International Transfer Regular Decision

We welcome International Transfer students into the MICA community and look forward to your application!

ADMISSION DATES & DEADLINES

	Transfer Regular Decision - Fall 2020
April 1, 2020	Admission and Transfer Scholarship Application Due
April 20, 2020	Admission Decision and Scholarship Awards emailed
May 1, 2020	Candidate Reply Date

APPLICATION PROCESS

International students must meet all of the requirements for admission as transfer students. In addition, you must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of English for success in coursework at an American college

IMMIGRATION INFORMATION
Indicate your current immigration status and your intentions regarding immigration by completing the Immigration Information Form available online. This is required before a Form I-20 can be issued. Please complete this form even if you do not plan to study under an F-1 student visa.

DEMONSTRATION OF ABILITY TO FINANCE YOUR EDUCATION *may be submitted upon receipt of admission notification

Submit Certificate of Financeavailable online, as well as a notarized bank statement certifying that sufficient funds are available to support your study at the College. This is required before a Form I-20 can be issued.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Please review the requirements (listed below) that you will need to complete your application for admission. We are here to help you chart your future clearly and wisely. Questions? Reach out to the Office of Undergraduate Admission at transferquestions@mica.edu.

International applicants should make realistic financial plans for proposed study in the United States. Certification of funds available to support each year of study at MICA will be required. We will send the certification statement form to you upon receipt of your application. For additional information about financial statements go to Frequently Asked Questions by International Students.
Annual expenses for international students typically run higher than for domestic students, due to travel costs and mandatory health insurance. International students are not eligible to work off campus during the first nine months of their student visa status in the United States.
Before you leave your home country, you should have a letter of acceptance from MICA and a Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant (F-1) Student Status (Form I-20) from the College. Make sure that your passport and visa are in order before coming to the United States.

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY (REQUIRED)
In addition to the general application requirements, all applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in both written and spoken English. English proficiency must be proven before an official admission decision can be made.

TOEFL or IELTS scores should be from the last two years.

The scores or transcripts must arrive on or before your program deadline.

You may choose one (1) option from among the following to demonstrate English language proficiency:

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) *
A minimum overall band score of 75 on the TOEFL IBT examination is required.  TOEFL scores may be submitted digitally (MICA’s institution code is 5399) or as an official document in hard copy, mailed by TOEFL to Records Coordinator, MICA Undergraduate Admission, 1300 W. Mount Royal Avenue, Baltimore MD 21217.  IELTS (International English Language Testing System) *
A minimum score of 6.0 on the IELTS is required.  IELTS scores may be submitted digitally (MICA’s institution code is 5399) or as an official document in hard copy, mailed by TOEFL to Records Coordinator, MICA Undergraduate Admission, 1300 W. Mount Royal Avenue, Baltimore MD 21217.  Academic Transcripts
Official transcripts that demonstrate at least two full years of academic success at a high school or college/university in which English is the language of instruction is required. SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test)
A minimum score of 470 on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section is required.  MICA’s institution code is 5399.

International applicants should make realistic financial plans for proposed study in the United States. Certification of funds available to support each year of study at MICA will be required. We will send the certification statement form to you upon receipt of your application. Information regarding financial statements can also be found on the Admission & Financial Aid section of MICA’s Web site under Frequently Asked Questions By International Students. Annual expenses for international students typically run higher than for domestic students, due to travel costs and mandatory health insurance. International students are not eligible to work off campus during the first nine months of their student visa status in the United States. Before an international student leaves his or her home country, the student should have a letter of acceptance from MICA and a Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant (F-1) Student Status (Form I-20) from the College. Students should make certain that their passport and visa are in order before coming to the United States.

MICA's Transfer Application for Fall 2020 is available through the Common Application /CHOOSE : Apply for Transfer

THE COMMON APP FOR TRANSFER HAS FOUR SECTIONS. The first three sections (Personal Information, Academic History and Supporting Information) will apply to every college you are applying to. The fourth section (Program Materials) is specific to MICA's requirements.

In the ADD PROGRAM tab, choose the MICA application program you are applying for. You can only apply to one (1) program per academic year.

Add a preferred name and choose your preferred pronoun. Add your permanent address, email, phone and cell phone number. Request a fee waiver in this section.

