2008 Woodie Awards
Piedmont worldwide
Where do international students come from?
by Rebekah Scruggs
Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: Connections
"It can be very difficult to understand different cultures and educational systems from around the world," says Jeff Kelly, the Piedmont College admissions advisor for international students.
Students coming from other parts of the world have a few hoops to jump through when it comes to being accepted. Prospective students have to turn in an application and score at least a 1000 on the SAT or a 21 on the ACT. The ACT is not always offered, but the SAT is a universal test and is easily accessed on the Internet. This is a part of the standard admissions procedure for students throughout the United States. But international students have another test to take.
The Test of English as a Foreign Language, TOEFL, measures a student's ability to succeed in an all-English classroom. Like the SAT, it's also offered online and can be taken anywhere in the world. Generally Piedmont doesn't offer financial aid to international students. However, they are sometimes awarded the international scholarship. To take the TOEFL, a student must present a bank statement in dollars verifying they have enough money to pay for the majority of college.
After students complete the TOEFL, their scores are sent to World Educational Services, WES. Students pay a small fee for their high school to send their transcripts and test scores to WES, where an expert in the student's culture interrupt them. WES then sends the transcripts to the college of the student's choice and recommends the student for admission.
Although the process seems drawn out and difficult, some students have an easy time and are appreciative of it.
"Generally the process wasn't that hard. I had to do the SAT and TOEFL and then the school determined my eligibility with the points I scored. I am grateful they accepted me, for it has been a life-changing experience," says Ken Kipchillat, a Kenyan graduate student.
So how does an international student find Piedmont? According to Kipchillat, it happens through the people they know.
Students coming from other parts of the world have a few hoops to jump through when it comes to being accepted. Prospective students have to turn in an application and score at least a 1000 on the SAT or a 21 on the ACT. The ACT is not always offered, but the SAT is a universal test and is easily accessed on the Internet. This is a part of the standard admissions procedure for students throughout the United States. But international students have another test to take.
The Test of English as a Foreign Language, TOEFL, measures a student's ability to succeed in an all-English classroom. Like the SAT, it's also offered online and can be taken anywhere in the world. Generally Piedmont doesn't offer financial aid to international students. However, they are sometimes awarded the international scholarship. To take the TOEFL, a student must present a bank statement in dollars verifying they have enough money to pay for the majority of college.
After students complete the TOEFL, their scores are sent to World Educational Services, WES. Students pay a small fee for their high school to send their transcripts and test scores to WES, where an expert in the student's culture interrupt them. WES then sends the transcripts to the college of the student's choice and recommends the student for admission.
Although the process seems drawn out and difficult, some students have an easy time and are appreciative of it.
"Generally the process wasn't that hard. I had to do the SAT and TOEFL and then the school determined my eligibility with the points I scored. I am grateful they accepted me, for it has been a life-changing experience," says Ken Kipchillat, a Kenyan graduate student.
So how does an international student find Piedmont? According to Kipchillat, it happens through the people they know.
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