How to Apply to Biology at Lawrence University: A B.A. in Biology with Ecology, Molecular and Pre-Health Options, Research Modules in Introductory Courses, a BioFest Senior Showcase, Free Applications, Test-Optional, for Domestic, International (Including China) and Transfer Applicants

Lawrence University (Appleton, Wisconsin) is a private university with a College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and a Conservatory of Music. Biology belongs to the College and is taught by the Department of Biology; students apply to the University and declare a major after entry. The guide below follows the University’s website and is organised for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, with a section for transfer students at the end. Chemistry, mathematics, physics and other majors are not covered here; biochemistry is a separate major at the University and is mentioned only briefly; nursing, medicine and veterinary medicine appear on the website as graduate destinations rather than majors, so they are outside this article (see the website).

1. Degrees and programmes

• Biology major and minor: the biology program page says students can pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Biology, with options to focus on areas such as ecology, molecular biology or pre-health pathways; a minor in biology is also available, along with interdisciplinary options through related programmes.
• Major requirements (2026–27 catalog year): the requirements page calls the major flexible and encourages students to sample ecology, organismal biology and molecular genetics. Required: BIOL 130 (Cellular Form and Function), BIOL 135 (Ecology, Evolution, and Society), BIOL 150 (Organismal Form and Function), BIOL 280 (Experimental Design and Statistics, to be taken in the sophomore year if possible) and CHEM 116 (Principles of Chemistry: Energetics and Dynamics); at least six six-unit biology courses numbered 200 or above (excluding Senior Experience courses), at least four of them laboratory courses; and the biology Senior Experience (below). Students can enter the introductory sequence with either BIOL 130 or BIOL 135.
• Senior Experience: 2 units of BIOL 501 (Professional Development in the Life Sciences, junior fall), 2 units of BIOL 600 (Recent Advances in Biology Seminar, senior fall), 5 units of BIOL 650 (Biology Senior Capstone I, winter) and 1 unit of BIOL 651 (Capstone II, spring, for BioFest), plus a student-directed project (research, internship, a curricular module, a draft grant proposal, a children’s book on biology, art about biology or another creative project). All students present at the spring BioFest.
• Course rules: only two six-unit courses designated as tutorial, directed study or independent study can count toward the major or minor, and only one of them toward the upper-level laboratory requirement; online coursework cannot be transferred to earn biology credit.
• Biology minor: BIOL 130, 135, 150 and 280 (students majoring in disciplines requiring a research methods and statistics course may request exemption from BIOL 280) and at least three six-unit biology courses numbered 200 or above, at least two of them laboratory courses.
• Interdisciplinary options: students with a strong secondary interest in physics or geosciences can build a major with biology as the primary discipline in the natural sciences (BIOL 130, 150 and 280, the physics or geology introductory sequence, and at least 10 science courses at 200 level or above with at least five in biology and three in the secondary discipline); the page says earlier biology-and-chemistry combinations have been replaced by the biochemistry major, whose requirements page was not read.
• Teacher certification: biology majors can seek secondary science teacher certification, which also needs at least one course in each of the other sciences and the Education requirements; students should meet the director of teacher education, preferably before the end of sophomore year.
• Research: the requirements page says all biology faculty run active research programmes, employ students as summer research assistants and supervise independent research for credit during the year; motivated students may approach faculty after their first or second year; recent years have seen papers co-authored by students and faculty in professional journals on topics such as aquatic food chain energetics, host-parasite and plant/animal interactions, gene expression and molecular mechanisms of vertebrate development. The page also mentions the Lawrence University Marine Program and programmes at affiliated institutions; the department home page says teaching and research labs cover subdisciplines from ecology to cell and molecular biology.

2. How admission works: apply to the University, declare a major later

• At application: you apply to the University; the application materials list has no biology-specific requirement, and the pages read do not say whether admission is by major or whether biology has a cap on places; this is not published in the pages read, so ask admissions.
• Declaring a major: the department’s advising page says all students are expected to declare a major before the end of sophomore year, ideally before advance registration advising begins in spring term, and then switch to a major advisor. The requirements page says spring advising in the sophomore year and attending the spring BioFest are meant to inspire sophomores to think about their culminating project. A grade threshold and conditions for moving in from another major are not given in the pages read.

3. Prerequisites and placement

• High school courses: see section 4 for the subject expectations on the application page; the biology pages do not state minimum high school biology, chemistry or mathematics requirements; ask admissions.
• AP / IB and exemption exams: both the requirements and advising pages say students with AP or IB credit in biology are exempt from BIOL 130 but not the other introductory courses; students without AP/IB credit who feel well qualified can take a departmental exemption exam for BIOL 130 and/or BIOL 150 (contact the department chair). The AP/IB score thresholds are not given in the pages read.
• Chemistry: CHEM 116 is required. The advising page says students with a strong chemistry background who pass the online chemistry placement exam can skip CHEM 115 and begin with CHEM 116.
• First year: the introductory sequence BIOL 130, 135 and 150 includes three open-ended research modules in each laboratory, and BIOL 135 also introduces field-based research; BIOL 280 is suggested for the sophomore year.
• Graduation requirements: biology majors complete the Senior Experience; the details of the University’s Chandler Senior Experience and College-wide requirements such as First-Year Studies were not read.
• Competitions: the website does not say how biology olympiads are viewed in admission.

