Applying to Union

Applying to Union: Everything you need to know

Although admission to Union is a competitive process, our Admissions Committee still places its emphasis on the individual in its evaluations.

The committee recognizes that a "well-rounded" class is made up of individuals who bring to Union different personal strengths that will make unique contributions to the College.

The first stage in the admissions process is a close analysis of your academic credentials, with particular attention to your academic performance throughout your secondary school years and the quality of courses you select, including honors and advanced courses.

Your potential contribution to the Union community is a strong consideration. Union is a close-knit community, and as such depends heavily on the constructive participation of each individual in the life of the College. Also important are the recommendations of your secondary school.

Recently Union dropped its requirement that students submit the SATs or ACT. We do not want to discourage student from submitting data that will help us best understand their abilities; we do want to give students the choice of what to present, understanding that all candidates will receive a careful, holistic review of their application.

Normally, 16 units of secondary school preparation are the minimum required for admission. The Admissions Committee looks favorably on applicants who exceed the minimum number of courses required; honors, advanced, and Advanced Placement courses are strongly encouraged.

The minimum requirements should include certain fundamentals such as English, a foreign language, mathematics, social studies, and science. If you plan to complete the engineering curriculum you should have elementary and intermediate algebra, plane geometry, trigonometry, chemistry, physics, and four years of English. Although more advanced mathematics work is not required, it will prove helpful. If you plan to major in liberal arts you should have four years of English, two or more years of a foreign language, and at least two and one-half years of college preparatory mathematics (potential chemistry, physics, and mathematics majors should have three and one-half years of mathematics).

If you plan to apply to the eight-year Leadership in Medicine Program you must have four years of English; one year each of biology, chemistry, and physics; and four years of college preparatory mathematics.

The Admissions Committee will consider carefully applications from students whose preparation is unusual and who, for good reasons, do not meet the norms above.

Making Application

Union has adopted the Common Application as its own form. You may apply online by clicking here. We require a copy of Union's supplement page and a graded, written essay from 11th or 12th grade to complete the application.

School Reports and Recommendations

You should submit the Secondary School Report form to your guidance counselor, who will forward a transcript of your academic record and a letter of recommendation to the Admissions Office. A report of mid-year grades is also required.

A recommendation from one of your academic teachers is expected. You should have the Teacher Recommendation Form completed and returned to the Admissions Office as soon as possible.

College Entrance Examinations

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants for the eight-year Leadership in Medicine Program are still required to submit the SAT I as well as two SAT II Tests (one mathematics test, and one science test) or the ACT. Applicants for the six-year Law and Public Policy Program are required to submit either the SAT I and two SAT II tests or the ACT. Applicants for these programs must complete the necessary tests no later than November of the senior year.

Visiting the Campus

We encourage you to visit the campus. Personal interviews are strongly recommended since they offer you the chance to discuss your interests and to learn more about Union's opportunities. The results of interviews are made part of your application file. Individual interviews are offered weekdays and group information sessions are held on selected Saturdays in the fall. Student-guided tours are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Prospective freshmen are encouraged to visit between April 1 and Feb. 1. Please call the Admissions Office (888-843-6688 or 518-388-6112) in advance of the proposed visit. Transfers may visit for interviews at any time in the year.

Advanced Placement

Union participates in the Advanced Placement program of the College Entrance Examination Board. Students who pass examinations taken under this program with a grade of three or higher in calculus and four or five in other subject areas (not Statistics) are considered for college course credit and are exempted from any requirement to take the equivalent college courses. Those students must elect a more advanced course if they take work in the department in which credit has been granted. Repetition of work for which credit has been granted will not be permitted.

International Baccalaureate

Union welcomes the International Baccalaureate diploma as a credential for admission and tends to favor successful participants in our admissions process. Credit may be awarded for higher-level examination scores of five or better upon approval by the appropriate academic department. The total credit granted will not exceed the equivalent of a full year of Union College course work.

Deadlines for application

May until January 15	Interviews and tours available on campus
November 15	Early Decision I deadline
December	Last month to complete testing for accelerated programs
December 15	Eight-Year Leadership in Medicine Program deadline Decisions mailed for Early Decision I Last date to arrange an interview with an alumnus/a
January 1	Five-year BA/BS and MBA Program deadline Six-Year Law and Public Policy deadline
January 15	Early Decision II deadline Regular Decision deadline
February 1	CSS Profile and FAFSA forms must be filed with the appropriate agencies for financial aid applicants Decisions mailed for Early Decision II

Summing Up

Your application for admission is complete when you have submitted:
-- Personal application for admission (including application fee)
-- Transcript
-- Counselor recommendation
-- Teacher recommendation
-- Graded written paper from 11th or 12th grade
-- Common Application supplement page
These forms and any other supporting credentials you might wish to submit should be addressed to:

Dean of Admissions
Grant Hall
Union College
Schenectady, N.Y. 12308

Application Fees and Deposits

All applications must be accompanied by an application fee of $50. If you are admitted to the College and choose to enroll, you will be able to reserve your place in the first year class by payment of a $500 deposit.