What Is Conditional Admission in the United States?
Are you an international student interested in applying to a university or college in the United States? Do you feel limited by your TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test scores? Do not let your low test scores stop you from applying! There are “conditional admission” programs available to help international students boost their English language proficiency so that they can continue their education in the U.S.
Many colleges and universities in the U.S. offer conditional admission to undergraduates, graduates, and transfer students to fulfill a specific requirement that they do not currently meet. Conditional admissions, also referred to as conditional acceptances, are available for a variety of reasons, including to grant extra time to international students to improve their English skills.
What Is Conditional Admission?
Conditional admission may be offered to international students who are academically qualified to be admitted to a university, but who do not meet the minimum English language requirements for full admission. Once an applicant successfully fulfills their requirement(s), they are granted full admission.
Not all universities offer conditional admission, so it is important that you research which schools offer this policy before applying. For example, some schools only have a conditional admission policy for certain programs or levels of study.
If you are conditionally accepted to a program, you can still apply for financial aid, a student visa, and student housing. In fact, conditional admission provides students with documentation, including the Form I-20, to use when applying for an F-1 visa.
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General Steps to Apply for Conditional Admission
- Apply to a college or university.
Remember the documents you must provide will vary depending on the university and level of study, so be mindful of the terms and conditions for conditional admission. Also, stay abreast of the time limit the university sets for your conditional admission!
- Fulfill the requirements.
Once you receive your conditional admission letter, your school may require you to complete an Intensive English Program (IEP) or other requirement. These programs are designed to help students become proficient in English, a skill that is necessary for succeeding inside and outside the classroom.
- Contact the Admissions Office.
Once the criteria for admission requirements have been fulfilled, contact the admissions officer in charge of your status. Then, ask them to update your admissions status from conditional to full-time. Finally, follow up and ask them to confirm that the change has been made.
Some Universities to Consider
If you are interested in conditional admission for international students, the universities below are a good starting point:
- American University
- Augustana College
- Boston University
- Central Connecticut State University
- Clark University
- DePaul University
- Fairleigh Dickinson University
- Florida Southern College
- Georgia State University
- Hanover College
- Indiana University
- Iowa State University
- James Madison University
- Lawrence University
- Luther College
- Marquette University
- Michigan State University
- Navitas at University of Massachusetts Boston
- Neumann University
- North Dakota State University
- Northeastern University
- Notre Dame de Namur University
- Ohio University
- Oregon State University
- Pittsburg State University
- Purdue University
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- Roger Williams University
- San Diego State University
- Seattle University
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale
- Saint Michael’s College
- St. Norbert College
- Stony Brook University
- Syracuse University
- The Institute of Culinary Education
- The Ohio State University
- Troy University
- California State University East Bay
- University of Delaware
- University of Florida
- University of Iowa
- University of Oregon
- University of Southern Indiana
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- University of Nevada
- University of Texas
- University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire
- Westminster College
- Wake Forest University
Throughout the process, it is important to stay in contact with the school’s admissions office. Let them know if you have any questions, problems, or concerns. Remember, they are there to assist you!
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