Our Student Body
Outer Coast students are intellectually curious, community-minded, and driven to create positive change in their lives and communities.
Outer Coast seeks to serve a student body that is national and international in breadth and diverse in many ways, including racial, ethnic, cultural, and gender identities, and socioeconomic status. Outer Coast emphasizes reaching students from across Alaska, particularly Alaska Natives and rural Alaskans, as well as other high-potential students from backgrounds underrepresented and underserved in American higher education.
Admissions at Outer Coast are need-blind.
Eligibility
High school seniors and graduates (or GED holders) who have not yet completed a postsecondary degree are eligible to apply for admission into the Outer Coast two-year undergraduate cohort.
Current high school sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply for the Summer Seminar, as well as graduating seniors from Alaska.
Application Process
2024-2025 academic year
We have opened the application for acceptance into the first two year undergraduate cohort at Outer Coast. Applications are read on a rolling basis and priority consideration will be given to applications submitted on or before January 1, 2024, 11:59 pm AKDT.
Feel free to reach out to appcomm@outercoast.org if you have any questions about Outer Coast or your application.
2024 Summer Seminar
The Summer Seminar application process consists of a written application and an interview. All applications are reviewed thoroughly and holistically by the joint student-staffulty Applications Committee (AppComm).
The written application includes a number of short-answer questions and one essay question. We also ask for a high school transcript and at least one recommendation from a teacher. The written application is intended to give applicants the opportunity to demonstrate their interest in Outer Coast, their preparedness academically and socially for the Outer Coast community, and their ability to persevere through challenges.
Within two weeks of submitting the written application, applicants may be invited to an interview with 2-3 members of AppComm. AppComm aims to create a welcoming environment during the interview, in which the main goal is to learn more about the applicant and their interest in joining the Outer Coast community. Applicants may bring any and all questions they have about Outer Coast to the interview in addition to the questions AppComm members will have for applicants.
The application cycle for the 2024 Summer Seminar is not yet open.
Mail-in Application
In addition to the online application, Outer Coast offers the option for applicants to mail in their application.
If you would like to apply to Outer Coast by mail, you may request a printed application by emailing info@outercoast.org. Applications should be mailed to Outer Coast at PO Box 6573, Sitka, AK 99835.
Plan a Visit
Interested in visiting us in Sitka? Learn more about planning a visit by clicking the link below.