• was born outside the United States or its territories (regardless of current citizenship or residency status), or
• completed secondary education (high school) outside the United States or its territories, or • underwent coursework at any college or university outside the United States or its
territories is considered an international student for admission purposes.
The Office of International Student Admissions and Advising (ISAA) at Georgia Perimeter College handles admission processing for these applicants.
Please note: “Official copy” means a document that is either a) original or b) a photocopy of the original made and marked “saw original” by a member of the Georgia Perimeter College staff.
Applicants in this category must submit the following required documents by the appli- cation deadline of the anticipated term of enrollment:
• GPC Application for Admission and $20.00 non-refundable application fee
• Certificate of Immunization. Applicants must provide all required immunization records. • Official high school transcript or appropriate examination results (GCE, CXC, WASC,
SSCE) at a recognized level of completion and accreditation. If transcripts are in a language other than English, an official English translation is required. If a high school transcript is unavailable, the student may take the General Education Development (GED) test. In some cases, an outside evaluation of secondary education credentials may be requested. Photocopies or faxes are not acceptable. For applicants who hold U.S. high school diplomas, we require an official high school transcript. The transcript must indicate date of graduation and type of diploma received.
• Official college or university transcript from each college or university attended
If transcripts are in a language other than English, an official translation is ALSO required. Photocopies and faxes are not acceptable. Should you wish to obtain transfer credit from a college or university outside the US, you must obtain an official evaluation of your credit from a professional academic credential evaluation agency. Transfer credit from a college or university outside the US is awarded ONLY when the transcript is accompanied by a professional evaluation. For a list of professional evaluation agencies GPC currently accepts, please visit the GPC website.
Proof of English language proficiency
Applicants whose first language is not English and/or whose secondary education took place in a predominantly non-English speaking country (see a listing of countries
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considered predominantly English speaking below) must provide evidence of English language proficiency prior to being considered for admission to the college. An applicant’s citizenship or immigration status has no bearing on the language proficiency requirement. Proficiency may be established by submitting one of the following:
Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The minimum required score is 460 on the paper TOEFL or 48 on the TOEFL Internet Based Test (IBT). Applicants may contact the Educational Testing Service at (609) 771-7100 for information or to schedule the TOEFL. Students overseas can consult the American Embassy for TOEFL information. (Georgia Perimeter’s TOEFL College Code is 5165). TOEFL’s website is www.toefl.org. Please note: Georgia Perimeter College will not accept institutional TOEFL scores for admissions purposes. Official scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS*)
Academic exam with an average minimum score of 4.5. The IELTS website is http://www.ielts.org. To send IELTS scores, applicants should request at the time the test is taken to have IELTS scores sent to Georgia Perimeter College as
follows: International Student Admissions and Advising, Georgia Perimeter College, 555 N. Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston, GA 30021.*IELTS is jointly owned by the
British Council, IDP:IELTS Australia, and the University of Cambridge ESOL examinations.
Scores from other tests: non-native speakers of English who have attained a minimum SAT verbal score of 330 or ACT English score of 12 will satisfy the English language proficiency requirement.
Official scores from the Georgia State Test of English Proficiency (GSTEP) offered by Georgia State University. Effective September 2011, a minimum band score of “4” is required for admission. A score of “3” or higher on all parts of the GSTEP exam taken prior to September 2011 will be accepted. You may contact Georgia State University at 404-413-5200 to schedule the GSTEP test or visit the website at http://gsu.edu/gstep. EXCEPTIONS
- Applicants who present an official General Certificate of Education (GCE) examination English 'O' level result with an acceptable score (scores of “A”, “B” or “C”, or 1-6 (depending on the score sheet) will not be required to submit proof of English language proficiency for admissions purposes.
Please note: English scores from the West African Examinations Council WILL NOT satisfy the English Language proficiency requirement.
- Applicants who 1) have attended a college or university in the United States, Canada (all provinces except Québec), Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand. & the English speaking Caribbean AND 2) who have transferable credit for college/university level English Composition (including GCE “A” level English Composition), will not be required to submit proof of English language proficiency for admissions purposes.
- Countries & Territories considered primarily English speaking are: Antigua, Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, Bahamas, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Québec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Nevis and St. Kitts, South Africa, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks & Caicos, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland & Wales), and the United States.
● Placement Test Scores or Exemptions
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Effective fall 2012, test scores will be required for admission to Georgia Perimeter College. GPC does not require SAT or ACT scores for admission. However, testing requirements can be satisfied by meeting the minimum SAT or ACT scores.
COMPASS English/Reading – All entering students, whose native language is
English*, who do not have the equivalent of ENGL 1101 (English Composition) from a US college or university applied as transfer credit and scoring below SAT
Verbal/Critical Reading score of 480 or ACT English score of 20 are required to take COMPASS English (writing) and Reading before advisement and registration. The USG minimum required COMPASS score in English (writing) is 32 and in reading is 62. * See list of countries considered English Speaking above.
Or
ESL (English as Second Language) COMPASS Placement Test – All entering students who were educated in a secondary school in a non-English speaking country AND who do not have the equivalent of ENGL 1101 (English Composition) from a US college or university applied as transfer credit or who score below 550 on the paper based
TOEFL (79 IBT) must take the ESL COMPASS for class placement instead of the COMPASS English/Reading Test.
