Applications/ Test Scores/transcripts

How do I apply for admission?

Phone response:

• • • Students can apply online or by filling out a paper application and mailing it in.  If they prefer paper, a student can print the PDF application form from our website. Students can also apply online by going to www.montana.edu and clicking on “Admissions” then clicking on “Undergraduate Students” and then clicking on the button that says “Apply Now.”  The application fee for a paper application is $30 and $38 for an online application. 

Email response:

• You can apply online by visiting: www.montana.edu/admissions/apply.shtml. There is also a paper application on this link that can be printed and mailed. To use the online option, click the button that says “Apply Now”. To use the paper option, print the pdf from this link. http://www.montana.edu/admissions/applications/app.pdf.The application fee for a paper application is $30 and $38 for an online application. 

When do I need to apply for admission and when is the application deadline?

• Applicants are encouraged to apply at least six to eight months prior to the first semester of attendance.  Early application will allow adequate time for the student to request any academic credentials needed to process financial aid materials and participate in a New Student Orientation session.  MSU has an Open Enrollment (Rolling Admissions) process and late applications will be accepted.  It is recommended that applications be received and on file by the Office of Admissions according to the following priority dates:

                     Fall Semester – July 1

                     Spring Semester – December 1

                     Summer Sessions – May 1

Freshmen are encouraged to apply in their senior year of high school—the earlier the better due to the awarding of scholarships, and once they know their ACT/SAT scores. For more information visit: http://www.montana.edu/admissions/apply.shtml.

What is the Priority application? What benefits can it offer me?

• • • When looking at prospective students who have expressed interest in Montana State University, we look for students who seem as if they would be a good fit at our school. We then encourage these students to apply via our Priority application, and to discover more information about our school, which it sounds like you have been busy doing!

This application does not require you to commit or accept admission to Montana State University by a certain deadline, and is non-binding. Our application does not require letters of recommendation or essays, and usually has a turnaround time of 2-3 weeks. The application is also pre-populated with some of your biographical information, to make the process even easier!

As long as a student meets one of our four admission requirements, we can generally admit them to MSU. These include

-22 or higher ACT

-1120 or higher SAT

-2.5 or higher GPA

-rank in the top half of your graduating class.

You can find more information on our admission process and requirements on our website!

http://www.montana.edu/admissions/apply.html

What is the status of my application?

Phone:

• Try to transfer call to an evaluator, if possible.

Email:

• Forward email to their evaluator or check application status in Banner. 

What happens if I miss the deadline for the Priority application?

• • • No worries! We add a special code to each of our Priority applicants in our database, so even if you do not submit the specific Priority application that we sent you, you still get that code! You can fill out our main application, which can be found on our website. http://www.montana.edu/admissions/apply.html. You still don’t have to submit essays or letters of recommendation, and we still can get you an answer within 2-3 weeks!

Does MSU offer application fee waivers?

Phone:

No, but a student may request for their application fee to be deferred to their first tuition statement.  To request a deferral, the student needs to submit their request in writing (mail or email) to the Office of Admissions.  The request should include their full legal name, date-of-birth and a description of their financial situation warranting the deferral. These requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Email: 

We do not offer fee waivers, however you may request your application fee be deferred to your first tuition statement. If you would like to do this, please submit this fee deferral request form. The request should include full legal name, date of birth and a description of the financial situation warranting the deferral. Requests are evaluated on a case- by- case basis.

I couldn’t pay my application fee online. How can I pay that now?

• • • Applicants receive emails explaining the process and occasionally those emails are filtered to junk, so they can check that. Otherwise, they can call their evaluator, or you can transfer them if they are on the phone. Applicants can make care of it by credit card on the phone. Cash can be received in person and check can be sent by mail as well- with reference to their full name and DOB in the mail correspondence.  

Do students transferring from another MSU school or MUS (Montana University System) school need to submit the standard MSU Transfer Admissions Application?

No: 

• Students transferring from any of MSU schools (MSU-Billings, MSU-Great Falls College of Technology, MSU-Northern) should apply using the Montana State University Transfer Application found in the Forms section of the Office of the Registrar’s website.  This application is free and should be submitted to the Office of Admissions. 

