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We are happy to consider additional materials along with the required parts of the application for admission. Academic materials—graded writing samples, science research summaries, etc.— tend to be more helpful for us than those that are nonacademic. We do not require special portfolios or applications for admission to particular majors, so items such as artwork, slides, performance recordings, and creative writing portfolios will be considered only as background for the overall admissions decision. Please note that submissions will not be returned.

Supplemental materials can be uploaded through your L&C Portal after your Common Application is received by our office and your application file has been established.

Interviews are a great way to have a more personal experience during the application process. Interviews are recommended, but not required. You can schedule a virtual interview, or email your admissions counselor for more interview availability.

Please schedule your interview prior to the application deadline under which you are applying:

• For Early Action and Early Decision applicants, interviews must be completed before November 1.
• For Regular Decision applicants, interviews must be completed before January 15.
• For Transfer students, interviews should be completed prior to submission of an application.

We have been test-optional since 1991 and do not require SAT or ACT scores. You are not at a disadvantage if you do not submit scores. Both merit-based scholarships and need-based aid are awarded independent of test scores, and you will be considered for all forms of aid whether you submit scores or not. Read more information about our Test-Optional Policy.

Our admissions review process is holistic, so if you choose to submit test scores, we will take them into consideration. If you choose not to send scores, we will rely only on the materials we have to make a decision. If you choose to send us your scores, they can be submitted directly from the testing agency, included on an official high school transcript, sent directly to our office by your high school counselor (as a PDF or screenshot of your online or paper score report), or uploaded through our Self-Reported Test Scores form.

If Lewis & Clark is the college that is clearly the best fit for you, there is no better way to indicate to us that L&C is your top choice than by applying Early Decision. Your college selection process may be completed months before many of your peers if you apply under Early Decision. Since the application is binding, if admitted, your selection is made and you can look forward to becoming a Pioneer while focusing on finishing your high school career.

The main advantage to applying under our non-binding Early Action plan is timing. Since you get your materials to us earlier (November 1) we are able to get a decision letter to you earlier (by January 1). The admissions committee will look for all the same criteria that we look for in the Regular Decision timeframe (see what are we looking for), so a student is not necessarily more likely to be admitted if they apply Early Action.

Keep in mind that there is one important difference between the early application plans and Regular Decision: under Early Decision and Early Action, we require grades through the end of junior year, along with an accurate list of senior year courses. Some Early Decision and Early Action applicants provide first quarter or trimester reports as well. Under Regular Decision, we require that you submit the first set of grades from your senior year. If it is important to you that the admissions committee reviews your senior grades, you may wish to apply Regular Decision. Finally, the Early Decision and Early Action plans are not appropriate for students who will be relying on the November SAT/ACT or later test dates to complete their files.

There is no fee to apply to Lewis & Clark.

You should strive to submit your materials by the application deadline. Late applications may be accepted at the discretion of the Admissions Office. If you are interested in applying after the January 15 deadline, contact the Admissions Office and speak with an admissions counselor about your options.

Please note: students whose applications are received after the deadline may not receive their admissions decisions until after April 1. Financial aid notification may also be delayed and funds may be limited.

It is not necessary for your teacher to use the Common Application Teacher Evaluation form. However, if your teacher will not be using the form, he/she should submit the evaluation on school letterhead, clearly print your full name on the top of the letter, and indicate the course(s) and grade level(s) in which he/she taught you.

We do not require a letter of recommendation from a counselor, only the Secondary School Report form.

However, it is in your best interest for you to get to know your guidance counselor. Beyond completing required college application forms, you may find that your counselor can also provide excellent guidance throughout your entire college search process. If it’s just not possible for you to get to know your counselor (and we certainly understand that situation may arise if you attend a large school) or if you have a new counselor at your school, you should (at minimum) have your current counselor fill in the blanks of the Secondary School Report form. That form provides vital information we need in order to complete your record at the college. You may have another high school administrator or former counselor provide a letter of recommendation addressing your preparedness for college, your high school performance in relation to the rest of your senior class, and other pertinent information. We will only accept such an evaluation in addition to the Secondary School Report form completed by your current high school counselor.

In our holistic admissions review process, we consider all material that a student submits. For students that do include their scores, we will take them into consideration. For students that choose not to send scores, we will rely on the materials we do have to make a decision. A student who does not send scores is not at a disadvantage and will be considered for all forms of aid including merit-based scholarships and need-based aid, which are awarded independent of test scores.

Please read more information about our Test-Optional Policy.

The admissions committee gives all applicants a comprehensive review before making an admissions decision. This is why we ask for a number of credentials to complete your application. The main priority of the committee is to make sure that the applicant is able to meet the college’s academic challenge and the expectations of our faculty.

While all credentials will be carefully reviewed, an applicant’s transcript is most beneficial in providing evidence of a student’s academic potential to thrive at Lewis & Clark. The committee examines course selection, curricular rigor, grade trends, and other academic factors reflected on the transcript.

Teacher and counselor evaluations, SAT and/or ACT scores (if submitted), the essay, and the actual application form reveal other dimensions of an applicant and are also important in the application process.

Non-academic activities are considered as well, since we need students who will play a role in our small, residential community, but these factors are only considered if a student is academically admissible. In the end, the committee hopes to admit students that are prepared for the challenge that an education at Lewis & Clark will offer while also contributing positively to the college community.