Below is a sampling of our most frequently asked admission questions. If you have questions not listed here, or would like to suggest one for this page, we invite you to contact your admission counselor at any time!
What is the
application procedure?
There are several ways to apply for admission, including the Common
Application, our online application or our paper application. We consider all forms equally, so the choice
is yours. Details are listed on the
“Apply” section of our website. Once you
receive an admission decision and potential merit scholarship award (see
below), the next step is to schedule a visit to campus and apply for financial
aid (if you plan to) using the FAFSA. In
order to reserve your place in the class, we request that you submit a $300
enrollment deposit (refundable until May 1st). Additionally, we host Accepted Student Days
in April for you to get one last look before making a final decision.
What types of students are admitted to New England College each year?
We welcome a wide range of applicants every year, including traditional 1st
year, transfer, international, adult (NEC Plus) and veterans.
What are the deadlines, if any?
We operate on a rolling admission basis.
Though there are no official deadlines, there are several benefits to
applying sooner than later. Three
examples:
-
The earlier you apply, the sooner you receive a decision (as early as mid-December)
-
$11 million in institutional funds (2011-2012) were offered to accepted students; the earlier you apply, the likelihood of receiving these funds is increased.
-
Once you have a decision [and potential merit scholarship], you can make plans in advance to visit and meet with Student Financial Services to begin financial planning.
How long does it take to receive an
admission decision?
Our goal is to have a decision to you within two weeks of a completed application beginning in
December. All applications received
before December 1 should expect to receive a decision by mid-December, while
all applicants beyond December 1 should hear within 2 weeks.
How do you determine admission?
Our process is holistic, so we look at all application components equally. In order to assess your potential for success
at New England College, we recalculate your GPA based on the core competencies
of liberal arts: English, Mathematics, Science & Social Studies. Generally we prefer to see consistently
strong performance in these subjects, but we also highly value improvement from
grades 9-12. Keep in mind that GPA is
only one of the indicators we use for admission, so all application components
are important!
What is the policy for awarding AP credit?
With scores of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP exam, we try to be as generous as possible
with awarding New England College credit.
Because every department is different, this credit may count toward major,
core or elective credits and is determined by the Registrar’s Office
and respective academic department.
How diverse is the student body
(ethnicity, geographic, LGBT, race, socio-economic, etc.)?
We are committed to recruiting students from all backgrounds. With over 30 states and 20 countries
represented on campus, we have found that this geographic diversity alone
brings nearly every other interpretation of diversity to our campus. Visit and experience for yourself!
What type of extracurricular activities
should I be involved with in high school?
What are you passionate about? We look
for breadth and depth, so regardless of the activity, we like to see a handful
of activities that you are committed to throughout high school. If you are the president of a student
organization or the captain of a sport, you surely have more than one
extracurricular activity in which you participate, so paint as wide a picture
as possible so that we know what you are likely to contribute to our dynamic
student body.
Are standardized tests required? Why/why not?
The short answer is: no. As an intensive
liberal arts college, we look for well-rounded students with strengths in
traditional and non-traditional aspects.
We believe that four years of performance are more demonstrative of your
intellect than one or two Saturday morning exams. That said, about 75% of our applicants still
submit SAT/ACT scores. Ultimately, these
provide us with another aspect of your academic portfolio but will never hurt
you in the decision-making process. The
choice is yours!
Can I send in supplementary material
for review?
Though we will accept additional materials (recommendation letters,
portfolios, etc.), we request that you represent yourself as best you can
within the standard application.
Are interviews required?
Interviews are not required but strongly recommended. We encourage you to visit us, get to know our
community and give us an opportunity to see who you are outside of your paper
application. If you cannot make it for
an interview, or choose not to when you visit, your admission decision will not
be negatively impacted.
Does NEC award merit scholarships and if so, how do I apply for them?
Applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships when they apply
to New England College. Typical awards
range from $3,000-$18,000 depending on your individual merits explained within
your completed application file. Many
factors play into the awarding of merit scholarships, so our advice to you is
to focus on the quality of your application to maximize our understanding of
your achievements and potential. With NCAA
Division III athletic programs, we do not award athletic scholarships but you
will find that our athletes are equally dedicated to their academics. You should also be aware that merit
scholarship letters come several days after acceptance letters. Because you may receive these two letters as
early as December, the next step is to file the FAFSA before your financial aid
package is considered complete.
Does the major I list on my application affect my chances of admission?
Many of our students are undecided when they enter as first-year students. We encourage you to explore our many academic options before narrowing
your path, so we do not factor your major interest into the admission process.
When is the best time for me to visit?
We offer a wide range of visit opportunities to students interested in New
England College. From weekday tours to
Saturday information sessions, open houses & other events, we have plenty
of options to fit your calendar. Visit
our tours &
events page for more information.
If admitted, may I defer my admission?
We keep all applications on file for one year.
For the most part, we will uphold our offer of admission for this
additional year. If you take classes at
another institution, your performance may impact your merit award and your
FAFSA must be resubmitted before your official package can be reoffered. If you have questions, please contact us.
New England College | 98 Bridge Street | Henniker, NH 03242
Phone: (603) 428-2223 | Toll-free: (800) 521-7642 | Fax: (603) 428-3155
