Before being fully accepted to an American associate, bachelor, or masters degree program, international students must demonstrate that they have the necessary English proficiency skills needed to succeed. Most colleges and universities give students the option of demonstrating their English skills by either taking a standardized English test like the TOEFL or IELTS exams or successfully completing an Intensive English Program.
Which option is best?
Depending on your current English skills, your budget, and how much time before you want to begin your degree program, one option may be better than another. If you decide to take the TOEFL or IELTS Exam, you will have to make an appointment at an approved test center, pay for the test fee, take the 3-hour test, and wait a couple of weeks to receive your official score. Many students who take these tests spend a month or more beforehand studying in a test preparation course or studying on their own with test preparation books. If you do not get the minimum test score needed for full admission to your chosen degree program, you will need to re-take the test again until you do. Each re-test requires making an additional test appointment, paying an additional test fee, and spending additional time preparing for the test.
Although the TOEFL and IELTS exams are relatively inexpensive to study for and take, there are a couple things to be aware of. First, they do not determine how well you understand American culture or are able to effectively function in different living and social situations outside of school. Second, a great TOEFL or IELTS score does not guarantee that you will not have to take additional English classes at your college or university. Before you can register for classes at your new college or university, you must take their own English placement test. The score you receive on the English placement test, not your TOEFL or IELTS exam score, determines whether you will need additional English classes before enrolling in classes for your degree program.
The other option, Intensive English Programs, are offered by most colleges and universities. These programs are designed by the school's professors to help students learn the English skills needed to succeed in their degree programs as well as learn about American culture and functioning confidently in everyday situations outside of school. They also help you become familiar with the school that you will be spending the next few years studying at.
A significant benefit that many Intensive English Programs offer students is "CONDITIONAL ADMISSION" to their degree programs. With conditional admission, the Intensive English Program helps you apply to the degree program and get an acceptance letter that states you will be fully accepted once you successfully complete the Intensive English Program. Students who successfully complete the Intensive English Program usually do not need to take the TOEFL or IELTS exams to get accepted to the college's/ university's associate or bachelor degree (and some masters degree) programs. Conditional admission letters give you the assurance that you will be accepted to the school of your choice as soon as you complete the Intensive English Program. Showing a conditional admission letter during your student visa interview demonstrates that you are a serious student and have a definite long-term plan to study in the USA.
If you enroll in an Intensive English Program you will usually study in class for 4-5 hours a day and have many opportunities to further improve your English skills outside of class. Depending on how much time is required to meet the English proficiency requirements of the college or university you are planning to attend, studying in an Intensive English Program may be more expensive than preparing for and taking the TOEFL or IELTS exams, but students you will generally be better-prepared for success in your degree program.
American Education Partners (http://www.americanedpartneers.com/) works closely with many Intensive English Programs at great colleges and universities throughout the USA that can offer conditional admission to academically and financially-qualified students. If you are considering enrolling in an Intensive English Program before starting your associate, bachelor or masters degree program, contact our school placement advisors at: info@americanedpartners.com for personalized assistance.
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