Hofstra University – FAQ

Where is Hofstra University located?

Hofstra University is located in Nassau County on suburban Long Island, just 25 miles outside the heart of New York City.

How can I apply to Hofstra University?

You may apply to Hofstra using either our own Hofstra application or the Common Application. To apply online (or to download a paper application), please click on the “Apply” link on the admission section of our website. Further information regarding the application process is listed on this site. If you’d like to use the Common Application, please visit http://www.commonapp.org. Please note that a Common Application supplement is also available for Hofstra University at this site.

How can I check on the status of my application?

If you have applied to Hofstra using our online application, and wish to check on the status of your application, please log onto the Hofstra Online Information System (https://hofstraonline.hofstra.edu/pls/hpro/bwskalog.P_DispLoginNon) for this information. For all other applicants, please call (800) HOFSTRA for a status update. Please note that admission decisions are only released via US mail and will not be disseminated in any other way.

I’ve sent in all my required documentation. Why is it not showing up on my online account?

Due to an overwhelming number of applications, it can take up to several weeks for documents to appear in our system once they are received. Please bear with us as we work to update our records as quickly as possible.

Can I apply to Hofstra University as a transfer student?

Students who have already earned college credits since graduating high school are welcome to apply for transfer admission to Hofstra. Once admitted, students will receive a credit evaluation, which will indicate the courses that will transfer from previously attended institutions. In order to receive credit for these transferred courses, it is necessary for students to submit final, official transcripts. In order for a course to transfer to Hofstra, we must offer an equivalent course and you must have earned a grade of C- or better. A maximum of 64 credits may be transferred from a 2-year college and a maximum of 94 credits may be transferred from a 4-year college.

How can I make arrangements to visit Hofstra University?

Hofstra offers information sessions and tours Monday through Saturday. Please refer to the following website for more information on registering for a campus visit: http://www.hofstra.edu/Admission/adm_visit.cfm

How can I find directions to Hofstra University?

Directions and maps of our campus may be found at the following website:
http://www.hofstra.edu/About/InfoCenter/info_dirmaps.html

What is Hofstra’s student profile?

Please refer to the following website to retrieve this information:
http://www.hofstra.edu/Admission/adm_stdprofile.html

I’ve applied to Hofstra University during the past year and I wish to reapply. What should I do?

Please complete a Re-Activation form by clicking on the following link:
http://www.hofstra.edu/PDF/Forms_Reactivation_Form.pdf. If you last applied more than one year ago, you will need to resubmit a regular admission application.

I’ve attended Hofstra in the past and wish to attend again. What should I do?

If you wish to return to Hofstra, you must submit a transfer application and identify yourself as a “readmit”. If you have take courses elsewhere since leaving Hofstra, you must submit transcripts from each institution. It is not necessary for former Hofstra students to pay an application fee.

I’d like to experience Hofstra as a student for a day. Is this possible?

Our Hofstra Up Close program allows prospective students to get an "insider's look" to what student life is all about at Hofstra. Please visit the following website for more information:
http://www.hofstra.edu/Admission/adm_upclose.html

I’d like to interview with a member of the Admission Committee. Is this possible?

Optional informational interviews are available by appointment with members of our Admission Committee. Please note that these interviews are not evaluative and will not play a role in the application review process. Please call (800) HOFSTRA if you’d like to schedule an interview.

I’d like to take one or more courses at Hofstra as a non-matriculated student. What should I do?

To enroll in courses as a visiting (non-matriculated) student, we will need the following items:
1) Visiting student application (http://www.hofstra.edu/pdf/adm_form_visiting.pdf)
2) Application fee (check/money order for $50 - payable to Hofstra University)
3) Official letter from registrar's office at your home institution showing that you are currently a student in good standing.
You may bring these items to the Office of Admission at Hofstra. At that point, the office will process your admittance and inform you on how to register for courses. Please note that registration for summer courses does not begin until March.

When will a Hofstra representative be visiting my town?

Hofstra University sends recruiters throughout the United States, Latin America, and Asia to meet with prospective students and their families at college fairs and high schools. For an updated college fair schedule, please check http://www.hofstra.edu/Admissions/adm_check_town.cfm. Check with your high school’s counseling office to learn about when a Hofstra recruiter will be visiting (typically during the fall).

I’ve been admitted already. When will I hear about a merit scholarship?

In order to qualify for a merit scholarship, you must meet certain academic criteria. These scholarships are generally based on your GPA, class rank (if applicable), and standardized test scores. If you are an Early Action admitted student who is eligible to receive a merit scholarship, you will receive a notification letter during early February. If you are an eligible Regular Decision admitted student, you will receive notification within a month after you receive your offer of admission. Scholarships for transfer students are based on your cumulative GPA from all colleges attended and may also be based on high school credentials for students entering with less than 24 earned college credits (excluding credits earned during high school). Please note that no further action is required to receive notification of a scholarship once you receive an admission decision.

Once admitted, what steps do I need to take to enroll at Hofstra?

