The Andrews University Gateway Program provides an alternative academic pathway for students who do not meet the standard criteria for regular admission but demonstrate the potential for collegiate success. Designed to offer robust support and structured guidance, the program equips students with the foundational skills necessary to thrive at the university level.
To be considered for the Gateway Program, applicants must have completed a specified minimum curriculum in high school. This includes three years of English and two years each of social sciences/history, science, and mathematics (Algebra I and higher). Academically, candidates must possess a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 2.25 or higher, with no failing grades in the curriculum classes on their transcript.
The application process is holistic, requiring candidates to submit a minimum six-semester unofficial transcript (followed by a final official transcript), a list of their 12th-grade classes and three academic references from high school faculty or administration. Furthermore, applicants must write a 500-word personal essay detailing their past experiences, future aspirations and how Andrews University will aid in achieving their goals. These documents are reviewed by the Gateway Committee, which then refers the student’s acceptance to the Admissions Committee for final decision.
The Gateway experience officially begins with the mandatory Summer Bridge Program, the cost of which is included in the upcoming semester’s tuition. This three-week academic program provides essential developmental instruction in reading, writing and mathematics, alongside a college-readiness course, earning students three credits that count toward their graduation requirement. During this time, pre- and post-assessments are administered to determine academic placement for the fall.
Throughout the academic year, students are closely advised by the Gateway Program director and paired with a student mentor. To foster a manageable transition, students are limited to 12 credit hours per semester, focusing primarily on foundational general education courses. Participants are expected to maintain an overall minimum GPA of 2.5 with no D’s, F’s, withdrawals or deferred grades. Falling short of this benchmark results in increased academic counseling during the current semester and subsequent semester.
To ensure students remain focused on their academic goals, the program establishes specific boundaries for extracurricular involvement. Participants are limited to working at most 12 hours per week while classes are in session. Additionally, they may not join Office of Athletics teams or any music ensemble tours that conflict with classes, though they are welcome to participate in intramural sports and the non-touring aspects of music ensembles.
Financially, Gateway students are supported by an Andrews Partnership Scholarship (APS) of $8,000 minimum per year ($4,000 per semester). At the end of their freshman year, students are also granted the opportunity to take a summer “May Express” course at no additional cost. Upon successful completion of the Gateway program’s requirements, students officially join their academic program, receive a new academic advisor and continue receiving their APS scholarship level for up to ten total undergraduate semesters.