Admissions

The Office of Admission at Union College practices a holistic application review process to identify candidates who will benefit from and contribute to the academic, intellectual, and extracurricular life of the College. Our application review process considers several key factors, including academic excellence, personal accountability, and integrity. No single grade, factor, score, or activity will automatically determine a student’s admission decision. We treat every applicant as an individual, taking great care to make informed admission decisions.

Admission Plans (First-Year Applicants)

Coalition Application or Common Application: Union Colleges accepts applications submitted through either the Coalition Application powered by Scoir or the Common Application. There is no preference, and equal consideration will be given to both. The Office of Admission does not require an application .

Official High School Transcript: All applicants are required to submit a secondary school transcript, including all grades and course listings from their high school years, as determined by their national educational system. In the case of a student attending multiple schools, all years must be provided. First quarter or first trimester senior grades are also required. Additional grades from the senior year may also be requested.  A GED is accepted in lieu of a high school diploma.

Recommended coursework: We seek students with excellent grades and view favorably those applicants who have exceeded the minimum number of required high school courses. Taking advanced, honors and Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses is strongly encouraged. Generally, a minimum of 16 units (courses) of secondary school preparation are necessary for admission. These should include essential subjects such as English, mathematics, science, social studies, and a world language, including American Sign Language (ASL). The following units are recommended:

• All applicants should have four years of English, at least two years of a world language or American Sign Language (ASL), and a minimum of two and a half years of college preparatory mathematics.

• Applicants planning to major in chemistry, physics, or mathematics should have at least three and a half years of mathematics.

• Applicants planning to complete the engineering curriculum should have elementary and intermediate algebra, geometry, trigonometry, chemistry, physics, and four years of English. Although more advanced mathematics work is not required, it will prove helpful.

• Applicants for the Leadership in Medicine (LIM) program sponsored by Union College, Clarkson University, and Albany Medical College must present at least four years of English, one year each of biology and chemistry, and at least three years of college preparatory mathematics. A year of physics is recommended, though not required. International students are ineligible for the LIM program.

School Reports and Recommendations: Applicants must have their school counselor (or a designated school official) complete the School Counselor Report, which is available through the Common Application or the Coalition Application. Your counselor will also write a letter of recommendation on your behalf. If a school counselor has a large caseload and is unable to provide a letter, the School Counselor Report form will suffice as a recommendation. Applicants are required to submit one additional letter of recommendation from a teacher or academic source.

Early Decision (ED) I and II: Early Decision I and Early Decision II plans are encouraged for candidates who are confident that Union is their first-choice college. ED candidates are favored in the evaluation process. An Early Decision I or II application carries with it the commitment that the candidate will enroll if admitted. Regular applications to other colleges may be filed with the understanding that these will be withdrawn if the candidate is admitted to Union. Applicants for either ED I or ED II must submit an Early Decision Agreement Form, which must be signed by the applicant, their parent or caregiver, and their college counselor. Early Decision applicants may receive an admission decision of admit or deny, or they may be deferred to the Regular Decision pool.

Early Action (EA): Early Action is Union’s non-binding early application plan. Under Early Action, students can apply and receive their admission decision earlier in the process without committing to enrollment. Early Action applicants may receive an admission decision of admit or deny, or they may be deferred to the Regular Decision pool. Students admitted through EA have until May 1 to submit their enrollment deposit.

Regular Decision (RD): Regular Decision is a non-binding application plan in which candidates learn of their admission decision later in the process. Regular Decision applicants may receive an admission decision of either admit, deny, or waitlist. Students admitted through RD have until May 1 to submit their enrollment deposit.

Leadership in Medicine (LIM) Program: The eight-year Leadership in Medicine Program is jointly sponsored by Union College, Clarkson University (Capital Region Campus), and Albany Medical College (AMC). Consideration for the program begins with high school seniors applying to Union College by November 1. Union notifies qualified applicants, who then must complete the Albany Medical College (AMC) supplemental application. The supplemental application will be emailed to the applicant by AMC. The Admissions Committee at AMC invites selected candidates to interview virtually.