Request official transcripts through Common App for each college you attended after graduating from high school. An official transcript is required to receive eligible credits. It can take time to process a transcript request, so do this early! Make arrangements for your transcript to arrive before your program deadline.

There are three ways to submit an official transcript:
1. Use the request form in Common App for Transfer, in the Academic History section.

2. Request your college registrar to email your transcript directly to records@mica.edu

3. Request your college registrar to mail your transcript directly to Records Coordinator, MICA Undergraduate Admission, 1300 W. Mount Royal Avenue, Baltimore MD 21217.

The EXPERIENCES tab, ACHIEVEMENTS tab and DOCUMENTS tab are all optional.

Note: There is a second “DOCUMENTS” tab in SECTION 4: PROGRAM MATERIALS, where you will upload required materials including catalog course descriptions, your essay and your high school transcript (proof of graduation).

International Students only : If you have supporting documentation, like waivers, scans of your passport bio page, scans of your current F1 Visa or scans of your current I-20 form upload them to this CV/Resume section.

For students wishing to submit a CV/Resume, please do so in the Section 4: PROGRAM MATERIALS/DOCUMENTS tab.

Answering the questions in the AFFIRMATION STATEMENTS tab is required in order to proceed with your application.

PROGRAM MATERIALS are the documents/questions specific to MICA’s application requirements.

DOCUMENTS tab - Upload the following:

Catalog Course Descriptions (required)
Submit course descriptions for all courses for which you are requesting transfer credit. Course descriptions should be copied from your college online course catalog, pasted into a Word document or PDF and upload it as a Word document or PDF. Only include the courses you have taken. Do NOT upload the whole online course catalog.

Personal Statement - Essay (required)
Choose one of the two prompts, write an essay (250-word minimum), and upload it as a Word document or PDF.

High School Transcript (Required)
A scan of your final high school transcript with final grades serves as proof of high school graduation. Alternatively you can scan a copy of your high school diploma or an official score report for the GED or other high school equivalency test.

Writing Sample (Optional)
Show your fluency and skill in writing by submitting an essay, article or short report written for an academic class.
Note: the writing sample is not the admission essay. You'll find the admission essay prompts in the Program Materials section.

CV/Resume (Optional)
Submit a curriculum vitae (CV) or resume to support your application.

RECOMMENDATIONS tab (Optional)
Follow the instructions to request recommendations directly through Common App. Your recommenders will be emailed a direct link to use to submit their letter. While recommendations are optional for transfer students, teachers, you can ask college counselors, mentors, and associates to comment on your art and academic experience and provide insights into your personality and ambition, adding quality to your application.

QUESTIONS tab
Many of these questions are required. Please pay attention to the instructions.

PORTFOLIO tab
Prepare a portfolio of 15-30 digital images of college-level artwork completed within the last two years that demonstrate technical skill and personal voice/direction.

For advice on creating a strong portfolio visit Portfolio Preparation for Transfer Students

Follow the instructions provided in the Common Application to upload your portfolio submission to the MICA Undergraduate SlideRoom Portal in SlideRoom. The Portfolio Submission fee is $15, separate from the $60 Common Application Fee.

Learn about acceptable file formats. Contact SlideRoom if you experience technical issues uploading your images or submitting your portfolio.

In the Label Media section for each image enter: title, year, medium, size. You can include additional details about the image if needed.

Pay attention to the order of your images--the review committee will evaluate your images in the order you have placed them. You can edit a portfolio, and add or remove images only before you submit your portfolio. Once submitted, the portfolio cannot be changed.

Note: You may submit your application prior to submitting your portfolio, but your application will not be reviewed until you have submitted your portfolio. Please pay attention to the deadline of the program you are applying to: your application will not be considered complete and will not be reviewed for admission until your portfolio is submitted.

More questions? Send us an email at transferquestions@mica.edu

1. After you answer all sections and upload all required documents, you must click the SUBMIT button in CommonApp to send your application to MICA.

2. You must either request official college transcripts through Common App's Academic History section OR ask your college/s to email or send your official transcripts to MICA's UG Admission Records Department. These transcripts must arrive on or before your program deadline. Your application will not be complete until your official transcript/s are received and added to your MICA file.

