There are no dumb questions. Well, at least none about the college application process. Here are some of the questions we hear from prospective students and their parents. If you can’t find your question in the list below, contact us at admission@fandm.edu.
What is the deadline for submitting an application?
There are two deadlines for Early Decision, November 15 and January 15. All applications received by November 15 will be reviewed and decided upon by December 15, and all applications received by the January 15 deadline will be reviewed and decided upon by February 15. The deadline for Regular Decision is January 15, and all decisions will be made by April 1.
Does F&M grant a fee waiver?
Students who apply to F&M prior to December 1 can select F&M Fee Waiver on the Franklin & Marshall College Common App member page or the Coalition App college-specific questions. The Office of Admission also grants fee waivers to students whose families would experience financial hardship by paying the application fee. Students wishing to have the application fee waived for this reason should ask their guidance counselor to forward a request for a fee waiver. Requests will be reviewed by the Dean of Admission on a case-by-case basis.
What does Early Decision (ED) mean?
By applying Early Decision (ED) to Franklin & Marshall, an applicant sends a clear signal to the Admission Committee that the College is their first choice. The Committee will act on ED applications one month following the ED deadline. Some ED applicants may be deferred or denied. Deferred applications will be reviewed again during the regular admission process without the obligation to enroll if accepted.
Does F&M offer rolling admission?
No. The regular decision application deadline is January 15. The Early Decision round 1 deadline is November 15, and the Early Decision round 2 deadline is January 15. All students who apply through regular decision are notified by April 1. All students who apply for Early Decision round 1 are notified on December 15. All students who apply for Early Decision round 2 are notified on February 15.
Does F&M offer graduate programs?
No. F&M is an undergraduate liberal arts institution. We do not offer graduate degrees on any level.
Will taking the SAT/ACT during the winter of my senior year be a problem?
If you plan to sit for the SAT in January or the ACT in February, know that these scores may not likely reach the Admission Committee in time for a review of your application. The Admission Committee reviews applications as they become complete and "ready for review." Even though decisions for Regular Decision applicants are not mailed until mid to late March, the Admission Committee has approximately 5,000 applications to review by March. Therefore decisions on applicants need to be made constantly and can be made as early as November or December. Waiting to take the January or February tests can mean that your application, if otherwise complete, may have already been reviewed with a decision rendered. Your best advantage is to have already taken your tests during or before the fall of your senior year of high school. However, if you are taking the January SAT or February ACT, you will definitely want to have your scores "rush" reported to F&M.
What is F&M's policy on the SAT/ACT?
Franklin & Marshall College "superscores" the SAT and ACT. For the SAT, we combine the best critical reading score and the best math score a student receives, even if they come from different test dates. For the ACT, we take the highest Math, Science, Reading and English score from any tests a student takes, even if on multiple dates, and average them together for a new ACT composite score.
My SAT/ACT scores do not accurately reflect my abilities as a student. Is it still necessary to report them?
The Standardized Testing Option allows students to submit their application to Franklin & Marshall without SAT/ACT scores. In order to utilize this option, students must indicate their intent to do so on their Common Application or Coalition Application.
Can I earn credit at F&M by scoring well on Advanced Placement (AP) subject exams in high school?
Franklin & Marshall College participates in the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board. A student who takes an Advanced Placement examination is awarded credit if the subject material of the Advanced Placement course and examination is comparable to the material covered in an introductory course offered at the College. Franklin & Marshall awards credit to students who score a minimum of 4 on the Advanced Placement examination. The Language Studies requirement at Franklin & Marshall College may be met by earning a score of 4 or above on the AP examination in a foreign language.
When a student is awarded advanced placement credit, the credit is entered into the student’s transcript, but no letter grade is assigned. A student may be awarded more than one credit in certain cases at the discretion of the department concerned. A student cannot, however, be granted more than one credit for the same work (e.g., obtaining a 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus exam, and taking Calculus I at F&M. Only one credit would be awarded.) If a student is officially enrolled at the end of the second week of classes for a course at F&M for which advanced placement has been awarded, the student forfeits the AP credit. There is no limit to the number of AP credits a student can earn, but 16 course credits must be earned at the College over the four years, and 21 credits must be earned with standard grades.
Does F&M offer campus tours and interviews for prospective students?
The Office of Admission strongly encourages students to visit campus. The Office of Admission offers interviews Monday through Friday at 9:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Your interview can be coordinated with a campus tour. Tours are offered at 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m, 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, with the exception of 11:00 a.m. on Thursdays.
Is the campus visit a factor in the application review process at F&M?
Yes, the admission committee will consider interest in the College when reviewing your application. Please note, the committee recognizes not all students are able to visit campus prior to decisions. Interest in the College can be demonstrated by other means; please contact the Office of Admission.
I can't make it for a scheduled tour at F&M. Is there a self-guided tour option?
Many weekend or drop-in visitors take self-guided tours of the school. When you arrive at the campus, drop by the Wohlsen Admission Office (located at 637 College Avenue) to pick up a visitor's packet from the gold box located to the right of the front door. This packet will include a map of the campus, highlighting important buildings, as well as other information about our school. Please fill out the contact card to let us know you visited campus.
What is F&M’s retention rate for first-year students?
We have a very high rate of freshman retention, as 92% of our students return for their sophomore year. This is well above the national average for colleges and universities, which is around 85%.
Can I submit additional materials after I have submitted my application?
If you wish to submit additional materials after you complete your application, you can upload them on your F&M Application Portal. Under your F&M Application Portal’s “Upload Materials,” select “Other Document” from the dropdown menu and upload your selected file.