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Minnesota Private College Week frequently asked questions

Q: Do I need to register for Minnesota Private College Week (MPCW)?
A: Registration is highly recommended. It helps our campuses better prepare for the number of students expected to be at each visit. You can register online; It's quick and easy.

Q: Do I need to call each of the colleges individually to register?
A: No, just register online, or call our offices and we can register for you over the phone. 1-800-PRI-COLL (1-800-774-2655). When you register online, we send the registration information to each of the colleges and universities that you register to attend.

Q: Are all private colleges in Minnesota a part of this event?
A: Minnesota Private College Week is a collaborative event of the 17 private colleges and universities who belong to the Minnesota Private College Council. There are other private colleges in Minnesota, but they are not a part of this event.

Q: Can I participate in Minnesota Private College Week if I am a sophomore?
A: Of course you can! The earlier you start preparing for college and exploring your options, the better. Attend your sessions and submit your passport to receive the fee waivers. The fee waivers never expire, so you can use them when you apply to college during your senior year.

Q: Can I make appointments to visit with people on campus?
A: This varies by campus. Some campuses do not facilitate individual appointments with professors, coaches or other people during MPCW, others do. Please contact the campus directly for more information.

Q: Can I visit schools before or after MPCW and still get my passport stamped?
A: You are welcome to visit campuses before or after MPCW, but you won't get your passport stamped. Minnesota Private College Week is a special promotion of the 17 private colleges and universities, offered only one week each year.

Q: Can my parents attend MPCW and get stamps in my passport?
A: Absolutely! Parents are welcome to attend MPCW, even if their son or daughter can't make it. Just have them fill out the passport in your (student's) name (not the parent's name) to insure that you get the fee waivers.

Q: Can we stay in on-campus housing for the night?
A: Sorry, but no. We realize you may be coming from a great distance to attend the event, however, we cannot make campus housing available for students and their families. Contact the admission office on the campus you wish to visit for a list of accommodations in the area.

Q: Can I get two fee waivers, if I have two stamps?
A: No. You must earn a minimum of four stamps to be eligible for four fee waivers.

Q: Can I earn a couple of stamps this year and a couple of stamps next year and still get my fee waivers?
A: No. In order to qualify for the fee waivers, all stamps must be earned during MPCW in the same year.

Q: What if I have to leave a session early?
A: Stamps are given for the completion of an information session and campus tour at each campus. If you leave early, you will miss out on important information and will not be given a stamp. Please schedule your visits so you can be on campus for two and a quarter hours.

Q: Can fee waivers apply to my graduate school applications?
A: No. MPCW is geared toward undergraduate students only, therefore fee waivers are only good for undergraduate application fees.

Q: Can I skip the campus tour?
A: No. Even if you've visited the campus before, you must attend an information session and a campus tour to receive the stamp. Please schedule your visit so you can be on campus for two and a quarter hours.

Q: What if I am on campus for a camp during MPCW?
A: If you attend an MPCW information session during the week, you can receive a stamp. Simply being on campus is not enough to give you the same information you would gain by attending the information session and campus tour. If you will be on campus for a camp, you may participate in MPCW if your schedule and camp director allow.

Q: Can you send my fee waivers directly to the campuses?
A: Sorry, but no. The campuses need your fee waiver with your application materials. Please be mindful of your application deadlines and allow at least seven to ten days after you send your passport to the Minnesota Private College Council to receive your fee waivers.

Q: As a female, can I get a stamp in my passport at an all-male college or vice versa?
A: No. Campus visits are only for students of the appropriate gender. The College of St. Catherine and the College of Saint Benedict are all-female colleges, and Saint John's University is an all-male institution. Because the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University operate in conjunction with one another, your tour of either of these schools will include both campuses.

Q: Can I use a fee waiver to apply to a campus that I did not visit during MPCW?
A: Yes, you may use any of your four fee waivers to apply to any of the 17 colleges and universities of the Minnesota Private College Council, even if you didn't visit during MPCW.

Q: Can I use a fee waiver for an electronic application to a college?
A: Yes, but procedures will vary for each campus and electronic application process. If you can, indicate that you have an MPCW fee waiver. If you have problems, contact the college directly.

