What We're Looking For

Every year, Colorado College enrolls an academically accomplished student body that encompasses a wide variety of interests, talents, and backgrounds. Our holistic evaluation process considers your academic work, writing, letters of recommendation, test scores, extracurricular activities, and your unique talents and personal qualities.

Academics
We look at your transcript for information about your ability to excel in the classroom and thrive as a scholar on our campus. Your high school course grades, along with the rigor of your chosen academic program, give us insight into your academic preparedness for Colorado College.

A successful applicant almost always has excelled in a rigorous college preparatory program including honors, AP, or IB courses, if offered. Please also see our AP/IB credit information. Most students will have completed at least 16 (but usually 20) solid academic courses by the time they graduate high school.

Extracurricular interests
While there is no ideal extracurricular profile for a Colorado College applicant, we appreciate students who have cultivated non-academic pursuits that complement their classroom achievements. Generally speaking, we are looking for sustained commitment to a few interests (possibly achieving leadership positions within those activities) rather than sporadic participation in various pursuits each year. We also take into consideration exceptional accomplishment.

Writing
Because strong writing skills are so essential to academic success at CC, we read essays very carefully. You'll write one major essay and a few complementary essays as part of your application process. We believe essays are an important indicator of an applicant's ability to think critically and write clearly and fluidly. The essays are also our chance to get to know you, the applicant, on a more personal level. It is our one chance to hear directly from you. Please take the time to think carefully about what you want us to know about you, and then write your essays in a way that reflects this information. There is nothing inherently better about a funny essay or a serious essay. Please stay true to yourself, write in your own voice, and write about topics that are relevant to you.

Standardized test scores

We require that you submit the SAT or ACT test. With either exam, we will accept scores with or without writing. We use the highest sub-score on the SAT and the highest ACT composite.

Although we don't use an arbitrary cutoff point, successful candidates usually score quite well on these exams. SAT Subject tests are accepted for review, but are not required.

Recommendations
We ask that you submit a recommendation from your high school counselor (or other school official) and from two teachers in solid subject areas. Solid subject areas include English, math, science, language, or social studies. Non-academic recommendations such as journalism, math team, or coaches do not count toward this total. If you feel that the three recommendations above will not give us a full picture of who you are, feel free to send in an additional recommendation from someone who knows you well (clergy, coach, extracurricular advisor, etc).

Interviews
Colorado College offers interviews as part of the evaluation process. These interviews are not required, but can help us get a feel for each applicant on a more personal level. Rarely will an interview be a deciding factor in an admission decision, but it may give us some context in which to view the application.

Supplemental submissions
We do not accept art portfolios, recordings, digital media or other supplementary materials since this information is not part of the Admission Committee's holistic review, evaluated by our academic departments or returned to students.