• Students transferring from any other Montana University System school should apply using the MUS “Transmittal of Application Materials” form found in the Forms section of the Office of the Registrar’s website.  This application has a fee of $8, which should be submitted along with the form to the Registrar at the student’s CURRENT school.

How should someone who already holds a Bachelor’s Degree apply to MSU?

How this student applies is dependent upon their educational intent:

• Students who have completed a bachelor's degree at MSU-Bozeman or at another institution since last attending MSU-Bozeman and who are interested in pursuing another bachelor's degree should file an ‘Intent to Register’ form with the Office of the Registrar to declare a Second Bachelor's Degree.

• Students who have received a bachelor’s degree from any other institution who are seeking a second degree should apply here at the Office of Admissions as a Post-Baccalaureate student.

• Students who have received a bachelor's degree at MSU-Bozeman or at another institution and who are interested in taking additional work not applicable towards a degree should complete and file a Non-Degree status application with The Graduate School.

• NOTE:  Non-degree seeking students are NOT eligible for Financial Aid.

What is the status of my application?

If they have checked MyMSU and have very specific questions you can transfer to an evaluator. If they have not checked MyMSU, please direct them to it.

• Go to MSU's MyMSU Website: http://montana.edu/mymsu

• If they have not logged in before, they will first have to claim a NetID. Direct them towards these first time user instructions: https://www.montana.edu/admissions/myinfo.html#first-time

  • • • • • They will need their GID (8 digit student/employee ID including the dash in front i.e. -12345678) or 9 digit social security number to complete this step.

• Once in MyMSU, select the option "Admissions Checklist"

Do you have my transcript?

Ask if they have checked their Admissions Checklist. If not, direct them there. If so, ask if they are still in high school. Explain that we do not need to receive high school transcript until it is FINAL after graduation. If they really need to talk to an evaluator after exploring those subjects, transfer them to their evaluator. 

Do I need to have my high school send a transcript?  Will MSU accept faxed transcripts?

• • • Yes, students will need to have their high school send a FINAL official high school transcript posting the student’s graduation date (month/day/year or month/year), FINAL cumulative GPA, and class rank (if applicable) to:

Montana State University                                                     

Office of Admissions

PO Box 172190

Bozeman, MT 59717-2190

• Transfer students are not required to submit high school transcripts for admissions purposes. 

• Faxed transcripts are not accepted and will be considered UNOFFICIAL. The high school/college can give a copy to the student in the school’s sealed envelope and the student can hand deliver or mail in another envelope AS LONG AS the envelope has not been opened and/or the seal on the envelope has not been broken.  If the envelope has previously been opened or the seal is broken, the transcript will be considered UNOFFICIAL.

I don’t have my final official transcripts/GPA yet. Can I still apply?

• • • When applying as a first-time freshman student, we actually won’t need your final official transcripts until after you have graduated from high school. All we will need when you apply is a self-reported GPA, as well as your official scores from the ACT/SAT testing group. If your high school offers you a weighted GPA, you are more than welcome to submit that, as well!

Do I need official transcripts from colleges I have attended sent to MSU?

• • • Yes, students will need to have FINAL official transcripts sent to MSU from ALL regionally accredited colleges or universities that they have attended even from schools the student may have withdrawn from prior to receiving any grades (if they have paid fees at that previous school, they will need to have a transcript sent to MSU). Faxed transcripts are accepted only as an unofficial “working copy” until we receive the final official copy in the mail. Faxed transcripts are accepted for In-State schools ONLY and must have a MACRAO fax stamp on the transcript in order to be considered official. If a freshman student has taken any college level course(s) they will need to have a FINAL official transcript sent to MSU directly from the college or university (not on the high school transcript).

Does MSU require an ACT or SAT test score for admission?

• MSU and all MUS schools are ACT/SAT score optional for Admission and Scholarship purposes.

Do you have my test scores?

Ask if they have checked MyMSU. If not, send them to the link with instructions if necessary. If  they have not checked MyMSU, please direct them to it.

• Go to MSU's MyMSU Website: http://montana.edu/mymsu

• If they have not logged in before, they will first have to claim a NetID. Direct them towards these first time user instructions: https://www.montana.edu/admissions/myinfo.html#first-time

  • • • • • They will need their GID (8 digit student/employee ID including the dash in front i.e. -12345678) or 9 digit social security number to complete this step.

