International Student FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions by International Students:
What are the requirements for in an international candidate who is applying to Lynchburg College as an undergraduate student?
A candidate must complete a minimum of 16 academic courses with the equivalent of a solid B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) grade point average. The academic courses should include English or literature, math (algebra I & II and geometry) social sciences, and laboratory sciences. Students may submit either an SAT or TOEFL standardized test score. Only the critical reading and math score portions of the SAT are used in the review of the application. The average SAT is 1050. If a student submits a TOEFL score, the required minimum scores are as follows: 525 on the paper-based test; a minimum score of 197 on the computer-based test; 71 on the Internet-based test. The IELTS is also accepted when the score is 6.0 or higher.
Is the SAT required for applicants who live in countries where the SAT is not offered?
In some countries, the SAT is not offered. In such cases, Lynchburg College will waive the SAT requirement and students must submit the TOEFL or IELTS scores.
What scholarships are available for international students?
Lynchburg College offers academic scholarships to non-citizen international students that range in value from $3,000 to $14,000. No additional forms are necessary. Eligibility criteria include high school transcript and potential, performance on standardized test scores such as SAT, ACT, TOEFL, or IELTS. These scholarships are renewable each of the three years that the student is enrolled at Lynchburg College after the freshman year, as long as the student maintains the minimum grade point average requirement assigned to each scholarship level.
I am an international student. How do I get further information about immigration status?
Immigration status for Lynchburg College is coordinated through the Office
of Enrollment Services (Jonathan Fries, 434.544.8307, fries@lynchburg.edu) and the Office of Multicultural, Access and Commuter Services (Annette Stadtherr, 434.544.8338, stadtherr@lynchburg.edu).
International students are encouraged to make direct connections to begin the process of receiving a student visa well in advance of the projected time of enrollment. For information on acquiring a student visa, refer to the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) website at: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis.
Is there international housing and what other housing options are available?
International students tend to stay on campus during all breaks except winter break when the entire campus is closed. There is also an International House which serves as a multicultural living environment and is available by application. We prefer that all students have at least one year of experience in the traditional residence before living in the International House.
Lynchburg College guarantees four years of housing to all of its students. During the freshman (first) year, all students must live in a residential dorm on campus. After the freshman year, we offer many other options for our students, including townhouses, apartments, and houses which are adjacent to the campus. All of these housing options are owned and operated by the College.
More information about Residential Living
Can international students spend summer breaks at Lynchburg College?
Students are generally only allowed to stay on campus during the summer if they are working and/or taking classes during that time. However, we realize that it is not feasible for all students to travel home, so the International House serves as a housing option for international students for the summer on a first-come, first-served basis.
Is there support/ESL for international students to help with the transition to college?
Lynchburg College offers the Summer Transition Program (STP). The purpose of the program is to aid students of diverse social, ethnic, religious, racial, and national cultures in making a successful transition from their high school environment to Lynchburg College. This highly recommended free program supplements our mandatory summer Student Orientation and Registration (SOAR) that is required of all new students. STP provides an opportunity for students to get to know each other as well as the College resources available to them through workshops, information sessions, and cultural and social outings. Participants meet and interact with faculty, staff, and student leaders and become familiar with campus facilities, services, and programs prior to the arrival of the entire freshman class.
New Students who enter in fall 2011 and who need ESL support will be placed in their own section of a two-semester course in composition. These two three-credit courses, which will meet five days per week, will focus on the English language skills needed for academic success in the United States: reading, writing, and oral communication. These courses will be taught by an ESL specialist, who will coordinate the assignments with the students' work in other courses so that the students will experience a true learning community. ESL students will find additional support in the Writing Center and with tutors in designated courses.
What countries are represented in the Lynchburg College student community?
At this time, Lynchburg College has students that come from 21 countries including The Bahamas, Kenya, India, St. Lucia, Australia, South Korea, Austria, and some African countries.
