We are pleased that you are exploring the opportunities available at St. Thomas Aquinas College.
St. Thomas Aquinas College is a private, liberal arts college located 20 miles north of New York City, in Rockland County. 
In the tradition of its founders, the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, the college is committed to empowering individuals through education and of course, building on excellence.
Working towards the goal of an individualized education, our students come from all over the world, including Ireland, Canada, Japan, Colombia, Brazil, among others.

Contact Information
Application Process
Financial Aid
New Students
Curricular Practical Training
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Helpful Links for International Students
Transfer Students

Contact Information:
Faride Rodriguez
Regional Admissions Coordinator & Special Program Advisor
845.398.4103/Fax: 845.398.4114
frodrigu@stac.edu

Application Process:

1. Application
   Complete application for admission and a $30.00 application fee.  Applications can be mailed or completed on-line. 
2. Education Credentials
   Official High School Transcription with Course-by-Course Evaluation
3. TOEFL Scores
   This test your ability to use the English language in your studies.
   OR SAT/ACT Scores
   College Board SAT Program
   P.O. Box 6200
   Princeton, NJ 08541-6200
   Tel: (609) 771-7600
   Email: sat@etc.org
   Download the SAT bulletin at http://www.collegeboard.org
4. Essay/Personal Statement
5. Letter(s) of Recommendation
6. Resume of Extracurricular Activities
7. International Student Financial Statement
   
   As soon as we have received your completed application, the application will be assigned to the appropriate counselor for review. A decision letter will be sent in approximately two weeks. If you accept our invitation to attend St. Thomas Aquinas College, a non-refundable deposit must be submitted by May 1st.

Financial Aid

Although international students do not qualify for U.S. or New York State government aid, St. Thomas Aquinas College does however offer Merit Scholarships to students who qualify, several of which are renewable.

Scholarships for freshmen international students:

International applicants are required, as part of their application process, 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.

Alternate Sources for Financial Aid:

Edupass
Smart Guide to Financial Aid
International Education Financial
Foreign Fulbright Program

New Students
AS AN F-1 STUDENT, YOU ARE MAINTAINING YOUR STATUS WHEN YOU:

• Keep your passport valid at all times
• Within 10 days of moving, report any change of address to the St. Thomas Aquinas College. This address change is then reported by the Admissions Office to the federal immigration authorities.
• Attend the school that you are authorized to attend, as indicated on your I-20.
• Pursue a full course of study
• Maintain registration each semester until graduation or transfer to a new school.
• Obtain prior authorization from the Admissions Office before dropping below a full-time course of study. The very limited exceptions to the full-time course rule are:
  • Academic Difficulty
  • Medical Condition
  • Completion of Course of Study

• Follow required procedures for:
  • moving from one educational level to another (e.g., Undergraduate to Master's)
  • transferring from one school to another
  • filing a timely application for program extension
• Limit on-campus employment to 20 hours per week when school is in session.
• Refrain from off-campus employment without authorization

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:

**Students in F-1 status must have been lawfully enrolled in school on a full-time basis for at least one full academic year before they are eligible.

 Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is defined as paid employment directly related to the student’s 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.
Optional Practical Training 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 or course requirements for the degree. 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 that 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

Checklist

• Completed academic advisor’s recommendation form
   PDF FILE, Advisor Form<--------Click for download
• Complete form I-765.  Sign your name with a Blue ink pen
  PDF FILE, I-765 Form<--------Click for download
  
  **Note: answer question 16, (c)(3)(i).  **Address for delivery of the EAD card: You may use the admissions’ office address or you may use a residential address. The residential address may be either your own address or a friend or 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 include your picture.
• COPY OF ANY PREVIOUS EAD CARD (both sides) if applicable
• 2 PHOTOS WITH A WHITE BACKGROUND**Be sure to read the important instructions on photo requirements on the back side of this page.
• 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 UNITED STATES SCHOOL YOU ATTENDED
• COVER SHEET FROM INTERNATIONAL ADVISOR TO USCIS (included in this packet)

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

New York State Identification Cards

Social Security Numbers And ID Cards  

Applying for a Social Security Number 

Opening A Bank Account

Taxes