Find answers to common questions asked of our admissions counselors about Emmanuel College, applying and admission, academics, student life and Boston.
The Office of Admissions reviews applications on an individual basis and does not have minimum cutoffs. In addition to assessing your grades, focus is given to the rigor of your academic program. The middle 50% of our admitted students have between a 3.45 and 4.3 GPA (on a weighted 4 point scale). If you have questions about your credentials, feel free to speak individually with an admissions counselor.
Please refer to the Preparation for Admission section to see our recommendations.
Yes, the Office of Admissions puts more weight on honors, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and dual-enrollment courses than standard college prep level courses.
We encourage you to take advantage of the Additional Information section of the Common Application or schedule an interview to speak with an admissions counselor.
AP scores will be evaluated by academic departments and typically offer college credit equivalent for one full course at Emmanuel, with a passing score and the respective AP course is transcripted on the official high school transcript or completed prior to matriculation at Emmanuel. If you receive credit for an AP examination, you will be placed at an advanced level in the appropriate academic department. Generally scores of 4 or 5 are accepted in exchange for credit at Emmanuel. Scores of four, five, six or seven on the IB examinations entitle you to credit for at least one course. Course requirement fulfillment is determined by the academic departments.
Yes, and in addition to submitting the GED, you must complete all other application requirements.
There is no supplemental component in lieu of test scores. Your academic and personal achievements will be highlighted and examined during the application process. You are free to submit any additional information that reflects positively on your candidacy.
The application process is designed for students to show the Admissions Committee why your enrollment at Emmanuel College would be a great academic and personal fit. If you feel confident that your test scores accurately display your abilities and work ethic in the classroom, the scores could strengthen your application. However, if your test scores are not a good indicator of your academic achievement throughout high school, they are not required to be submitted.
Note for Fall 2022 Applicants: For over eight years Emmanuel has practiced a careful and holistic review that considers your strengths as an individual, not your test scores. We are test-optional for all of our academic programs (with the exception of Nursing).
Yes, all applicants are considered for all merit scholarships whether or not test scores are submitted.
You can indicate your intentions on the Common Application.
Emmanuel College's CEEB code is 3368.
Emmanuel accepts electronic delivery of materials from Naviance, Scoir and your school counselor. Materials can be emailed to admissions@emmanuel.edu
If mailing materials, you should send all to the following address:
Office of Admissions
Emmanuel College
400 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115
In most cases, you will receive a decision in four to six weeks after the Office of Admissions receives all required application materials. If you are missing materials you will be contacted via email.
All applicants receive their admissions decision by mail and they are also viewable on the Emmanuel College Applicant Portal.
Emmanuel offers a variety of scholarships ranging from $10,000 to $28,000 annually. To be considered for scholarships, your admission application for the fall semester must be complete by February 15.
Emmanuel offers several awards to transfer students, including Dean's, Academic Achievement and Phi Theta Kappa scholarships. Transfer students may also be eligible for Emmanuel grant funding and for federal and state aid as well.
Within three weeks of your acceptance to Emmanuel, our Office of the Registrar will complete a transfer credit evaluation to let you know which credits the College has accepted. The evaluation will be uploaded to your Emmanuel College Applicant Portal.
In most cases, Emmanuel will award transfer credit for courses in which you received a C (2.0) or better.
While Emmanuel does not limit the number of courses that will be accepted in transfer, you must complete a minimum of 16 courses or 64 credits at Emmanuel to earn an Emmanuel College degree.
Candidates who wish to defer their enrollment must submit a request in writing to the Office of Admissions. All requests will be reviewed and enrollment may be deferred for up to one year without filing a new application. Deferred applicants must submit a final, official secondary school transcript to complete the deferral process. Merit scholarships are valid for one year from the date of deferral. Need-based financial aid is valid for deferrals from fall 2021 to spring 2022. To be considered for need-based financial aid for the 2022-23 academic year, please complete a 2022-23 FASFA once this is available in October.
A student should notify the College of their decision to defer before the start of classes. Please email your decision to the Office of Admissions at admissions@emmanuel.edu.
