Apply to Croft
Take the next step toward Croft by learning how to apply, what materials to prepare, and what the Institute looks for.
Start Your Croft Application
Croft is a competitive academic program for students ready to take on a structured, challenging International Studies experience. Start by applying to the University of Mississippi first. After you are admitted, you can complete the separate Croft application through the Competitive Academic Programs Application.
The Croft application gives you the chance to share more about your academic strengths, language interests, global curiosity, and why Croft is the right place for the work you want to do.
Prepare Your Application
Complete the Required Materials
After you apply to the University of Mississippi, you can complete the Croft application through the Competitive Academic Programs Application. This is where you will share more about your interest in Croft and the International Studies path you want to pursue.
The application includes three letters of recommendation: one from a teacher, one from a counselor or school administrator, and one from a second teacher, supervisor, or mentor. You will also write a 300- to 500-word essay about why you want to major in International Studies, including the language and region of the world you selected in your application.
Build a Strong Application
Use the Croft application to help us understand what interests you and why Croft feels like the right place to pursue it. Tell us about the languages and regions you want to study, the global questions you keep coming back to, and the classes, experiences, or skills that have prepared you for the program.
Students interested in Arabic or Chinese should also apply to the Arabic or Chinese Flagship programs through the same Competitive Academic Programs Application.
Students Who Thrive at Croft
Croft is designed for strong students who are ready to take on a serious International Studies experience. Successful applicants typically rank near the top of their high school class, have an unweighted high school GPA of 3.50 or higher, and have a composite ACT score of 28 or higher, or an equivalent SAT score. Valedictorians and salutatorians are also strong candidates for admission.
Croft also encourages well-rounded students with strong GPAs and students with strong skills in one or more modern languages to apply, even if their test scores do not exactly match those guidelines. Because International Studies brings together fields such as anthropology, business, economics, history, political science, and sociology, Croft looks for students who are prepared for strong work in social studies, English, and mathematics.
Language is central to the Croft experience. If you have taken four or more years of a modern language, traveled outside the United States, or shown serious interest in learning across cultures, use your application to share how those experiences have shaped your interest in Croft.
Know the Scholarship Deadline
Students who want to be considered for Croft scholarships should complete the Croft application by Jan. 10, 2027. Applications received after that date will not be eligible for scholarship consideration and will be reviewed for admission on a space-available basis only.
Plan ahead so you have time to complete the application, request recommendations, and submit all required materials by the deadline.
After You Apply
Croft reviews each application with the full student experience in mind: the academic focus, language study, study abroad, original research, and cohort community that define the International Studies major.
Selected scholarship finalists are invited to interview, either in person or remotely. If you have questions about the application process, sophomore entry, or scholarship timing, the Croft team can help you understand your next steps.
Have Questions About Applying?
If you have questions about the Croft application process, required materials, or deadlines, we can help you find the information you need.
Jacee Palmer
Program Coordinator II