Meredith College welcomes students from across the world – currently we have students enrolled from 19 countries. We believe that our entire academic community benefits from having different ideas, experiences and cultures represented on campus.

If you would like to study in the United States, Meredith offers you a strong academic program and a friendly atmosphere. Here, you’ll be mentored by committed professors and find opportunities to conduct in-depth research through our undergraduate research program. You’ll also make new friends, develop new skills and discover gifts you didn’t know you had.

As a small community, we are able to provide a high level of personalized attention to our international students. For more information, visit the International Students web site.

Admission Requirements and Procedures

Requirements
In the admissions process, consideration is given to the school record, including courses taken, grades obtained, and class rank; proficiency in the English language, as measured by the Test of English as a Foreign language (TOEFL); and recommendation from school officials and other references. An international student who is admitted will also be required to give proof of financial responsibility for her education and to submit a complete health form. Each enrolling student must also have adequate medical insurance.

Procedures
An international student should apply well in advance of the time she wishes to enter the College. This allows Meredith staff to process all of the required pieces of a student's application, allowing enough time to review financial documents and process an I-20 in time for students to get a visa from their local U.S. consulate. Students may apply for the fall semester, which begins in August, or for the spring semester, which begins in January. The student should take the following steps to complete an application.

1. Complete fully and return the Meredith College application for admission, along with the $40 application fee (non-refundable).
   
2. Have the appropriate school official(s) forward an official copy of the secondary-school record, complete with a listing of courses taken, grades obtained, credit received and rank in class; college or university transcript(s) if the student has taken any advanced work; and any degree, diploma or education certificate received. These records should include the results of any national or external examinations taken by the student. If the original transcripts are not provided in English, an official English translation is required. Also, see #6 below.
   
3. Give evidence of proficiency in the English language by submitting official scores (minimum accepted score of a 173 on the computer-based test or 61 on the Internet-based test) on the test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The exam should be taken within 18 months of the date the student wishes to enroll. TOEFL is administered at various times during the year throughout the world by the Education Testing Service. Visit the TOEFL website at www.toefl.org to register. TOEFL registration forms are also available at most offices of the United States Information Services (USIS), United States educational commissions and foundations abroad, and bi-national centers. See #4 below if English is the native language or primary language of instruction. The college code number for having test scores (TOEFL or SAT) sent to Meredith is 5410.
   
4. If the student's native language or primary language of instruction is English, take the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT-1) of The College Board. Arrangements for taking the SAT can be made through The College Board. Visit the SAT website at www.sat.org
   
5. Send recommendations, as requested on the application form. Reference forms are provided with the application for admission.
   
6. If a student wants credit for any prior university-level work from a foreign university, she must provide a course-by-course evaluation of her academic documents complied by a World Education Services (WES), www.wes.org. Students wishing to use other credential evaluations should first check with Meredith Admissions to see if these evaluations will be accepted.

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When all records are complete, the admissions office will review the application and notify the applicant or its decision on her application. If the student is admitted, she must then meet the following requirements:

1. Give evidence that she and her family have financial resources for her education at Meredith College by filing a complete Certificate of Financial Responsibility for International Students. This form and financial documentation in the form of original bank statements and/or official letters from a bank on bank letter head must be provided. These documents, along with a $100 confirmation deposit, must be received before the college staff will issue a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20). The I-20 form is necessary for the student to obtain a student visa (also called an F-1 visa) form from
   the U.S. Consulate
   
2. Submit a completed Meredith College health form, which is also sent with the acceptance letter.
   
3. Provide proof of adequate medical insurance or be prepared to purchase a Meredith approved insurance plan upon arrival.

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Student Expenses
The minimum estimated cost of attending Meredith College as a campus resident for 2005-2006 is as follows:

Academic Year
(Mid-August to Mid-May)
Tuition and Fees (including Technology fee) $22,400
Room and Board $6,300
Books and Supplies $750
Personal Expenses (Clothing, Laundry, Personal Items, Entertainment) $1,250
Medical Insurance $575
Local Transportation $400
Other: Allowance for expenses during in-school vacation periods $525

MINIMUM ESTIMATED TOTAL $32,200

***The above expenses cover the costs for tuition, fees, living expenses, and books for the regular school year. If you do not plan to attend the summer sessions, you should still plan for resources adequate to cover living expenses for three months (minimum estimate $3,200). If you are planning to attend summer school, you should plan for having the funds to cover $525 per credit hour for tuition plus $3,200 for living expenses. These figures represent an estimate of a minimum budget and do not include transportation to and from this country or any extraordinary expenses for clothing due to a different climate. Costs in subsequent years are expected to rise incrementally, and the international student should allow for a yearly increase in planning her budget. We suggest you plan for a minimum increase of one thousand, five hundred dollars ($1,500) per year. Students who do not have adequate insurance coverage for their time in the U.S. will be required to purchase an approved health insurance plan upon arrival.

Financial Assistance
Financial aid resources for international students are limited in both type and amount at Meredith. The student and her family should be prepared to assume the primary responsibility for financing her education. International students may apply for the following types of aid:

1. Scholarships - Each year the College makes available for international students a few scholarships ranging up to $1,500 in amount, depending on the need of the individual student and funds available. A student receiving such an award could expect her assistance to be renewed in subsequent years provided she 1) reapplies for the aid and still has financial need and 2) is eligible to return to the College. International students are also eligible for merit based scholarships which range from $1,000-$10,000.
   
2. On-campus Work - An international student may apply for part-time work up to 20 hours a week on campus, which would not conflict with her course of study. However, a foreign student can be placed in a job only if she does not displace a United States citizen. Therefore, positions are not guaranteed. It is not recommended that an international student work during her first year at the College and positions are rarely available in her first semester on campus. If placed in a campus job, a student could expect to earn approximately $1,500 per year that she could apply either to her college fees or to the personal expenses at the College.

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Visa Information
When an accepted applicant is issued an I-20 form, she should present it to the United States Consul in her area to request an "F" visa (the student visa). Once admitted, Meredith will provide international students with helpful advice on applying for a visa but it is the individual student's responsibility to schedule an appointment with the local U.S. consulate in her country and find out the individual visa requirements for that consulate. Since it can take up to 3 months to get a visa appointment in some consulates, we recommend you contact them well in advance for an appointment. Please note that you will again be required to show original financial documents, so you should obtain duplicates when getting the ones for Meredith.

Student Services
At Meredith an international student will find a friendly community interested in her personal development and growth. The foreign student advisor provides the student helpful information in advance of enrollment and works with her on campus in many matters of personal concern. The advisor and officers of the Meredith International Association (MIA) also provide assistance and various social activities. Along with the foreign students advisor, they seek to promote better cultural exchange in the Meredith family and in the wider Raleigh area. A member of the faculty serves as academic advisor for each student; the advisor helps the student plan a curriculum best suited for her needs. Members of the student development staff are available for counseling in areas of student life, career interests and personal concerns. The health center provides minimal health care and arranges off-campus medical care when needed.

All correspondence should be addressed to:
Meredith College
Office of Admissions
3800 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27607-5298

Telephone Number: (919) 760-8581
Fax Number: (919) 760-2348
E-mail: admissions@meredith.edu

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