ADMISSION TO LAKE ERIE COLLEGE

Admission to the Freshman Class

Students are expected to be enrolled in a college preparatory course of study in secondary school in order to have a solid academic foundation to begin college-level coursework. This course of study should include four years of English, three years each of social studies and mathematics, three years of natural science with two courses of laboratory experience and two years of a foreign language. The cumulative grade point average in the core academic classes should be no lower than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Exceptions to this requirement are considered on an individual basis.

The prospective student must complete an Admissions application form, essay, two academic letters of recommendation and submit an official high school transcript. SAT or ACT scores are required for all first-time freshmen. Applicants may apply online at www.lec.edu or complete the common application at www.commonapp.org. Paper applications are available upon request.

Prospective students who are out of high school four or more years and have never attended college are encouraged to meet with an admissions counselor to discuss the application process and criteria for admission.

Lake Erie College Scholars Program

The Lake Erie College Scholars Program is an exciting option that focuses on an interdisciplinary core of courses designed to challenge and stimulate our brightest students. Students applying from high school need a grade point average of 3.5 and a minimum composite ACT score of 25 or composite SAT score of 1800. Students completing the program will have an honors designation on their diploma, additional scholarship money and special opportunities with research, internships and study abroad.

Admission as a Transfer Student

Students who have been enrolled at a college or university for the equivalent of one full semester or more are regarded as transfer students. Students who completed college coursework while in high school as part of a dual-enrollment program are exempt from this definition. In order to be considered for admission to Lake Erie College, students must be in good academic, social and financial standing at that college or university with the eligibility to re-enroll if they have not yet earned a degree. Transfer applicants are expected to have achieved a minimum cumulative academic average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for all college coursework attempted.

Students seeking to transfer to Lake Erie College must complete an online application at www.lec.edu/admissions or commonapp.org, submit an essay, two letters of recommendation and official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended. An official high school transcript must be submitted if the applicant does not currently hold an associates degree or higher from another accredited institution. SAT or ACT scores are required for all transfer students who enter with fewer than 15 semester credits. When the applicants file is complete, it is reviewed and a decision is made. Students are notified immediately of this decision.

Criteria for Acceptance of Transfer Credit

Lake Erie College will grant transfer credit according to the following criteria:

1. Official transcripts must be forwarded directly from the sending institution to the Office of Admissions of Lake Erie College. An official transcript presented by the student in a sealed envelope from the sending institution may be accepted in certain circumstances. Only official transcripts will be used in the evaluation process. A student may be required to provide copies of catalog descriptions or course syllabi to allow proper evaluation of transfer credit.

Note: A registration block will be placed on a student’s account for the second semester if the official transcript is not received. An official transcript is required even if courses are not transferable.

2. A maximum of 96 semester hours or 144 quarter hours will be accepted from a regionally accredited institution. Credit will be accepted only from institutions that are accredited by one of the regional associations listed below:

• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• Northwest Association of Colleges and Schools
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges

3. Only non-remedial courses with a grade of “C” or higher will be accepted. A grade of “C” is considered to be a 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
4. Courses with a grade of “C-, D+ , D, D-” may be accepted in transfer if they are earned as part of an associate degree.
5. A course with a grade of “Pass” or “Satisfactory” will be accepted provided the grading policy of the sending institution considers a grade of “Pass” or “Satisfactory” to be a “C” or higher.
6. Quarter-hour credits are converted to two-thirds of semester-hour credits. For example, 15 quarter credits would transfer as 10 semester credits.

Lake Erie College has developed transfer agreements with several two-year institutions, such as Lakeland Community College and Cuyahoga Community College. These transfer guides list the course equivalencies for Lake Erie College’s general education requirements and for selected majors and are available from the Registrar’s Office.

International Students

Lake Erie College is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students. Prospective students who are not citizens of the United States nor have “Permanent Resident” status are considered to be international students and are not eligible for federal financial aid. International students are eligible for College-based academic funding and may be eligible for some state funding depending on current visa or resident status.

The international applicant must submit a Certificate of Finances form officially demonstrating that the family or sponsor is able to provide sufficient financial support for the student. This support should cover transportation, maintenance and educational expenses for one year of study at Lake Erie College. Students looking to apply for need-based financial aid need to submit the International Student Financial Aid application.

Students whose first language is not English must achieve:

• TOEFL: For degree-seeking undergraduate students, a paper score of 550, a computer score of 213 or an internet score of 79 is required. Non-degree seeking students must produce scores of 500 on the paper test, 173 on the computer test or 63 on the internet test.
• IELTS: for degree-seeking undergraduates, we require score of 6.0 or higher.
• STEP: We accept passing grades at the first and pre-first levels.

