Selective and Limited Admissions
New College isn't for everyone. Successful members of New College are committed not only to pursuing their chosen depth studies, but to thinking across the boundaries of their disciplines and contributing to the intellectual life of the community.
Once a student is admitted to the University, then he or she can be considered for admission into New College. Applicants submit a letter of recommendation along with a description of their academic interests and goals.
The admission process is separate from and in addition to admission to The University of Alabama.
Admission Procedure
To apply for admission to New College, an interested student should begin the online application process, which will include submitting a statement of interest and the email address of a suitable referee to speak to the question of the applicant's suitability for the program.
Applicants are encouraged to identify a letter writer who can speak to their strengths as a student and the likelihood of their success in a program that values student creativity, initiative and responsibility. While there may be exceptions, our experience has been that teachers and educational counselors and advisors are best positioned to provide us with this important feedback.
The process is not complete until after the self-statement has been approved by the prospective advisor, and an in-person interview has been conducted with the advisor, the applicant, and a senior student peer-advisor.
At that point, the prospective advisor will make a recommendation for admission to the New College Director.
The Self-Statement
- Please tell us those things you feel would be most useful for us to know in considering you as a potential New College student. We are interested in why you are applying to New College and what you would like to do in the future.
- In what ways can New College help you in your educational pursuits that another program of the University cannot? Have you attempted to attain your educational goals in another program at this or another university?
- What activities outside of the classroom do you enjoy? Are you engaged in outside activities that are related to you educational or career goals?
- How can New College concepts of independent self-study and out-of-class learning experience help you reach your educational goals?
- What particular part of New College attracts you most to the program? Where have you learned most of what you know about New College?
- Have you ever been involved with any independent study or school work of an independent nature? Were you provided opportunities in independent study in your high school? In another college or university?
- Have you had opportunities to participate in activities that helped you to think critically and/or creatively? What sort(s) of resources do you look to (art, music, literature, film live performance, digital media, journals, places, people etc.) to find critical or creative thinking?
- What is your level of commitment to serious academic study?
- Optional: feel free to share with us examples of your best critical or creative work.
We consider the following factors in New College admission decisions:
- The applicant's commitment to an interdisciplinary approach to learning
- The degree of serious intellectual independence exhibited by the applicant
- Our capacity to help the applicant meet his or her academic goal
- The availability of openings in the New College student community
