Transferring to St. Olaf College

Transfer students are a welcome addition to the St. Olaf community. They bring diversity and fresh perspectives to the St. Olaf academic experience. Transfer students are admitted on the same selective basis as regular first-year students (see the class profile), are eligible for financial aid, may compete for a limited number of merit scholarships, and are guaranteed housing for the duration of their enrollment at St. Olaf College. We may not be certain of the exact number of transfer students we can admit until well into spring of the preceding academic year. Transfer applicants are encouraged to visit the campus for a tour, class visit, and meeting with the transfer counselor. Please allow two weeks for arranging a class visit and bring a college transcript for a preliminary evaluation.

Note: International Transfer students need to apply as International Students and should follow the application process found here.

Transfer Application Checklist:
 (See below for exceptions for those who are re-activating a previous St. Olaf application.)

  1. Common Application (We waive the $40 application fee for all applications submitted online; use the special transfer section of the Common Application.)
  2. Common Application Supplement The St. Olaf Common Application Supplement can be found online on the Common Application website.
  3. Official college or university transcript (including a “work in progress” listing)
  4. Official high school transcript
  5. Official ACT or SAT scores
  6. Two letters of recommendation (either from college professors or high school teachers)
  7. Dean of Students form (or use the College Official form of the Common Application for Transfer Admission)

Transfer Application Timeline:


Round One: February 1 (notification sent on or before March 15)

Round Two: April 1 (notification sent on or before May 15)

Financial Aid and Transfer Merit Scholarship applications are due at the same time that the application for admission is submitted (February 1 or April 1). Transfer students applying for a merit scholarship should follow the same directions as first year students.

Questions Frequently Asked by Transfer Students

1. Which of my credits will transfer to St. Olaf?

The registrar will conduct a formal audit of your official transcript and will evaluate each course on an individual basis. In general, course work that is liberal arts in nature for which you have received at least a C grade will be transferable. Any transfer student will need to complete at least two full academic years of course work at St. Olaf College. A final audit will be conducted upon receipt of a final and official transcript from your current college or university, as well official scores of AP and IB exams. You will receive this well in advance of registering for course work at St. Olaf College. Transfer students will register for classes during the introduction week in September, ahead of the incoming first-year students. Please see the online St. Olaf catalog for more details on transferring credits.

2. I applied last year and was accepted. Do I have to resubmit an entirely new application?

No, we can re-activate your application upon your request, just e-mail transfer@stolaf.edu to let us know. You will need to add the following documents:

You will compete against a new pool of applicants, and re-admission is not guaranteed. You are encouraged to strengthen your application with a letter from a college professor and an updated résumé. Ask the transfer counselor for further advice.

3. I applied last year, and I was not accepted. Do I have to submit an entirely new application?

No. We will have your file, and we can re-activate it upon your request; just e-mail transfer@stolaf.edu to let us know. You will need to add the following documents:

In addition, you are strongly encouraged to strengthen your application significantly to become a successful applicant. Please contact the transfer counselor. She will review your file and advise you on what to add to your existing files (new test score, new letters of recommendation, new essays, etc.).

4. Do I need to provide standardized test scores?

Yes. We accept ACT and/or SAT scores. Under exceptional circumstances we may waive the test score requirement. Please contact the transfer counselor to discuss this.

5. I am interested in being a music major or enrolling in the Bachelor of Music degree program. Does this affect my transfer application?

Yes, you will have to apply for transfer by the Round One Deadline of February 1. The Admissions Office makes the admission decision for all applicants to the college, including those applying to the Bachelor of Music degree program, so you should follow all application procedures like other transfer applicants. The deadline to apply for music scholarships is December 15, 2010, for fall 2011. Before you start the application process, you are strongly encouraged to discuss your plans with the music admissions coordinator, Mary Hakes. You can contact her at 507-786-3297 or music@stolaf.edu.

6. I am interested in the nursing program. Does this affect my transfer application?

The Admissions Office makes the admission decision for all applicants to the college, including those interested in the nursing program. The nursing program conducts its internal admission process for the nursing major in the fall of the student’s sophomore year. Transfer students should start both applications simultaneously and work closely with both the transfer counselor and the nursing program and the transfer counselor. College sophomores should start the application process by contacting the nursing program no later than October of their sophomore year, and submit the Common Application to the Admissions Office at the same time.

If you have further questions about the transfer application process, please write to transfer@stolaf.edu.

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