International First-Year Students

International First-Year Students

The International First-Time First-Year student application is for students who are or soon will be secondary school graduates of programs similar to those in the United States. First-Time First-Year students have not attended another college or university after graduating from secondary programs. Students who have completed their junior or eleventh grade year of secondary school may apply for admissions any time after August 1st.

Application Requirements for International First-Time First-Year Students

1. Complete Western’s Online Application or the Common Application.
2. Submit your official high school and/or college transcripts. All documents in a language other than English must be accompanied by certified English translations of these documents. These documents must be original copies with an official signature and bear the school’s official seal, or a certified copy. All transcripts for work completed outside of the United States must be submitted to a NACES member credential evaluation service for a course by course evaluation. For a complete list of members, go to: www.naces.org or www.aacrao.org.
3. Request your official TOEFL, IELTS, ACT and/or SAT exam scores to be sent to Western. See below for TOEFL and IELTS requirements.
   • For 2022 semesters, ACT/SAT are optional. However, international students must still provide proof of English proficiency via the TOEFL or IELTS.
4. Submit the $50 application fee (can be paid online with the application or by calling the Cashier’s Office at 970.943.3003).

If you are submitting an application via the Common Application, self-reported information on the Common Application must be verified by official secondary school transcript(s) and TOEFL, IELTS, ACT and/or SAT scores for a student to be considered for admission at Western. Please arrange to have those official documents sent to Western’s Admissions Office.

Test Score Requirements

In addition to the materials included in the application requirements, applicants whose national language is not English are required to demonstrate proficiency in English and provide an official transcript of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IETLS).

Minimum acceptable TOEFL scores are as follows:

• iBT: 79
• Paper Version: 550
• Computer-Based Test: 213

Minimum acceptable IELTS score is as follows:

• 6.5

If your country’s national language is English, you will need to submit ACT and/or SAT test scores.

Optional (if you feel your application may need extra support):

• An admissions essay following the prompt “Why Western?”
• A personal statement
• Letter(s) of recommendation
• A resume

Keep in mind:

Entering first-year students are admitted with the expectation that they will benefit from the educational experiences provided by Western Colorado University. Student’s applications will be assessed for:

• Evidence of academic progression
• Potential for success at the university level
• Evidence of leadership
• Community service
• Life experience affecting student’s overall academic record

All of the listed criteria will be taken into consideration but may not affect the final admission decision if the student is not academically prepared for admission into a university setting.

Credit for Advanced Placement Courses

Western recognizes that many students have taken Advanced Placement tests, CLEP tests and/or participated in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. The following links provide specific equivalencies for individual tests. A minimum score of 3 is required for credit to be granted for most Advanced Placement tests (for some a score of 4 is required). Western will grant International Baccalaureate credit for tests with a score of 4 or better. Students may be awarded a maximum of 18 credits from CLEP exams.

• Advanced Placement
• International Baccalaureate (IB) program
• CLEP exams

Please submit application materials to:

Western Colorado University
Admissions Office
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231
Fax: 970.943.2363
Email: admissions@western.edu

Application Deadlines

Western is on a rolling admission cycle. We accept applications throughout the year until our class is full. However, we recommend that international students apply at least three months before classes begin to ensure a smooth transition.

Application Status

You may check the status of your application anytime by using your self-service application portal. Typically, you will receive your admission decision 2-3 weeks after we have received all of your application materials. Contact your admissions counselor for additional information.

Confirming Your Enrollment

After you’ve been accepted and made your decision to attend Western, you may confirm your enrollment and reserve your spot in the in-coming class by submitting your $200 tuition deposit. You will need to submit your deposit before you can register for classes and sign up for on-campus housing. You can submit your deposit by check or by credit card by contacting the Cashier’s Office at 970.943.3003

U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Documentation

Western Colorado University and the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement require that admitted students planning to enter the U.S. on an F-1 (student) visa provide proof of financial support before immigration documents (I-20) can be issued. Proof of the ability to cover the first year’s educational costs, living expenses and other miscellaneous expenses must be made available to the University.

You will be contacted by Western’s SEVIS Coordinator regarding required documentation for your visa application process once you are accepted to Western.

All documents appearing in a language other than English must be accompanied by certified English translations.

Some of the documents required include:

• Affidavit of Support form (provided by SEVIS Coordinator).
• A letter of financial support and bank statement showing sufficient funds to cover the first year of study.
• A photocopy of the applicant’s passport listing official name, birth date, etc.
• If the applicant is in the U.S., a photocopy of the visa and I-94 on which the applicant entered the country.

Financial documents must be submitted via postal mail. Emailed or faxed copies of financial documents will not be accepted.

Send materials to:

Western Colorado University
Attn: Laurel Becker
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231
Fax: (970) 943-2254
Email: lbecker@western.edu

* Documents related to the Visa process will not be accepted if received via email or fax.