Colgate’s admission process is designed to identify individuals of academic skill, intellectual and cultural diversity, and wide-ranging interests and backgrounds. 
Each application is read by members of the admission staff and evaluated on its own terms, relative to the entire applicant group. The admission staff looks for demonstrated achievements and individual talents and differences. Our goal is to understand each student’s abilities and potential, and to admit the most able and promising mix of students.
Academic achievement and intellectual potential are the primary criteria for admission. Colgate also values demonstrated leadership, curiosity, and substantive involvement in extracurricular and community activities. The breadth and depth of a student’s interests, both in and out of the classroom, are important factors in the admission evaluation, helping to distinguish among the majority of applicants who demonstrate outstanding preparation for the academic challenge of Colgate.
In shaping the class, the admission staff seeks applicants representing diverse cultural, economic, racial, and geographic backgrounds whose talents and perspectives enrich the variety of ideas and experiences in the learning community.