• Once in MyMSU, select the option "Admissions Checklist"

In Banner, you can SOATEST to check to see if they are received and entered. If they aren’t received, make sure they know we will need official test scores from the testing agency.

Does MSU offer super-scoring of the ACT and SAT?

• • • No.  However, MSU will use a student’s highest overall composite score, regardless of test date, for admissions and scholarship purposes

Does MSU have a preference towards the ACT or SAT?

• • • MSU can accept multiple score sets from both the ACT and SAT exams. We do not have a preference towards either exam, so feel free to submit whichever scores you prefer. If a student sends us test scores from both exams, we will use our equivalency table to compare the two, and will use whichever score is higher.

If I re-take the ACT/SAT and get a lower score, will that hurt my admission status?

• • • Because we always consider a student’s highest test score, a lower score down the road definitely won’t hurt you! Even if we receive it automatically from the testing company, our database knows to look for the highest individual composite.

When will I be notified that I have been accepted for admission at MSU?

• • • Depending on the completeness of the application, the process usually takes approximately two or three weeks before you will be informed of the admissions decision.  This time can take longer if any required documents are not received by the Office of Admissions.

What is my ID number? Can you give it to me?

• • • You can verify the student’s identification through DOB, OR address and/or social security number. Explain that admittance letter include those so if they have access they can find it there. You can then give the number to them over the phone. Do not share the number in an email. If in email you can have them call their evaluator if they do not have access to admit letter.

How will my course(s) transfer into MSU?

• • • All college level (freshman and above) courses that are from a regionally accredited college or university will transfer to MSU.  Courses will either transfer to MSU as an elective, or an elective with Core, or directly as a specific MSU course.  Students can be referred to the Transfer Course Equivalency Guide: https://prodmyinfo.montana.edu/pls/bzagent/hwzkxfer.p_selstate , or speak with their application evaluator for more specific questions.

What scores do I need on my AP exams to receive college credit?

• • • As long as a student has a score of 3 or higher on their AP exam, the course will generally count for credit at MSU. If a student takes AP English Language Composition, they must receive a score of 4 or better, but every other exam needs only a 3! A full equivalency guide can be found on our website at: http://www.montana.edu/admissions/ap/ap.pdf

What scores do I need on my IB exams to receive college credit?

• • • Currently, to receive credit for an IB course, a student must receive a score of 4 or higher on the High Level exam. Standard level exam scores are not accepted at this time. If you would like to see a full equivalency table for IB courses, you can visit this page on our website!

I have taken dual enrollment/concurrent credit/running start courses while in high school. Will these count at MSU?

• • • As long as the credit you earned was from an accredited university, it will count for credit at MSU, regardless of whether it was earned at a two-year, four-year, public, or private institution. You can find a helpful equivalency tool online here; simply select the state and school you earned the credit from, and a list will appear showing you what it may count for at MSU. If a course you took does not show up on that list, it most likely means that we simply haven’t seen it transfer in to MSU before. Just be sure to send us your official transcript, and we will add the credits to your profile!

Is there a limit to how many courses I can bring in from AP/IB/dual enrollment?

• • • We do not set a hard cap on the number of credits you can bring in as a freshman to MSU. We will still consider you a first-time freshman for housing and scholarship purposes, but you will still receive credit for any course you took, which allows students to pursue many different academic options, including double-majors, graduating early, etc.

I’ve been accepted to Montana State. What do I need to do next?

• • • First and foremost, congratulations on your acceptance! We’ve built a helpful checklist that covers all of the major points, including housing, scholarships, financial aid, and orientation. You can find this checklist online http://www.montana.edu/admissions/catcheck.html. We have also built a customized version of this that you can view on your MyMSU profile; this version will show you everything you have submitted, and anything we may still need from you. Instructions on how to access this checklist can be found https://www.montana.edu/admissions/myinfo.html#first-time

Is there a commit date that I must decide to attend?

