Freshman Application Process

Apply online (for free) using our St. Thomas application or the Common App.

You will not be required to submit standardized test scores (ACT or SAT) as part of your application to St. Thomas.

Instead, you'll choose whether or not to include your scores. If you do not choose to submit your scores, you will apply “test optional” and your scores will not be considered in our admission review process.

We require high school transcripts be sent to us before your application can be reviewed. This transcript must include your entire set of high school grades and courses to date.

We will accept unofficial transcripts for your application. You may submit an unofficial transcript by downloading it from your school system and sending it to admissions@stthomas.edu or your admissions counselor.

If you’ve attended multiple high schools – and your entire record isn’t included on the transcript of your current high school – you're required to submit an official transcript from your previous high school(s) as well.

If you’ve taken college classes before, we recommend you submit official college transcripts as well – though this IS NOT required.

Students who are admitted and enroll: Please note that an OFFICIAL transcript will be required prior to starting classes at St. Thomas. This official transcript will need to be sent directly from your school and include your graduation date.

Pass/Fail Grading
We know that COVID-19 may have affected the way your school awards grades. We encourage you to share your story when applying for admission. Let us know how COVID-19 impacted your learning and grades/GPA.

St. Thomas is a test optional school, which means that students are not required to submit ACT or SAT test scores as part of their application.

Our test optional page has more information about this policy and offers guidance about whether or not to submit your scores. Please contact your admissions counselor if you have any questions.

If you do choose to submit your test scores, you can self-report your highest composite and subject scores for the ACT and/or SAT on the application. Your scores DO NOT need to be officially sent to us during the application process.

Though you aren’t technically required to answer our essay questions, we highly recommend that you do – especially if you apply without test scores.*

Below are the current essay prompts. You can choose to write about them or to submit a different personal essay of your choosing. We want to learn a little about you as a person, so please submit an essay that will help us do that.

1. Discuss a meaningful contribution you have made through involvement in school, church, community activities or family responsibilities.
2. Describe an event, a person or an educational experience that has had a major impact on your life and why.
3. Share additional information about your personal story that would be beneficial to the application review process. What do you want the readers to know about you apart from courses and academic credentials?
4. Provide an explanation of your transcript record. Is there anything on your transcript that you would like to share more information about with the admissions committee?

We recommend that your essay be one to two pages long.

We also ask a second essay question about your experience with diversity and inclusion. This essay is also optional, but will give you a chance to reflect and speak from your heart.

* If you're applying without a standardized test, we strongly recommend submitting both essays to provide a more well-rounded understanding of your experience.

Though it's not required, we suggest that you submit one or two letters of recommendation from teachers or other people in your life who can help us get to know you better as we review your application.

Recommenders can email letters to admissions@stthomas.edu or your admissions counselor.

There’s no single thing we look for in an application. Each is evaluated holistically with your academic, extracurricular and personal achievements all considered. We encourage students to provide a variety of details in their applications, including their academic records and insight into the experiences that have made them who they are.

Overall, the goal of our admissions process is to identify students who will succeed in the classroom while also contributing to our university and the broader community in diverse and meaningful ways.  

To give you a sense about what successful applicants look like, here are some facts about our most recent first-year class:
Middle 50 percent high school GPA: 3.4-3.9
Middle 50 percent ACT*: 24-29
Middle 50 percent SAT*: 1120-1360

* St. Thomas is a test optional school, which means that students are not required to submit ACT or SAT test scores as part of their application.

Our test optional page has more information about this policy and offers guidance about whether or not to submit your scores. Please contact your admissions counselor if you have any questions.

Please note: There will be questions on our application that are optional. Responses to these questions will be used to understand the demographics of our applicant pool and may also be used for other limited purposes after an admission decision (for example, communication about student clubs or organizations that may be of interest). 

Your information regarding gender, pronouns, race and ethnicity will not be visible to the admissions committee and are not considered during the University of St. Thomas application review.