3 + 3 Law Accelerated Law Program: The 3+3 combined law program allows students to complete a full B.S. or B.A. degree at Union College in three years, after which they can advance to Albany Law School. This combined degree program provides opportunities to earn undergraduate credit through law-related internships. It allows undergraduates to engage in Albany Law School activities specifically designed for students in the combined degree program. Students in this program have guaranteed formal admission to Albany Law School contingent upon maintaining a 3.4 GPA, achieving a reportable LSAT score typically taken in the third year of undergraduate study, and completing the application process on time.

Application Requirements (First-Year Applicants)

Coalition Application or Common Application: Union Colleges accepts applications submitted through either the Coalition Application powered by Scoir or the Common Application. There is no preference, and equal consideration will be given to both. The Office of Admission does not require an application .

Official High School Transcript: All applicants are required to submit a secondary school transcript, including all grades and course listings from their high school years, as determined by their national educational system. In the case of a student attending multiple schools, all years must be provided. First quarter or first trimester senior grades are also required. Additional grades from the senior year may also be requested.  A GED is accepted in lieu of a high school diploma.

Recommended coursework: We seek students with excellent grades and view favorably those applicants who have exceeded the minimum number of required high school courses. Taking advanced, honors and Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses is strongly encouraged. Generally, a minimum of 16 units (courses) of secondary school preparation are necessary for admission. These should include essential subjects such as English, mathematics, science, social studies, and a world language, including American Sign Language (ASL). The following units are recommended:

• All applicants should have four years of English, at least two years of a world language or American Sign Language (ASL), and a minimum of two and a half years of college preparatory mathematics.

• Applicants planning to major in chemistry, physics, or mathematics should have at least three and a half years of mathematics.

• Applicants planning to complete the engineering curriculum should have elementary and intermediate algebra, geometry, trigonometry, chemistry, physics, and four years of English. Although more advanced mathematics work is not required, it will prove helpful.

• Applicants for the Leadership in Medicine (LIM) program sponsored by Union College, Clarkson University, and Albany Medical College must present at least four years of English, one year each of biology and chemistry, and at least three years of college preparatory mathematics. A year of physics is recommended, though not required. International students are ineligible for the LIM program.

School Reports and Recommendations: Applicants must have their school counselor (or a designated school official) complete the School Counselor Report, which is available through the Common Application or the Coalition Application. Your counselor will also write a letter of recommendation on your behalf. If a school counselor has a large caseload and is unable to provide a letter, the School Counselor Report form will suffice as a recommendation. Applicants are required to submit one additional letter of recommendation from a teacher or academic source.

 Testing Policy

At Union College, admissions decisions and merit scholarship consideration are based on a holistic review process that encompasses a range of academic and non-academic indicators. Test scores are used in our evaluation of an application only when students indicate they want their scores considered and self-report or send scores. For Early Action, Leadership in Medicine, and Early Decision I applicants, the last date to submit testing is 30 days past the application deadline. For Regular Decision, 3+3 Accelerated Law, and Early Decision II applicants, scores must be submitted at the time of application submission.

Union is test optional except in the following instances, when an SAT or ACT score is required:

• Leadership in Medicine (LIM) applicants
• 3+3 Accelerated Law Program applicants
• Homeschooled applicants

Outside of those applying to the programs above, applicants who choose not to submit standardized tests will be at no disadvantage, and their application review and scholarship consideration will not be negatively impacted. While SAT/ACT scores are optional, the TOEFL, IELTS, or DET is required for all applicants whose first language is not English.

Application Dates & Deadlines

The admissions process for transfer students follows a separate timetable. For admission to the fall term, transfer applicants must submit their completed applications by April 15. For entry into the winter term, the deadline is November 1; for the spring term, the deadline is February 1. Applicants are notified of admissions decisions on a rolling basis. Admission for spring and winter terms is on a space-available basis only.

Deferring Enrollment

Union College permits any student who has paid the enrollment deposit to defer entry for one year at a time (a “gap year”) for reasons such as community service, health, military service, travel or work. The deferral may be extended for a second year. Requests to defer must be received by July 1 to be considered for approval. Students who select this option commit to attending Union in the fall following the gap year and agree not to apply to other colleges. Students may take courses at another institution but cannot be fully matriculated. Union accepts up to six AP results, IB results, and/or college classes for credit. Applicants for financial aid must submit the updated CSS Profile and FAFSA by January 15 of the year in which they will enroll. Merit scholarships are guaranteed at the same level for the following year.

