In addition to the required essay(s) for the application of your choice, all applicants will be required to complete one Supplemental Essay for their application to be considered complete.

On Colorado College's Block Plan, students immerse themselves in one class at a time, fostering deep engagement and courageous conversations with peers and professors. We embrace diverse perspectives, encouraging students to think differently.   

In seeking to identify students who will thrive at CC, we’d like to know more about your background and experiences.   

In answering one of the prompts below, feel free to highlight any aspects of your self-identity that will help us know you better. This could include, but is not limited to, gender identity, first-generation status, race, ethnicity, political views, socioeconomic background, spirituality, or geographic origin.  With respect to race in particular, please note that in a 2023 majority decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, Chief Justice John Roberts stated, “Nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected the applicant’s life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise.”  

• Tell us about a time when you learned from an experience that challenged your perspective. 
• Provide one or two specific examples from your life that demonstrate your potential to advance CC’s commitment to antiracism. 
• Describe how your personal experiences with a particular community make you a student who would benefit from Colorado College’s Block Plan.

Visit our 2023-24 Supplemental Essay page for further tips and insights. Recommended length: 250 to 300 words.

We require your transcript(s) through the end of your junior year and will eventually require your Mid-Year Report—first semester or trimester of your senior year—and Final Report grades. A counselor letter of recommendation is recommended, but not required. Official transcripts issued in languages other than English must be translated into English by a certified translator and submitted along with the original official documents.

We require two teacher evaluations - preferably from your junior year, from teachers in core subjects: English or language arts, math, science, social studies, and foreign languages. Additional recommendation letters from teachers, supervisors, coaches, and others are accepted and can be emailed to admission@coloradocollege.edu.

Colorado College is test-optional and does not have an English Language Proficiency testing requirement for students whose native language is English or for students whose primary language of instruction has been English for the last three or more years.

If applying from a school where English is not the primary language of instruction, English is not your first language, and/or you are not an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) student, applicants are strongly recommended to submit English proficiency scores from the Duolingo English Test (DET).

A limited number of fee waivers for Duolingo exams are available for Colorado College applicants. Once you have begun your Colorado College application, please email admission@coloradocollege.edu with your request.

In addition to the DET, we will also accept:

• InitialView or Vericant interviews
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
  • iBT exam: recommended score of 100 or higher
  • ITP exam: students who submit these scores are strongly recommend to submit an IntialView or Vericant interview).
• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE): recommended score of 68 or higher
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): recommended score of 7.0 or higher

Colorado College considers the highest score from a single sitting of all English Proficiency exams. We have no minimum scores that would automatically eliminate an application; we provide these recommended scores as context for applicants. Please contact admission@coloradocollege.edu with questions and contact your college counselor for fee waivers for all English Proficiency exams except the DET.