Loyola University Chicago

Loyola defines the category of international student as any of the following:

• A student who does not have United States citizenship, or is not a permanent resident of the United States
• Any student who is "in process" to receive U.S. permanent residency (obtain a Green Card), or who may live in the country without appropriate immigration documentation
• Those who are seeking student status (F-1 or J-1)

Annually, Loyola welcomes 400-500 international graduate and undergraduate students from more than 77 countries worldwide.

International students join a university community that's rich in cultural, ethnic and religious diversity. In the Fall 2005 freshman class, for instance, 33% of students reporting are Asian or Pacific Islander, Hispanic, African American, Puerto Rican, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Multi-Racial. Nearly 20% of the entering class is Protestant, Muslim, Hindu, Eastern Orthodox, Jewish or Buddhist.

To apply for an F-1 (student) visa, you will need a government form called a Certificate of Eligibility, or Form I-20, that is issued to you by Loyola (or whichever university you will attend).

Loyola's Office for International Programs (OIP) issues the Form I-20 after an international student has been admitted to the university and has provided proof of financial access and sponsorship for his/her first year at Loyola. The amount needed to issue a Form I-20 for 2005-2006 is $38,943 to cover the costs of tuition and fees for two semesters and 12 months' living expenses (for room and board, books, travel, health insurance and miscellaneous expenses).

To demonstrate this, students should complete the Declaration and Certification of Finances Form and attach original bank statements or original letters of credit; these must be in English and amounts converted to U.S. dollars.

OIP provides international students and scholars with extensive support on these matters. For more information, please contact: Mary Theis, Associate Director, OIP: phone: 773.508.6080; e-mail: mtheis@luc.edu.

Loyola's Office for International Programs (OIP) reports that the U.S. Department of State is working diligently with its embassies and consulates because the U.S. does wish to offer student visas. Representatives from the Department of State report that they continue to issue the same percentage of student visas as in the past and are working with consulates to assist student applicants.

OIP makes every effort to assist admitted Loyola students in this process. You should be aware that the visa application process may take time, so it's best to apply as early as possible after receiving the Form I-20 from the university you wish to attend. It's also prudent to understand your own government's regulations, if any, regarding the exit of students or money from your home country before making-or completing-plans to study in the United States.

As a new freshman, you'll follow these steps:

1. Complete all sections of the Freshman Application for this application.
2. The application fee of $25.00 is waived when you complete the application online.
3. Send your secondary school academic records to ECE (Education Credentials Evaluators) or WES (World Education Services) for an official credit evaluation. Go to www.ece.org or www.wes.org for more information and to download the application form. Be sure to request the course-by-course evaluation report. Request a copy to be sent to: Undergraduate Admission, Loyola University Chicago, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60626-9901. Allow 4-6 weeks for your evaluation to be completed. Once we receive your evaluation, your file will be reviewed for admission.
4. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a standardized English language proficiency examination that measures the ability of nonnative English speakers to use North American English as needed at the university level. If your native language is not English and/or if your primary language of instruction has not been English you will be required to take the TOEFL. Exception will be made on an individual basis. The TOEFL is administered by the College Board. Students may write TOEFL/TSE Services at Box 6151, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6151, USA, or visit www.toefl.org.
   
   SAT or ACT scores are required for undergraduate admission.
5. You must complete the Declaration and Certification of Finances Form (PDF) and submit it with proof of financial resources showing your ability to cover expenses for your first academic year at Loyola University Chicago. You can download the form as an Adobe Acrobat file.
   • Download the form
   • Get Adobe Acrobat Reader (required to view the form)
6. Upon admission, candidates must submit a deposit by May 1 to reserve a place in the class. Please be advised that our class may fill prior to May 1. Enrollment deposits are refundable until May 1.

If you're applying as an international transfer student, please follow these steps.

Loyola University Chicago offers rolling admission from Oct. 1 - May 1. Freshman applicants with completed files are notified of acceptance decisions approximately four weeks after all credentials have been received by the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

However, students are advised that our class may fill prior to May 1, so we encourage applying early. International students also should keep these key dates in mind:

• February 1 - Priority processing deadline: Students must be admitted by this date for freshman scholarship consideration
• March 1 is the deadline for admitted freshman to apply to the Honors Program.
• April 1 - Priority processing deadline for freshman admission applications

The Office of Undergraduate Admission reviews each application individually and thoroughly. Your writing sample, counselor recommendation, student activities, grades and standardized test scores are all considered to determine if Loyola will be a good academic match for your strengths and abilities.

