What happens to my admissions application after I send it to Lewis & Clark College?

Ever wonder what happens to your application after you've spent hours perfecting your essay, rounding up transcripts and recommendations, dotting your i's and crossing your t's? Here is the scoop on where your application travels once you send it off.

Step One: Collecting the Pieces

We match up all the pieces you have sent to us. Most students end up submitting their transcripts, counselor and teacher recommendations, applications (Common Application & Supplement), SAT or ACT scores, and other supporting materials in separate mailings. This is why it's important to write your full name on everything you send to us. We'll notify you what is missing, and after you have applied and received your ID number and PIN in the mail, you can check your file online. You should have ALL of your credentials postmarked by the deadline (November 1 for Early Action or February 1 for Regular Decision) so that we can gather up your file and get it ready for step #2.

*When you send in your application you will receive a letter in the mail from us thanking you and letting you know that we will be communicating with you via the email address you provided. Please be sure to check that email account regularly!*

Step Two: Reading Your Application

Once basic information is entered in our computer, your application file is handed over to the admissions officer responsible for your geographic area (if you're a first-year applicant). All transfers will be evaluated by our transfer counselor. To find out who will get your application, go to our admissions staff directory. This admissions team member, who is your advocate (and your new best friend), will do an initial review of your file, evaluating everything from the strength of your curriculum to your essay writing skills to your leadership, service, and talent. He or she will make a recommendation on your admission decision and send your file on to the next reader.

Step Three: Making a Decision

Next, your file will be sent to a second reader who is a senior member of the admissions staff. Some applications will go to the full admissions committee for a final decision. Throughout the process, we're really trying to determine if your past academic record indicates that you're capable of academic success here at L&C, and what you will contribute to next year's entering class. If you apply Early Action, you'll hear from us by January 15th; if you apply Regular Decision, your decision will arrive by April 1st. The decision will have one of the following outcomes:

a. You're admitted! Yippee! Congratulations. Now you have to decide if L&C is the place for you. Why don't you come out and visit? Go to our visit page for more information about visiting campus. You'll also be able to learn more about the college and to connect with fellow admitted students at your personalized website, "Inside LC." You'll receive all the details on how to connect with your letter of admission.

b. Some Early Action candidates will be deferred to our Regular Decision timetable for a final decision because we need more information from you.

c. A Regular Decision applicant may be offered a place on the wait list. This means we need to receive more information from you and we also need to see how much space may be left in our entering class.

d. You're not admitted. Your academic preparation was not sufficient to earn a place in next year's class.

Step Three and a Half: Scholarship Selection

While we're determining your admissions decision, we're also looking to see if you might be eligible for one of our merit-based scholarships. Here's how we award those:

a. Dean's Scholarships-These scholarships are worth between $4,000 and $10,000 per year and are awarded based on your strong academic record, including grades, curriculum, and test scores. We notify students with their admission decision if they have earned a Dean's Scholarship.

b. Barbara Hirschi Neely and Trustee Scholarships-These are our top academic scholarships, so competition is stiff. The Neely is worth full tuition and the Trustee is worth half tuition. We hunt for the strongest students and send their applications on to a faculty committee in early March to award up to ten Neely and up to fifteen Trustee scholarships. We notify Neely and Trustee winners by mid-March.

c. Leadership and Service Awards-These scholarships are worth $5000 per year and require both a strong academic record and an outstanding record of leadership and/or service to your community. If you earn one of these scholarships, you'll also be required to get involved once you get to L&C (to find out more, go to our community service page or our student activities page). You'll be notified if you're awarded one of these scholarships when you are admitted.

d. Music-You'll probably be glad to know that our office doesn't actually get to award these scholarships (none of us were music majors!). You need to contact the music department (music@lclark.edu) to apply and set up an audition for one of these talent awards.

e. Forensics (Speech and Debate)-We don't get to award these either. For more information on earning one of these scholarships, contact Steve Hunt (hunt@lclark.edu), professor of communication and director of the speech and debate program.

Step Four: The Need-Based Financial Aid Process

Will you apply for need-based financial aid? Just file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1st for priority consideration, and make sure to include L&C's code (003197). When you're admitted, we will notify the Office of Student Financial Services (sfs@lclark.edu) and they will start putting together a financial aid package for you if your data has arrived. All students who filed for need-based financial aid by March 1st will receive word of their eligibility before the May 1st national candidates reply date (that's when you need to have your mind made up, which brings us to our next step).

Step Five: Time for You to Make Your Final Decision

Whew! After we make all those decisions, we let you decide if Lewis & Clark is the right match for you. If you've been admitted, then we really hope it is! Your acceptance packet will contain information about how to send in your enrollment deposit to let us know you'll be coming to L&C.