to apply at any point in the process. Applications for Regular Admission are considered on a continual basis throughout the year based on space availability.
SAT Optional Policy
At Drew, you can to choose to submit a graded paper or the results of a standardized test (SAT or ACT). Drew offers an SAT optional admission policy because we know that standardized test scores may not be the best measure of your ability.
If you choose to submit a graded paper it should be a paper you wrote for one of your high school assignments, and it should include comments and a grade from your teacher. This paper should be analytical or critical in nature, not merely a summary. It should demonstrate your ability to communicate complex ideas and opinions and to write effective, well supported arguments. We recommend an analysis of a book, work of art or a historical event; a position paper in which you argue for or against a policy or idea; or a research paper from a science or social science course. This paper should not exceed five pages in length.
Students who submit a graded paper will receive the same scholarship consideration as those who submit a standardized test score. If you choose to submit a graded paper, you do not need to submit standardized test scores.
On the application for admission, students must indicate their preference for application review based on their graded paper or standardized test score. This option is available to all first-year college applicants, except for those applying to the UMDNJ B.A./M.D. program.
Transfer Applicants
Students who have enrolled in 12 or more credits at another college/university after high school graduation are considered transfer applicants.
Drew takes a holistic approach to reviewing your application for admission. Admission decisions are based on the strength of your academic record. We will consider your college grade-point average, essay and recommendations. If you have earned less than 24 college credits, we will also consider your high school grades and course of study. Transfer students are not required to submit the results from standardized tests such as the SAT or ACT.
Preferred Deadlines*
- Fall Semester: June 1
- Spring Semester: January 1
* Applications received after this date will be considered on a space-available basis.
Transfer Credits
Students may transfer up to 80 credits to Drew from accredited two- or four-year institutions. In order to achieve a bachelor of arts degree from Drew, students must complete at least 128 credits, with a minimum of 48 credits completed at Drew.
Transfer credits are granted for courses in which you have earned a C or better and only for courses that are comparable to courses offered at Drew. Credit is not granted for basic skills or remedial course work.
Credits are transferred based on a semester-hour system; credits from schools on a quarter-hour or trimester system may receive less than a one-for-one rate.
Students are sent an evaluation of their transfer credits by the registrar’s office shortly after their admission to the university. Prior to formal admission, we are happy to provide you with a preliminary evaluation of your transfer credits. For more details, please contact Francis Field in the Office of College Admissions at 973-408-3555 or ffield@drew.edu.
Interviews Via Skype (Optional)
We offer a 30-minute optional interview via Skype with a Drew University admissions counselor.
Contact Us
Students under the age of 24 who have attempted 12 or more college credits after high school graduation should contact Frances Field in the Office of College Admissions at 973-408-3555 or ffield@drew.edu. (Students who have earned college credits while in high school should apply to Drew as first-year students.)
Adults age 24 and older wishing to resume studies leading to a bachelor of arts degree at Drew should contact Sunita Bhargava in the Office of Continuing Education and Special Programs at 973-408-3400 or sbhargav@drew.edu.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Drew provides over $27 million a year in grants and scholarships to our students. Transfer students are eligible for merit-based scholarships. These scholarships are automatically awarded at the point of admission based on the strength of your academic record. In addition, Drew offers need-based grants to transfer students. To determine your eligibility for a need-based grant from Drew, as well as federal and state grants, students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA, school code 002603).
For more information on financial planning and financial aid awards, please contact Drew’s Office of Financial Assistance at 973-408-3112 or finaid@drew.edu.
International Applicants
Requirements
International students are required to submit all of the required application information as outlined for high school or transfer students, depending on their standing. In addition, they must submit the following:
Results from English Proficiency Exam – TOEFL or IELTS
On a case-by-case basis this may be waived based on your SAT/ACT score or previous study.
Evaluation of All School Credentials
Please submit all school credentials in English.