4. Timeline and materials (first-year applicants)

• How to apply and fee: the Lawrence Application, the Common Application or the Coalition application on Scoir; all three are free, with no preference.
• Rounds and deadlines (the page prints years, for fall 2027 entry): Early Decision (binding) 1 November 2026, notification by 1 December; Early Action 1 December, notification by 15 January 2027; Early Decision 2 (binding) 15 January, notification by 1 February; Regular Decision 15 January, notification by 1 April; the University continues to accept applications after 15 January. The international page gives student decision deadlines of 15 December for ED and 1 May for EA, ED 2 and RD (that page prints no year). There are separate rounds for Conservatory applicants, which this article does not cover.
• Materials: transcripts and one teacher recommendation letter sent by the school (a counsellor can submit them by email or mail). The page says applicants should have completed 17 units, and lists English 4 years, mathematics 3 years, social science 3 years and natural science 3 years; it does not list the rest. It says applications are read in the context of the school and the student, and competitive applicants typically take rigorous coursework, show a strong academic GPA and curiosity beyond the classroom through research, creative work, global experiences, leadership or service.
• Testing: test-optional; ACT/SAT scores are not required for admission or for scholarship consideration, and the choice is the student’s. Codes: ACT 4596; SAT and TOEFL 1398.
• Biology competitions: the website does not say how subject competitions are viewed in admission.

5. US domestic applicants

• Costs (2026–27, tuition and fees page): tuition $61,407, fees $312, housing $7,047 (double room) and meal plan $6,792 (19 swipes a week), for a printed total of $75,558. Estimates: books and supplies $750, transportation $450–$1,200, personal expenses $1,200. The aid and affordability page separately prints a “comprehensive fee” of $71,766 (tuition, fees, housing and meal plan) with no year, which does not match the tuition page total; rely on the tuition page and confirm with admissions. It is a private university and the pages do not distinguish in-state from out-of-state.
• Academic merit scholarships: every applicant is reviewed, with awards of $30,000–$42,000 a year, no extra application, notified with the admission decision. The page says review is holistic (academic performance, strength of curriculum in context, class rank if available, the essay and test results if submitted) and that there is no “GPA plus score” table. The aid page also lists the Main Hall Green Award and a Full-Tuition Scholarship with applications opening 1 January (details not read).
• Need-based aid: through the FAFSA and a supplemental aid application (the checklist page was not read). The aid page prints that in 2024–25 the University awarded $58.2 million in scholarships and grants, 99% of students receive some aid, 75% receive need-based aid, and the average Lawrence grants and scholarships are $44,500; it also has a table of average net cost by family income.
• In-state residents: the pages read say nothing about priority or guaranteed admission for Wisconsin residents.

6. International applicants

• Who counts: the University treats you as international if you are studying in the US on an F-1 or J-1 visa in high school, college or an English programme, are an American dual citizen who received most secondary education outside the US, are in the US on a non-immigrant visa, or intend to enter on an F-1 or J-1. International students are about 12% of students, from more than 30 countries.
• Application and materials: the Lawrence Application or the Common Application, no application fee; an official high school transcript with an English translation; a copy of your passport; proof of English proficiency; and the Certification of Finances form (below).
• English requirement (any one): English as your primary language, or a letter from a counsellor or school official, or a school profile, showing English was the language of instruction (sent to adm_operations@lawrence.edu with the title “English Proficiency Waiver, student’s name”); TOEFL iBT overall minimum 80 (tests taken before 21 January 2026) or 4.0 on the new 1–6 scale (tests on or after 21 January 2026, approximate equivalent); IELTS 6.5 overall; Duolingo minimum 115; SAT evidence-based reading and writing 580; ACT English/Writing 24. Scores must be sent by the testing agency, not by the student or counsellor.
• Finances and aid: after applying, complete the Certification of Finances form in the portal no later than five days after the application deadline, with supporting documents such as a bank statement, an employer letter verifying parent income, a sponsor’s letter and bank statement, or a sponsor programme letter; no other form (such as the CSS Profile) is accepted. The pages say all admitted students receive a financial aid package with the admission letter, based on academic achievement, personal accomplishments and financial need, and that once awarded the scholarship and aid are guaranteed and renewed annually at the same level through graduation. Full scholarships are not available to international students, who must contribute to the cost.
• Language programme: the Pathways ESL programme has students take ESL coursework plus limited degree-level courses in the first year, then continue with general education and the major; the typical time to graduation for Pathways participants is four and a half to five years.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the website does not publish whether or how the Gaokao is considered; contact admissions (admissions@lawrence.edu).
• Transcripts and school-leaving materials: an official high school transcript with an English translation is required; no China-specific requirements are published. Transfer applicants with credit from non-US institutions need an evaluation by ECE or WES (section 9).
• English: see section 6; the website gives no list of waived countries, only the primary-language and language-of-instruction routes.
• Preparing for biology: the website gives no note on how Chinese high school biology, chemistry or mathematics courses correspond to Lawrence’s; ask admissions and the biology department.

8. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs and scholarships: see sections 5 and 6. The pages read list no scholarship specific to biology.
• Outcomes (the University’s wording): the outcomes page says graduates can pursue careers in research (molecular genetics, marine biology, human genetics and more), medicine, wildlife biology, nursing, veterinary medicine, physical therapy, sports medicine, genetic research, education, biotechnology, hospital administration, law and marine biology, and advanced degrees in marine biology, biology, biotechnology, ecology, medicine, microbiology, veterinary medicine, nursing, dentistry, law, physical therapy and business. Recent graduates’ destinations listed include a Ph.D. in biodiversity conservation and management at the University of Oxford, a Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology at UC Berkeley, a D.P.T. at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a J.D. at the University of Minnesota Law School and a Ph.D. in biophysics at Ohio State University; jobs include biologist at the US Geological Survey, environmental consultant at Earthworks Environmental, field technician at the National Ecological Observatory Network, research technologist at Johns Hopkins University and botany technician at the USDA Forest Service. The page prints no placement rate.

8. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs and scholarships: see sections 5 and 6. The pages read list no scholarship specific to biology.
• Outcomes (the University’s wording): the outcomes page says graduates can pursue careers in research (molecular genetics, marine biology, human genetics and more), medicine, wildlife biology, nursing, veterinary medicine, physical therapy, sports medicine, genetic research, education, biotechnology, hospital administration, law and marine biology, and advanced degrees in marine biology, biology, biotechnology, ecology, medicine, microbiology, veterinary medicine, nursing, dentistry, law, physical therapy and business. Recent graduates’ destinations listed include a Ph.D. in biodiversity conservation and management at the University of Oxford, a Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology at UC Berkeley, a D.P.T. at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a J.D. at the University of Minnesota Law School and a Ph.D. in biophysics at Ohio State University; jobs include biologist at the US Geological Survey, environmental consultant at Earthworks Environmental, field technician at the National Ecological Observatory Network, research technologist at Johns Hopkins University and botany technician at the USDA Forest Service. The page prints no placement rate.

9. Transfer students

• Applying: the Lawrence Application or the Common Application, free, with rolling admission. Domestic transfer deadlines are not printed in the pages read; ask admissions. The University offers one-on-one transfer consultations.
• International transfer students: the page says transfer applications are welcomed from international applicants who have attempted 12 or more college credits or hold an associate degree. Deadlines (no year is printed, so check): fall (September) 1 April (certification of finances 6 April, notification 15 May); winter (January) 23 September (finances the same day, notification 3 October); spring (April) 1 February (finances 6 February, notification 15 February). Official transcripts from all colleges are required; credits from non-US institutions need a course-by-course evaluation from ECE or WES, and a report can be sent before applying for a non-binding provisional assessment. English proficiency may be waived if the previous college taught in English.
• Credit and degree rules: the credit evaluation is provided after admission; the B.A. needs a minimum of 216 units; transfer students complete at least six terms (two years) in residence or on affiliated programmes and earn 108 units (about 18 courses). Students awarded 54 or more Lawrence units (no more than half from one department, with at least one course from three of the four divisions) can expect the First-Year Studies requirement to be waived. Students must live on campus, with a few exceptions such as fifth-year students. Special requirements for biology transfer students are not given in the pages read; the requirements page says online coursework cannot be transferred to earn biology credit; confirm with the department.
• Scholarships: transfer students are considered for merit and need-based aid; check the latest pages for amounts.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• ED 1 November; EA 1 December; ED 2 and RD 15 January; all three application routes are free; transcript and one teacher recommendation; testing optional
• FAFSA and the supplemental aid application; plan BIOL 130 or 135 and CHEM 115–116 (or 116 directly after placement) for the first year

International applicants (including China):

• English evidence (TOEFL iBT 80 or 4.0 on the new scale, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 115, SAT reading and writing 580, ACT English/Writing 24) or proof that English was the language of instruction; transcript with English translation; passport copy; Certification of Finances (CSS Profile not accepted)
• Whether the Gaokao is considered is not published

After entry:

• Declare by the end of sophomore year; BIOL 130/135/150/280, CHEM 116 and six biology courses at 200 level or above (four with labs); the Senior Experience and BioFest

Transfer students:

• Free application with rolling admission; international transfer deadlines by term; at least two years and 108 units in residence; credit is evaluated after admission

Sources: Lawrence University, Biology program; Biology: major and minor requirements; Biology: advising and support; Biology: outcomes; Admissions: apply; International admission requirements; International scholarships and aid; Aid and affordability; Scholarships; Tuition and fees; Transfer admissions; Transfer FAQ. Where the international pages show no year, check that the dates apply to fall 2027 entry and see the University’s website for the latest.