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Admissions

International Students

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Paper Application

Send comments or questions to Admissions@lmc.edu.

Mail paper applications to: PO Box 128, Banner Elk, NC 28604, USA

Lees-McRae College encourages applications from international students and welcomes their presence as a vital part of the campus community. Currently students from 35 states and 21 countries represent our diverse student body.

The Admissions Office considers International applicants based on citizenship or permanent resident (green card holder for more than twelve months).

Important Dates:

  • Deadline to complete admission file for Fall- July 1
  • Deadline to complete admission file for Spring- November 1

Steps to Admission:

To be considered for international admission, please submit:

  1. Completed application (online or by mail)
  2. Pay your $35 application fee  online
    or by check: PO Box 128, Banner Elk, NC 28604
  3. Official and certified secondary school transcript (Transcripts must be translated into English and document the last four years of secondary school.)
  4. Official SAT or ACT scores may be required.
    Click here to learn more about our test-optional admissions policy.
  5. TOEFL (Test of English As a Foreign Language) scores (Required for all international students whose native language is not English.  Minimum requirements are 500- Paper, 173- Computer, 80-Internet Based.  Visit the ETS website for more information and testing dates.)
  6. Letter of recommendation from a teacher or school official that is familiar with the applicant

Transfer Students: International students must submit official and certified transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended within the United States and outside the United States. If an international student wants credit for any prior university-level work from a foreign university, he/she must provide a course-by-course evaluation of their post-secondary academic documents compiled by a World Education Services (WES). Students wishing to use other credential evaluations should first check with Lees-McRae Admissions to see if these evaluations will be accepted.

International Student Financial Aid: In order for any international student to be eligible for any financial aid awards, he/she must complete the International Student Financial Aid Application. Please click HERE to download the form

After Acceptance:

Congratulations, you've been accepted!  To reserve your place at Lees-McRae, please provide:

  1. $250 tuition deposit to reserve your place  (Deposits are refundable until May 1 for fall admission and until December 1 for spring admission.)
  2. Certification of Finances (Please click HERE to download the form. Students must prove that he/she has the financial resources available and can pay the cost of a college education in order for an I-20 to be issued. Section Nine of the form must be completed before any action can take place. For information on costs and fees, please click here. )
  3. Proof of Immunization as required by the State of North Carolina
  4. Completed room assignment form

NOTE: If a student becomes delinquent with his/her account, he/she will no longer be allowed to register/attend classes, and therefore by definition, the student will not be registered full-time per immigration regulation as an F-1 student. The student would then be "terminated" in SEVIS and have fifteen (15) days to leave the country.

How to Submit Information:

All materials need to be sent either via mail or email.

By Mail:
Office of Admissions
Lees-McRae College
PO Box 128
Banner Elk, NC 28604
USA

By Email:
austinb@lmc.edu

Securing I-20 and Visa:

After student’s admission has been approved, international students will be asked to submit a $250 enrollment deposit, along with the roommate and medical forms included in the admitted student packet. The enrollment deposit must be received prior to the issuance of the I-20. (Deposits are refundable until May 1 for fall admission and until December 1 for spring admission.)

Once the I-20 is processed it will be mailed to the international student. We recommend allowing up to 60 days for obtaining the student visa (F-1) from the American Consulate in the student’s home country.

If an international student already holds a valid student visa, and if he/she is currently registered with another college or university in the United States, please notify the Primary Designated School Official (PDSO) at his/her home school to have his/her foreign student records in SEVIS transferred to Lees-McRae College. Please click HERE to download the form.

Communicating With Us:

Due to time zone differences, we will initially try to communicate via email with the international student. Therefore, we strongly suggest international students regularly check the email account they have provided us for any updates or requests from our office. Similarly, notify us if any change in email, address, telephone contact information. To contact the international student admissions counselor, please click here.

Arriving at Lees-McRae:

Lees-McRae College will provide two set dates for airport pick-up and drop-off at the beginning and end of each semester. If students do not arrive or leave on the arranged dates, he/she must make his/her own arrangements for transportation to and from the campus. Students are expected to arrive in time for advising/registration, international student orientation, and first day of classes. International students are not given preferential treatment to take final exams early. He/she must plan flights for the day after final exams are completed. An academic calendar will be provided in the admitted student packet.