Special Populations

Early Admission: The admissions committee will consider candidates who complete their high school requirements early, provided that, based on their high school achievements, they have demonstrated the potential to succeed in college-level work. Interviews are required for candidates applying for early admission.

Transfer Students: Union welcomes applications from students wishing to transfer from two-year and four-year colleges. When making its decisions, the admissions committee considers the completed college work and the recommendations of appropriate officials from the college currently/most recently attended. Students should arrange for transcripts of all college work, a college report, a secondary school transcript and letters of recommendation to be submitted to the admissions office. A personal interview is not required. Transfer students must have completed at least one college course within the last five years to be considered for admission.

Financial aid for transfer students is limited and depends on financial need. Candidates applying for financial aid must submit the CSS Profile and the FAFSA to their respective processing agencies.

International Students: In addition to the application requirements described above, applicants who are citizens of countries other than the United States must demonstrate proficiency in reading, listening, writing, and speaking English, as English is the language of instruction at Union. The admissions committee requires that all international students (for whom English is not their native language) submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test (DET) examination. The SAT or ACT is also strongly recommended for international applicants. English language proficiency waivers are granted on an individual basis at the discretion of the admissions team. Admissions interviews are recommended for all applicants and required for students from China and Vietnam. Other applicants may be asked to complete an interview by the admissions committee.

Limited financial aid is available to non-U.S. citizens, and therefore, competition for funding is selective. Union expects international applicants to contribute a minimum of $7,500 (USD) per year toward the cost of attendance. All aid is determined by the College’s evaluation of a family’s financial contribution. To apply for aid, non-U.S. citizens must submit the CSS Profile and tax returns from their country of residence. If you do not have tax returns, an employment verification letter from each working parent or guardian’s employer may be submitted in lieu of tax returns. Canadian citizens are required to submit the CSS Profile form to the designated agency by January 15. Additional information is available at www.union.edu/finaid.

Readmission: Students who were previously enrolled as degree-seeking candidates at Union and have formally withdrawn from the college must apply for readmission if they wish to resume their studies. The readmission application and supporting documents must be submitted to the Union College Admissions Office by the deadlines below.

• Fall Term - March 15
• Winter Term - October 15
• Spring Term - January 15

 Students currently on leave (voluntary or involuntary) from Union College do not need to apply through readmission; instead, they must engage directly with the Class Deans’ office to determine the appropriate steps to return.

Visiting Students: Occasionally, non-matriculated students may wish to attend Union on a full-time basis. These students are considered visiting students. They may take courses full time at the College for a maximum of two trimesters, after which they must apply for transfer admission and be accepted before continuing their studies. The Registrar’s Office serves as the primary point of contact for Visiting Students. High school students interested in taking a course or courses at Union should inquire about this possibility at the Registrar’s Office.

Visits and Virtual Events 

The Office of Admissions provides numerous opportunities for prospective students and their families to explore the Union College campus and community. Student-led tours are offered in conjunction with information sessions on weekdays, as well as select Saturdays during the academic year.  Additionally, several virtual information sessions and open houses are conducted throughout the year. For more information, please visit union.edu/admissions/visit.

Admission interviews are strongly encouraged and are available in both in-person and online formats. They are offered to high school seniors/rising seniors on weekdays from June 1 to January 31, as well as on select Saturdays in the fall. Interviews can be scheduled at union.edu/interviews. Transfer students may arrange an interview by emailing admissions@union.edu.

Conditions of Admission

Union College reserves the right to rescind an offer of admission under certain circumstances, including:

• New information comes to light that would have resulted in a different decision at the time of review, including unsatisfactory completion of coursework currently underway or degrees in progress.
• There has been a misrepresentation or violation of any of the terms of the application process.
• Union discovers that an applicant has engaged in behavior before the first day of class that demonstrates a severe lack of judgment, integrity, or alignment with Union values and/or that violates Union College policies.

We reserve the right to request that admitted students provide additional information and/or authorization for the release of information about any such matter and to impose a hold on registration during the investigation into any such matter.