Students do not have to deposit in order to defer. If a student submits a deposit and decides to defer their acceptance, their deposit can be held to guarantee their place in the class for that future semester.
I am currently trying to decide between two majors. Can I enter Emmanuel undeclared?
Yes! The majority of students enter Emmanuel with many different majors in mind and choose one after a few semesters. All students declare a major during the spring of their sophomore year, which gives them plenty of time to work with their advisor, professors and other students to choose a program of study that best suits their academic and professional goals. For more information on our areas of study, check out our Programs of Study page.
I am a little worried about knowing where to get extra help when I go to college. Does Emmanuel offer assistance with this?
We most certainly do. The Academic Resource Center (ARC) peer and professional tutors can help you with everything from figuring out difficult mathematics problems to critiquing that English essay that has you stumped.
How do I choose my classes? Is there someone to guide me through this process?
Once you enroll at Emmanuel, you are assigned an academic advisor who will meet with you one-on-one to assist you with picking courses that meet your academic needs. He or she will also design a four-year success plan with you, outlining the classes you will need to take and approximately when you will take them.
Do Emmanuel students get internships in Boston?
Yes! Every Emmanuel student completes at least one internship, practicum, research program or experiential learning initiative before graduating - many participate in 2 or more! Internships are a core component of Emmanuel's academic programs, and the city of Boston offers our students unmatched opportunities to work with world-class organizations of every kind. Learn more about the types of internships our students get and the variety of organizations they work at by checking out our Career Services page.
Will my professor know who I am, or will a teaching assistant (TA) be my teacher?
As a small college, our goal is to maintain a low average class size and foster student-professor interaction as much as possible. Our student-faculty ratio is 13:1, and all our classes are taught by professors, never by a teaching assistant. In addition, you will have the opportunity to meet with your professors during office hours or perhaps grab a coffee and discuss a paper. Either way, they will know who you are and you will know who they are as well!
What does a "liberal arts and sciences college" mean?
An education in the liberal arts is designed to prepare you to take on the world and your life in a well-informed manner, rooting your academic area of study in the context of the world in which we live. Additionally, the experience of studying liberal arts and sciences at a Catholic college gives you the opportunity to develop your ethical decision-making and moral reasoning skills and allows you to move on from Emmanuel with the ability to connect with people from many different backgrounds. Click here to learn more about the structure of an Emmanuel education.
Additional Questions?
If you have additional questions about academics or any other facet of Emmanuel, please contact the Office of Admissions at 617-735-9715 or e-mail admissions@emmanuel.edu.
What kinds of clubs are there on campus?
We have more than 100 clubs and organizations here at Emmanuel, and our students create new ones every year! Whether you are interested in playing Quidditch (yes, we have a club for that), sailing on the Charles River or want to dive into many of our academic clubs, we have what you are seeking. Check out our Clubs + Organizations page to learn more about our students' co-curricular and extracurricular clubs and organizations.
How is the food on campus?
The food at Emmanuel is AMAZING! You should definitely plan on eating in the dining hall when you visit campus. From stir-fry to the comfort food section to gluten-free and vegan options, Emmanuel's dining services, managed by Bon Appetit, will not disappoint.
What can I do on campus during the weekends?
Aside from having the ENTIRE city of Boston as your backyard, Emmanuel students are always hard at work planning events for weekend fun, just feet from your residence hall. Like poetry? Interested in carving a pumpkin? Perhaps a night of laser-tag is more your speed. Just walk out of your room: You will never be bored here!
Can I start a club once I am an Emmanuel student?
You absolutely can! The majority of our clubs and organizations on campus were started by students and then funded and supported by Emmanuel and the SGA (Student Government Association). Interested in knowing more about our Clubs + Organizations? Maybe you will be the one to introduce a new club to the Emmanuel community!
What is a Resident Assistant?
A Resident Assistant (RA) is a current student who lives in your residence hall, usually on your floor or an adjacent floor. He or she helps you adjust to campus life and plans programs to bring your floormates together and build the community at large. They are trained in working with students, and offer you the resources needed to be successful in all facets of living at the College. Need someone to talk to? They are there for you 24/7.
