International
Meredith College welcomes students from across the world – currently we have students enrolled representing 45 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.
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) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS); and recommendations from a school official and an academic teacher. 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. Complete applications for fall admission should be received by February 15; for spring admission by November 1. The student should take the following steps to complete an application.
- Complete fully and return the Meredith College application for admission, along with the $40 application fee (non-refundable).
- 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. If submitting university transcripts, see below.
- Give evidence of proficiency in the English language by submitting official scores on the TOEFL (minimum accepted score of a 173 on the computer-based test or 61 on the Internet-based test) or the IELTS (minimum score of 6). The exam should be taken within 18 months of the date the student wishes to enroll. Meredith College's code for test takers is 5410.
- If the student's native language or primary language of instruction is English, take the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) of The College Board.
- Send a school official recommendation and an academic teacher recommendation. Relevant forms are provided within the application.
- Students who are submitting university transcripts must also provide an independent course-by-course evaluation for our Registrar. Options for independent course evaluation services include World Education Services (WES) and Education Evaluators International (EEI). Students wishing to use other credential evaluations should first check with Meredith Admissions to see if these evaluations will be accepted.
Decision notification begins on a rolling basis in November. Applicants are invited to come for a visit and experience life as a Meredith student. To schedule a visit, call 1(919)760-8581 or email requests to the Office of Admissions.
When all records are complete, the Office of Admissions will review the application and notify the applicant of its decision on her application. If the student is admitted, she must then meet the following requirements:
- 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 non-refundable $100 deposit, must be received before the College 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.
- Submit a completed Meredith College health form, found in the enrollment handbook.
- Provide proof of adequate medical insurance or be prepared to purchase a Meredith approved insurance plan upon arrival.
The minimum estimated cost of attending Meredith College as a campus resident for 2012-13 is as follows:
Academic Year (Mid-August to Mid-May)
- Tuition and Fees (including Technology fee) $29,190
- Room and Board $8,340
- Books and Supplies $850
- Personal Expenses (Clothing, Laundry, Personal Items, Entertainment) $1,250
- Medical Insurance $900
- Local Transportation $590
MINIMUM ESTIMATED TOTAL $41,120
Note: 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 to have the funds to cover all credit hours. These figures represent an estimate of a minimum budget and do not include transportation to and from this country or any personal expenses. 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 4-6 percent of tuition 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 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:
- Scholarships - Each year the College makes available for international students a few scholarships ranging 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 $2,000-$14,000.
- 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. Position availablility, however, is not guaranteed. 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 her personal expenses.
- 2012-13 International Student Financial Assistance Application
When an accepted applicant is issued an I-20 form, she should present it to the United States Consulate 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. 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 securing the documents for Meredith.
At Meredith, an international student will find a friendly community interested in her personal development and growth. The international 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 international student advisors, they seek to promote better cultural exchange in the Meredith family and in the greater 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
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
On the student videos page, you can hear several Meredith students respond to some of the questions most commonly asked by prospective students.
The students featured are Codi Weber, '12, Janice Trotter, '13, Monserrat Alvarez, '14 and Mengjie Zhang, '12. To facilitate communication with families whose first language is not English, Monserrat answers the questions in Spanish and Mengjie responds in Chinese.
