The Military College of Pennsylvania

Transcription

1 The Military College of Pennsylvania International Student Information Packet Valley Forge Military College Admissions 1001 Eagle Road, Wayne, PA

2 Valley Forge Military College at a Glance About Us Steeped in tradition; student life at VFMC centers on the challenging rigors of life in the Corps of Cadets. The common experience of living closely together in a highly disciplined and challenging environment creates a unit esprit and camaraderie that remains with the student long after graduation from VFMC. The Corps of Cadets is fundamentally a cadet-led system administered through the military structure. Under the supervision of the Commandant of Cadets and the Company TAC Officers, the cadets are responsible for the administration of the Corps and the implementation of the rules and regulations that govern the cadets daily lives. This delegation of authority directly descends from the Commandant and TAC Officers through the Chain of Command. Opportunities to learn and practice leadership are provided through leadership and staff appointments in the Chain of Command. Membership in the famed Continental Line is characterized by a commitment to excellence and a daily life that is precise, structured, and demanding. With these appointments into the Chain of Command, cadets gain confidence and are given an increasing amount of responsibility, fostering poise as leaders. The Cadet organization is the ideal vehicle by which each student can develop leadership and management skills. Cadet training teaches students to think clearly, to keep their minds alert and active, and to form habits of neatness and correctness. It prepares them for greater responsibilities by teaching respect and obedience to authority and by developing habits of self-discipline.

3 Our Mission At Valley Forge, we believe in more. Our philosophy is refreshingly different: academic accomplishment is merely the first building block of a strong education. Since 1928, a Valley Forge education has been built around subjects most schools have forgotten to address character development, personal motivation and leadership the very skills students need to rise to the top of whatever field they choose to pursue. Our goal is to empower cadets to thrive in an environment that demands standards of conduct, ethical behavior, integrity, spiritual values, community service and competition. Within a low-risk, supportive and caring environment, cadets are encouraged to set goals and strive for excellence, while developing leadership skills and a sense of individual responsibility. The mission of Valley Forge Military College is to educate students within an academic and military environment to transfer to academically competitive four-year colleges, universities, or service academies. The College builds leaders of character for the future, for the community, for the country, for the world. The Five Cornerstones Valley Forge is about developing the whole person, relying on five traditional cornerstones on which Valley Forge has built an international reputation: 1. Academic Excellence VFMC s educational programs prepare students to transfer to the nation s finest four-year colleges, universities and research institutions appropriate to the personal and professional goals of each student. 2. Character Development VFMC students follow a standard of conduct centered on Honor Code and system, enhanced spiritual values and service to others. 3. Personal Motivation VFMC students are encouraged through positive competition, teamwork and goal setting to strive for excellence as individuals and as members of a group. 4. Physical Development Through an integration of health and physical education, physical training and athletic competition, cadets are encouraged to develop physical self-confidence and a general sense of well-being. 5. Leadership Cadets are provided a distinct military structure that prepares them for personal responsibility, increasing opportunities for leadership, and responsible decision making competencies.

4 One of the great strengths of Valley Forge Military College, The Military College of Pennsylvania, is the incredible diversity of the student body. Students from around the world, representing over 30 nations, attend Valley Forge in preparation for success in life. Those nations have included Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Korea, China, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Gabon, just to name a few. One third of our total student population is comprised of these students from across the globe, and have gone on to attend such institutions as Harvard, U.S. Military Academy at Westpoint, U.S. Airforce Academy, and Pennsylvania State University. Valley Forge is simply the most diverse school of its size in America. In a world which is increasingly economically interconnected, there is no better way to build relationships with future leaders. Students from Gabon may room with a student from the Dominican Republic. A student from Bahrain may room with a student from Kansas. Each grows to appreciate the other and forms bonds which can last a lifetime.