What is there to do in the Fenway area of Boston?
There are MANY things to do in the Fenway area! You can go to a Red Sox game at Fenway Park (by getting discounted tickets through Emmanuel), explore the collections at the Museum of Fine Arts, eat at a variety of restaurants, or walk around the local parks and community gardens. Interested in checking out the rest of Boston? There are countless opportunities to attend plays and performances, academic lectures and explore the history of our great city. For more information on Boston, check out our Best of Boston page and learn what this great city has to offer!
Does Emmanuel ever offer tickets to students for events in the city?
Emmanuel will often buy blocks of tickets to games, shows and events in Boston and surrounding areas, and offer them to students at a discounted rate. Whether you are interested in sports, plays or festivals, let Emmanuel be your connection to the excitement of Boston!
Are there a lot of parks and green space in the city?
Boston is known for its parks and green space throughout the city including the Boston Common, Boston Public Gardens and the Emerald Necklace park system (whose miles of trails pass right in front of campus!). Go for a walk, run or bike ride to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. It's easy to find peaceful, quiet spaces in and around the city through its beautiful and numerous parks.
Will I have the opportunity to meet other students from Boston-area schools?
With so many colleges in the Boston area, you are bound to meet students all over the city! Perhaps the easiest way to meet students from neighboring colleges is through the Colleges of the Fenway, a consortium of five institutions including Emmanuel, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, MCPHS University, Simmons College and Wentworth Institute of Technology. Collectively, these colleges represent more than 10,000 undergraduate students (16% of the total population of undergraduates in Boston attending four-year colleges) more than 700 full-time faculty and offer 2,300 courses. Our consortium allows our students to cross-register at the other institutions, eat at each other's dining halls, participate in a joint intramurals, clubs, music and art groups, study abroad and much more.
Additional Questions?
If you have additional questions about student life or any facet of Emmanuel, please contact the Office of Admissions at 617-735-9715 or e-mail admissions@emmanuel.edu.
"If anyone would ask me what to do in college, I would tell them to do everything. Get as much experience as you can. Meet people and do things. Take advantage of all college has to offer."
Jumping into her Emmanuel experience, Shakirah was sure of two things: that what she had planned was going to be a “tall task,” and that she was up for the challenge.
Katherine’s foray into biology might seem an unlikely one for a future dentist.
Counseling & health psychology major Christine came to Emmanuel knowing she wanted to pursue a career in health care, and the College’s opportunities and connections for students interested in the field—as well as a neuroscience course she attended at EC Incoming—made the decision an easy one.
When asking secondary education and biology double major Angela Girodier '22 if she’s more passionate about research or teaching, she quickly and emphatically says “both.”
From an early age, Campbell Shealy '22 was interested in two things—living in a big city and numbers.
As a mathematics and economics double major with a concentration in statistics, Matt found actuarial work of calculating the financial consequences of risk for companies right in line with his interests.
Robert’s interest in the workings of the wider world grew in 2011 as the Arab Spring became international news. “I love history,” he said, “so knowing the history of the states as well as their current affairs made their actions and interactions much more interesting to me.”
Michael chose Emmanuel because of its location in Boston and its proximity to the city's "big players," specifically its leading names in the financial industry.
What began as an on-campus job in Emmanuel's student center transformed into a new career path for Jessie, one that brought her to Harvard University as a master's candidate in higher education administration.
Chemistry graduate Jennifer Scarborough '17 has found a way to combine her love for science and education. She shares her enthusiasm for the subjects as an education associate in the Hall of Human Life exhibit at Museum of Science Boston—one of the top science museums in the country (according to National Geographic).
At Emmanuel, management major Juan Sebastian Levy '14 prepared to succeed in an increasingly global society, experience that has taken him to Wayfair's offices in Berlin and back to Reebok's international headquarters in Boston.
Emmanuel is a place where students broaden their sense of what’s possible and prepare for inspiring careers in an ever-changing world. Be here.
Questions?
617-735-9715
