More About Dickinson

What makes Dickinson different?

The mission of Dickinson College is to prepare students, by means of a useful education in the liberal arts and sciences, for engaged lives of citizenship and leadership in the service of society. So what does this mean to you? It means:

• classrooms filled with challenging, controversial and socially relevant conversations
• the opportunity to immerse yourself in a different culture, be it in Carlisle or in another country during a study-abroad experience
• the expectation that you will emerge from your college experience as a more holistic and engaged human being
• and having the support system to remind you that you can make a difference in this world.

 

What is Dickinson known for?

Besides its proud history, strong academics and active approach to learning, Dickinson is known for its global outlook and commitment to environmental sustainability. When you come to our Carlisle campus to start your college education, you'll quickly learn that we encourage our students to step beyond the limestone walls of our campus. As a result, the dynamics of the campus constantly are changing and growing as students return with newly formed opinions and ideas as a result of abroad experiences, exchange programs, classroom excursions and internships.

What is a liberal-arts education?

The words “college” and “university” have different meanings around the world, but in the United States colleges and universities are enough alike that the phrase “going to college” means undergraduate enrollment at either a college or a university. Dickinson is a highly selective liberal arts college where the global curriculum allows students the opportunity to make connection between and among academic disciplines. The Dickinson experience is more than a collection of credits. Students develop their own voices and they use education for consequential action and leadership.

Where is Dickinson College located?

Dickinson College is located in Carlisle, Pa., a community of nearly 22,000 residents and home to shops and restaurants, mall and theatres, the Appalachian Trail and many other outdoor attractions. Carlisle is part of the metropolitan region of Harrisburg, the state capital, and the area grants easy access to all major East Coast cities--including New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.--and connections for air travel and interstate rail.

What is the weather like in Pennsylvania?

We are fortunate to experience all four seasons in Pennsylvania. You’ll enjoy a little bit of everything from warm sunny days and a crisp, colorful fall to a snowy winter wonderland followed by a bright spring thaw. Light clothing will be appropriate when you first arrive on campus in late August. You’ll use sweaters and light jackets in October and November. By December you’ll need warm coats and heavier shoes. Weather warms in the spring, usually in April.

How large are class sizes at Dickinson?

Dickinson classes are small, averaging 17 students. The student-faculty ratio is a remarkably low 10:1. By design, Dickinson is a community of scholars, a place where learning is active and study is hands-on. The college boasts 240 faculty members; 96 percent holding Ph.D.s or the highest degree in their field.

What is Dickinson’s international community like?

Dickinson’s community is a diverse one, in which students bring their cultural, geographic and political perspectives to bear and can honestly voice competing opinions. Besides the many Dickinson students and faculty who return to campus having studied abroad, more than six percent of the student body is international. Forty-four states and territories and 41 countries are represented in our student body of nearly 2,400 students.

Dickinson also hosts a continuous flow of distinguished international students and scholars and symbols of the college’s global mission are everywhere on campus. Even the clocks in the library and student union give the time of day at Dickinson centers around the world.

How does Dickinson provide a global education to students?

The college’s historic founding as a revolutionary college makes it an ideal setting for the study of United States culture and society. Students have countless opportunities to gain insight into global problems and solutions. Our international curriculum begins in the classroom with foreign language—the core of Dickinson’s distinctive global curriculum. The college offers language instruction in 12 languages. Language houses and the Global Community House offer immersive-living options and language tables in the dining hall enhance acquisition and mastery of speaking skills.Internationalization is key in the classroom and in other ways as well:

• 66 percent of courses taught have an international focus
• 26 percent of students graduate with an international major such as international business & management, international studies or East Asian studies
• Globally integrated courses are offered on a rotating basis. This distinctive program combines a short-term study abroad experience with an on-campus course.
   

Am I able to study abroad or off-campus at Dickinson?

Yes. Dickinson has a long tradition of excellence in study abroad and has been nationally recognized for its accomplishments. The college sponsors 40 highly regarded programs on six continents in 24 countries. At the heart of this network are 14 Dickinson’s own program sites. In most cases, Dickinson’s programs are located in smaller provincial capital cities, where students are immersed in local culture in ways that would not be possible in larger tourism centers. More than 60 percent of Dickinson students study abroad before graduating.

International students may also opt to participate in the college’s off-campus study at institutions within the United States. Stateside programs include the Dickinson semester in Washington, D.C., and a semester of environmental science at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Can I talk to a current student?

Absolutely. If you'd like to contact a current international student or member of our international community, please e-mail us at studyusa@dickinson.edu and we are happy to connect you.

How do I decide which application option is right for me?

We encourage you to read more about our application options and the benefits of each on our application options Web page.

When is the early decision program encouraged at Dickinson?

Early Decision is for students who have firmly decided that Dickinson College is their first choice. International students can and are encouraged to apply Early Decision if Dickinson is their top choice. ED applicants are given preference in the decision process. We value your commitment to Dickinson and find that students who are excited to apply ED become our most motivated students both inside and outside the classroom. In the smaller ED pool, students are evaluated individually on their own merits and are not in competition with a larger pool of students. ED is also the application plan in which Dickinson has the most ability to offer larger financial-aid packages.

Can I transfer from a foreign college/university to Dickinson?

Yes—international students are welcome to transfer to Dickinson. In addition to a completed application form, certification of finances and secondary-school transcripts, transfer students must provide official transcripts for all completed college coursework, a statement indicating the reason for transfer, at least one recommendation from a professor and evidence of good academic and nonacademic standing as indicated by the Dean's Report Form or similar official statement. The application deadlines are April 1 for fall semester and November 1 for spring semester.

Do you accept transfer credits from non-U.S. universities?

Any student who has matriculated at a university must apply as a transfer. There is no guarantee that university coursework will be transferable. A student who has taken classes at a university outside of the United States is required to have university transcripts officially translated and evaluated by World Education Services (WES) as part of the Dickinson College application process. WES is an international academic-credit evaluation agency. Dickinson College requires the Comprehensive Course-by-Course Report. Learn more about transfer admission.

What if I have more questions?

If you have questions about financial aid, standardized testing (SAT and TOEFL), application options and deadlines, how to fill out the various application forms or about the college in general contact our international-admissions team at studyusa@dickinson.edu.