Participation in the Adirondack Semester is a privilege, and admission to the program is competitive.

Applicants must be willing to commit to an ethos of temporary removal from urban and campus amenities, that is, to a semester without cars, television, internet, or alcohol. Students will share responsibility for cooking and cleaning in addition to academic work. Those currently on disciplinary, social or academic probation are not eligible to apply for the Adirondack Semester program.

Applications will be judged according to the following criteria: the overall academic record and interests of the candidate, the quality of the essays in the application, the strength of two recommendations (one from a faculty member and another from an individual who is not a faculty member), and the level of maturity, responsibility and genuine interest the candidate brings to this particular program.