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Eligibility for Admission

Undergraduate Admission

1.  All institutions will require a completed signed application form which can be downloaded from the institution's website.

2.  An application fee that ranges between $20 and $100.

3.  Official Scores on the TOEFL or acceptable equivalent.

4.  Official Scores on the SAT or the ACT Test.

5.  Official or Certified Copies of all Secondary School Records (e.g. West African School Certificate result, National Education Council result, etc).

6.  Personal Essay (Some institutions insist on about 500-word personal essay on a topic like: Who are the influential people in your life? How have they contributed to your development as a person?

7.  Financial Statement and Required Documentation. If your application for admission is otherwise complete, it can be reviewed regardless of whether or not your financial statement is received. If you are academically eligible for admission to the university and you need a Form I-20 (for an F-1 visa), you must provide the financial statement with required documentation before your admission can be finalized and before any immigration forms can be issued to you.

Post-graduate Admission

1.  Official Academic Records:
Official certified transcripts of your previous academic records are expected. All records should be submitted in the native language, and credentials written in languages other than English must be accompanied by a literal, certified English translation. Diplomas or certificates of government or university examinations must show the subjects passed and grades/marks received.

 

2.  Acceptance of Non-U.S. Degrees from Institutions of Higher Education: Most United States universities require that a bachelor degree meet the four year minimum requirement after 12 years of primary/secondary education (total of 16 years' of education). Bachelor degrees that are three years in length, usually completed after 12 years of primary/secondary school, won't be recognized as equivalent to a U.S. four-year bachelor degree. Countries that have secondary school programs ending after year 13 or higher will have the three-year bachelor degree recognized as equivalent to a U.S. four-year degree (total of 16 years of education). Countries with secondary school programs routinely ending prior to 12 years will be reviewed on an individual basis.

For applicants to a graduate program (master's or doctorate), the Office of Admissions will complete a credential evaluation of any degree completed by the student and forward it to the department to which the student is applying. Regardless of whether or not the Office of Admissions considers the degree to be equivalent to a U.S. four-year bachelor degree, the department will not be prevented from reviewing the application.

If a department wishes to admit a student with a three-year degree that is not considered equivalent to a U.S. four-year degree, a provisional admission is required. The standard Graduate School provisional admission process must be followed.

 

3.  Standardized Tests:
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for admission to many graduate departments and is considered valuable for all others. If you are applying to the School of Business, you are required to present scores from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). English Language Requirement/TOEFL is required by most universities.

 

4.  Application Fee:                                                                                               Most institutions charge non-refundable application fees ranging between $60 and $150.

 

5.  Letters of Recommendation:
At least, three letters of recommendation should preferably be from college or university professors of the applicant attesting to his/her academic and moral capacity to complete a postgraduate degree program in his/her chosen field.

 

6.  Financial Statement:
Before Form I-20 can be issued by the university that gives you admission, you are required to certify that you have adequate financial support to complete your program of study. If your application for admission is complete, it can be reviewed without your financial statement. However, you must show proof of sufficient funds before your admission can be finalized and an immigration form can be sent.