Admissions Information for Families

You can hardly believe it, but the discussions about college have begun for your student! We know that this can be an overwhelming time for students and their families, so we’re glad you’ve found your way here to find answers to some of the questions that frequently pop up in the early stages of the college search. 

A Washington College education has never been more attainable because we’ve made a commitment to affordability. We automatically consider all applicants for our merit-based scholarships which range up to $37,000. When you’re accepted to Washington College as a first year, you’re guaranteed at least $32,000! 

By far the best way to learn about a college is to see it in person! We welcome visitors year-round, Monday through Friday, with the opportunity to create a personalized visit experience. Customize your itinerary with campus tours, information sessions, interviews, class visits, and more! See if using our travel assistance for ticket reimbursement is right for you.

We also host open houses and admissions events on select Fridays and Saturdays with special programming. 

First and foremost, college is about academics. Washington College delivers a modern liberal arts education that will elevate your student’s knowledge from the gradebook to the real world. Explore any and all of the academic areas that your student is interested in!

Washington College is all about immersive, engaging, hands-on learning. Our Centers of Excellence are one of the most unique ways that we develop our experiential learning opportunities. We encourage you to explore the Rose O’Neil Literary House, Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, and Center for Environment & Society to see all of the opportunities waiting for your student here! 

For many students, college is their first time living away from home and family in an entirely new place. To get a sense of what living on campus at WC is like, check out our student clubs and organizations, fitness and recreation offerings, and housing and dining options.

The College fields 20 intercollegiate athletic teams, 16 of which compete at the NCAA Division III level, and is a member of the Centennial Conference. The men’s and women’s rowing teams compete in the Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference (MARC), the sailing team competes in the Inter-collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) and its Middle Atlantic conference (MAISA), and the trap and skeet team competes in the ACUI Clay Targets program for conference and national championships.

If your student is interested in playing a sport at the varsity level, head to a specific team’s page and click "Recruit Profile" under the "More" tab. There, they can submit a recruit questionnaire to get on our coaches’ radars! 

Learn about Washington College from the people who know it best! When you join Family2Family, we will personally connect you with the family of a current or past WC student to share advice and answer your questions. 

Follow us on social media! Our Instagram and TikTok feature student content creators, so they are a great way to get a glimpse into the real WC student experience! 

Instagram: @wcadmissions 

TikTok: @washcoll 

In the early stages of the college search, it is helpful for students to have you as a sounding board for all of their possible paths, goals, and options. Stay open-minded and curious about their ideas and visions while also using your own valuable wisdom and experience to provide them with advice. 

We recommend visiting campuses as early as the latter part of your student’s sophomore year. By this time, they’ll have at least some sense of what they’re looking for in a college and will be able to experience campuses with a discerning eye. We also recommend that you visit while the semester is in session so that you can see a bustling campus and get a sense of the community there as well. Plus, you may be able to shadow a real college class! 

We recommend students have their applications submitted by December 1st to receive priority scholarship consideration. To make that deadline, we encourage students to start working on their applications the summer before their senior year. If they can get their essay completed before school starts, they will have much less stress impacting their senior year. Our application opens on August 1st, so they can submit their application as early as then. 

Washington College is test-optional for most students, so your student does not have to report their SAT/ACT scores if they don’t wish to. Applying test-optional does not have any negative impact on your student’s application. We advise students to look at the average scores of schools when deciding whether to apply test-optional or not. For example, Washington College’s average SAT score is 1250, and our average ACT score is 27. If your student scored higher than our average, we recommend that they report that score, since it may help them earn a larger merit scholarship. If your student doesn’t quite meet that average or doesn’t feel that their scores are an accurate reflection of their abilities, there is no pressure to report! Homeschooled students are required to report their test scores. 

Students and families are encouraged to reach out to their Admissions Counselor at any point in the process with questions. Your counselor is assigned to you based on the geographic location of your student’s school. Search the counselor assignments to connect.

Here at WC, we are very supportive of students who are still figuring out exactly what major they want to pursue in college. We don’t require students to declare a major until their sophomore year, so they have a whole year to explore different subjects and find their passion without any pressure to commit to something before they’re ready. That's the advantage of a modern liberal arts program.

A liberal arts education emphasizes the cultivation of crucial interdisciplinary skills like communication, ethics, problem-solving, critical thinking, and more. A liberal arts curriculum produces well-rounded, versatile, and highly sought after graduates with careers in writing, business, engineering, healthcare, science, political science, education, and more.

Division III athletics are a great option for students who want to be well-rounded. Division III gives student-athletes the flexibility to compete at a high level in their sport while also excelling academically, getting involved in clubs and organizations, having internships, studying abroad, and more!