Fall 2024 admissions Hillsdale College

Anyone else have a student applying for fall 2024 ED?

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Does Hillsdale have early decision?

I found this…looks like early action. Not early decision.

Hillsdale’s application opens on June 1, and the Common Application opens on August 1. Students may apply under one of the following application deadline plans: Early Action I—The application deadline is November 1 for all required materials, and candidate notification is in early December.

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Yes they changed it to EA this year. They did have ED last year. Good luck with your app. My D25 will be applying next year.

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Some schools give a hard date for EA decisions, like December 15. Others say something like “early December.” Anybody know how Hillsdale has done it historically?

Hello all! DS applied EA to Hillsdale College. Last year’s early applicants heard back Friday, December 2. We were hoping to hear by now! Anyone in the same boat?! (Officially, HC says those who apply will hear “early December”…… wondering if it’s later this year because they took away ED…. Only EA now!)

I just posted a query about this here—applicants used to hear the first week of December but our DS applied early action by November 1 and still hasn’t heard. We are eager to hear over here!!!

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I don’t know but we are wondering the same thing!

Yes. Same boat here. Applied mid-October, did an interview before Nov. 1. Haven’t heard a word.

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I’m stalking this thread so I can get a gauge for next year!

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Did they release all responses on the same day last year? Accepts, defers, denies? Or did they spread it out over a few weeks?

Also, anybody know if their need-based aid will be accelerated because they don’t have to wait for FAFSA?

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It looks like they release by snail mail from previous year threads? If anyone gets something please post!

I’m not sure whether my DD will be considered EA1 or EA2. She did one of their summer high school trips in July, interviewed in August and applied in mid-September. Counselor rec and transcripts were in early October. But her APUSH teacher from last year didn’t send in her rec until 11/5 :grimacing: So we might be in for a long wait, adding to the anxiety here!

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chicagoshannon, you should look into their summer programs for high school students. My DD had an awesome experience this summer. She had also applied the summer before but was waitlisted because we found out about it too late.

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A friend whose son is Class of 2027 told me that the early applicants were notified on December 2 last year—by e-mail and then also by an update to the portal. Letters were sent out the same day and arrived a few days later (with merit awards). Hope this helps! Good luck!

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Also, my friend seemed to think that all early decision responses were given the same day last year (whether the student was admitted, denied or deferred…).

Again, they have obviously changed some things for this year (no ED, only EA) so it’s possible other aspects of the process (timing, method of communication, etc.) will change as well.

Good luck, all!

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I’m so excited for all of you! I would love if you would share your/your kids stats and if you went test optional. I know they place a lot of emphasis on essays too. I think Hillsdale was D25’s favorite school, but she’s also a little concerned about the balance of work/play. Do any of your kids share that concern? She wants to have some fun during college too. lol

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I have twin boys. They had the same concerns about work/play but we did a visit in April and the kids seemed… normal. No dress code. Kids arsing around on the green. But studious. Seemed like a good balance for them. Our tour guide seemed like a really nice kid. He wasn’t dropping Margaret Thatcher quotes or quizzing people about Austrian economics. He talked about soccer and the core curriculum and answered some questions about Catholics on campus, etc. (We’re Catholic.) It was good.

I only have one applying. He’s doing test optional. He scored around a 1200 on the SAT first try, with no prep. He thought about taking it more seriously to goose his score, but opted to lean into his extracurriculars. Letters in soccer and tennis. Student body president. Lead in school play. Sports photographer for school’s teams. Lots of activities with church, including teaching young kids at faith formation, etc.

Hillsdale is his first choice. Worked hard on his essays, crafting them specifically for the school. Went to visit, did an interview a few hours from home this fall. So trying to express interest. It’s a risk. He also could have done PrepScholar or something like that to try to get SATs into upper 1300s. But since it was “test optional” and not “activities optional” he went the other route.

His GPA is I dunno, 3.8 or 3.9 unweighted.

I think Hillsdale is a reach, and he knows it, but he did his level best to make a case for himself.

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I am on the Hillsdale Parents’ page on FB (my oldest is a sophomore) and two people have heard that early decisions will go out Dec. 15 this year. My son who is at Hillsdale also heard it would be the 15th. So that seems to be the consensus!

As for the question about work-life-fun balance, my oldest absolutely loves it there. He finds the academics to be amazing (and yes, challenging to be sure), but he’s also in a super social dorm and has a lot of friends/social outlets. Let’s just say the kids do seem to have a great time. And there are just so many great kids—it’s an amazing crew. He really has found it to be a great balance of academics/social. (This is why it’s our second son’s first choice! :slight_smile: )

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Thanks so much for the intel! Fingers crossed!

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If you don’t mind… are you from Michigan? Just curious. We are from PA.

I also assume you are… mom of 8. We have 9. My applicant is oldest. When FAFSA said they were going to stop taking family size into account our hearts sunk. But at the visit Hillsdale said they were disregarding that. I hope so!

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Thanks everyone. We visited last February and D25 fell in love with the people. She said everyone was just so nice. She got to visit a class and they included her in the classroom discussion which she loved. One of the kids scared her though when she said that she’d have time to join maybe 1 club. My D25 likes to do a lot of things but she also loves to be around deep thinkers. I think we’ll go for a 2nd visit in the spring. Good luck on the 15th everyone!