If you’re reading this, you’re likely wondering if your child can get into Union College. You’ve come to the right place: we’re going to answer all your admissions questions and more. But first, let’s learn a bit more about Union College. 

About Union College

Union College is the second oldest college in New York State, founded in 1795, just forty years shy of Columbia University. The small college, with only about 2,000 undergrads, is located upstate in Schenectady along the Mohawk River. And, if you want to build robots while reading To the Lighthouse, Union was the first liberal arts college in the nation to offer an engineering major. 

This college, though historic, flew under the radar for a while. Not so any more as it’s becoming increasingly competitive with the admissions rate for the Class of 2029 at 43.8%. That means getting in will require strategic planning (and the help of Ivy Coach’s college admissions experts certainly wouldn’t hurt!). 

Union College Admissions Requirements

Obviously, GPA, standardized testing scores, and extracurricular achievements are the key components of a successful application to Union College and to any school. That being said, what do these components actually look like for Union admits? Without further ado, let’s dive in!

What Kind of GPA Is Necessary To Get Into Union?

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of Union College Class of 2028:

GPA	Percentage of Union College Class of 2028
4.0	14%
3.75-3.99	23%
3.5-3.74	21%
3.25-3.49	23%
3.0-3.24	12%
2.5-2.99	5%
2.0-2.49	1%
1.0-1.99	0%

What Kind of SAT or ACT Scores Are Needed To Get Into Union College?

The average SAT score for the Union College Class of 2028 was a 1390, and the average ACT score was a 31. Though Union is test-optional, we at Ivy Coach believe that not submitting test scores can only ever hurt an applicant’s chances, even to supposedly test-optional schools. 

What Classes Do Students Need to Take to Get Into Union College?

While Union College does not explicitly state any minimum high school course preparation for applicants, we at Ivy Coach know that highly selective colleges like Union want to see students excelling in each core subject (English, history, math, science, and foreign language) all four years of high school. In fact, they expect to see five years for foreign language since most students begin their first level of foreign language in eighth grade.

What Kinds of Extracurriculars Does Union Like To See?

We’re going to clear up a common misunderstanding: highly selective colleges are not looking for well-rounded students. They’re looking for a well-rounded student body comprised of students who are each singularly talented. 

In terms of extracurriculars, that means Union College is looking for depth over breadth. If you’re a member of the debate team, the robotics team, the field hockey team, and the drama department…well, then, you’re merely a member of those groups. You don’t stand out in any of these pursuits. Union College would much rather accept a nationally ranked debate champ than a kid who spent an hour or two on debate a week because he spent the rest forgetting Shakespeare lines and fumbling the ball in football practice. 

Union College Application Requirements

Union accepts The Common App. or Coalition App. They ask students to submit one guidance counselor recommendation and one teacher recommendation.

Who Should Students Ask For Letters of Recommendation For Union? 

Union applicants should ask a junior year teacher in a core subject. Obviously, the applicant should have a good relationship with the teacher or at least have performed well in their class. In addition, the recommender’s subject area should be related to the student’s hook: if a student’s singular hook is studying fruit fly DNA, it wouldn’t make sense if their recommenders were their History and English teachers. 

Does Union College Require An Interview? 

Yes, Union offers optional interviews. We highly encourage serious applicants to take advantage of this opportunity! 

What Are Union College’s Application Deadlines? 

Early Decision I and Early Action applications to Union College are due Nov. 1.  Early Decision II and Regular Decision applications are due Jan. 15. 

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Get Into Union College 

If you’re interested in discerning if your child has a shot of getting into Union College, we recommend setting up Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session. Not only will you find out if your child has a chance of getting into Union College, but you’ll receive a game plan of how your child can optimize their admission to the best school possible.