5 Admissions Application and F-1 Student Visa Request Instructions Thank you for your interest in Valley Forge Military College. Your next step in joining the ranks of the prestigious Corps of Cadets is to complete the following steps. The information contained in this packet is to be used to assist you in your application process to attend Valley Forge Military College. While this will include most of the requirements for Admission, every application is reviewed individually. Some applicants may require more or less information. This will not be determined until an Admissions Counselor has reviewed the application. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions. is the best form of communication. The admissions office can be reached at Step 1: Complete an application for admission *Please note, along with your application you must submit the following items Completed application $25 non-refundable application fee High school transcripts (in English) Copy of SAT or ACT scores (will accept scores listed on high school transcript) TOEFL or IELTS Scores Step 2: Sending Your Transcripts Your transcripts are proof of High School Graduation and/or College Attendance High School Graduation Documents International students must be graduates of a school that is considered equivalent in level to a U.S. high school. As proof, the following official documents must be mailed to us directly from the high school and/or examination board certifying graduation: Transcripts Diploma or Certificate (If only one document is available, we will accept notarized or certified copies of the original document) When submitting high school (secondary) records, one of the agencies sanctioned by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES) must be used. We recommend the following foreign credential evaluation services: World Education Services: Evaluation Services, Inc.: Please arrange to have the evaluation report mailed to: Office of College Admissions, 1001 Eagle Road, Wayne, PA Step 3: English Language Proficiency Testing The results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOFEL) must be received from all students of non-english speaking countries. Results must come directly from the testing service. A minimum TOFEL score of 79 (internet-based), 213 (computer-based), or 550 (paper-based) must be achieved on this test. The results from International English Language Testing System (IELTS) can be used for admissions purposes as well. A minimum score of 6 is required on the IELTS. *Non-native English speaking applicants already in the U.S.A. may be eligible for alternative English language testing. For further information please contact the Admissions Office at

6 Step 4: Affidavit of Financial Support and Proof of Financial Resources All applicants must return a completed Affidavit of Financial Support as well as proof of financial resources in the form of bank statements or indication of available funds on the financial institution s letterhead and proof of income. All financial documents must be in English and converted to U.S. Dollars. Please refer to the budget model below for an estimate of annual student cost. Financial aid is not available for international students. Enrolling Full Year Semester Tuition $23, $11, Room $7, $3, Board $4, $2, Basic Service Fees $6, $3, Books $1, $ Total $43, $21, *Please be advised that a $ enrollment deposit is required for all students to reserve their space. Should you wish to pay your deposit or tuition via wire transfer, please forward to: Sandandar Bank ABA: Account: SWIFT Code: Beneficiary: Address: SVRNUS33 Valley Forge Military Academy and College 123 West Lancaster Avenue Wayne, PA Phone: *Please include the cadet name and ID number on all correspondence.

7 Step 5: Requesting your Form I-20 All lawful F-1 international students are required to complete all of the aforementioned steps before a request can for your Form I-20 can be generated by one of the College Designated School Officials (DSO). Please be advised that no Form I-20 can be issued to any student without the following: Proof of acceptance into the program A copy of your passport s identity section A completed Affidavit of Financial Support Proof of Financial Resources Once all items have been submitted and reviewed, your DSO will you a PDF copy of your Form I-20, which you can use to schedule your interview at your local consulate while you wait for the original to arrive. Your DSO will mail the original form that will be required by the consulate at the time of your interview the same day the PDF copy is sent. Please be aware that Valley Forge Military College reserves the right to charge any additional costs associated with the need for expedited mailing services of your Form I-20 to your cadet account. Please be sure to complete and submit all documents and forms necessary to issue your Form I-20 in a timely fashion. Step 6: Paying your I-901 SEVIS Fee and Obtaining your Visa Once you have received your Form I-20, you will need to pay your I-901 SEVIS fee and schedule your visa interview with your local consulate office. Paying your I-901 SEVIS fee If your country of citizenship or country of birth is Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria or Gambia you must pay by money order, Western Union Quick Pay or certified check drawn from a U.S. bank. All other prospective students also have the option to make a credit card payment on FMJfee.com. For instructions on how to complete the Western Union Quick Pay/Quick Collect form, please visit *For detailed instructions or for assistance on how to make an I-901 SEVIS fee payment, call the SEVP Response Center at Obtaining your Visa In order to get your student visa, you must present proof of your I-901 SEVIS fee payment at your visa interview. The printed confirmation will serve as proof of payment for the I-901 Fee Print a receipt of payment after you have completed your I-901 payment After you receive your visa, check to see that you received the right type of visa and that your name and date of birth are correct and match the information in your passport. *For more information, see the SEVIS I-901 Fee Frequently Asked Questions page on SEVP s website.

