Enrollment/Admission Planning_International Students

Read this document to learn about entering college as an international student. 

International students 

If you’re an international student, your home country may be in North America, such as Canada or Mexico, or it may be in Europe, Asia, Africa, or other continents. 

Freshman International Students

You are considered a freshman in the U.S. if you have not completed college work in your home country or elsewhere in the U.S.

Transfer International Students

You are considered a transfer student in the U.S. if you have completed a minimum of one semester of college work--at a minimum--in your home country. Your transcripts will be evaluated to determine if your prior academic work will transfer into your new college. Some colleges and universities require your transcripts to be reviewed by an international credentialing evaluation agency and others have in-house evaluators. 

You will need to request that official transcripts be sent to the U.S. institutions you are considering for transfer. If your transcripts are not recorded in English, be sure to request an official English version of your transcripts. If you have syllabi from previous courses you’ve taken, be sure to bring them with you in case the faculty have questions about areas you studied.

English Language

If English is not your first language, you will need to demonstrate that you have proficiency in reading, writing and speaking English. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is available at most colleges for those who need to demonstrate English proficiency.

Next steps: Research the websites of colleges you’re considering. Find out if they have an office that assists international students with admission, enrollment, adjustment to the U.S., English proficiency, multi-cultural events, and other services. In addition, check to see how your credits will be evaluated.