Toccoa Falls College values diversity and encourages international students to seek admission. This college is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students. (Code of Federal Regulations 8CFR 214.3(k) and Section 101(a)(15)(F).) Federal law requires international students admitted to the United States on an F-1 Student Visa to enroll as full-time students, carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester and pursue a “full course of study” towards a specific educational or professional objective. The following information describes the type of student qualified to submit application to Toccoa Falls College.
- Freshman: Those who have not attended college or university or have not graduated from a secondary (high) school.
- Transfer: Those who have attended post-secondary academic institution(s) after high school and have earned at least 24 transferable credit hours.
- Second Degree Seeking: Those who hold a bachelor’s degree and will enroll in undergraduate courses to earn another undergraduate degree. Applicants must submit the same documentation and meet the same requirements as an international transfer student.
Applicants may enter Toccoa Falls College at any semester. However, it is recommended that students enter the Fall Semester. Toccoa Falls College admits qualified international students, who have submitted all application materials by the following preferred deadlines; however, admission decisions are made as files are completed. The deadlines allow time for overseas mailing, immigration issues, and evaluating credits.
Fall Semester preferred deadline - July 15
Spring Semester preferred deadline – December 1
Once an admission decision is made, an official letter will be sent directly to the student informing them. Toccoa Falls College encourages the pursuit of current legal status prior to applying. Even though a student may be accepted to Toccoa Falls College, they will not be allowed to enroll until they have obtained legal status. Those who are presently in the United States but do not have current legal status must obtain current legal status before enrollment at Toccoa Falls College. Those who are in the United States on another form of Visa should contact a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) Center about how to proceed before enrollment at Toccoa Falls College. USCIS offices can be located at this link or they may be contacted at 1-800-375-5283.
Students wishing to attend Toccoa Falls College should proceed as follows. All documents should be sent to the following address:
Toccoa Falls College
Office of Admissions
P.O. Box 800-899
Toccoa Falls, GA 30598
Application for Admission
Students must complete the Application for Admission, providing all information requested.
Students must submit a $25 (USD) application fee with the Application for Admission.
Students can pay the application fee with Visa, MasterCard, or American Express credit cards or by money order.
The college will not process applications it receives without the application fee.
Applicants must also submit a testimony of at least 250 words with the Application for Admission. The testimony should describe the applicant’s relationship with Jesus Christ, personal experience of conversion, and spiritual growth since conversion.
Pastoral Reference
The college requires a Pastoral recommendation for all applicants.
Students must provide the name and e-mail address of the applicant’s pastor on the application form. In addition, it is the student’s responsibility to download the Pastoral Reference Form and forward to the individual who will be completing the reference.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Toccoa Falls College does not offer English as a Second Language (ESL) courses at this time. Therefore, it is required of all international students to submit certified, translated, official copies of all academic records as part of the application review process. Since all instruction, reading, and research is in English, it is essential that all international students be able to understand and speak English fluently immediately upon arrival on campus. International applicants whose primary language of instruction was not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The Toccoa Falls College school code is 5799. Official test scores must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions. The minimum acceptable score is 550 for the paper-based score, 213 for the computer-based.
Students can obtain information regarding the TOEFL by contacting:
TOEFL Services
Educational Testing Services
Box 6151
Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6151
www.toefl.org
Transcripts
High School Students
If the applicant will enter Toccoa Falls College before earning 24 transferable semester hours from any college or university, original or certified copies of the applicant’s academic records must be sent directly from the high school or secondary school to the Office of Admissions.
These records should include details of courses taken and grades earned.
Students are required to obtain and provide certified English translations by an official translation service of any records that are not in English. (See recommended translation services below)
University Students
If the applicant attended a college or university following secondary school, an official transcript from each institution that shows courses taken and grades earned must be submitted.
The transcripts submitted must be either original documents or certified copies of the originals and must be sent directly from the institution to the Office of Admissions.
Certified English translations by an official translation service must accompany any records that are not in English.
Transcript Translations
Records not in English must be accompanied by a literal English translation. Translation services may be obtained through the following:
Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.
International Education Consultants
7101 SW 102 Avenue
Miami, FL 33173
United States of America
Phone 305-273-1616
Fax 305-273-1338
E-mail. Info@jsilny.com
www.jsilney.com
Transcript Evaluations
AACRAO Foreign Education Credential Services must evaluate all high school, college or university level work completed outside the United States.
The evaluation process can take two to six weeks.
The Office of Admissions must receive the evaluation of your international credits by the application deadline for your anticipated term of enrollment.
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
International Education Services
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 520
Washington, D.C. 20036-1135
Email: oies@aacrao.org
Phone: (202)296-3359
FAX: (202)822-3940
http://www.aacrao.org/
Admissions Decision
Upon receipt of all items in Steps 1-4, an admissions decision will be made. An official letter will be sent directly to the student informing them of the decision. Even though a student may be accepted to Toccoa Falls College, an F-1 Visa will not be issued until Steps 6-7 are completed. All students must have current legal status before they will be enrolled.
Confirmation of Financial Resources
All international student applicants must demonstrate the ability to finance their education at Toccoa Falls College. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service requires Toccoa Falls College to have documents certified by bank officials confirming financial resources in the amount of the full cost of attendance for the enrollment year, as determined annually by the office of Financial Aid. The international student applicant must complete and submit, via postal mail, the International Student Financial Certification and Financial Sponsorship forms, certifying the required funding. These documents must be received BEFORE Toccoa Falls College can issue the Form I-20, which permits the student to apply for the F-1 Visa.
Deposit
All students must submit the $200 (USD) Non-refundable Deposit via postal mail, telephone or online. Toccoa Falls College accepts Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
Student Visa
Upon completion of Steps 1-7, the Office of Admissions will send the Form I-20 by express mail to the student’s mailing address provided on the application. Upon receipt of the Form I-20:
the student must apply for the F-1 Student Visa within 90 days of the arrival date.
prior to an interview with the Embassy, the applicant must complete the Form I-901 for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and pay the $200.00 (USD) SEVIS Fee. You can do so at this link.
Upon approval of your F-1 Visa, the applicant must make their own travel arrangements to arrive at Toccoa Falls College on move-in day of the appropriate semester.