Admitted students must reserve their place at Hofstra University. Mail us your Admission Decision Deposit Card and a $250 tuition deposit to:
Hofstra University
Office of Admission
100 Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY 11549

All students must complete and return the Student Health Form to:
Hofstra University
Student Health Center
102 Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY 11549

If you plan to live on campus, you will also need to mail your Student Housing Application Form (with a $300 deposit) and Meal Plan Contract to:
Hofstra University
Director of Residential Programs
102 Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY 11549

All necessary forms and pre-addressed envelopes are provided in your admit packet. For more information on next steps (and to retrieve additional copies of admission forms), please visit:
http://www.hofstra.edu/Admission/admitted/admit_packet.html

How can I learn more about Hofstra’s residence halls?

Please visit the following link to learn more about residential life at Hofstra University:
http://www.hofstra.edu/StudentAffairs/StudentServices/ResLife/index.html

For further information, you may call the Office of Residential Programs at (516) 463-6930.

What are Enrollment Days?

Enrollment Days, held during the winter and summer, are events designed to expedite the enrollment process for transfer students. Students attending these events will have the opportunity to receive an admission decision and credit evaluation, meet with an advisor, and register for courses. Students seeking an admission decision must submit transcripts from all previously attended institutions. In order to register for an Enrollment Day, please visit http://www.hofstra.edu/admission/adm_regevents.cfm.

When will orientation be held for new students?

All first-year students should plan to attend one of the following orientation sessions:
June 10 - June 12
June 17 - 19
June 24 - 26
July 8 - 10
July 15 - 17
July 22 - 24
July 29 - 31
August 5 – 7
Transfer students also have an opportunity to attend a summer orientation (information will be sent to eligible students). All accepted undergraduate students must first pay their admission deposits. Once the deposits have been paid, a Welcome Packet from the Office of Admission will be sent. Welcome Packets are expected to be sent out by May 1, 2008. These packets will contain detailed information on how to sign up for an orientation session.

Are talent-based scholarships available?

There are talent-based scholarships available from the music, drama, and dance departments. These individual departments determine scholarship awards based on auditions held during the spring. It is up to each student to contact the relevant department to set up an audition. Please note that all scholarships will be contingent upon admission into Hofstra University.

Are athletic scholarships available?

Athletic scholarships are available at Hofstra, but coaches from each varsity program will award scholarship money to eligible athletes on an individual basis.

Is Hofstra’s tuition higher for out-of-state students?

Because Hofstra is a private institution, every student that matriculates will pay the same tuition, regardless of state of residence.

How can I apply for need-based financial aid?

Students can apply for financial aid by filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and entering Hofstra’s code into their list of schools (002732). Students can complete this process online by visiting www.fafsa.ed.gov. This website is also a great resource for students and parents who are completing the FAFSA for the first time. A paper version of the FAFSA is also available through school counseling offices.

What is Hofstra University’s Honors College?

Hofstra University Honors College (HUHC), through an innovative curriculum centered in the liberal arts and compatible with all majors, serves students who perform at the highest academic levels in all undergraduate programs. The HUHC curriculum is designed to provide a wide-ranging and multidisciplinary intellectual experience while fostering a sense of community and identity among the cohort of students who share the HUHC experience. High-achieving applicants are invited to participate. SAT scores for the middle 50 percent of the Fall 2007 Honors College class range from 1280 to 1360. Transfer Students are invited to participate in HUHC if they enter Hofstra with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 and have earned at least 24 college credits (after attending high school). For further information, please visit http://www.hofstra.edu/honors.

What is LEAP?

Hofstra’s Legal Education Accelerated Program (LEAP) is a six-year combined B.A./J.D. program. Students admitted into this program pursue a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) at Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for three years and then have the opportunity to complete a Juris Doctor (J.D.) at Hofstra Law School in three additional years. Please visit http://www.hofstra.edu/leap for further information.

What is the School for University Studies?

Hofstra’s School for University Studies is a rigorous program designed for students whose records do not yet reflect their full potential. Admission into this selective program is based on a review of the student’s admission file along with a personal interview. Please note that eligible students will be invited for an interview once their files are reviewed by the Admission Committee. For more information, please refer to the following link:
http://www.hofstra.edu/Academics/Colleges/SUS/sus_ftpinfo.html

What is PALS?

Hofstra’s Program for Academic Learning Skills (PALS) is designed for college-bound students with documented learning disabilities. The PALS admission committee will review standard admission credentials (transcripts, standardized test scores, etc.) in collaboration with psychological testing in determining eligibility for a personal interview. An admission decision will be made after this interview. Please refer to the following link for more information on PALS:
http://www.hofstra.edu/StudentAffairs/stddis/stddis_pals.html

What is NOAH?

New Opportunities at Hofstra (NOAH) is an admissions and developmental program designed to identify and assist nontraditional students whose educational experience and economic status did not provide them with the opportunity to develop their scholastic abilities to the level requisite for undergraduate admission and study at Hofstra. To learn more about NOAH eligibility, please refer to the following link:
http://www.hofstra.edu/Admission/adm_noah.html
Please note that NOAH is open only to residents of New York State and applications must be submitted no later than February 1.