freshman info

International Students

Admissions

St. Thomas Aquinas College welcomes international students to our campus and our International Student Counselor can help you with all of your concerns. St. Thomas is a growing, vibrant, liberal arts college that offers nearly 100 different programs to choose from at the undergraduate and graduate level -- including partnerships we have developed with other colleges and universities. St. Thomas is located 20 miles north of New York City in suburban Rockland County.

St. Thomas students come from all over the world and we can guide you through the process.

Application Process:

Application
$25 U.S. to complete the application for admission online.
Education Credentials
Official High School Transcript with Course-by-Course Evaluation
TOEFL Scores
Required for all students whose primary language is not English unless they have earned a N.Y.S. Regents Diploma.
SAT or ACT Scores
Students are required to take the SAT or ACT as part of their application to the college. These scores are also used together with high school grades to determine scholarship. Download the SAT bulletin at http://www.collegeboard.org
Essay/Personal Statement
3 Letters of Recommendation
International Student Financial Statement

Once your application is complete, a decision will be made and you will be notified within a few weeks. Deposits must be submitted by May 1st.

Financial Aid
International students can not receive U.S. or New York State aid. International students are eligible for college scholarships and awards.

Freshmen Scholarships. For a complete list of criteria, visit the Financial Aid web page:

For a complete list of scholarships and criteria, visit the Scholarship Webpage

International applicants are required to show that they have sufficient funds to support themselves during their studies. The amount and source of funds are necessary on the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20) when applying for F-1 visas

Contact Information:

Faride Rodriguez
Regional Admissions Coordinator &
Special Program Advisor
845.398.4103/Fax: 845.398.4372
Email: frodrigu@stac.edu

ALTERNATIVE SOURCES FOR FINANCIAL AID
Edupass
Smart Guide to Financial Aid
International Education Financial
Foriegn Fulbright Program

New Students
International (F-1) Students:

You must keep your passport valid. You must also report a new address within 10 days of moving to the college you attend. You must attend the school that you are authorized to attend as indicated on your I-20 and you must be a full time student. You must maintain registration each semester until graduation. You must obtain permission from the College's international student advisor to drop below full-time. There are limited exceptions to the full-time course rule. You are permitted to move from one educational level to another (Undergraduate to Master's) and you are permitted to transfer from one school to another. Both of these actions require prior approval. You are permitted to on-campus employment of 20 hours per week.

Curricular Practical Training
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is employment directly related to the student’s field of study. It must be an integral part of the curriculum.
It can be a paid or unpaid internship, practicum, or other type of employment arranged with the approval of the student’s department.
It may take place during the academic year and/or the summer. CPT may be required or recommended.

What do I need to apply?
Curricular Practical Training Form
Academic Advisor Recommendation Form

Letter from Employer

Give the starting and ending date of the position
Give the number of hours to be worked each week
Include a brief description of job duties

Example of Letter from Employer

Date

To Whom It May Concern:

(Student's Name) has been offered the position of (name of position). This position begins on (start date) and ends on (end date). The position will be for (number of hours) each week.

The duties of this position will include:
(brief description of duties)

Sincerely,

Name of employer

Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a paid employment directly related to your major area of study. Students in F-1 status must have been lawfully enrolled in school on a full time basis for at least one full academic year to be eligible for OPT. It is limited to a total of 12 months. A student becomes eligible for another 12 months of practical training when he/she changes to a higher educational level. F-1 students may be authorized to participate in OPT prior to completion of studies. However the post-completion OPT period must be reduced if students have been previously authorized to work part-time in OPT or if students have spent more than one year in full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Note that part-time OPT is calculated at a rate of one half of full-time OPT. A student must apply for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training during their final semester of course requirements. To apply for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training, the student must submit to the Designated School Official (DSO) required paperwork and forms (see Application for OPT).

What do I need to apply?
Optional Practical Training Form

You may use the admissions office address for delivery of the EAD card or you may use a residential address (you can use your own or a friend/family member who can send the EAD card to you when it arrives.

$340.00 check or money order made payable to US Citizenship and Immigration Services or Department of Homeland Security.
Photocopy of most recent I-94 (both sides) and visa
Photocopy of the identity pages of your passport, which includes your picture.
A copy of any previous EAD Card (both sides) if applicable
2 Photos with a white background
Include a photocopy (not original) of your SEVIS I-20 for OPT, pages 1 and 3, after it is endorsed by the Office of Admissions.
Include photocopies of all other previous I-20s issued to you by St. Thomas Aquinas College.
Include photocopies of all I-20s issued to you by any other U.S. school you attended
The cover sheet from international advisor to USCIS

HELPFUL LINKS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Applying for a NYS Learner's Permit or Driver's License
Foreign Drivers Licenses And Driving In New York State
Social Security Numbers And ID Cards
Applying for a Social Security Number
Opening A Bank Account
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