Link to the Online Application Form

More about the Pastoral and Self-Evaluation Forms

Application Requirements and Evaluation of Applicants

New Saint Andrews invites all interested and qualified individuals to apply for admissions to the College. Admissions is limited to about 50 new full-time students each academic year, so the process is highly selective. New Saint Andrews seeks students who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and who desire to make every academic subject and every area of their lives captive to Christ. As a classical Christian liberal arts college, we admit students who are eager to immerse themselves in theology, philosophy, history, classical languages, rhetoric, science, literature, music, and the arts.

As a college committed to the reformational vision of evangelical Protestantism, we look for students who will devote themselves to a rigorous course of readings in pursuit of biblical truth, goodness, and beauty, while confronting the pivotal issues of Western culture from a biblical worldview. Our unique program requires that students possess personal, intellectual, and spiritual maturity, and exhibit those qualities of mind and heart expected of those who name the name of the Lord of lords and King of kings. Our Admissions Committee reviews and evaluates each application as a complete package, giving neither greater nor lesser weight to any one part. We seek well-rounded applicants who have a healthy balance of academic ability, personal maturity, spiritual discipline, social skills, work ethic, a teachable spirit, and, we hope, a sense of humor.

Academic qualifications are obviously important in our evaluation of applicants, but they are only one part of what makes a successful student. We seek students who—whether by strong work ethic, intellectual giftedness, or personal determination—are capable of not merely surviving, but thriving in an environment that treats academic pursuits as one element of a balanced Christian life devoted to the pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness. We therefore admit students whose academic record may be less than stellar, if they demonstrate a passion for our vision for classical education and a commitment to working hard.

Because New Saint Andrews is an intimate covenant community of junior and senior Christian scholars committed to cultivating truth, beauty, and goodness in our lives, our Admissions Committee looks carefully for students who will be fitting and fruitful colleagues. We look for students who are serious about joining our scholarly community to study Vergil and Augustine, to sing Genevan Psalms, to translate Greek and Latin prose, to debate the merits of monarchy, to appreciate Gothic cathedrals, to write poetry, and to challenge the idols of our age—both in and out of the church. We seek students who desire to learn, above all, wisdom with all humility. We look for students who are not content to be cloistered away in an ivory tower, but who want to live in a Christian environment that integrates the academy, the local church, and the local community. We are small by design, so our Admissions Committee looks for students who are prepared to be personally responsible members of a close-knit covenant community.

We cordially invite you to consider attending New Saint Andrews and to visit anytime. Please review the application and selection process below, and if you have any questions, just contact the Admissions Office at info@nsa.edu.

• Satisfactory Completion of Secondary Education:

Successful applicants typically average "B" or better grades in their general secondary-level studies. The Admissions Committee gives careful attention to an applicant’s record in English, languages, history, and social studies in order to assess the student’s ability to meet the College’s significant reading and writing requirements. Previous Latin and classical studies are not required, but they may prove helpful in demonstrating a student’s ability and commitment to pursuing the College’s classical curriculum. (Note: New Saint Andrews students are required to take four years of language study regardless of how advanced their classical language abilities.) Home schooled applicants should provide evidence of completion of secondary-level studies by submitting GED scores or other record of academic assessment, such as a full transcript of courses completed, including grades earned and/or narrative evaluation of performance.

• Standardized Examination Scores (ACT/SAT):

The College uses these standardized tests as one way (among several) to identify an applicant’s areas of academic strength and weakness. The College has found these tests to be generally reliable indicators of future academic success at the undergraduate level, but the Admissions Committee never considers them apart from the context of the student’s overall academic record and application portfolio. The College requires a composite score of 20 or higher on the ACT, and 1000 or higher on the SAT (Math + Critical Reading). At this point we encourage prospective students to complete the writing portion of the SAT, however we primarily look at the Critical Reading and Math sections. It is only these two sections that are counted towards the 1000 composite, as our Application includes several essays that are used to determine the writing capabilities of an applicant. The entering class for fall 2001 averaged 26.1 on the ACT and 1227 on the SAT; the entering class for fall 2000 averaged 29 and 1271, respectively. Most successful applicants score between 1100 and 1200 on the SAT, and between 22 and 25 on the ACT. Students who score below the required minimums may still be admitted on a provisional basis and given the opportunity to demonstrate their academic abilities during one academic term. More information about provisional admissions is available in this section below. The code numbers you'll need to have your standardized test results sent directly to New Saint Andrews College are 0931 for the ACT and 3855 for the SAT. If you need information about taking these exams, please contact the testing services directly at www.act.org (or 319-337-1000) for the ACT, and www.ets.org (or 609-921-9000) for the SAT.

• Statement of Christian Faith (500 words):

The Admissions Committee is not looking for a theological treatise, but a clear, simple, and honest statement of the applicant’s Christian beliefs. Students are not required to subscribe to the College’s Statement of Faith, but they should indicate what they believe with regard to basic Christian doctrine. All students who attend New Saint Andrews must pledge in writing to maintain sound Christian doctrine, to regularly attend an orthodox church, and to maintain a teachable spirit. They must also pledge to abstain from actively promoting doctrines contrary to the mission and goals of the College, and to resist temptations to entertain or to encourage vain speculations and historic or contemporary doctrinal errors (as specified in the Code of Conduct). Students should give attention not only to what they write, but how they write it. Students who have any questions about the College’s Student Code of Conduct or the student pledge regarding sound doctrine should contact the College for more information.

