How to Get Into Emory: Admissions Stats + Tips

What’s Covered:

• How Hard Is It To Get Into Emory?
• Average Academic Profile of Accepted Emory University Students
• What is Emory University Looking for?
• How to Improve Your Chances of Getting into Emory University

Emory University is a private research university located in Atlanta, Georgia. Frequently cited for its Healthcare system, research opportunities and high endowment, Emory is a top choice for students who want to be involved with solving real-world problems during their studies. Located just in a suburb outside of the city, Emory is a great choice for students who want the traditional campus college experience with city life just at their fingertips. 

Emory is a top-rated school, so you’ll need to make sure you have a strong academic profile to get accepted. In this post, we’ll cover the average academic profile of accepted students, what the admissions committee looks for, how to improve your chances of getting into Emory University, and the steps you’ll need to take to apply. 

How Hard Is It to Get Into Emory University?

Getting accepted into Emory takes hard work. Let’s take a look at the numbers. Last year, only 19.2% of applicants were admitted. Out of the 28,211 who applied, only 5,407 were accepted. Emory is a top school in terms of selectivity, so you’ll need to make sure you have the best application when you apply. 

Emory’s acceptance rate is low, but your chances of acceptance might be higher or lower depending on the strength of your specific profile. 

To gain insight into your chances at Emory University, we recommend using our free admissions calculator. Using your grades, test scores, extracurriculars, and more, we’ll estimate your odds of acceptance, and give you tips on improving your profile!

Average Academic Profile of Accepted Emory University Students

GPA

The average high school GPA of Emory’s Class of 2025 is a 3.80.

The percentage of students with a 4.0 is 13.90%.

SAT/ACT

To give you a sense of where your scores should be, the middle 50% SAT scores for admitted students was 1400-1510. 

The middle 50% for ACT scores is 31-34. 

61% of students submitted SAT scores, while 39% submitted ACT scores. 

Class Rank

82.5% of students are in the top tenth of their high school graduating class, while 97.5% are in the top 25% of their high school class. 

What is Emory University Looking for?

Since most applicants are going to be highly qualified, it’s important to look at what else Emory values in an applicant. The admissions committee places a high emphasis on essays, extracurricular activities and special achievements. Give yourself an edge over other applicants by showing a proven track-record of leadership.

This is especially true for students who want to apply to Oxford College, a Liberal Arts College within the university. 

How Emory University Evaluates Applications

According to their 2020-2021 Common Data Set, Emory University considers the following factors “very important”:

• Course rigor
• Academic GPA
• Rec letters
• Extracurriculars 
• Talent/ability
• Character/personal qualities

These factors are “important”:

• Standardized test scores
• Application essay 
• Volunteer work

These are “considered”:

• Interview
• Class Rank
• First generation
• Alumni/ae relation 
• Geographical residence 
• State Residency
• Racial/ethnic status
• Work experience 

And these are “not considered”:

• Religious affiliation
• Level of applicant’s interest 

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting into Emory University

1. Achieve at least a 3.80 (average GPA) while taking the most challenging classes available

Keep in mind that the average high school GPA of Emory’s Class of 2025 is a 3.80, and the percentage of students with a 4.0 is 13.90%. In addition, 82.5% of students are in the top tenth of their high school graduating class, while 97.5% are in the top 25% of their high school class. 

It’s important to keep these statistics in mind as you consider applying to Emory.

The Academic Index calculates a student’s overall academic performance into a numerical score. This is a tool that admissions officers at selective schools use to assess whether a student has the right academic qualifications to be considered for admission. 

Having a competitive transcript is the first step to getting your application read. For the most selective schools, students should not only get all A’s (or mostly A’s), but also take the most challenging courses available to them. (here’s some context on how many APs students should aim for).

If your GPA is lower, and you’re earlier on in your high school career, check out our tips for increasing your GPA. If you’re a junior or senior, it will be harder to increase your GPA, so the easiest way to increase your Academic Index is to get a higher test score.

2. Aim for a 1510 SAT and 34 ACT

In 2021, the middle 50% SAT scores for admitted students was 1400-1510. The middle 50% for ACT scores is 31-34. Scores on the upper end of the range will make you more competitive, and increase your chances of being considered. However, it’s more important to stay within that range than to aim for a specific score.

In light of COVID-19 test-optional policies, we recommend taking the test if you can safely (students who submit scores are accepted at higher rates than those without). We generally recommend submitting your score if it’s the 25th percentile or above for accepted students at that school. Students can get recommendations on whether or not they should apply test-optional using our free Chancing Engine. 

To improve your SAT/ACT score, check out these free CollegeVine resources:

• How to Get a Perfect 1600 Score on the SAT
• How to Get a Perfect 36 Score on the ACT
• More SAT Info and Tips
• More ACT Info and Tips

3. Cultivate at least one or two Tier 1-2 extracurriculars (find your “spike”)

Keep in mind that when it comes to extracurriculars, some will rank as more desirable than others. We call this the 4 Tiers of Extracurriculars. To impress the admissions committee, make sure to become involved with at least one or two Tier 1-2 extracurriculars.  A Tier 1 example would be winning an award or starting a nonprofit, while an example of a Tier 2 extracurricular is serving as student body president. 

There are many examples of impressive ECs for college, so make sure you find the extracurriculars that are the best fit for you, and highlight those on your application. 

It’s also important to keep in mind that you’ll often be more competitive if you develop a deep interest in one or two extracurriculars (a highly-developed interest is known as a “spike”) rather than having a range of unrelated activities.

4. Write engaging essays.

Once you meet the standard academic requirements, essays are the best way to share who you are and stand out from other applicants. Here, you can share your voice and show how you fit within the school.

Take a look at how to write the Emory University Essays specifically to get some guidance that will point you in the right direction.

5. Apply Early Action/Early Decision

Since the early acceptance rate is higher than the overall or regular decision acceptance rate, applying early can increase your chances even when controlling for profile strength. But, keep in mind the limitations of applying ED. If your application isn’t quite as strong as it could be later in the year, if you don’t meet the academic standards, if you want to compare financial aid offers, or if you’re not positive you actually want to attend the school; then it’s not a good idea to apply early. 

6. Get strong rec letters

Recommendation letters are also considered very important for Emory, so it’s important to choose the right teachers to write your letters, and communicate with them early on in the process. Keep these 9 rules in mind when requesting letters of recommendation from teachers.

How to Apply to Emory University

Deadlines

Application Requirements

You can use the Common App or Coalition to apply. You’ll also need:

• Emory’s short answer questions
• $75 application fee or application fee waiver
• Official high school transcripts 
• If English is your second language, TOEFL or IELTS results are recommended
• Secondary school report/counselor’s recommendation
• Two teacher letters of recommendation from core-area academic teachers
• For those applying EDII or RD: Midyear report and transcript

Learn more about Emory University

What is Emory University Known For?