The Encourage Direct Admissions Program is an exciting collaboration between ACT, Encourage, and a select group of colleges, revolutionizing the higher education application process.
This innovative partnership streamlines the path to higher education, offering eligible students a direct route to our partner colleges and universities. By eliminating the need for a conventional application, we empower students to focus on what truly matters – their academic goals, personal growth, and future careers. Students now get immediate access to exceptional educational opportunities simply by expressing their interest.
The Encourage Direct Admissions Program simplifies the application process while fostering a promising future for all students, regardless of their background or circumstances.
What is direct admissions?
Direct admissions means a college or university can admit students without requiring them to complete the standard application process or compete with other students. Instead, students are admitted based on factors like academic performance, test scores, and interest in programs like Encourage or the ACT Educational Opportunity Service.
How did I get into this program?
If you chose to receive information from colleges through the ACT Educational Opportunity Service or Encourage, you can participate in this program. Colleges decide on direct admissions solely based on your interests, college preferences, official ACT scores, and self-reported grades. Colleges only get your name, contact details, and high school information after you confirm your interest in the direct admissions offer.
What do I do after I receive a direct admissions offer?
Learn as much as possible about the college(s) that offered you direct admissions so you can determine if it is a good fit! If you need help deciding if it’s the right school for you, check out Crushing College Choices: Tips for Picking Your Perfect Match.
Let the school know you’re interested in learning more about the direct admissions offer by filling out the Confirm Your Interest link in your direct admissions email.
Is direct admissions available for all programs and majors?
It depends! If you receive a direct admissions offer email, each college or program will explain the details of the offer.
Will I need to provide standardized test scores (ACT/SAT) for direct admissions?
If you decide to attend a school that accepted you through this program, the school might ask for more information, including standardized test scores, to confirm you meet the academic requirements and to help you qualify for academic-based scholarships.
Do I need to provide final transcripts for direct admissions?
If you enroll at a school that accepted you through this program, the school may ask for more information, including final transcripts, to confirm you meet the academic requirements and verify your self-reported GPA.
If I tell a college I'm interested in the direct admissions offer, do I have to go to that college?
Clicking the link to confirm interest in your direct admissions offer doesn't mean you have to legally commit to attending that college. It simply tells the school that you're interested in getting more information, and it allows Encourage and ACT to share your name and contact information with the college.
Why didn’t the college that offered me admission know I was admitted when I called/emailed?
Colleges that are part of the Encourage Direct Admissions Program commit to deciding on direct admissions solely based on a student's interests, college preferences, official ACT scores, and self-reported grades without knowing the specific student beforehand. Colleges only receive your name, contact details, and high school information after you've confirmed your interest in the direct admissions offer. If you contacted the college before completing the Confirm Your Interest link in your direct admissions offer email, your identity may not be known yet.