by Karen A. Hott

To learn about what makes a St. John’s College education unique, read Part I, “Great Books Are the Teachers at St. John’s College”  https://www.twobridgescollegeconsult.com/blog/2026/02/05/great-books-are-the-teachers-at-st-johns-college/

How to Apply

You can apply to St. John’s College via the Common App, the Coalition App, or directly through the SJC application.

What St. John’s Values in Your Application

You will need two letters of recommendation, one from a teacher and one from a counselor, showing who you are in an academic context and as a community member. Examining your transcript, St. John’s looks for rigor and for signs of a student who loves learning for the sake of learning. They like to see calculus on the transcript and prefer to see four years of foreign language, but don’t hesitate to apply if you don’t have these. St. John’s has a “no-harm” policy regarding testing, meaning that if you choose to turn in your SAT or ACT scores, they cannot hurt your application; they will only be considered if they help you.

Your Essays: The Most Important Component

Unlike many colleges, St. John’s spends most of the application review reading your essays, both the personal statement and this long-standing question: Tell us about a book you consider great and why. Instead of setting a maximum on that question, there’s a minimum of 400 words. They don’t want a book report. They’re looking for your values.

The Interview

St. John’s tries to meet all applicants for a half-hour interview, generally over Zoom. Talk about the choices you’ve made and put your transcript into context. If you stopped taking Spanish in 10th grade, explain that. Be able to articulate why you’re drawn to St. John’s College and describe how you see yourself there.

Deadlines

The Early Decision deadline was November 1, the Early Action deadline was November 15, and the Regular Decision deadline was January 15, with rolling decisions after that.

An Alternative Path: The Discussion-Based Application

The college has developed a discussion-based application as well. For this, you have two half-hour interviews, one with admissions and one with a faculty member. To best prepare, read the school’s statement of the program: https://www.sjc.edu/academic-programs/statement-of-the-program

Here’s an excerpt:

“St. John’s College is persuaded that a genuine liberal education requires the study of great books—texts of words, symbols, notes, and pictures—because they are both timeless and timely. These books are the most important teachers. They illuminate the persisting questions of human existence and they bear directly on the problems we face today. They express most originally, and often most perfectly, the ideas by which contemporary life is knowingly or unknowingly governed. Their authors can speak to us almost as freshly as when they spoke for the first time, for what they have to tell us is not of merely academic concern, nor is it remote from our true interests. They change our minds, move our hearts, and touch our spirits.”

In addition to the interviews, they ask for a graded paper with the rubric and teacher’s comments included and a copy of your transcript.

Experience St. John’s Before You Apply

St. John’s offers a summer program for rising juniors and seniors called Summer Academy. Attendance at this or a Saturday seminar can take the place of the interview. By participating in the Summer Academy or Saturday seminar, you can get a taste of the seminar style of learning and experience St. John’s in Annapolis or Santa Fe. More here: https://www.sjc.edu/summer-academy

Who belongs at St. John’s College?

If you love learning for the sake of learning, if you don’t care about football rah-rah, if you enjoy discussion-based classes, if you’re not afraid of attending a college smaller than your high school, and if reading 200 foundational works of Western civilization sounds challenging but exciting, then St. John’s could be for you.