Macalester College

Macalester College is very difficult to get into. The college admitted 28% of all applicants in 2022. Out of 8,434 applications received in 2023, 2,397 students were offered admission.

If you are considering submitting an application to Macalester College, the deadline for Fall 2024 admissions is 1/15 and there is no application fee, which means it is free to apply.

Students who submit their applications to Macalester College for the fall semester should receive an admissions decision no later than March 26.

Macalester College Admissions Stats at a Glance

The following is an overiew of some of Macalester College's admissions stats.

Macalester College 2023	Admissions Statistics
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	61%
Admissions Test Policy	Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	33%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	30%
Waitlist	Yes

Macalester College Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Macalester College.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	Yes	November 1	December 4
Early Decision II	Yes	January 1	January 29
Early Action	Yes	November 1	December 21
Regular Decision	Yes	1 15	March 26

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Want to Apply Early to Macalester College?

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Macalester College offers early decision and also offers early action. Early decision is binding, which means you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.

🗓️ Early Decision I applications are due by November 1 EDI applicants should receive a decision by December 4.

🗓️ Early Decision II applications are due January 1. ED II Applicants will recieve their decision before January 29.

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 1. Macalester College will release EA admissions decisions no later than December 21.

The early decision acceptance rate at Macalester College is 53%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 28%.

Macalester College accepts around 43% of early action applicants and 28% all applicants for all deadlines. In 2022, Macalester College admitted 177 of the 335 students who applied early decision. In 2022, Macalester College admitted 1,366 of the 3,182 who applied early action.

Some students apply early to college because they hope it will help their chances of acceptance. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase your chance of acceptance, since it is a way to show your interest in a school.

➡️ See a list of some competetive colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on Macalester College Admissions

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Transferring to Macalester College

For more information on transferring to Macalester College, contact the school directly.

For Students Waitlisted to Macalester College

Macalester College has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What Does Macalester College Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when determining who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are are most important in the admissions process. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that prioritize the areas where you shine.

Admissions Factors at Macalester College

Wondering what factors are considered by Macalester College during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Character/Personal Qualities	Important
Application Essay	Important
Extracurricular Activities	Important
Recommendation(s)	Important
Alumni/ae Relations	Considered
Class Rank	Considered
Geographical Residence	Considered
Interview	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
Standardized Test Scores	Considered
State Residency	Considered
Talent/Ability	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered
Work Experience	Considered
First Generation	Considered

Make sure to check with Macalester College for more information on admission factors.

Macalester College 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to Macalester College, all applicants must submit the following items. Check with Macalester College's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Interview	–	√	–	–
Transcript(S) of College Record	–	–	–	–
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)	–	–	–	–
Letter(s) of Recommendation	1	–	–	–
Written Essay or Personal Statement	√	–	–	–
Transcript of High School Record	√	–	–	–

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Macalester College?

Macalester College has not provided an information about GPAs of accepted students. Any questions regarding applicant expectations should be addressed directly with the school.

Out of all students that were admitted, 33% submitted a class rank. At Macalester College 61% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 87% were in the top 25% and 99% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At Macalester College, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	–
3.75 and 3.99	–
3.50 and 3.74	–
3.25 and 3.49	–
3.00 and 3.24	–
2.50 and 2.9	–
2.00 and 2.49	–

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to Macalester College directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Macalester College has a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 33% of Macalester College's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 30% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for Macalester College?

To be competitive with other Macalester College applicants, you should aim to earn between 1350 and 1490 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Macalester College 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1490 and 25% of scored lower than 1350, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Macalester College students scored 750 or higher and 75% of students scored 670 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Macalester College students scored 750 or higher, and 75% scored a 670 or higher.

To be most competitive at Macalester College, you should strive to earn between 30 and 34 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 34 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Macalester College's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 34, and three out of four students scored lower than 34 on the ACT.

A 30 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Macalester College students. Only one out of every four students scored below 30.

More Information on Transferring to Macalester College

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is April 1. Applicants should hear back by May 3.

Transfer students can enroll in Macalester College during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Winter Term

• Spring Term

• Winter Term

• Summer Term

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Macalester College Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to Macalester College?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Macalester College.

Does Macalester College accept transfer credits?

✅ Macalester College accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.

Does Macalester College accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ Macalester College accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to Macalester College?

❌ No, Macalester College is test optional, so it's up to you if you want to submit test scores or not. If your scores are higher than the school's average, you may want to send them. If your scores are average or below average, you may want not want to include them in your application.

What is Macalester College's acceptance rate?

✅ Macalester College has an acceptance rate of 28%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Macalester College?

✅ Macalester College's early decision acceptance rate was 53% in 2021.

What is the early action acceptance rate at Macalester College?

✅ The early action acceptance rate at Macalester College was 43% in 2021.

Want To Learn More About Macalester College?

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