The freshman class entering in Fall 2005 had middle 50% ACT ranges between 22-27, middle 50% range on the SAT Verbal between 540-640, middle 50% range on the SAT Math between 530-640, and an average GPA of 3.63.

International students also must meet our TOEFL minimum score of 550/213/79-80 on the written, computer-based or Web-based exam.

The following units or courses are suggested for admission to Loyola University Chicago. While these items are not required (except for English), students completing a college-preparatory curriculum in high school, like the one depicted below, show greater evidence of future success at Loyola.

• Four years of English (required)
• Three to four years of math
• Three years of social science
• Two or more years of foreign language
• Three to four years of natural or physical science

Yes, SAT or ACT scores are required for undergraduate admission.

However, Loyola will not require or use the new written sections on the SAT and ACT for admission or placement. We feel confident of our current ability to make sound admission decisions based on our required writing sample and the academic information supplied by our applicants. This policy will be reviewed as more research becomes available over the next few years, tracking the impact of these tests on college-bound populations.

Loyola's school codes for test score submission are:

ACT (1064)
SAT (1412)

Universities in the United States are generally unable to offer financial assistance to international students since financial aid funds are obtained, in part, from the United States federal government. As such, these funds are only awarded to citizens, eligible non-citizens or permanent residents of the United States, as their tax dollars have supplied the funds.

Universities in the United States will vary in how much, if any, financial assistance they offer to a student. These funds come from university-specific resources and may be very limited.

In the interest of maintaining a truly diverse and international population, Loyola offers the following forms of financial assistance to international students and their families:

Academic scholarships: These are offered on a competitive basis to freshman applicants who have a minimum grade point average of 3.5/4.0 scale; score a minimum of 1120 on the SAT I exam or 25 on the ACT exam; and meet our TOEFL minimum of 550/213/79-80. These amounts vary between $5,000 - full tuition in U.S. dollars per year. These scholarships are renewable for a total of four years provided the student maintains a cumulative grade point average between 3.0 - 3.4, depending on the scholarship level, and enrolls as a full-time student during the Fall and Spring semesters. To apply, students must submit a complete application for admission, along with all supporting transcripts, test scores, etc., by February 1 prior to the Fall semester.

Scholarships are offered on a competitive basis to transfer applicants who have a minimum grade point average of 3.0/4.0 scale and have at least one year of transferable coursework from another university. Applicants must also meet the TOEFL minimum of 550/213. Scholarship amounts vary between $3,000 - $9,000. These scholarships are renewable, provided students maintain a cumulative GPA between 3.0 - 3.4, depending on scholarship level, and enroll as a full-time student during the Fall and Spring semesters. To apply, students must submit a complete application for admission, along with all supporting transcripts, test scores, etc., by April 1 prior to the Fall semester.

Part-time work on campus: International students are not eligible for federal work-study positions on campus. They may accept other on-campus employment, but the options are extremely limited. For more information, please visit the Office for International Programs: http://www.luc.edu/oip.

Payment plans: The Office of the Bursar provides various payment plans through an outside provider, Tuition Management Systems (TMS). For more information, visit: http://www.luc.edu/bursar/payment.shtml.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a standardized English language proficiency examination that measures the ability of nonnative English speakers to use North American English as needed at the university level. If your native language is not English and/or if your primary language of instruction has not been English you will be required to take the TOEFL. Exceptions will be made on an individual basis.

Applicants to Loyola must also meet the TOEFL minimum of 550/213/79-80.

The TOEFL is administered by the College Board. Students may write TOEFL/TSE Services at Box 6151, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6151, USA; or visit www.toefl.org.

If a student's TOEFL score is below 550/213/79-80, he or she will need to take further English as a Second Language (ESL) classes before reapplying. For more information about Loyola's English as a Second Language Program, visit http://www.luc.edu/esl.

Another option is the International Conditional Admission Program (ICAP) program, which is designed to assist students who meet all admission requirements, except the TOEFL minimum. Freshmen or transfer students may be considered. The TOEFL minimum score for this program is 520/190/68. ICAP admission is offered to those students who have demonstrated their academic abilities in the classroom, but who will need additional ESL classes and other preparation and support in order to succeed at Loyola University Chicago.