Preparing For Mines

Mines students are bright, focused and hard-working. They are motivated by challenges and like to use innovation and creativity to address those challenges. If this sounds like your student, encourage preparation for a Mines education. It’s a great path to a successful career and rewarding life.

High School Requirements

What’s involved in preparing for a Mines education? Challenging courses in math and science, in particular, trigonometry, pre-calculus and chemistry — and if possible, calculus and physics as well.

While math and science are key classes for admission to Mines, courses in English and the liberal arts are just as important. We look for students with communication skills and a strong overall academic record.

ACT/SAT

Standardized tests also help us during the admissions process. Encourage your son or daughter to take the ACT or SAT twice—once as a junior and once in the fall semester of senior year. We anticipate seeing a senior level test score with the application.

Extracurricular Activities

Students won’t be penalized if they are not involved in extracurricular activities, but if they have outside-the-classroom interests, awards or honors, we want to see these on the application. Mines students work hard, but they also make time for social activities and community service. And it’s the quality, not the quantity that counts with us.

For more information on the admissions process, high school courses such as AP/IB, and the admissions timeline, review the Checklist below and our Undergraduate Admissions pages.

Checklist for Parents

High school preparation is important for a Mines education. To help you encourage and support your high school student, we’ve put together a timeline of information that we hope is helpful to you as parents. As your student goes through the college admissions process, our expectation is that he or she will be the active participant communicating with Colorado School of Mines, sharing information with you along the way. We understand and appreciate that you will be there to communicate with them and guide their efforts while allowing them the opportunity to become more independent as college students.

Sophomore and Junior Years: Visit Mines

One of the best ways to explore opportunities is to visit campus with your high school student. We offer official visits that include a campus tour with a Student Ambassador, followed by an advising session with the Admissions Office. After a visit, your student will know if Mines is the right fit and if so, will be prepared for the application process.

We welcome you to join your student during the admissions visit, as long as your he or she has no objections. Student and parent questions can be both similar and different. We hope to address all your questions during the advising session.

Senior Year, Fall Semester: Apply Online for Free

There is no application deadline, but we encourage students to apply online in the fall semester of their senior year, after the completion of all standardized testing. Senior scores are usually the most competitive scores on the application, so we suggest prospective students plan to take the ACT or SAT as a senior (September–October is the best timeframe).

At Mines, admissions is highly selective and we base the evaluation on your academic performance, ACT or SAT scores, high school or college courses. High school students should apply early in the fall of their senior year. Online applications are free. Paper applications require a $45 application fee.

Recommendation letters and resumes are not required. Unless we have requested this information for a specific reason, there is no need to submit these items. Students do have the opportunity to list special awards, achievements, or activities and we highly recommend they complete the optional personal statement on “why they want to attend Mines”.

For all questions regarding the application process, please review our New Freshman Admissions page with Frequently Asked Questions.

Senior Year, Fall Semester: Decision Letters

Senior Year, Fall Semester: Decision letters

As early as October, the Admissions Office will begin sending decision letters to your student. The letter will indicate if he or she is admitted to Mines, needs to submit additional information (for example, a senior test score or the 7^thsemester high school transcript), or is denied admission.

If your student has questions about an admission decision, encourage him or her to contact us for a personal discussion.

oratively over the summer to provide students with information preparing them for the first semester of college, including details on freshmen orientation, parent orientation, e-mail accounts, health forms and more. This is also the time when your student confirms that we’ve received all AP/IB scores, official college transcripts (if applicable), disability services forms and any other requested information. Your student will need to purchase books when he or she arrives to campus for the semester. We encourage our future students to work during the summer months to earn their book and spending money for the year.

First Day of Classes

Classes begin in late August following an extensive orientation/welcome weekend. Move-in day is the Friday before classes begin. Visit Academic Calendar for important dates throughout the semester, including fall and winter break, spring break, homecoming, parents weekend and more.

Senior Year, January/February: Apply for Financial Aid

The earliest you and your student may apply for financial aid is after January 1 of the senior year. This is an important step in the process. We recommend all students apply for financial aid, regardless of expectations. Financial aid includes grant money, work study funding and student loans. For more details, including deadlines and tips for filing, visit Financial Aid.

The Disability Services staff is available to assist with appropriate paperwork and necessary accommodations for students with documented disability. Students should begin working with CASA upon submission of the enrollment deposit.

Summer Break – Preparations

Several campus offices will work collaboratively over the summer to provide students with information preparing them for the first semester of college, including details on freshmen orientation, parent orientation, e-mail accounts, health forms and more. This is also the time when your student confirms that we’ve received all AP/IB scores, official college transcripts (if applicable), disability services forms and any other requested information. Your student will need to purchase books when he or she arrives to campus for the semester. We encourage our future students to work during the summer months to earn their book and spending money for the year.

First Day of Classes

Senior Year, January–March: Mines Scholarships

From January 1 through March 1, the Financial Aid Office will review all admitted students for merit scholarship awards. If your son or daughter qualifies for a merit scholarship, based on unweighted GPA and standardized test scores, a scholarship letter will be mailed. Scholarship awards are typically mailed by March 1 and admitted students will be notified either way.

Senior Year, Spring Semester (Sign-up Starts May 1): Apply for Housing

All new, undergraduate students enrolling at Mines for the first time are required to live in the residence halls. Limited exceptions may be granted. (See the Residence Life website for details.) All residence hall students are required to purchase a meal plan.

Housing preferences for building, single rooms and roommate selection will be considered on a first-come basis by date of completion of the Student Enrollment Confirmation Form and Deposit process.

If you have any questions about the Residence Halls, or the housing application, housing contract or Theme Learning Communities, please contact the Residence Life Department via email at housing@mines.edu.

Senior Year, May 1: Enrollment Deadline and Disability Services Requests

The enrollment deadline is May 1. In the acceptance letter, your student will find an enrollment confirmation form, which should be returned and processed by May 1 to ensure enrollment for the following fall term. An enrollment deposit of $200 is required. To help you remember the details and know what to look for, we will also include our “Road Map to Mines” form with the acceptance letter. It is imperative that your student submits the enrollment form and enrollment deposit according to the timeline provided in the “Road Map to Mines.”

The Disability Services staff is available to assist with appropriate paperwork and necessary accommodations for students with a documented disability. Students should begin working with CASA upon submission of the enrollment deposit.

Summer Break – Preparations

First Day of Classes

Summer Break: Preparations

Summer Break – Preparations

This is also the time when your student confirms that we’ve received all AP/IB scores, official college transcripts (if applicable), disability services forms and any other requested information.

Your student will need to purchase books when he or she arrives on campus for the semester. We encourage our future students to work during the summer months to earn their book and spending money for the year.

First Day of Classes

Classes begin in late August following an extensive orientation/welcome weekend. Move-in takes place the week before classes begin. Download the Academic Calendar and visit the Mines Events website for important dates throughout the semester, including fall and winter break, spring break, homecoming, parents weekend and more.