International Student Admissions Policy
It is the goal of Vernon College to make educational opportunities available to all students who can benefit from its programs. With such a goal, however, it is the commensurate responsibility to make every effort to assure that students can function within the institution with a reasonable chance for success. The purpose of the admissions policy for international students, therefore, is to recognize the difficulties students educated in a non-English speaking culture might have and to establish guidelines designed to afford international students a reasonable assurance that they can function in an institution of higher learning in the United States. Vernon College is approved by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to accept students seeking Associate Degrees at the Vernon Campus and Century City Center.
Students who still reside in the U.S. and have fallen out of F-1 status at a previous institution will need to apply for reinstatement to F-1 status at that institution before applying to Vernon College. Students who have fallen out of F-1 status will not be accepted to Vernon College until F-1 status has occurred or the student has departed the country and reapplied for F-1 status.
Admission Requirements for International Students
- Complete the application for admission and include the $50 application fee.
- Provide to the Admissions and Records Office official transcripts. Official secondary school records/transcripts are required. If college coursework has been completed then official transcripts of all college coursework are required and secondary school transcripts are not required. If the records are not recorded in English, an English translation of the records acceptable to VC must also be included. All academic records and translations must be certified as true copies by a notary public, officials of the institutions attended, a representative of a U.S. consular office, or a U.S. consular official. International students who have attended college/university in the U.S. and completed coursework need to submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, and are not required to submit transcripts from their country. International student athletes need to provide official high school transcripts with a graduation date.
- Furnish the Admissions and Records Office a signed and certified statement of financial resources accessible in the U.S. in an amount not less than $19,200.00 per year of anticipated enrollment. It is imperative that adequate financial support is prearranged for the entire length of study. Financial aid programs are not available to international students. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement rarely approves a work permit for an international student.
- Applicants from non-English speaking cultures should request that the Educational Testing Service forward the results of the applicant’s Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) to VC. The institution requires a minimum TOEFL written score of 525, computerized score of 197, or internet score of 71, for unconditional admission.
- Applicants who have successfully completed at least 12 semester hours of college-level work at an accredited college or university in the United States may be admitted without the results of the TOEFL. Transfer applicants meeting this qualification should have official college transcripts forwarded to VC in addition to the documents specified in items 1 and 3.
- The application for admission must be received at least 90 days prior to the beginning of the semester of intended enrollment. All admissions documents must be received by the Admissions and Records Office at least 60 days prior to the beginning of the semester so that a decision can be made concerning the applicant’s admission and an I-20 may be issued for use in applying for a student visa.
- International students must provide proof of good health and proof of immunizations, including Bacterial Meningitis (Texas) requirement. It is strongly recommended that international students purchase a health insurance policy.
- International students can begin classes in either the Fall or Spring semesters.
- Before registration, student skills must be assessed in reading, writing, and mathematics. The assessment results will be used to determine eligibility to take specific courses.
- International students must be enrolled full-time with only one online course.
- Upon arrival to the U.S., international students must meet with the Director of Enrollment Management/Registrar or Assistant Registrar before registration to go over additional requirements.
- International students must meet with the Director of Enrollment Management/Registrar or Assistant Registrar before registration every semester.