A Notarized and Signed Copy of the Application for form I-20 and affidavit(s) of Support
A copy of the affidavit of support should be provided for each sponsor. The application for Form I-20 and the Affidavit(s) of support are not required to be submitted until after admission, but providing these documents with your application can help expedite the issuance of your form I-20. If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is currently studying and living abroad, you do NOT need to fill out these documents.
Official Bank Account Statement(s) in U.S. Dollars
The statement(s) must show funds available to the student in an amount equal to or greater than the total cost of attendance for one year. The statement(s) must be official, from the financial institution itself, not simply a computer print-out.
Scholarships
Drew University is very generous with financial aid and provides over $27 million to its students in financial aid each year. International students can qualify for merit-based scholarships, which are based on academic achievement. These scholarships do not require any special application form. Students are automatically considered for a scholarship at the point of admission based on the strength of their academic record.
In addition to these automatically awarded merit scholarships, international students can also apply for the Civic Engagement Scholarship, RISE Science Scholarship or Presidential Scholarship in the Arts. These scholarships provide $20,000 ($5,000 per year) to recipients. These scholarships all require a special application and have a February 1 application deadline.
Interview via Skype (Optional)
For students who are currently located outside the United States and unable to visit our campus, we offer a 30-minute optional interview via Skype with a Drew University admissions counselor.
Special Admission Programs
5-Year B.A. and Master of Arts in Teaching
Drew offers an innovative and advanced approach to teacher education – a 5 year (4+1) bachelor of arts/master of arts in teaching program. This approach will allow you to enter the teaching field with a career advantage that translates to greater job prospects, higher salaries and increased opportunity for promotion.
Our program allows you to earn your bachelor’s degree and focus on developing a well-rounded liberal arts foundation while focusing on your subject area. Then you enter our master of arts in teaching (MAT). This program allows you to become certified to teach at the middle or secondary school level in biology, chemistry, English, French, Italian, math, physics, Spanish, social studies or theatre arts.
The MAT program runs from June to May, allowing you to complete your master’s in just under a year. During this time you’ll immerse yourself in course work and also participate in fieldwork experiences.
7-Year Dual-Degree Medical Program
Drew offers simultaneous admission to both Drew and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School (UMDNJ-NJMS). Successful candidates spend three years of study at Drew and four years at UMDNJ-NJMS, completing both B.A. and M.D. degrees. This program is space limited and very competitive.
Qualifications for Consideration
- Unweighted 3.8 GPA
- SAT score of 1400 or higher (summing only critical reading and math scores) or ACT score of 32 or higher (must be on one administration of the exam)
- Personal interview with a college admissions staff member on Drew’s campus, prior to the application deadline of Dec. 7, to be schedule by the applicant after Drew receives student’s qualifying SAT or ACT scores
- Candidate must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
For more information on the dual-degree program, please refer to the college catalog. Please note the additional qualifications and application instructions.
Educational Opportunity Scholars (EOS/EOF)
The Educational Opportunity Scholars program is a partnership between the New Jersey Commission of Higher Education and Drew University. Within this partnership, the program provides access to higher education and support for highly motivated students who exhibit the potential for success, but come from families of low income and lack access to the quality educational preparation necessary to attend college. The program provides direct services designed to promote persistence through degree completion. Furthermore, the program supports innovative educational initiatives, support services and leadership development activities to enhance the student’s chance for academic success.
To be considered for the EOS/EOF program, you must:
- demonstrate financial need and a background of historical poverty,
- have a family income that falls within the established income eligibility criteria,
- demonstrate an educationally disadvantaged background, and
- be a U.S. citizen and a resident of New Jersey for 12 months immediately preceding enrollment.
Students enrolled in the EOS/EOF program receive additional grants from the state of New Jersey. In addition, Drew University provides significant additional need-based aid to support EOS students. Students also attend a free summer enrichment program to prepare for success in college and receive extra support services throughout their studies, such as counseling and tutoring. For more information, visit state.nj.us/highereducation/EOF.
For more information on Drew’s EOS program, visit www.drew.edu/EOS.