General Admission Information
Standardized Testing
Résumés/Supplemental Info
Letters of Recommendation and Essays
Special Considerations
Remind me again what standardized tests are required at Olin?
All applicants, both native and non-native English speakers, are required to submit the SAT Reasoning Test or ACT with Writing as well as SAT Subject Test score, one in Math (Level 1 or 2) and one in a science subject of your choice. Applicants who live in countries where the SAT and ACT are not offered will be considered without a full set of required test scores on a case-by-case basis.
Will you accept my test scores if they’re on my official transcript?
No, sorry. We need them sent directly from the testing agency. Our SAT code is 2824, our ACT code is 1883 and our TOEFL code is 9008.
I scored better in Math when I took the SAT Reasoning in June than when I just took it this fall. Do you take the best score from each section regardless of test date?
Yep, no worries there. We take your best score from each test and disregard the others.
Do I need to request an official AP Score Report be sent to Olin?
No. We do not require AP scores for admission and therefore don’t need official scores. Although we ask you to report any exams and scores, they provide us with a bit more information and context to your application but are not formally included in our evaluation process.
Does Olin accept AP credit?
No. Hence another reason we don’t expect you to send us an official AP Score Report.
Should I request RUSH DELIVERY of my Score Report?
No. In most cases, we receive your test scores in plenty of time to make our decisions. There’s no need to pay the extra money for expedited delivery.
Can my ACT subscores count toward the Subject Exam requirement?
No. Every applicant to Olin must submit 2 SAT Subject Exam scores in math and a science subject of his/her choice. The ACT with Writing may only replace the SAT Reasoning Test.
I am an international applicant – do I need to submit TOEFL scores?
No. The TOEFL is not required as part of the application process, although those scores can be helpful when reviewing the applications of non-native speakers. We do not have minimum score requirements, but many of our strong applicants score above 260 on the computer-based test.
What are some of the types of activities that most students include on their résumés?
Some of the most popular activities include school clubs, sports, music, summer programs, youth groups, community service, and hobbies or passions. You can put anything you want on your résumé, if you think it will let us get to know you better. Keep this in mind: What makes you stand out?
I participated in WXYZ for grades 7-9. How should I put this on my résumé?
First of all, please let us know what all those acronyms mean! But otherwise, you may arrange your activities chronologically, by activity type, or any way that makes sense to you. Also, please limit the activities you list to those in which you participated in high school. If you have played piano for grades 2-12, go ahead and include it! However, if you played soccer in grades 6-8, leave it off.
I wasn’t able to participate in a lot of sports or music groups because I spend most of my time working after school. Does that go on my résumé?
Absolutely! Part or full time work and volunteer or service opportunities should be included, as well as work on a family farm or care of younger siblings. We want to hear the details of your employment, including when (months, years) you worked.
I won an Olympic Gold Medal/Nobel Prize/Pulitzer/Academy Award. Is that something I should put on my résumé?
YES! Please include any regional, state or national awards or commendations you have received, along with the date of your award. Published or critically acclaimed works are also important to mention.
I do A LOT of extracurricular activities. There is no way they will fit within the 1000 word limit. In fact, I wrote a rough draft that is 15 pages. Is that OK?
While we appreciate your enthusiasm, we read a lot of applications and we don’t have time to read that much for each person! Please try and keep your résumé to 1000 words and highlight the things that are most important to you. Keep in mind that we have or will have received a transcript from your high school with your classes and grades, so you do not have to include this information on your résumé.
Writing a résumé doesn’t really show what I like to do. May I send in supplemental materials instead?
We require that all applicants complete a résumé, but if you would like to send in supplemental materials as well, feel free to do so. Please realize, however, that we cannot promise that they will get reviewed, and we cannot return them. Also, keep the size of your contributions to a minimum… while we all enjoy modern art, an 8 foot steel representation of Franklin W. Olin may not be the best way to showcase your talent.
May I send additional recommendations?
The simple answer… YES, most definitely! But don’t go crazy - we don’t need letters from every teacher you’ve ever had or the department chairs or headmaster/principal of your school. It’s about the quality of the letter and how well the person knows you, not the title underneath the signature.
If you’d like to submit an additional recommendation, it should still add dimension to your application. And since it’s supplemental, it doesn’t have to be academic. So ask your boss or Scout Master; consider your band director or coach; essentially, any adult mentor in your life would be a great addition to your file. Remember: an extra letter of recommendation is just that - icing on the cake! We do not require it and you won’t be at a disadvantage if you don’t submit an additional recommendation.
Do you prefer a science or math teacher for the 2nd teacher recommendation?
We encourage you to consider asking a non-math/science teacher for the second letter of recommendation. The purpose of the Teacher Recommendations is to give us some perspective on what you’re like as a student. If have both of your letters come from teachers math and science, we often times get a rather one-dimensional view of you. Think about asking your English or history teacher (or some other humanities or social science instructor) - even if you didn’t make your best grades in those classes, those teachers often have great insight to share with us and can help flesh out your application by providing us with a different angle. But if you’d like both of your letters to come from math/science teachers, that is perfectly fine... we promise!
How strict are the 500 and 300 word limits on the essays?
In the past, we have not been too strict about the essay length but we do expect students to abide to those guidelines as closely as possible. If you go over by a few words, no worries - we do not sit around counting the number of words in each essay. However, they exist so that we don’t get bogged down in really long essays and are able to actually read everything in everyone’s application files.
I am a homeschooled/transfer/international student - do you have a different application or process for me?
Yes! Well, sort of!
We evaluate every applicant on a case-by-case basis but we realize that you may have concerns specific to your situation. Please refer to our "Special Considerations" section of the website for more details regarding homeschooled students, transfer applicants and non-US citizens. If you still have questions, please email us at apply@olin.edu.
If you have further questions, please email us at apply@olin.edu and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
