First Year Student Application Checklist

Thank you for your interest in Stetson University.  Admission consideration is based on a wide range of criteria including, but not limited to, academic record, leadership potential, the ability to contribute positively to our campus, writing strength, and individual talents.

Important Dates

  • Rolling Admission Begins*- September 1
  • Early Decision- November 1
  • FAFSA is available (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)- January 1
  • FAFSA priority Deadline- February 15
  • Financial Aid Award Notification Begins- March 1
  • Admission Application Priority Consideration Date- March 15
  • National Reply Date and Intent to Enroll Deadline- May 1
*With the exception of Early Decision, Stetson University operates rolling admission, so it's best to send your application in as soon as possible. To preserve the faculty-student ratio, classes are limited. Stetson University reserves the right to close the class earlier than dates specified if enrollment goals are met before those dates.

The application requirements for Stetson University are as follows:

APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION: Stetson University encourages the use of our online application or the Common Application. A printable application is found below, as well.

APPLICATION FEE:  A $25 fee must accompany your application for admission. Fees can be made by credit card (online or over the phone) or check (checks should be made payable to Stetson University). This fee is nonrefundable. If you cannot pay the fee, you may submit the College Board form Request for Waiver of College Application Fee or the NACAC Request for Waiver of Application Fee. Your high school counselor must use the ATP guidelines distributed by the College Board for the fee waiver.

OFFICIAL HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT(S):  Please mail your official transcript(s) to Stetson University, Office of Admission, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., Deland, FL 32723.   Your transcript should contain a class rank and a cumulative grade point average.

RECOMMENDATION LETTER:  A recommendation letter from a guidance counselor, principal, coach, teacher, or community leader is preferred.  Recommendation letters can be emailed to the Office of Admission at admissions@stetson.edu, mailed to Stetson University, Office of Admission, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., Deland, FL 32723, or faxed to 386.822.7112.  

WRITING SAMPLE:  Applicants must choose to either (a) write an essay, (b) answer five short-answer questions, or (c) submit a graded writing sample.  Please be sure your full name, city, and state are on each page. You may submit your writing sample by mail, email, or fax.  The Common Application Essay can be used in place of our writing options.

A. ESSAY.  Select one of the following topics and provide us with a typed writing sample.

  1. Discuss an issue of state, national, or global concern to you.
  2. If you could live your life fighting for one cause, what would it be and why?
  3. Describe a time you did not meet expectations and what impact the experience had on you?
  4. What gives meaning to your life?
  5. If you wrote a letter to yourself to be opened in 20 years, what would it say?

B. SHORT ANSWER.  The following are short-answer questions and will give us an opportunity to get to know you better. Please provide brief answers to all of the following:

  1. Why are you the right fit for Stetson?
  2. What book that you’ve read recently would you recommend to a friend and why?
  3. What is something you are passionate about?
  4. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
  5. If you could sit down with one person for an hour, whom would it be and why?

C. GRADED WRITING SAMPLE.  Select a graded paper that you have written within the past year.  This paper should include teacher’s comments and/or grade received.  

STANDARDIZED TESTING (OPTIONAL):  Stetson University values academic achievement, commitment to personal values, leadership, and an individual’s initiative above standardized testing. Therefore, submitting standardized test results for admission consideration is optional. Score optional consideration is an alternative for students who believe that their test scores do not adequately reflect their level of academic achievement and/or predict their potential. 

However, if you feel that your test scores are a good reflection of your ability, then send your scores and they will be considered along with the other application items. In most instances, students will choose the traditional method, which includes submission of standardized (SAT or ACT) test scores. Stetson codes are as follows: SAT Code #5630 and ACT code #0756.

All documentation can be mailed to:

Office of Admission
Stetson University
421 N. Woodland Blvd., Unit 8378
DeLand, FL 32723

To follow the progress of your application, please visit My.Stetson.Edu.