Contact Admissions
Address and Contact Information
Fenwick Hall, Room 105 (see the Campus Map)
1 College Street
Worcester, MA 01610
Directions to the Admissions Office and information about lodgings and restaurants are also available.
Hours
Regular office hours:
Monday — Friday
8:30 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.
phone: 800-442-2421 or 508-793-2443
fax: 508-793-3888
Office closed:
November 22 and 23, 2007
December 24, 25, 26 & 31, 2007
January 1, 2008
March 21, 2008
May 26, 2008
July 4, 2008
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a special question you don’t see addressed elsewhere on our Web site? You might find your answer listed below.
How can I receive more information about Holy Cross?
To join our mailing list and receive more information about the College of the Holy Cross, please visit: https://www.applyweb.com/public/inquiry?hcinq
How can I get more information about specific academic programs at Holy Cross?
All of our academic departments have their own websites where you can find more information about a particular major, minor, concentration or program. Please visit:
http://www.holycross.edu/academics/
Where can I find out more information about visiting Holy Cross?
The best way to determine if Holy Cross is suitable for you is to visit our campus. To find out more about campus tours, day visits, interviews, etc., please visit:
http://www.holycross.edu/admissions/visit/
Where can I find more information about Holy Cross' location in Worcester, Massachusetts?
Check out the 'Word on Worcester' here:
http://www.holycross.edu/studentlife/worcester/
What is the best way to find out more about financial aid at Holy Cross?
If you have questions or need guidance on your financial aid options or scholarship opportunities, the best way to get information is from the Holy Cross Financial Aid website. Please visit:
http://www.holycross.edu/admissions/financial-aid/
What kind of tuition merit-based scholarships are available at Holy Cross?
Tuition merit scholarships are extremely limited at Holy Cross and are awarded to applicants in very specific areas of academic interest. For more infromation, please click here.
What kind of financial aid is available at Holy Cross for international students?
Financial aid to international students is
extremely limited and would be awarded to
exceptional academically talented students.
Such students should be taking the most
demanding program available to them at their
high school (typically Advanced Placement,
International Baccalaureate, British/Canadian 'A'
level courses). Standardized testing is optional, however,
all non-native speakers of English are required to
take the TOEFL exam (minimum 550 paper/ 213 computer).
In lieu of the TOEFL, we will accept the ELPT (English
Language Proficiency Test).
Does Holy Cross have a supplement to the Common Application?
Holy Cross does not have a supplement to the Common Application. However, you are welcome to send us additional supplementary materials such as CDs, DVDs, art portfolios, etc. if you wish.
What is the policy at Holy Cross for AP/IB credit?
Holy Cross participates in the College Board Advanced
Placement Program and the International Baccalaureate
Program. The College awards one unit of credit for an AP
score of 4 or 5 in any discipline recognized. One unit is
awarded for a score of 6 or 7 on a Higher Level IB
Examination, again in a liberal arts subject. AP and IB
credit may be used to satisfy common area requirements.
Each academic department has its own policy regarding the
use of AP or IB credit for placement in courses and
progress in the major.
What is the policy at Holy Cross for dual enrollment or college credit programs in high school?
There are two basic requirements for coursework that you'd like to be considered for college credit at Holy Cross.
1. The course must be taught be a college professor (not a high school teacher)
2. The course must be reviewed on a case by case basis. Usually this requires the submission of the course syllabus and overview to a Class Dean or the Registrar's Office. If the course you are taking meets first requirement, then contact the Holy Cross Registrar's Office at rpatella@holycross.edu for more information.
What is the policy at Holy Cross regarding foreign language in high school?
Although
we do not require students to take 3 or more
years of a language in high school, to be
competitive for admission to Holy Cross,
applicants should take the most challenging
academic program available to them. In many
cases that includes 4 years of study in 5 subject
areas. If students choose to drop an area of
study, they should plan on replacing it with
something academic at the Honors or AP level. Please keep in mind that Holy Cross is highly selective, so we consider everything within the
student's application - high school performance, recommendations, the essay, personal accomplishments, commitment to service, etc.
What do you consider to be a competitive applicant to Holy Cross? What are my chances of being accepted?
Holy Cross seeks accomplished students who are eager to learn, mindful of others, and passionate about something in their lives in addition to academic achievement. It could be a hobby, musical instrument, sport, or artistic pursuit — almost any special interest at all that compels and inspires you. We also look for applicants who have challenged themselves by taking the most rigorous high school courses available in English, math, foreign language, history, and science. Competency in analytical reading and writing is particularly important to us.
There are many factors that we consider when making admissions decisions. Primarily, we are focused on students high school record. Most of the students applying to Holy Cross are in the most demanding program that their high school has to offer. In addition to the high school record, we will review a student's recommendations from teachers and counselors, the essay, personal accomplishments and an interview (which is highly recommended).
Last year, we accepted 32% of those that applied to the College.
What is the Holy Cross verification form?
Once your submitted application has been processed, we will send you a letter indicating we have received it. With this letter you will find a verification form. This form allows you to complete any missing information such as social security number, email address, etc., and most notably allows you indicate if you would like your standardized testing considered and any family members who are Holy Cross alumni. Once you have received this form, please complete it and return it to us as soon as possible.
How should I note my interest in the biology major or premedical/predental program?
Students intending on majoring in biology or following the premedical/predental sequence must indicate their interest on their application. Applicants are reviewed first for admission to the College, and then for the program of interest. The Admissions Committee reviews applicants' courses and grades specifically in mathematics and science for entry into these limited enrollment programs for first year students. Students admitted to the College, but not into their program of interest are advised to take introductory classes in these areas and also contact the department of interest during their freshman year to discuss admittance into the program.
What do I do if I have been offered to stay on a waitlist at Holy Cross?
In order to formally accept a position on the waitlist, you must send a letter to:
Office of Admissions
College of the Holy Cross
One College Street
Worcester, MA 01610
When choosing students off the waitlist, an important factor we consider is the student's demonstrated interest in attending Holy Cross. Students interested in pursing the waitlist should say in contact with one specific member of the Admissions Staff after accepting a place on the waitlist. Email is the preferred method of contact.
It is also important to point out that there is often no financial aid available for students who are accepted off the waitlist. This means financial aid will probably not be available for the whole four years, so you and your family must carefully consider the cost.
Students accepted during Regular Decision have a postmark deadline of May 1 for their deposits, so it is unlikely that we will know if there is room available off the waitlist before the second week in May.
What is the criteria for a competitive transfer applicant to Holy Cross?
As with our first-year application pool, our transfer process is a competitive one, here are some important facts:
1. Students must complete at least one full year at the institution where they are enrolled.
2. For a student to be competitive in the application pool, they must have strong high school transcript as well as a strong college program and grades. Typically, we are accepting students with a 3.5 or better in a demanding liberal arts curriculum.
3. We also strongly encourage students to have an interview prior to applying as a transfer student.
4. Although we look very closely at the
academic record of college performance, we
also must review high school performance too.
In many cases, an interview and/or essay, will
allow us to gain insight into the students academic
past and current accomplishments. When reviewing
college courses, we want to see students
in a liberal arts curriculum, taking the most challenging
courses, compare them to the rigor of classes at Holy
Cross, and also see how students are doing in the classes.
If you have not found the answer to your question, simply email us at the following address and we’ll get right back to you: admissions@holycross.edu