Apply as a Freshman

Application Process

An application will be considered complete and ready for review once we have received the following components:

• The Common Application with the CNU Supplement Form & Application for Virginia In-State Tuition Rates online. You must pay your $50 non-refundable application fee before you may submit your application online. If desired, you may mail a printable paper application and supplement form. Students seeking a fee waiver are required to submit an official College Board, ACT or NACAC Fee Waiver Request signed by their high school counselor who can attest to a financial hardship.    
• Request your official high school transcript and Secondary School Report Form be submitted electronically through the Common Application website*   
• Send results of SAT and/or ACT scores directly to CNU electronically. CNU's SAT code is 5128, and our ACT code is 4345. CNU also offers a standardized test optional admission plan (see Test Scores tab) for qualified applicants. 
• Home-schooled applicants must submit the Home School Supplement to the School Report Form or the following is required:
  • A description of why home-schooling was chosen for the applicant and the home-school philosophy.
  • A detailed description of curriculum — which may include texts read, course titles and descriptions, skill levels completed, grades received or performance evaluation. If curriculum has been supplemented by formal coursework either at the secondary or postsecondary level, official transcripts from the school(s) or college(s) are required.

 *Paper transcripts are accepted, but online submission through Common Application School Forms System or Naviance is encouraged.        

Optional

• A teacher evaluation in a core subject (English, social studies, foreign language, mathematics or science). 
• An interview with a member of the admissions staff. 
• The Application for Virginia Tuition Rates (pgs. 3-4 of CNU Supplement), if you are applying for in-state tuition rates. You must submit this form before the first day of the semester or term for which you are applying if you wish to be considered for in-state status.
  

Music Majors

AUDITION REQUIRED: Learn more about the audition process for composition, performance, music education and the Marching Captains. 

Music majors are not required to submit the Arts Supplement to the Common Application. However, all students auditioning for acceptance as a music major must demonstrate an acceptable level of proficiency and potential in performance, musicianship, and scholarship commensurate with the professional study of music. 

Deadline and Notification

Please note: The fall 2012 freshman class is closed and the Common Application has been deactivated for CNU.

Admission Factors

Admission to CNU is selective, and we anticipate more than 9,000 applications for only 1,200 spaces in the entering class.  In evaluating a student's academic record, we look for the ability and desire to benefit from a rigorous and rewarding academic environment.  Students should be pursuing a college preparatory curriculum, such as the Advanced Studies Diploma in Virginia. In addition, competitive applicants will demonstrate success in Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Dual-Enrollment, Honors or similarly advanced coursework.

When it comes to evaluating your grades, numbers matter, but they are not absolute.  We expect to see a record of academic success. However, we look beyond your overall GPA and consider factors including the context of your school, the difficulty level in your courses, and trends in your grades.

Standardized test scores are a part of our application review. Since we believe it is important to use a student's best scores, if you take both the SAT and ACT, we will use whichever results prove better for you. Likewise, if you take the SAT on multiple occasions, we will automatically use your highest individual Critical Reading and Math scores. While test scores are a part of our admissions process, it is important to note that we still believe your courses and grades are the best predictors of academic success. In fact, CNU even offers a standardized test optional admission plan for qualified applicants. SAT Subject exams are not required. However, if submitted, strong scores on the SAT Subject exams--and similarly, the SAT Writing exam and/or AP exams--will be considered favorably.

The University also seeks students with demonstrated leadership ability, a commitment to service and pride in their communities, exemplary talents, and diverse life experiences. Recommendations, essays, and interviews allow the admissions committee to recognize these personal qualities.

We look forward to learning more about you, your goals and ideas.

Early Decision

"We want to know if CNU is your first choice school."

                                -Paul Trible, President of Christopher Newport University 

For some students, the moment occurs suddenly and powerfully while attending a CNU Open House on a beautiful Saturday morning.  In other instances it builds up through a series of campus visits—perhaps spurred on by an older sibling or friend already attending the University.  One thing is certain, each year a growing number of students begin the college application process knowing that CNU is at the top of their list. If this is true for you, apply Early Decision to Christopher Newport University.

Applying Early Decision to CNU ensures that your application will be among the first we review—and if admitted, bring a quick, successful completion to your college search!  If we are unable to initially offer you admission, we will defer your application and automatically consider it again during our Regular Decision process. 

By choosing to apply Early Decision, a student agrees to enroll in the fall at Christopher Newport University if he or she is offered admission.  Students may apply to other colleges, but agree to withdraw all other applications if admitted to CNU. All Early Decision admitted students will be expected to submit a non-refundable deposit in order to secure their space in the class. 

Given the commitment made by Early Decision applicants, we naturally consider their determination in the admission process.  After all, we want students who—after researching different college choices—have concluded that CNU is the best match.  Our admission standards do not change during Early Decision.  However, the competitive nature of our overall applicant pool often forces us to select between qualified applicants.  It is in these situations where it is fair to say an Early Decision applicant may be given preference. Outstanding Early Decision applicants will also be among the first students considered for the President's Leadership and Honors Programs.

Early Action

In addition to Early Decision, CNU offers a non-binding Early Action program. This is a great option for students very interested in CNU, but still considering multiple college options and unable to commit to one college early in the process. The deadline and notification dates occur after Early Decision, but still well before Regular Decision. 

The primary benefit of applying Early Action to CNU is the chance to have your application reviewed—and hopefully offered admission—long before the traditional spring notification date.  If it turns out we are unable to offer you admission during Early Action, we may defer your application to the Regular Decision process. This provides you an opportunity to strengthen your application and receive additional consideration in our review process.  

Students applying by the December 1 Early Action deadline will be given priority consideration for academic scholarships through the President’s Leadership and Honors Programs. While Early Decision candidates are eligible for academic scholarships, they likely will not know the outcome until after the Early Decision deadline. As a result, if a student thinks the awarding of an academic scholarship—or the ability to compare financial aid awards—may play a role in his or her college choice, we would recommend this student apply through the non-binding Early Action program.

Students with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 or rank in the upper 10% of their class, have the option of whether or not to submit standardized test scores (SAT or ACT). If you meet the above criteria, and do not want standardized test scores to be used in the evaluation of your application, please indicate this on the appropriate section in the application. Applicants choosing not to submit standardized test scores are strongly encouraged to submit at least one recommendation from a teacher in a core subject area. Home-schooled applicants, students attending schools outside the United States, and students wishing to be considered for the Honors Program must submit standardized test scores.

AP, IB and Cambridge Credit Transfer Guidelines

Credit received through the Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Cambridge Credits exams may be applied toward general education requirements. Click here to view exams, minimum scores required and CNU equivalents. Scores are effective for Fall 2011 applicants. View exams, minimum scores required and CNU equivalents.

2011 - 2012 Forms

Required

• Common Application
• CNU Supplement and Application for Virginia In-State Tuition Rates 

Optional 

• Secondary School Report Form
• Teacher Evaluation Form
• Home Schooled Supplement to the School Report Form

Mailing Address: 

Christopher Newport University
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
1 University Place
Newport News, Virginia 23606
PH.  (757) 594 - 7015
admit@cnu.edu