Our Fall 2026 and Spring 2026 applications are now open for both first-year and transfer students. Submit your application today!
A beautiful campus with outstanding faculty and classmates, coupled with the resources and excitement of nearby Chicago—it really is the best of both worlds.
Let's get started
Step 1. Submit your application
- Common Application for first-year and transfer students. (Now accepting applications for Spring 2026 and Fall 2026)
- Our own Application for First-Year Students (Now accepting applications for Spring 2026 and Fall 2026)
- Our own Application for Transfer Students (Now accepting applications for Spring 2026 and Fall 2026)
Application Deadlines
First-Year Student Admissions Deadlines
| Application Round | Apply By | Notified By |
| Early Action/Early Decision I | November 1 | December 15 |
| Early Action/Early Decision II | January 15 | February 1 |
| Regular Decision | February 15 | April 1 |
Transfer Student Admissions Deadlines
| Start Term | Apply By |
| Fall | August 1 |
| Spring | January 1 |
International Student Admissions Deadlines
| Start Term | Apply By |
| Fall First Year | February 15 |
| Fall Transfer | June 1 |
| Spring | November 1 |
Visiting Students
You must use this application to audit a class or this application to take a class for credit.
Step 2. Complete your application
We need the following to make an admission decision.
First-Year Students
- High School/Secondary School Transcript
- One Teacher or Counselor Recommendation
- Interview (highly recommended)
- Standardized Test Scores (optional*)
Click here for more information about first-year application requirements.
Transfer Students
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- Official High School/Secondary School Transcript
- One Professor Recommendation (Transfers with less than 30 college semester hours may submit a secondary school teacher recommendation)
- Interview (required)
- Standardized Test Scores (optional*)
Click here for more information about transfer application requirements.
Visiting Students - Non-Degree
- Official High School Transcript
- College Transcript (if any coursework has been taken)
Submit Materials (may be submitted at any time during the admissions process)
Lake Forest College
Office of Admissions
555 N Sheridan Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
Fax
847-735-6271
*Planning on applying test optional?
You may choose not to submit your scores as part of our test-optional admissions policy. If you make use of this opportunity, a personal interview with an admission counselor is required. This can be done via phone or in person. You can schedule this interview by contacting admissions@lakeforest.edu or your admission counselor. International students are required to submit SAT, ACT, TOEFL, or IELTS scores unless they are able to prove English proficiency. Transfer international students who are studying at an English language based institution and have completed a minimum of one semester of college credit are not required to submit test scores. Transfer students are required to interview whether or not they submit test scores.