Resources for Counselors

Deadlines, codes, requirements, and your JCU rep for advising students applying to John Carroll. For Fall 2027 applicants. Last updated October 12, 2026.

We take a distinctive approach to assisting you and your students through the college search process. Each high school is assigned a dedicated admission counselor who serves as your primary point of contact. Your admission counselor is a member of the Committee on Admission, recommends students for merit scholarships, reviews student FAFSAs for need-based aid, and helps families with their final enrollment decision.

Deadlines and decisions

Early Action

Nov 1

Non-binding. Decisions before winter break.

Regular Decision

Feb 1

Rolling decisions. After Feb 1, reviewed as space allows.

Enrollment deposit

May 1

$325 in the StartJCU portal at go.jcu.edu/status.

Final transcript

July 1

Senior grades and graduation date. Common App upload preferred.

Requirements

Application: Common App or Coalition App. No preference; review is identical.
Fee: None.
Materials: Official high school transcript, essay, and at least one recommendation from a teacher, counselor, or coach.
School report: Not required for first-year applicants; a counselor letter can be the one required recommendation. International applicants submit the Common App School Report or Counselor Recommendation. International requirements
Testing: Optional. See the test-optional policy
By major: No additional materials, except the medical early acceptance programs listed below.

No-harm test-optional policy

SAT and ACT scores are not required.
Submitted scores are one factor among many and are superscored. If they don’t strengthen the application, they’re ignored.
Scores never affect merit scholarships or eligibility for a major.
Without scores, we weigh curriculum rigor and grades more heavily, especially English and math.
Students who apply with scores must submit at least self-reported scores before review. They can change their testing decision after applying.

Exception: medical early acceptance programs

LECOM Dental Medicine requires an ACT or SAT score. LECOM Pharmacy and Osteopathic Medicine recommend one. OU-HCOM does not require one.

Test-optional FAQ: deadlines and accepted test dates →

Sending documents

How to send: Naviance, SCOIR, Slate.org, Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, or Common App. Also accepted: mail, fax to 216.397.4981, or email from a school address to admission@jcu.edu.
Timing: Transcripts and recommendations can arrive after the student applies, but review starts only once both are in.
Processing: Most documents show as received in the student’s StartJCU portal within a few hours. Clearinghouse and Parchment documents sent over a weekend are uploaded Monday.

Merit scholarships

Every first-year applicant is considered automatically at admission. No separate application. Awards renew for four years.

$30,000

Magis Scholarship

$26,000

Presidential Scholarship

$22,000

University Scholarship

$19,000

Ignatian Award

Starting annual amounts, based on grades, curriculum rigor, and test scores if submitted. Students can also receive the $2,000 Discovery Visit and Apply Grant, plus regional, specialty, and need-based awards.

All scholarships and grants →

Find your JCU representative

Every high school has a JCU admission rep based on location. Your rep can visit your school, host your students on campus, and answer questions about specific applicants.

11 reps

Mike Andelbradt ’18, ’24G

Saint Ignatius High School

mandelbradt@jcu.edu Schedule a call

Kristen Amendola ’19

Ohio (Ashtabula & Lake Counties) · Greater Erie, PA

kamendola@jcu.edu Schedule a call

Abby Breen ’24

Ohio (Western Cuyahoga) · Michigan · New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

abreen@jcu.edu Schedule a call

Toby Jones, Jr. ’25

Ohio (Lorain County & North Central) · Florida · Georgia · North Carolina