• • • Because MSU functions on rolling admission, we don’t have a commit date that students must “lock in”. This also means that we don’t participate in the unofficial national decision date of May 1st. While we do send a recommended checklist in our acceptance packets, none of the steps on that list are binding.  http://www.montana.edu/admissions/catcheck.html

Gallatin College: 

• If a student has been admitted to MSU, are they eligible to take classes at Gallatin College?

  • • Yes, students may take classes through the Gallatin College if they are admitted to MSU. If a student would like to take Gallatin College courses, they must reach out directly to the Gallatin College by emailing gallatincollege@montana.edu or by calling 406-994-5536. At this time, the Gallatin College will advise students appropriately as to what paperwork will need to be completed. Priority goes to Gallatin College students first before MSU students.

• If a student has been admitted to Gallatin College, are they eligible to take classes at MSU?

  • • This student must first apply to MSU using the Transfer Student Admissions Application.  This can be done online or the student can print the PDF from the Office of Admissions website.  The student is NOT required to pay the application fee so if they submit their application online they should choose the ‘Mail in Payment’ option.

Scholarships:

• I have applied and been accepted. When will I hear about any scholarship offers? (Out-of-state)

  • • First and foremost, congratulations on your acceptance! Because our out-of-state Achievement Award scholarship program does not require a separate application, we generally can get scholarship offers sent out within a few weeks of an admission decision. We generally start sending information on Achievement Awards, which are based on test scores and GPA, in early October. Some of our out-of-state scholarship programs do require separate applications, so pay attention to any deadlines and requirements those programs may ask for. You can find a full list of our scholarship programs online  http://www.montana.edu/admissions/scholarships/index.html.

• I have applied and been accepted. When will I hear about any scholarship offers? (In-state)

  • • First and foremost, congratulations on your acceptance! Because our resident Montana Premier scholarship program does not require a separate application, we generally can get scholarship offers sent out within a few weeks of an admission decision. We generally start sending information on Premier Scholarships, which are based on test scores and GPA, in early October. Some of our additional scholarship programs do require separate applications, so pay attention to any deadlines and requirements those programs may ask for. You can find a full list of our scholarship programs online  http://www.montana.edu/admissions/scholarships/index.html.

• Is the Western Undergraduate Exchange scholarship automatically awarded to eligible students?

  • • Because the Western Undergraduate Exchange scholarship is currently worth a substantial amount of money at MSU (roughly $21,000 annually) we unfortunately cannot automatically award this scholarship to students. Once admitted, eligible students must submit a separate WUE application, found in the Cat Scholarships portal. This application takes into consideration academic rigor and performance, extracurricular involvement, service, essays, and more. There is a minimum 3.0 requirement to apply, but recipients often have a 3.8 or higher. This application has a hard-set deadline in early January, so be sure to submit it prior to this date! MSU also offers Achievement Awards, which are merit scholarships that we award automatically, based on a student’s GPA/test score. You can find information for both programs online at http://www.montana.edu/admissions/scholarships/index.html.

• Is the WUE stackable with an Achievement Award?

  • • When awarding our merit-based scholarships, we will automatically offer a student the highest award that they may be eligible to receive. Because of this, the WUE scholarship and Achievement Awards are not stackable. However, if a student is awarded an Achievement Award, and then finds out that they qualify for the WUE scholarship, we will automatically offer them the higher scholarship.

• Is it possible to increase my scholarship award and if so, how?  

  • • If your GPA increases during senior year, feel free to send that new information our way! We will evaluate each student and their improved academic information and notify the student if they do in fact qualify for an improved scholarship award.  

• What other scholarship opportunities are available?

  • • In addition to the scholarships offered through our office, our academic colleges and departments do offer their own programs, which can be pursued through Cat$cholarships. Generally, these awards range from a few hundred dollars, to a few thousand. While most of these scholarships are awarded to current students, there are some opportunities for incoming freshmen. We also encourage students to explore independent scholarship opportunities, as we can stack any award from an outside group on top of any award we have offered, provided that it does not require a student to attend school elsewhere! We recommend touching base with school counselors, as well as researching online at sites like scholarships.com and fastweb.com to see what sort of opportunities may exist.

• Is there any additional scholarships to consider if I would like to be involved in the Honors College?

