 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Frequently Asked International Student Admissions Questions 1. When is DSU’s application deadline? There is no application deadline for admission to Dickinson State University. Applications and the required supporting documents can be submitted on a rolling basis. However, we do recommend that you submit all of your documents to us by May 1st for admission to the Fall Semester and October 1st for admission to the Spring Semester. The Fall Semester typically begins in late August and the Spring Semester begins in early January. When considering attending an American university, applicants should consider the amount of time it takes to receive official admissions documents, schedule a visa appointment, book flights to the United States, and request funds to be wired for fee payments. Times will vary from country to country. Whenever possible, students are encouraged to complete the application online at www.dickinsonstate.edu/international.asp and scan and email their supporting documents to Ms. Desiree Johnson, Administrative Secretary at desiree.m.johnson@dickinsonstate.edu. 2. Does DSU offer an application fee waiver? No. All students are required to pay the application fee. However, we do not require payment of the application fee until students arrive on campus so we will still process your application without receipt of payment. 3. Will DSU translate my documents for me? No. It is the applicant’s responsibility to have all documents translated to English. DSU will not accept documents without an English translation accompanying them. Moreover, we will not accept translated documents without a copy of the document in its original language. 4. What is the minimum Grade Point Average requirement for admission? Dickinson State University does not have a minimum GPA requirement for admission to our university. However, only those students who have completed secondary school or its equivalent and achieve the minimum TOEFL score will be considered for admission. International students must present proof of secondary school completion such as a Leaving Certificate or General Secondary School Certificate of Completion. All students are required to complete official DSU placement exams in Math and English upon arrival and prior to enrollment. Results of these exams will determine the proper course placement you require and you will be prohibited from taking certain required courses until you can achieve proficiency in these two areas. 5. Does DSU require completion of A Levels or its equivalent for admission? No. Dickinson State University recognizes A Levels as an equivalent to university coursework. (In some cases, students may receive credit for successful completion of certain A Level Subjects). Therefore, we do not require completion of A Levels to consider you for admission to our university. Dickinson State University is a four-year institution which provides first year students with the necessary foundation courses they need to be successful throughout their university experience. 6. Will DSU waive the TOEFL score requirement if I am from an English speaking country? Yes. We will waive the TOEFL requirement for applicants who come from English speaking countries. In some cases, we will also waive the TOEFL requirement for students who have completed their secondary school studies at an institution that used English as its primary language of instruction. Our TOEFL institution code is 6477 and our score requirements are as follows:
Canadian students are required to take the ACT. Our institutional code is 3210. 7. Does DSU offer conditional admission if I cannot achieve the minimum TOEFL score? Dickinson State University will accept formal written requests for conditional admission. Favorable decisions will be given to those students who have demonstrated intermediate English proficiency, as exhibited by your TOEFL score. Applicants must also submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor who can attest to your ability to be successful in a university setting where English is the primary language of instruction. Students who are offered conditional admission will not be eligible for the Global Awareness Tuition Waiver until after successful completion of 12 credits of university courses with a minimum Grade Point Average of 2.00. 8. Does DSU have an ESL program? Dickinson State University does not offer an intensive ESL program and requires students to have sufficient language skills prior to admission. We may offer language support courses on an as needed basis but these courses are designed to assist students with intermediate to high level language proficiency. Students may utilize the Writing Center to help them improve their written communication skills. 9. When can I expect an answer from DSU about my admission decision? Due to the volume of inquiries and documents we receive on a daily basis, applicants will be notified within one week’s time that we have received and reviewed their documents. Applicants will also be provided with an updated checklist of missing items. Students who have been admitted to DSU will receive notification by email and letter. Whenever possible, applicants who are eligible to receive an I-20 will receive an electronic version to review for accuracy before we mail the paper version. You may also pay your SEVIS fee using the number that is located on the electronic version. 10. Do I need to demonstrate sufficient funds to receive admission to DSU? No. DSU does not require these documents for the purpose of admitting you as a student to our institution. However, we cannot issue you a Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility until you complete the Declaration of Finances and submit an Official Bank Statement showing sufficient funds for at least one full year of studies. These are requirements established by the United States Citizen and Immigration Service (USCIS). Students are required to present the same documents at your visa interview or upon entering the United States. Canadian students are also required by USCIS to submit these documents prior to issuance of a Form I-20. 11. Will DSU pay the SEVIS fee on my behalf? No. Students are required to pay their own SEVIS fee and may pay online at www.fmjfee.com. If you do not have a credit card, you should consult with the US Embassy that has jurisdiction over your permanent residence. They may have made arrangements with a local bank or agency to collect the fee. Remember, you cannot make your visa appointment without paying the SEVIS fee. 12. Do Canadian students need to pay the SEVIS fee even though we do not need a visa to enter the US? Yes. Canadian students are subject to the same rules and regulations as other international students studying in the US. You must have a copy of your SEVIS receipt upon entering the US and some ports of entries will also require that Canadian students present financial documents plus an original I-20 and proof of admission to Dickinson State University before you can enter the country. 13. Will DSU send my acceptance letter and I-20 to me by Federal Express, UPS, or DHL? It is our policy to send all admissions related documents, including the Certificate of Eligibility Form I-20, by airmail. Delivery time may vary from country to country but we estimate between 3 to 6 weeks for receipt of our mail. This is why we encourage applicants to submit all of their documents to us as soon as possible. In the event that you require your documents sent by Federal Express, UPS, or DHL, you must pay for the service before DSU will engage their services. Some companies will allow you to pay them directly for delivery. If you are not able to make arrangements directly with the companies, you must complete a credit card authorization document giving DSU permission to charge your card for the cost of delivering your documents to you by express courier. 14. Does DSU require fees to be paid prior to my arrival? No. All fees, with the exception of the international student health insurance fee, are charged on a semester basis. In other words, you will pay for half of your tuition and fees at the start of each semester. Students have a two-week grace period to pay off balances owed and are required to settle their accounts on arrival. Failure to pay will result in denial of services and termination of your student status. DSU accepts cash, traveler’s checks, checks drawn from an American bank, credit card, or wire payments. We recommend students begin the process of converting foreign currency to US currency as soon as they have committed to attending DSU and have secured the appropriate travel documents. Please refer to your Declaration of Finances for the estimated annual cost of attendance. Students who wish to pay their fees in advance are welcome to do so by bank wire. Please contact Mark Lowe at Mark.Lowe@dickinsonstate.edu for more information. 15. I am working with a Study Abroad Agent in my home country who claims that only their students can receive the Global Awareness Tuition Waiver. Is this true? No. You do not need to work through a Study Abroad Agency in order to be considered for admission or receive the Global Awareness Tuition Waiver. Moreover, we do not offer higher scholarships to students who apply to our university through an agency. If you are working with an agency that claims to have a special relationship with us, please email Ms. Thy Yang, Director of Multicultural Affairs at thy.yang@dickinsonstate.edu to confirm the legitimacy of that relationship. A good Study Abroad Agency is one that will help you with the entire process. They should do the following:
Study Abroad Agencies are useful and can help expedite a lengthy and sometimes complicated admission and visa process. It is normal for some agencies to charge students a fee to use their services and DSU does not find this practice to be unethical. Students and families should carefully consider which services they need prior to engaging in a contract with a Study Abroad Agent. If you are ever in doubt, contact us! |