Students applying as freshmen will follow the application procedures outlined above for freshman admission; transfer applicants will follow the procedures listed in the transfer section. All documents, transcripts, letters of recommendation and essays must be accompanied by an official English language translation from WES (World Education Services, Inc.) www.wes.org, ECE (Education Credential Evaluators, Inc.) www.ece.org, or AACRAO International Education Services www.aacrao.org/international/ foreignEdCred.cfm. Students seeking transfer credit from a foreign institution must also submit an official course-by-course evaluation by one of the afore mentioned organizations.

International Student Fees

Tuition Deposit: $150
Housing Deposit if living on campus: $150
International Application Processing Fee: $200
Continuing International Student Fee: $150 per semester

What is the International Student Fee?

This fee is assessed to international students only. An “International Student” is a student who is in F-1 or J-1 visa status. The fee is $150 per semester. If you have questions about this fee or if you feel you may have been charged this fee in error, see the Office of International Studies located in College Hall, Jonathon Klein, Coordinator of International Studies. Phone 440-375-7178. E-mail: jklein@lec.edu

Why do we have this fee?

After September 11, 2001, the U.S. government changed many of the requirements for schools that enroll international students. The fee is necessary for the College to meet those new requirements and continue to provide services international students need to maintain their visa status and adjust to life in the U.S. and Painesville. This fee will enable Lake Erie College to meet government requirements and also enhance the services that are offered by the Office of International Studies.

How is the money used?

The revenue generated by this fee will be used directly toward the services provided to international students only. As an international student, your fee will be helping you. Because of the international student fee, you will see positive changes as follows:

• To help you understand the many regulations that affect international students, advisors in the Office of International Studies (OIS office) will be available to see you more often and provide you with more individual attention by phone, email and in person.
• There will be improved cultural immersion programming and a special orientation for international students.
• The OIS office will be able to offer you more workshops of interest to international students.
• The College will also be able to provide more assistance to help international students make the transition to living in the U.S. and studying at LEC.

Overall, the programs and enhancements that the fee funds will ensure that the College meets the unique needs of international students.

Post-Baccalaureate Students

A student who wishes to enroll for further undergraduate coursework after completing a bachelor’s degree fits into this category. The student will need to complete the application form for post-baccalaureate study. The applicant must also submit an official transcript from the college or university from which he/she was awarded the bachelor’s degree; if the student attended a graduate school or an additional baccalaureate institution after earning the baccalaureate degree, official transcripts from those institutions are also necessary.

Teacher Licensure

A student who has earned a bachelor’s degree and wishes to pursue teacher licensure may apply as a post-baccalaureate student. Coursework at the undergraduate or post-baccalaureate level will be completed as required for teacher licensure. Students who receive financial aid must consult the Office of Financial Aid to determine the implications.

Readmission to Lake Erie College

A student who has attended Lake Erie College but has not taken classes for two or more semesters is considered inactive. If the student has not attended another college or university in the interim, the student should contact the Registrar at Lake Erie College who will begin the process of reactivation for that student based upon the student’s past record at the College.

A student who withdraws from Lake Erie to attend another institution must apply for admission as a transfer student. Contact the Office of Admissions for a new application form to begin the process. The complete details for transfer admission are stated above.

A student who has been accepted to Lake Erie College but does not attend after acceptance for more than one semester must reapply to the College.

Transient Students

A student enrolled at another institution who wishes to take a course or courses at Lake Erie College must submit a letter of authorization from the Registrar or other designated official at the student’s home institution. This authorization letter is submitted to the Registrar’s Office at Lake Erie College at the time of registration.

Advanced Placement

Lake Erie College participates in the Advanced Placement Program administered by the College Board. A student may receive a course waiver with a score of “3.” A course waiver and college credit will be given for scores of “4” and “5.” Official scores must be received to receive waivers and/or credit.

International Baccalaureate Program

Students who have earned an IB diploma will be granted 32 credit hours and fulfillment of the General Education Curriculum upon entrance to Lake Erie College. Students who earn IB Certificates or take single IB course units but who do not complete the entire diploma program can receive credit by earning the necessary scores on exams. Scores of “4” will earn a subject waiver, scores of “5” or higher will earn college credit.

Courses will be evaluated on an individual basis to determine which requirement a course fulfills. An individual course can only fulfill one general education requirement, but can fulfill both a major and general education requirement. In each case, credit hours for a single course will only be granted once.

Final High School Transcript

First-time freshmen must submit a final high school transcript that specifically demonstrates that the student graduated from high school prior to the beginning of their first semester. A registration block and transcript hold will be placed on a student’s account for the second semester if the final transcript is not received.