First Year Students — How to Apply

Start Your App Visit Request Info

We are eager to consider you for admission to Guilford College. Please note the following requirements when applying.

 

  • Application: There are three ways to apply to Guilford College, and it's always free:
  • Transcripts: You may submit an unofficial transcript as early as the end of your junior year of high school for initial review. Upon acceptance to the College by review of your unofficial transcript, you are required to submit your final official transcript if you had not done so already. If you have a GED, scores may be submitted via the Secondary School Report.
  • Personal essay: A personal essay is requested of each applicant. The essay prompt appears on the application form.
  • Test-Optional:
    • Guilford College is test optional, but applicants may submit SAT and/or ACT scores, and the admission committee will review all scores to determine those which may best advantage each applicant. (Guilford SAT Code: 5261; Guilford ACT Code: 3106)
    • Guilford accepts unofficial copies of test scores for application reading purposes. Applicants can scan and email score reports to admission@guilford.edu.


Recommended

  • Letter of Recommendation: Please ask at least one non-family member (teacher, coach, music director, clergy member, etc.) to supply a letter of recommendation.
  • FAFSA: Guilford’s FAFSA code is 002931. Every student who submitted a FAFSA receives financial assistance from Guilford College. Students from North Carolina are more likely to receive state-supported grants if they have a FAFSA on file, and out-of-state students are more likely to receive institutionally funded, need-based aid with a FAFSA on file. The FAFSA is available Oct. 1. File your form as soon as possible starting Oct. 1 to receive maximum consideration for aid.



Useful Links (Forms and Websites)

 


Ways to Apply


Early Decision

If Guilford is your top choice, you may want to apply Early Decision. Submit your application along with the Early Decision Agreement. If you are admitted through Early Decision, you agree to withdraw applications to other colleges and will submit the enrollment deposit to Guilford by December 1. Please read the Early Decision Agreement carefully as admission via this option is binding. Early Decision applicants are encouraged to submit their FAFSA consecutively with their application for maximum financial aid consideration.

  • All materials must be postmarked by: Nov. 1
  • Receive admission decision by: Nov. 15
  • Submit $250 deposit by: Dec. 1

 

Early Action

Do you have all of your information ready and want to be among the first to get a decision from us? Apply Early Action. You can still apply to other colleges, but by December 31st, you will have at least one decision going into the new year. If you are admitted to Guilford through Early Action, you have until May 1 to make your final decision and submit your enrollment deposit.

  • All materials must be postmarked by: Dec. 1
  • Receive admission decision by: Dec. 31
  • Submit $250 deposit by: May 1

 

Regular Decision

Students who apply Regular Decision will have their applications reviewed after Jan. 1 on a rolling basis and will be notified of their admission decision within three weeks of file completion. If you are admitted to Guilford through Regular Decision, you have until May 1 to make your final decision and submit your enrollment deposit.

 

Spring

  • All materials must be postmarked by: Dec. 1
  • Receive admission decision no later than: Dec. 15
  • Submit $250 deposit by: Jan. 1

 

Admission Policy

Guilford College prefers each applicant to present a minimum of 15 academic units in the following distribution:

  • Three units of academic English
  • Three units of academic mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II)
  • Two units of foreign language
  • One unit of history, social studies, or natural science;
  • Six more academic units from the above areas

Most applicants have more than the minimum academic units.

When considering an applicant for admission, primary emphasis is placed upon the academic record and rigor of curriculum, followed by the highest available standardized test scores (unless applying Score-Optional).