RWU Admission COVID-19 FAQs

The college search and admission process is undoubtedly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our admission team has been working hard to make adjustments and to be as flexible as possible. Please see below for some commonly asked questions and concerns and our responses. Please feel free to reach out to us directly (email, phone, chat, or text!) any time you have a question. We are here to support you all along the way!

How is Roger Williams University responding to the COVID-19 pandemic? 

RWU had a very successful fall semester with our residential students returning to campus, and courses delivered in-person, hybrid, and remote to be as flexible as possible. We performed twice weekly COVID surveillance testing for all on-campus community members, which was a key part of our screen, test, and trace procedure. We are now preparing for a late-January return to campus with the spring semester scheduled to begin on February 1. Visit our Reopening Roger site for all the details and information.

How are campus visits and events impacted? 

We offered on-campus visits throughout the summer and fall at limited capacity. On-campus visits are on pause during the holiday weeks, and we expect them to resume early January. Check out our visit page for the details on health and safety protocols.

Our large events, such as open houses, have been redesigned as virtual events. Be sure to join our mailing list, if you have not already done so, to receive invitations and information about all our event offerings.

At this time, we are offering live-streamed information sessions and presentations, as well as live, student-guided virtual tours. You can also take our virtual campus tour anytime (in either English or Spanish). Please visit this page to register for upcoming events and view recordings.

Are the application deadlines impacted? 

We understand that students are doing their best to explore colleges and prepare applications, but this is a very challenging time to manage it all. We do not want you to feel pressure or an unreasonable sense of urgency. Our regular decision deadline for first-year applications for fall 2021 is February 1, but we review applications on a rolling basis. Therefore, as students submit and complete their applications, we review them and send decisions out on a weekly basis. Our recommended application deadline for transfer admission for fall 2021 is April 1. We also review transfer applications on a rolling basis. We will always accept late applications on a space-available basis. 

Are the Offices of Admission and Financial Aid still open? 

Yes. We are not physically in the office right now, but we are working remotely. You can get in touch with the admission and financial aid offices and individual counselors by email or phone. We are happy to schedule video or phone meetings with you. The main office numbers are still being answered during regular business hours, and you can use our Live Chat option on the admission web site. We will have limited staff back on campus beginning in January and February.

What is your test score policy? 

RWU has been test-optional for about a decade - for admission, Honors Program consideration, and merit scholarship consideration. So, standardized test scores are not required to apply!  

What happens if my school used pass/fail grading?

Our holistic application review means that we look at each and every piece of information, accomplishment, and involvement - and always in the context of your personal, school, and local environment. And, it means that we are flexible and understanding about factors like this that are beyond your control. You will not be penalized in our admission process for having this type of grading on your transcript. 

Colleges like to see involved students, but what happens if my activities were canceled? 

This is something we are well aware of, and will not penalize students for. You can use the opportunity in your college application to explain how your activity involvement was affected so that we completely understand.

What else should I consider?

Because we haven't really had the ability to engage with you in-person this past year, we have added a new opportunity - Informational Admission Interviews. This is a great way to connect directly with your admission counselor and/or an RWU alumnus. Reach out to the Admission Office at admit@rwu.edu or directly to your admission counselor to schedule.

Please check out the University’s COVID-19 Information webpage for university-wide updates.