Admissions FAQs
Admissions
Q - How do I apply for admission?
A - The College provides two methods for candidates to apply for admission: the Standard Choice and the Write Choice. Both options require the submission of the application form, high school transcript, application essay, and one Christian Life recommendation form.
The Admissions Office seeks to admit those candidates who have exhibited scholastic competence and excellence as well as those who are most likely to succeed, benefit from, and contribute to the Messiah College community.
Standard Choice - Applicant must submit either the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Testing (ACT) score results. To learn more about these tests or to register for an upcoming testing date see the following web sites. For the SAT see www.collegeboard.org and for the ACT see www.act.org
Write Choice - Applicant must be in the top 20% class ranking, participate in an admissions interview, and submit an additional graded writing sample. (Test scores are not required for students who meet the criteria for Write Choice.)
Q - Is there any advantage to applying online?
A - Yes. Applications are received in a faster manner than the conventional paper application, which in turn allows the admission office to respond to the applicant quicker! There is an early application time frame where there is no application fee. After that, online applications will be $20.00, while paper applications will be $30.00.
Q - What are the academic requirements for acceptance?
A – The average GPA for an accepted student is 3.7 and average SATs are 1156 (Verbal + Math). Please know that these are averages, and we do look at each student’s file individually. We take a variety of factors into consideration when reviewing an applicant’s materials.
Q - Once my file is complete how long will it take to hear about my admission decision?
A - Messiah College operates on rolling admission. Students can apply beginning the July prior to their senior year (application details for spring students and transfer students). All application files are reviewed within 2-3 weeks from the time of completion. To see if you have submitted everything, use this checklist. Transfer students may experience a longer period due to review of previous coursework.
Q - Who is my admission counselor?
A - See the entire staff with instructions to find your admission counselor.
Q - Are there different requirements for Home Schooled students?
A - Home Schooled students are asked to follow the same admission application procedures. However Home Schooled students are asked to submit a comprehensive transcript of a senior year academic program as well as a courses and course evaluations of the ninth through eleventh grades. If students do not receive grades, please explain the method of evaluation of course content. If students have an independent evaluation of academic progress by a qualified educator, please include that with the transcript. Find more information on Home Schooled students at Messiah here.
Q - Are there different admission requirements for International Students?
A - Yes. Additional documentation is required for admission consideration for International Students. See exact details here.
Q - I applied once before to Messiah College, will I need to submit another application?
A - Students are invited to complete the Readmission Application. If students have attended another college we request that transcripts be sent to the Office of Admissions in addition to the Readmission Application.
Q- Can non-Christian students apply?
A - Messiah is an unapologetically Christian institution, but is willing to review any application. It is important for applicants to know that all students are required to abide by the code of conduct outlined in the Community Covenant, attend chapel services and engage with faith in the classroom.