Prospective Students - International

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

The Office of Admissions should receive your International Undergraduate Student Application for Admission and all required credentials by the appropriate deadline listed in the following chart. It is important to begin the application process nine to 12 months before you intend to begin your studies. Submit as much of the required information as possible in one packet (see the Information and Application Instructions for International Students).

Undergraduate Application and Credentials
Term	Term	Early Action	Regular Decision	Status
Freshman	Fall & Summer	December 15 Notified by Feb. 15	February 15 Notified by April 1	Check status
	Spring		October 1 Rolling notification	Check status
Transfer	Fall & Summer		April 1 Rolling notification	Check status
	Spring		October 1 Rolling notification	Check status

Applications may be submitted after the deadlines and will be considered if space is still available.

Beginning in September, you may submit your application for admission to the spring, summer, or fall term.

Spring applicants
Spring applications are processed on a rolling basis. We begin notifying applicants about admission decisions in October. Decisions are made approximately four to six weeks after an application is complete. We give full consideration to applications that are complete (including the application fee and all required credentials) by the October 1 deadline.

Summer and fall applicants
Applications for the summer 2009 and fall 2009 terms will be processed as either Early Action applications or as Regular Decision applications.

Early Action
Applicants who submit the application and postmark all supporting documents by the December 15 deadline are considered Early Action applicants. Early Action applicants will be reviewed first and will be notified on or before February 15 of their initial decision. Early action candidates may be offered admission, denied admission, or deferred to the Regular Decision process for further consideration. Applicants who are deferred to the Regular Decision applicant pool should submit mid-year senior grades and any new test scores, and will be notified of a final admission decision on or before April 1. Applicants denied admission through Early Action may not submit additional information and may not reapply under the Regular Decision process.

Early Action applicants are not required to enroll at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Regular Decision
Freshman summer and fall applicants who do not complete their applications by the December 15 early action deadline must submit the application and postmark all supporting documents by the February 15 deadline. Regular decision applicants will be notified of their candidacy by April 1.

Required Credentials

Official Transcripts
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.

Transfer students from U.S. institutions should request that the registrar of each institution they have attended send official transcripts directly to the Office of Admissions. These transcripts should also include work that is in progress or was never completed. The admissions office cannot accept hand-delivered student copies of transcripts from U.S. schools as official.

Students from China and India must be particularly careful to submit complete official academic credentials (for university level work). Every page of each document must bear an original stamp or seal of the institution. Chinese students must submit transcripts and diplomas in both Chinese and English and must submit diplomas showing every degree awarded. Students from India must submit individual marksheets for each semester or year, in addition to separate diplomas showing every separate degree awarded.

Standardized Tests
Undergraduate applicants are required to submit scores from the SAT I or the ACT scores for admission. Request that the testing agency submit your scores directly to the office of admissions. The ACT will be accepted with or without the writing test. SAT Subject Test scores are not required. Transfer students who have completed the equivalent of 24 or more semester hours (usually one year) of transferable academic college or university-level work at the time of application need not submit SAT or ACT results. However, transfer students are strongly encouraged to submit examination results to strengthen their records.

Both the SAT and ACT are given several times a year at test centers throughout the world. We encourage you to take one of these tests nine to 12 months before your intended date of enrollment. While there are generally no minimum scores required on these tests, they are a necessary part of the admission decision. Strong math scores are especially important for students who are interested in business or engineering.

You may obtain website addresses for various testing agencies from the Information and Application Instructions for International Students. The Ministry of Education, the American Cultural Center, or educational institutions in your home country are sources for this testing information as well.

English Language Requirement/TOEFL
You are not required to submit the TOEFL if,

1. your native language is English, or
2. you have completed at least one year of full-time academic study at a U.S. institution, or at an institution in a country where English is the native language, at the time you apply, and within two years from your desired admission term

Minimum TOEFL Scores Required
Undergraduate Majors
Engineering majors	560 (220*)	(83**)
All other majors	500 (173*)	(61**)
* Equivalent score based on the computer-administered TOEFL. ** Scores on the internet based TOEFL.

If you need additional instruction in English, you may wish to enroll at the university's International English Center.

Application Fee
The nonrefundable application fee should be submitted in the form of an international money order or check drawn on a U.S. bank, made payable to the University of Colorado, in the amount of $70 (U.S. funds). We cannot accept credit cards or cash. Print your full legal name and birth date on your check or money order so that it can be properly credited to your application.

Personal Essay

The personal essay is required. You are strongly encouraged to submit your personal essay as part of your application, but if you choose to mail it in separately, be sure to include your full legal name and birth date at the top of each page. Applications without essays are considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.

Your personal essay - consisting of responses to two topics - is the best way for us to learn about you as an individual and to evaluate your academic performance within an appropriate context. Please remember that there are no "correct" answers to these questions - your responses should reflect the unique aspects and experiences of your life. Consider reflecting on challenges you've overcome, your family or cultural heritage, your academic or cocurricular achievements, or specific moments that helped to define your character. Essays must be written in English.

Essay A (required, maximum 500 words)

The University of Colorado at Boulder's Flagship 2030 strategic plan promotes exceptional teaching, research, scholarship, creative works, and service distinguishing us as a premier university. We strive to foster a diverse and inclusive community for all that engages each member in opportunities for academic excellence, leadership, and a deeper understanding of the world in which we live.

Given the statement above, how do you think you could enrich our diverse and inclusive community and what are your hopes for your college experience?

Essay B (required, choose topic 1, 2, or 3, maximum 250 words)

1. Who are the influential people in your life? How have they contributed to your development as a person?

2. Briefly discuss how your family, school, neighborhood, and background have impacted your educational goals and aspirations.

3. Discuss any events or special circumstances that have affected your academic record, as well as any adversities you have overcome.

Financial Statement
If you need an F-1 or J-1 visa (or if you are in the United States and will continue your F-1 or J-1 immigration status) you are required to certify that you will 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. Costs listed on the web site and on the financial statement are estimates; your actual costs may vary from those stated on your Form I-20 or DS 2019. See Estimate Finances for more information.

Transfer Students

If you are applying as a transfer student, you may need to meet some additional requirements. Go to the Expected Academic Preparation for Undergraduate Transfer Students.

International transfer students may also use the online application found at www.colorado.edu/prospective/transfer/apply. However, additional information regarding English proficiency and proof of adequate funding may be required, especially if you need an F-1 or J-1 visa to transfer to the University of Colorado at Boulder.