For graduates of US high schools: ESL COMPASS testing is required if ESOL courses are listed on the transcript or is determined by a combined review of academic credentials and information provided on the application. Applicants who are in or have completed high school in the US should go to http://admissions.gpc.edu/wizard for additional guidance about which (if any) placement tests will be needed to satisfy admissions requirements at Georgia Perimeter College.
COMPASS Math - All entering students without transferable Math credits or without an SAT Math score of 440 or ACT Math score of 18 are required to take COMPASS Math before advisement and registration. The USG minimum required COMPASS score in Math (algebra) is 20.
Applicants outside the US who are required to take COMPASS will test upon arrival in the US. Those who do not meet the minimum required COMPASS scores should review the COMPASS Retest Policy for details about eligibility for COMPASS retesting and consult International Student Admissions and Advising immediately.
Please note:
Students whose COMPASS scores fall below the USG minimums in any of the test areas (English/writing 32, reading 62, or math 20) will not be eligible for admission. Students who test above the USG COMPASS score minimums but place into all three
areas of Learning Support (English, reading, and math) will not be eligible for admission.
• Immigration Documents
Please note: Immigration or citizenship status has no effect on admissions decisions at
Georgia Perimeter College. The information is required to assess residency for tuition purposes and eligibility for financial aid.
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Applicants who are in the United States as Permanent Residents, Applicants for Permanent Residency, Refugees, Asylees, or who have non-immigrant status other than F-1 are required to show original official immigration documents.
For applicants who are naturalized US Citizens – an official copy of the Naturalization Certificate or official copy of the biographical page of a valid US passport.
For applicants who are US Permanent Residents - an official copy of the Permanent Resident Card.
For applicants who are Refugees or Asylees - an official copy of the I-94, passport stamp, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), and any other relevant document you may have received from USCIS,
For out-of-country applicants seeking F-1 status, we require a completed Request for Form I-20.
For applicants who already have F-1 status (transferring from another U.S. school), we require a completed Request for Form I-20, a Transfer Clearance Form completed by both the applicant and the International Student Advisor at the transferring school, and copies of the passport biographical page, the F-1 visa, and the I-94 form.
• Financial Statements (F-1 applicants only)
All applicants requesting a Form I-20 for student (F-1) visas must provide proof of
financial support showing that a minimum $22,000 (USD) per academic year is available to defray college expenses including matriculation fees, non-resident fees, school supplies, living costs, and related expenses (This amount is subject to change due to increase in fees and living expenses.). A certified statement from the sponsor’s bank showing that the required funds are available must be submitted. All fees must be paid at the time of registration. Federal or State Financial Aid is not available to F-1 visa students.
PLEASE NOTE! An applicant may have no more than two sponsors, including him/herself.
If the applicant sponsors him/herself, he/she must fill out and sign the Georgia
Perimeter College International Student Financial Certificate, and include a bank letter, signed by an officer of the bank, that:
- is less than six months old.
- is written in English, or has a certified English translation attached, and
- clearly states the account balance in numbers, and clearly states the type of currency upon which the account is based.
If the applicant’s sponsor resides inside the United States, he/she must fill out USCIS form I-134 Affidavit of Support. Form I-134 must have the following documentation attached:
- If a bank account is used as proof of support – a statement from an officer of the bank or financial institution (an actual, signed letter, not a bank statement). The letter must give the following details: a) the date the account was opened, b) the total amount deposited for the last year, and c) the present balance. Photocopies or faxes WILL NOT be accepted.
- If future salary payments or earnings are used as proof of support – a statement of the sponsor’s employer on business stationery showing: a) the date and nature of employment, b) salary paid, and c) whether the position is temporary or
permanent. If Self-Employed: a) a copy of the last income tax return filed or b) report of a commercial rating concern.
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- Please note that a bank letter indicating at least $20,000 available funding is required with an I-134 Affidavit of Support. Proof of future salary payments, stocks and/or bonds may be used to cover the additional $2,000 required to meet the $22,000 requirement.
If the applicant’s sponsor resides outside the United States, he/she must fill out and sign the Georgia Perimeter College International Student Financial Certificate and include a bank letter (signed by an officer of the bank) that:
- is less than 6 months old, and
- is written in English, or has a certified English translation attached, and
- clearly states the account balance in numbers, the type of currency upon which the account is based, and
- has a current minimum balance of $22,000 (USD) in the account.
ALL BANK DOCUMENTS MUST BE ORIGINALS! We will NOT accept any
photocopies or faxes. Questionable bank documents will be verified.
● Transfer Clearance (F-1 students only)
F-1 Students who are currently attending or previously attended another institution in the United States in F-1 status and plan to attend Georgia Perimeter College must provide a Transfer Clearance Form, completed by the student and the International Student Advisor/Designated School Official, to the International Student Admissions and Advising Office. After admission to Georgia Perimeter College, the school you last attended must release your SEVIS record to Georgia Perimeter College. Georgia Perimeter College will then be able to create a transfer I-20.
PLEASE NOTE: Student Health Insurance for students on F-1 visas
F-1 students attending Georgia Perimeter College are automatically provided health and
repatriation coverage as required by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. This insurance will be charged to the student account and must be paid by the student at the time of payment for classes. Students who already possess health and repatriation insurance may be eligible for an insurance waiver. Instructions to apply for an insurance waiver will be provided by International Student Admissions and Advising.
Applicants requesting form I-20 must complete all admissions requirements a minimum of 30 days before the semester for which they are applying for admission. Application files completed after that time will automatically be processed for the FOLLOWING semester.