3. You must SUBMIT your portfolio through SlideRoom on or before your program deadline. Your application will not be complete until your portfolio is received and added to your MICA file.

4. To confirm that your application and materials have been received and your application is complete for review for your program deadline, email records@mica.edu

More questions? Send us an email at transferquestions@mica.edu

What are MICA's transfer application fees?
The total is $75, but the fees are paid separately:
Common App for Transfer=$60
Portfolio Submission through integrated link to SlideRoom=$15

Where can I request a fee waiver?
Request a fee waiver in the Profile tab of the Personal Information section. Fee waivers apply to the $60 fee only.

How should I submit my official college transcript?
In the Academic History section of Common App, follow the prompts to request an official transcript from each college you have attended.

Should I submit official transcripts from all the colleges I have attended?
If you are seeking credit for classes attended at that college, you will need to submit an official transcript.

What is MICA's policy for transfer credit?
Only courses of at least three semester credits (or equivalent) carrying a grade of C or better will qualify for transfer credit. The courses must also fit into the MICA degree plan for the intended major. Up to 60 credits required for the BFA degree may be transferred from other accredited colleges. Liberal arts courses in which the course content parallels that of courses offered at MICA will be considered for transfer credit. Transfer of studio courses is determined by course equivalency, final grade and portfolio review, if needed. In some cases, MICA may consider waiving course requirements after an evaluation of art achievements gained outside formal school programs.

How should I submit proof of high school graduation?
In the Program Materials section of the Common App: go to the Documents tab.

What are Catalog Course Descriptions? Where do I upload them? Why are they required?
Catalog Course Descriptions for all the classes you have taken and are seeking transfer credit for should be copied and pasted from your college's online catalog into a Word Document and uploaded in the Program Materials section of the Common App: go to the Documents tab. Catalog Course Descriptions help the Admission Committee review your transcript and determine transfer credit.

Where can I find the Admission Essay? Is the Essay required?
Yes, the Essay is required. In Common App for Transfer, find it under "Personal Statement" in the Program Materials section of the Common App under the Documents tab. Choose one of the two prompts and write at least 240 words on that theme. Upload your Essay in the Program Materials: Documents tab.

Where can I find advice about putting together a strong portfolio?
Check out Portfolio Preparation for Transfer Students.

I finished uploading the images for my portfolio, but got a message from MICA that my portfolio has not been received. What's wrong?
You need to submit the portfolio. Click the submit button in SlideRoom.

Do transfer applicants need to submit standardized test scores?
No. The College Entrance Examination Board Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) and/or the American College Test (ACT) are NOT required for transfer admission.

If English is my second language, do I need to submit standardized test scores?
Standardized test scores are one way to prove that you are proficient in English. In addition to the general application requirements, all applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in both written and spoken English. English proficiency must be proven before an official admission decision can be made.

Choose one (1) option from among the following to demonstrate English language proficiency:

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
A minimum overall band score of 75 on the TOEFL IBT examination is required.TOEFL scores may be submitted digitally (MICA’s institution code is 5399) or as an official document in hard copy, mailed by TOEFL to Records Coordinator, MICA Undergraduate Admission, 1300 W. Mount Royal Avenue, Baltimore MD 21217.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
A minimum score of 6.0 on the IELTS is required. IELTS scores may be submitted digitally (MICA’s institution code is 5399) or as an official document in hard copy, mailed by TOEFL to Records Coordinator, MICA Undergraduate Admission, 1300 W. Mount Royal Avenue, Baltimore MD 21217.

Academic Transcripts
Official transcripts that demonstrate at least two full years of academic success at a high school or college/university in which English is the language of instruction are required. To be considered official, the transcript must be emailed directly from your school to records@mica.edu or sent by your school directly to Records Coordinator, MICA Undergraduate Admission, 1300 W. Mount Royal Avenue, Baltimore MD 21217.

SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test)
A minimum score of 470 on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section is required. MICA’s institution code is 5399.

Can I submit TOEFL or IELTS scores or other proof of English proficiency after I submit my application? Yes, but you must meet the deadline for the program you are applying for, so we recommend sending these early. The scores or documentation must arrive at MICA on or before your program deadline.