• Essay on Why You Wish to Attend New Saint Andrews College (500 words):

The Admissions Committee wants to know how serious a student is about attending the College and how well the student will fit in with the other Christian scholars in our community. Because New Saint Andrews admits only about 50 full-time first-year students annually, each new student is an important addition to the character and culture of the College. The Committee tries to identify applicants whose educational goals and interests will be best served by the College, and whose presence will be a positive addition to the College. The Committee encourages applicants to explain why they think New Saint Andrews meets their specific academic and personal goals, and why they think they will benefit from the College’s programs.

• Statement of Financial Commitment and Ability:

Applicants must provide a brief statement of financial commitment and ability. This statement should simply indicate the sources and extent of your financial ability to meet the costs of tuition, books, housing, etc., while attending the College. Because the College limits its enrollment, the Admissions Committee wants to know whether applicants can or cannot meet their financial obligations so it does not displace qualified applicants who are able to pay. The point is not to pry into your personal financial records (we don't want bank statements), but to simply receive personal assurance that you will be able to meet your financial obligations to the College if accepted and that you are willing to take responsibility for this commitment.

To that end, please briefly (1) identify who will bear primary responsibility for meeting your financial obligations to the College (you, your parents, your church, others?); (2) indicate the primary sources of revenue you will draw upon to meet your financial obligations (savings, gifts, other sources?); and (3) explain whether you already have or will have sufficient revenues to pay the full annual tuition in advance, or pay in installments. Finally, please state your commitment to meet all your financial obligations to the College in a timely, responsible fashion. Note: International applicants must also provide an official letter from bank officials verifying that the applicant has sufficient funds on deposit to meet the costs of tuition, fees, books, and living expenses for one full academic year. Please inquire with the Registrar to obtain the appropriate funds.

• Copy of an Essay Previously Submitted for Academic Credit:

The Admissions Committee has found that copies of previously graded academic work are helpful in assessing an applicant’s rhetorical skills. Because these abilities are so important for academic success at New Saint Andrews, applicants are encouraged to provide an example of what they consider their best work. The essay must be the student’s work alone, and preference is given to original copies of essays graded by a parent or teacher. The essay may be on any subject and in any style of writing, but it should be an example of what the student considers his or her best academic work.

• Pastoral Evaluation:

The Admissions Committee considers the confidential pastoral evaluations very seriously. These evaluations provide non-academic indicators of basic personal, familial, social, and spiritual traits that are essential to the Committee’s assessment of how well a student will fit in at New Saint Andrews. When a pastoral evaluation seems to contradict other evidence in the applicant’s portfolio, the Admissions Committee may contact the pastor and/or the applicant directly to seek additional information and clarification. The applicants are responsible for contacting their pastors and requesting that they fill out the Pastoral Evaluation Form. The completed pastoral evaluation form must be returned directly to the College and should not be returned by the applicant.
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Preparing an Application

To apply to New Saint Andrews, prospective students should obtain the College's Application Form and return the required materials by the prescribed deadline, along with the appropriate application fee.

Early Applications	On or before December 1	$25 application fee
Regular Applications	December 2- February 15	$35 application fee
Late Applications	February 16-May 1	$50 application fee
All International Applicantions	Applications must be initiated by February 15 and all materials submitted by no later than May 1	$50 application fee
Applications Eligible for Financial Aid Consideration	On or before February 15	---

All inquiries, requests for applications, completed applications, transcripts, pastoral evaluations, and test scores should be sent directly to the college at the address below. (Most of the forms you need are available here on our website). You can also get more information by emailing us at info@nsa.edu.

New Saint Andrews College
Director of Admissions
P.O. Box 9025
Moscow, ID 83843

The Director of Admissions will notify the applicant as to whether or not he or she has been accepted. After the College officially notifies an applicant of acceptance, the applicant should confirm his or her intention to attend New Saint Andrews by sending a signed copy of their tuition agreement along with a $200 non-refundable deposit to be applied toward tuition for the first term.
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Admission of Transfer Students

The nature of the tutorial instruction and intensive readings at New Saint Andrews College permits only minimal transfer of credit or course equivalencies from other colleges and universities. The College will consider applications for advanced standing on an individual, course-by-course basis. Applicants must declare their desire to transfer credit from another postsecondary institution at the time they apply to New Saint Andrews, and they must do so by noting the appropriate place on the application form. They must also have official (not unofficial) transcripts sent from their previous postsecondary institution in order for a request for transfer credit to be considered.
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Part-Time Students and Auditors

The College may admit a limited number of special, mature students who wish to take New Saint Andrews courses on a part-time or noncredit basis because of personal objectives or irregular qualifications for regular admission. A part-time student fully participates in seminars, recitations, and assigned coursework; an auditor sits in on lectures, but does not participate in assignments or Recitations. Part-time students and auditors may enroll in classes provided (1) space is available (preference is given to full-time students), (2) they receive the instructor’s permission, when applicable, and (3) they pay the requisite fees.
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Provisional Admissions

New Saint Andrews College may admit a student on a provisional basis for a single term if the student desires to attend the College on a full-time basis, but does not qualify for regular admission. The Admissions Committee and regular faculty will establish the specific conditions of a student’s provisional admission on an individual basis. Provisionally admitted students will not receive credit toward their New Saint Andrews program unless they meet or exceed all the terms and conditions of their admission and the College formally changes their status to regular standing. The College will disqualify or suspend students who fail to meet the terms and conditions of their admission. Provisionally admitted students must pay all the regular fees and tuition.

The College may admit two types of students provisionally: (1) persons not qualified for regular admission who desire to demonstrate their ability to do college-level academic work; and (2) persons who have been academically disqualified or suspended from the College and who desire another opportunity to demonstrate their ability to meet the academic and spiritual standards of New Saint Andrews.

For a graduate's perspective on life and study at New Saint Andrews College, please click here.