  • • The Presidential Scholarship is MSU’s most distinguished award recognizing the best and brightest incoming students. The Presidential includes a tuition waiver and a generous stipend that is renewable for up to four years. To be considered for the Presidential, a student must fill out an application and send in additional materials such as multiple essays, letters of recommendation, test scores, counselor verification, etc. The application to the Presidential Scholarship doubles as the application to the Honors College. Students that do not receive the Presidential, can still be accepted to the Honors College. About 24 students are awarded the Presidential Scholarship every year.

• Am I required to fill out the FAFSA? When is it due? Is it required for scholarship consideration?

  • • At MSU, our merit-based scholarship programs and need-based air programs operate separately. This means that a student is not required to submit a FAFSA (or be eligible for FAFSA aid) to receive a merit-based scholarship from us. That being said, we do encourage all students to submit a FAFSA for review, in order to see what they may be eligible for. Because the programs operate independently of one another, they can also be stacked, allowing a student to utilize both merit-based scholarship money alongside grants or loans. We advertise a priority submission date of December 1st, but can accept submissions after this date!

Visits:

• When can we visit?

  • • Year round, Monday – Friday, with the exception of major holidays or large-scale campus events (such as graduation or orientation) for a personal campus visit. We also host several MSU Friday campus preview day programs each year. You can find out about that program at http://www.montana.edu/admissions/msufriday/.

• How do we schedule a daily visit?

  • • Please schedule online here: https://www.montana.edu/admissions/visit-form/.  This will ensure you receive all the necessary communications for visiting campus (schedule, directions, parking information, etc.).

• What does a typical daily visit include? 

  • • Typically, students attend the Campus Tour, a Day in the Life presentation that covers housing and the student experience, and a meeting with one of our Admissions Counselors.  Many students also request to meet with the academic department of their intended major or primary area of interest. To meet with a specific department, we request at least 2-weeks advanced notice to coordinate with available faculty.

• Do we need to schedule our visit in advance or can we just show up?

  • • No, you do not need to make a reservation or plan ahead for your campus visit if you are just interested in attending the tours. You are welcome to just "drop in" for the campus and residence hall tours. However, if you would like to meet with an admissions representative and/or faculty member please contact us in advance so we can schedule those individual meetings.

• What is the difference between MSU Friday and a daily visit?

  • • Both MSU Friday/Saturday and the daily visit program offer students the opportunity to tour campus,  hear about housing options through University Student Housing , meet with admissions, and meet with academic departments in their area of interest.  MSU Fridays offer this and more; such as sample classes, residence hall tours, paying for school seminars, student panels, and many additional sessions!

• What if I cannot take one of the regularly scheduled campus tours? Can I check out the campus on my own?

  • • Absolutely! We have an outstanding Self-Guided Walking Tour to help you explore our beautiful campus. The walking tour is intended to be used with the accompanying podcast.  It is easy to follow and full of great historical and fun information about the MSU campus.  If followed start to finish, it takes you along the same route as our regular guided tour. If you want to preview campus from home, we also have a virtual tour at  https://www.montana.edu/admissions/visit/index.html.

• Can we meet with the Office of Financial Aid? 

  • • Yes, the Office of Financial Aid meets with students and families on a walk-in basis.  You are more than welcome to stop by their office anytime Monday – Friday, between 8am-5pm.  They can answer any questions about need-based aid (FAFSA, grants, loans, work study). The Office of Admissions can answer questions about merit-based aid or scholarships.

• Can I meet with a coach? 

  • • MSU has a conflict of interest policy that prohibits Admissions from reaching out to Athletics on behalf of students. It is best if you contact the coach directly to arrange to meet during your campus visit. Visit www.msubobcats.com for coach contact information or call the Athletic Office at (406) 994-4221.

Orientation and MSU Friday

• How do I register for MSU Friday?

https://www.montana.edu/admissions/msufriday/

• What is the MSU Friday schedule?

http://www.montana.edu/admissions/msufriday/

• Orientation FAQ page:

http://www.montana.edu/admissions/orientation/faq.html

• Where do students and parent stay during orientation?

http://www.montana.edu/admissions/orientation/accommodations.html

• What is the orientation schedule?

http://www.montana.edu/admissions/orientation/

• How do I submit immunization records?

http://www.montana.edu/health/immunization.html