8 Step 7: Entering the United States It is always a good idea to carry your original documents with you at all times when you travel. Do not put them in your checked baggage. These documents include: Passport Visa Form I-20 The Form I-94, "Arrival/Departure Record" is a critical record. It shows that you have been legally admitted to the United States, the class of admission, and the authorized period of stay. It is very important that the information on the record is correct. Please review this with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer to make sure this information is correct before leaving the port of entry. If you arrive by a land port, you will receive a paper Form I-94. If you arrive at the port of entry by air or sea CBP will provide you with an admission stamp on your passport that is annotated with date of admission, class of admission and admitted-until date. The electronic arrival/departure record can be obtained at If you arrive at the U.S. port of entry without all of your required documents or with unsigned or missing information, the CBP officer may deny your entry into the United States. As an alternative, the officer has discretion to issue you a Form I-515A, which allows you temporary entry into the United States for 30 days. If you are issued this document contact Valley Forge Military College Admissions Office immediately. The CBP officer who issues you a Form I-515A may tell you what documents, signatures or information are missing or incomplete. The form is a checklist that describes exactly what is missing or incomplete and tells you what you must do. If you cannot enter the United States for the term listed on your Form I-20 or if you will be late by a few days, immediately contact Valley Forge Military College Admissions Office so that we can accurately enter this information in your SEVIS record. Step 6: After You Arrive After arriving on campus, you MUST report to your DSO with the following items for review: Your passport Your F-1 student visa Your I-94 Your Form I-20 *Please be advised that failure to report to the DSO within 2 weeks of arrival at Valley Forge Military College will result in the cancellation of your F-1 status. Please feel free to contact me with any questions at [email protected].

9 THIS IS MY SWORN PROMISE OF CASH SUPPORT The Military College of Pennsylvania I,, promise that I can and will give My Name no less than U.S. $ in cash Full name of student (including annual cost of living increases on this amount) for EVERY YEAR of the student s program of study at Valley Forge Military College. My relationship to the student is. Parent, spouse, brother/sister, friend Address: Phone: Phone: Fax: The following persons are fully or partially dependent upon me for their support. (Do not include the student named above). Name Relationship to me Age Name Relationship to me Age Name Relationship to me Age Name of employer: Annual salary: (USD)$ Other Income: (USD)$ My proof of income and bank statement are attached: Yes No I swear that the information I have provided above is true and correct. Signature of Sponsor Date This document was sworn and subscribed before me this day. Signature of Notary Date

10 STUDENT INFORMATION REQUEST FORM The Military College of Pennsylvania The following items must be submitted with this form: Copy of passport identity section Copy of visa page (if held) Copy of both sides of I-94 (if held) Copy of I-20 (if held) Full name (as it appears on your passport) Last Name (Family name) First Name and Middle Initial Country of Birth Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY) Country of Citizenship (please list the primary if you hold citizenship in more than one country) Countries of Additional Citizenship (if applicable) I will be coming to Valley Forge Military College from (please indicate one) Outside of the United States o I will be arriving from. Please indicate the country you will be traveling from above. Within the United States If you are transferring from another school please indicate your school on the line below If you are not transferring from another institution and are already in the United States on a valid nonimmigrant visa for a purpose other than attending school, such as for tourism, and are interested in studying in the United States, you will have to change your status. I certify that all information provided on this form is correct and complete to the best of my knowledge. I shall notify the Admissions Office of any changes in financial circumstances or plans to attend Valley Forge Military College. I will return the visa document, if issued, if I postpone my admission to a later semester or I choose not to attend. Signature of Student (or guardian if student is under 18) Date Address Phone Number