Our colleges
Augsburg College
  • Located in Minneapolis with abundant opportunities to gain experience both inside and outside the classroom.
  • National recognition for an effective first-year program and for combining learning with service.
  • Top majors are business, science, teaching
  • A diverse community of 3,000 students
Bethany Lutheran College
  • Located in Mankato overlooking the Minnesota River Valley
  • A community of 540 students -- most live on campus
  • Popular majors include business administration, communication, psychology, and elementary education
  • Focus is on a solid, Christian education
Bethel University
  • Located on a residential, wooded campus in a Twin Cities suburb
  • Enrolls 5,600 students in 100 undergraduate, graduate, and seminary programs
  • Integrates faith, learning and the translation of Christian belief into global service
  • 20 international programs; top 3 percent ranking of students who study in foreign countries
Carleton College
  • Residential campus in the small community of Northfield
  • Ranked one of the country's top liberal arts colleges
  • Noted for its bright and talented students and strong faculty
  • Enrollment of 2,000 students of diverse backgrounds
College of Saint Benedict
  • Together with Saint John's -- 3,800 undergraduate students have many opportunities
  • Located on 3,200 acres of woods and lakes west of St. Cloud
  • A focus on globalism includes an extensive international study program
  • A commitment to experiential learning, research and internships
College of St. Catherine
  • Largest and most comprehensive Catholic college for women in the U.S.
  • Beautiful campuses in St. Paul and Minneapolis
  • Committed to meeting the educational needs of women of all ages; offers liberal arts, healthcare and professional programs in traditional and weekend formats
  • Serves 5,000 students
College of St. Scholastica
  • Main campus in Duluth; also in St. Paul, St. Cloud, Brainerd
  • Undergraduate and graduate programs in traditional, accelerated and online formats
  • Top majors: Health information management, management, education, nursing
  • 3,200 students; 1,940 undergraduates on Duluth campus
  • U.S. News ranking in top tier of Midwestern universities
Concordia College
  • Located in the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area that includes 20,000+ college students
  • Serves more than 2,700 students
  • Top programs include the sciences, education and music
  • Recipient of NAFSA Simon Award for Campus Internationalization
  • Home of world-renowned Concordia Language Villages
Concordia University
  • Located in the St. Paul metro area
  • Serves 1,500 undergraduate and 300 graduate students of all ages and backgrounds
  • Top majors include Christian education, business and teacher education
  • A laptop university with 24/7 Web access
Gustavus Adolphus College
  • Oldest Lutheran college in Minnesota; Swedish heritage; home of the Nobel Conference
  • Beautiful residential campus located in St. Peter, overlooking the Minnesota River Valley
  • Prepares 2,500 undergraduates for lives of leadership, service and lifelong learning
  • Recognized science, writing, music, athletics, study-abroad, and service-learning programs
Hamline University
  • Ranked first in Minnesota among comprehensive universities according to U.S. News
  • 4,400 undergraduate, graduate, and law students
  • Located in residential neighborhood of St. Paul
  • Intimate environment of small classes and personal attention along with the opportunities of a comprehensive university
Macalester College
  • 1,900 undergraduates come from every state and 90 countries
  • Located in a friendly St. Paul neighborhood
  • Emphasis on global perspectives; more than half study abroad
  • Produced many Fulbright and Rhodes scholars
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
  • 700 students; 14 majors in fine arts, media and design
  • Located next to the Children's Theater and Minneapolis Institute of Arts
  • Studio-based and business-oriented programs; BFA, BS and MFA degrees
  • Only art and design school to be named a Best Midwestern College by Princeton Review
Saint John's University
  • Together with Saint Benedict -- 3,800 undergraduate students have many opportunities
  • Located on 3,200 acres of woods and lakes west of St. Cloud.
  • A focus on globalism includes an extensive international study program
  • A commitment to experiential learning, research, internships
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Values-based, results-oriented education in the Catholic, Lasallian tradition
  • Outstanding environment for learning, living and recreation
  • 400-acre Winona campus in the bluffs of the Mississippi River Valley
  • 1,300 traditional undergraduates, with 4,100 graduate and professional students at other locations
St. Olaf College
  • Environmentally aware, 300-acre residential campus in historic Northfield
  • 3,000 students; top majors are music, mathematics and the sciences
  • Nation's top liberal arts college for study abroad
  • College of the Lutheran church -- where conversations about faith are part of daily life
University of St. Thomas
  • Minnesota's largest private university with 10,500 students (5,500 undergraduates)
  • 95 undergraduate majors
  • Main campuses located in a stately St. Paul neighborhood and in downtown Minneapolis (other campuses in Owatonna, Minn. and Rome, Italy)

Minnesota Private
College Week

June 23 - June 27

Register

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