How to Apply to Emory University

Start at Emory's admission pages: the university's homepage points prospective students to Explore Admission and Apply Now, and the first real decision you have to make is which of Emory's nine colleges and schools — and which degree level — you're applying to. From there, use the admission site to confirm requirements and deadlines, then submit through the application link. The steps below follow that path.

Step 1: Decide what you're applying for

Emory is not a single application funnel. The homepage describes "Nine Colleges and Schools. All Emory," and its "Find Your Program" entry point exists because the right admission route depends on your goal:

• Undergraduate — your entry point is the undergraduate admission process, not an individual school.
• Graduate or professional — you apply to the specific school or program, and each one sets its own requirements.
• Non-degree, visiting, or continuing study — check the relevant school or program page directly.

If you're unsure which school houses your field, use Find Your Program on the homepage before you go further. Applying to the wrong route is the most common early mistake.

Step 2: Go through the admission site, not the homepage

The homepage is a signpost, not a checklist. Use it to reach Explore Admission, where you can review what Emory expects of applicants and what each stage involves. Treat anything you read elsewhere as secondary to what the admission pages state.

What to look for once you're there:

1. Application requirements for your level and program.
2. Deadlines — note whether you're aiming at an early or regular round, if offered.
3. Required materials — transcripts, tests, essays, recommendations, portfolios, or auditions, depending on the program.
4. Application platform — which system you actually submit through.

Step 3: Submit through Apply Now

The homepage's Apply Now link is the intended submission entry point. Before you start:

• Have your personal details, academic history, and any required documents ready.
• Confirm you're in the correct application for your program — graduate and professional applications are usually separate from the undergraduate one.
• Check whether your program requires anything beyond the standard form (writing samples, interviews, auditions).

After submitting, watch for confirmation and any follow-up requests for missing materials.

Step 4: Visit or make contact before you commit

Emory's homepage lists Visit Emory and Explore Atlanta, and visiting is a legitimate part of the decision, not just a formality — it's how you test whether the campus and city fit. If you can't travel, contact the admission office for your level or school with specific questions rather than general ones.

Useful things to ask:

• Whether your intended major sits in the school you're applying to.
• Which materials are actually required versus optional for your program.
• How and when decisions are communicated.

Common sticking points

What to do next

Pick your level and program, open Explore Admission to confirm requirements and deadlines, then submit via Apply Now. If anything is ambiguous after that, contact the admission office for your specific school — they can resolve program-level questions that the general site won't.