Gettysburg College: “Do Great Work”

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Gettysburg College, founded in 1832, is a private liberal arts institution in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The campus is strategically located near several major cities including Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC. Gettysburg College consistently ranks among the top liberal arts colleges in the United States. It is known for its rigorous academic programs, vibrant campus life, and deep historical roots. The college was significantly impacted by the Civil War, the campus being mere steps away from the iconic battlefields that shaped our nation’s history.

On July 1, 1863, the college was near the center of the Battle of Gettysburg, where elements of both Union and Confederate armies passed through the campus. Pennsylvania Hall served as a hospital for soldiers from both sides, and the college was occupied by Confederate forces. Despite the chaos, Gettysburg College continued to operate, albeit with limited students remaining on campus during the battle, as many students left to join the war effort. The college has since become a site of historical significance, particularly in relation to the Civil War era, and it sits adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park.

Fun Facts

Academic Excellence & Interdisciplinary Learning

Gettysburg has a reputation for rigorous academics and offers unique interdisciplinary programs like the Cross-Disciplinary Science Institute, which encourages students to tackle complex problems across fields.
Students can even design their own majors, and faculty mentorship is a big part of the experience.

Leadership & Civic Engagement

The Eisenhower Institute, inspired by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, promotes nonpartisan discourse and leadership development through fellowships, expert panels, and symposia.
The Garthwait Leadership Center helps students cultivate ethical leadership skills through experiential learning.

Sunderman Conservatory of Music

Gettysburg is known for its music program, offering access to renowned artists, study abroad opportunities, and a rich performance culture.
Sunderman Conservatory offers several unique music classes including The Eras of Taylor Swift (Music Class 136), and a survey of Video Game Music: Style, Technology, and Culture (Music Class 170).

Community & Service

Gettysburg College has about 2,600 students, with roughly equal numbers of men and women, living in a residential college environment that fosters personal relationships and community.
The Center for Public Service fosters social justice through partnerships, education, and action—making service a core part of student life.

Location & History

The college is located in the historic town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, surrounded by one of the most iconic sites in American history.
Students can elect to take a semester-long immersion in Civil War academic study, and/or pursue a unique interdisciplinary minor in Civil War Era Studies.

Ghost Lore

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is a hotspot for ghost tours, and the college is often featured in these. In fact, if you ask paranormal enthusiasts, Gettysburg College is one of the most haunted campuses in America. Author Mark Nesbitt’s Ghosts of Gettysburg: Spirits, Apparitions and Haunted Places of the Battlefield highlights several sightings of paranormal activity on the campus.

The college sits adjacent to the Gettysburg Battlefield, the site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. By the time it was over, there were 51,000 casualties on both sides. Of these, 7,058 were fatalities (3,155 Union, 3,903 Confederate) and over 10,000 were missing. Consequently, the area is saturated with tragic history and ghostly legends.

Phantom Soldiers: Students and staff have reported seeing ghostly figures in dorms and administrative buildings. Some even claim to hear moaning, footsteps, and voices when no one is around.

Pennsylvania Hall: This building was used as a field hospital during the battle. Numerous reports describe people stepping into the elevator and finding themselves in a vivid Civil War scene—complete with bloodied surgeons and wounded soldiers. Then, just as suddenly, it vanishes.

Time Slips: One of the eerier phenomena includes people allegedly “stepping back in time,” experiencing scenes from the 1800s as if they were happening in real time.

Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, the stories are compelling enough to make you think twice before wandering the halls alone at night.

Homeschool Admissions

Gettysburg College is highly selective, but every year the college accepts a number of homeschooled students who share the community’s drive to “Do Great Work.” Students who have been homeschooled are welcome to apply to Gettysburg College. Please submit the following with your Common Application:

A transcript from a reputable home-school correspondence program, or a detailed roster (including subject areas studied, texts used, and time spent on each discipline) of academic coursework at the secondary level. Classes taken during the senior year at a local two- or four-year college or university are highly valued and transcripts should be included with the application.
A short narrative, written by the person other than yourself who has been most responsible for your academic life, describing the nature of your secondary-level education. This document should not be a recommendation, but rather a description of your instruction in recent years.
In addition to the admissions essay, a graded paper in an academic area of your choosing is required.
A letter of reference from a tutor, evaluator, or teacher who is not a family member.
SAT and/or ACT scores are recommended.