We encourage you to submit the application form and the required Dickinson College Supplemental Form online at the Common Application Web site. However, if this isn’t possible, all application forms can be found on our Web site. Review of your Academic Record
Your secondary-school academic record translated into English—the equivalent of ninth, tenth and eleventh grade in the U.S. and ultimately your final-year progress—is reviewed to determine the quality of your school and the courses you have taken.
Pursue a Demanding Curriculum
We expect you to follow a curriculum that would prepare you for study in a competitive university in your country. Typically, this would include coursework such as Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) or preparation for your A-level examinations or the most demanding classes available to you.
Consider Extracurricular Activities
Your extracurricular activities, including leadership roles and awards related to these activities, help us begin to understand how you will contribute to our community. We look for evidence that you are willing to make a contribution to your school, to your family and to your community. We are not looking for a long list of activities but for the quality of your commitment to these activities, the length of time you have been involved in them and whether you have assumed more responsibility over time.
The Importance of the Essay
Your essays don’t just help us review your writing skills. The length and topic of your essays are not as important as whether we are able to get to know you better through these essays. We pay particular attention to your supplemental essay an application requirement found on the Dickinson College Supplemental Form as this helps us understand how your goals and interests fit with our environment and what you intend to do with the opportunities a Dickinson education will provide.
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation, translated into English, allow the admissions committee to better understand how you are viewed in your school’s environment. We require one recommendation from your guidance counselor, adviser or principal, and two from teachers. These provide us with insight into your achievements, motivation and character. They should tell us how you are perceived by your instructors and your peers.
Required Standardized Test Scores
SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) or ACT test scores are required. Test sites usually are located at a main American or international high school or a U.S. educational advising center in your area. More details for your area can be found at www.collegeboard.org and www.act.org. Register for test dates far enough in advance so that your score results can be submitted by your application deadline.
If you are applying for scholarships or financial aid, a combined Critical Reading and Math SAT score of 1350 or better, or an ACT composite of 32 or better, is preferred. If your combined score is lower, we will consider your English proficiency test results when reviewing your credentials.
Required English Proficiency Test Scores
Online registration is available internationally for the computer-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The online-registration service provides credit-card processing and real-time seat assignment. By the end of the registration session, you will receive your test date, test-center location, confirmation number and confirmation that the credit card has been accepted. You can register online at www.ets.org/register.html or at www.ets.org/toefl.
Dickinson requires a minimum TOEFL score of 89, but a score of 100+ is preferred on the Internet-based test (IBT). On the computer-based test our minimum is 230, but a score of 250+ is preferred. On the paper-based test, our minimum is 570 and our preferred is 600. If your test result falls below our preferred minimum score, you may consider sending additional information to support your fluency in the English language, such as a letter of recommendation from your English teacher. Though TOEFL test scores are preferred, IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) test scores may also be submitted as alternatives to the TOEFL.
Required Financial Aid Forms
If applying for aid, the International Student Financial Aid Application must be submitted at the same time as your application. All international students must submit the Certification of Finances at the same time as your application for admission.
Get to Know Us While We Get to Know You
By the time you are ready to make your decision about where to apply and where to enroll, we want you to know all about us and feel confident in your decisions as well. Of course, your credentials are an important piece of the admissions decision. Between our communication throughout the admission process and your application materials, we expect to gain a comprehensive impression of your personal and academic qualifications for Dickinson.
If you have additional questions, contact the Office of Admissions.