ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Transfer and Advanced Standing/ Articulation

Many students are prepared to enter advanced classes, having previously studied business subjects in college, high school, or in a recognized program of Non-Collegiate Sponsored Instruction.  Articulation agreements have been made with many high schools and BOCES for advanced standing credit.  For further information, check with a USC representative or high school guidance counselor.  Credit is also given for passing examinations administered by the New York State College Proficiency Examination (CEEB, CLEP).  Upon presentation of an official college transcript showing subjects completed with satisfactory grades (C or higher) and/or the passing of USC’s requirements, a student will be granted credit for courses in the program selected.  A transfer student must complete at least 50% of the required credit hours at USC.  No credit will be given for computer courses taken more than two years previously, unless approved by the Academic Dean.  Skill classes such as Keyboarding will be required to demonstrate current proficiency.

Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges
Utica School of Commerce has been designated as an institutional member of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC), a group of over 400 colleges and universities providing voluntary post-secondary education to members of the military throughout the world. As an SOC member, USC recognizes the unique nature of the military lifestyle and has committed itself to easing the transfer of relevant course credits, providing flexible academic residency requirements and creating learning from appropriate military training and experiences.

SOC has been developed jointly between educational representatives of each of the Armed Services, the Office of the Secretary of Defense and a consortium of thirteen leading national higher education associations.  It is sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges (AACJC).

Further information may be obtained by contacting the USC Academic Office.

USC-SUNY Institute of Technology Joint Admissions Agreement
Applicants to the Utica School of Commerce associate degree programs may request joint admission status to SUNY Institute of Technology.  Upon acceptance to USC, the applicant will also receive acceptance to SUNY Institute of Technology.  This ensures the student the opportunity of a four-year college education.

Elective Courses
Students, who for certain reasons may not wish to pursue one of the prescribed programs, or do not meet acceptance as a regular student, may take up to 8 credit hours per semester up to a maximum of 24 credit hours before matriculating.

International Students
Utica School of Commerce is authorized by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to enroll foreign national students.  The following admissions requirements for International students conform to the USCIS requirements for issuing an F-1 student visa:

1.   Application: Students must submit their USC application for admissions within 60 days of the start of the semester for which they are applying with a $500 non-refundable deposit.  This deposit will be applied toward the student’s tuition and fees when he/she enrolls.  This deposit is refundable if written notification is received prior to the first day of classes or in the event that the INS denies the student’s request for a student visa.

International students are required to matriculate, carry a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester and maintain a 2.0 GPA.

2.   English Proficiency:  To be accepted for admissions as an international student at USC, students must be able to speak, read, write and understand English at a level that will allow them to successfully complete college work.  English proficiency at USC is determined by scoring 500 or better on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).  A score of 173 is required on the computer version of the TOEFL.

Test applications may be requested from TOEFL-Education Testing Service,
Box 899, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA (609-771-7100).  The code to report official TOEFL scores directly to USC is 0343.

3.   Academic Preparation:  To be accepted to USC, students must have earned the equivalent of an American high school diploma, twelve years of elementary and secondary school.  Applicants are required to submit transcripts (certified and translated into English) with their application.

International secondary and post-secondary transcripts must be evaluated and converted into their U.S. equivalents by the World Education Services, PO
Box 5087, New York, NY 10274 USA. (212-966-6311, www.wes.org).  WES will describe each certificate, diploma or degree that the student has earned and report its academic equivalency in the United States.

Transfer students from other colleges must have completed at least 12 credit hours with at least a C average.  Official college transcripts from all U.S. colleges and/or universities attended must be submitted to the USC Admissions Office (even if no transfer credit is being requested).

4.   Financial Requirement:  In compliance with immigration requirements, applicants must be able to show that they have the funds needed to pay their academic and living expenses for the duration of their studies.  Annual tuition and fees for the academic year (two semesters), less the $500 deposit, are payable at the time of registration; no exceptions are made.  Financial aid is not available.

5.   Immunization:  NYS Law requires all students born on or after January 1, 1957, registered for 6 or more credit hours, to be immunized against Measles, Mumps and Rubella.  Documentation of Meningococcal Meningitis or written refusal is also required. 

6.   Insurance:  International students are required to have coverage for health and accident insurance.  In the United States health care is extremely expensive and there are no free medical facilities.  Students will be asked to provide the name of their insurance company, policy number and expiration date.

Applications for admissions will be reviewed upon receipt of all of the above documentation.  If accepted for admission to USC, a USCIS Form I-20 will be sent along with the student’s orientation materials (Orientation is usually scheduled 2 weeks before the start of the semester).