Undergraduate Admissions: International Early Decision

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the criteria for being considered an international student?
We base our criteria on whether or not a student is eligible for federal student aid from the United States government. Therefore, U.S. citizens living abroad are not international students, nor are students who have dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country. Additionally, permanent residents (“green card holders”) are also not considered international students.
What is the deadlines to apply?
November 15 First-Year Early Decision
January 15 First-Year Regular Decision
April 1 Transfer Admission
Can I apply for the spring semester as a first-year international student?
No. Clark does not accept applications from international students for the spring semester. We feel that the transition to Clark is best made when international students matriculate with the majority of our new students.
What if English is not my first language? Do I need to take the TOEFL?
Yes, if English is not your first language, you must submit the results of the Test of English as a Second Language (TOEFL). The minimum score for full admission is 80 ibT (Internet) or 550 pbT (paper). Alternatively, an IELTS score of 6.5 is acceptable.
What if I do not score above the minimum required on the TOEFL?
Students who have strong academic backgrounds may be granted conditional or provisional admission with TOEFL scores below 80 ibT. Please note that financial awards are not available to provisional or conditional students.
What is the deadline to be considered for Early Decision?
November 15.
What is the difference between Early Decision and Early Action/Early Notification?
At most colleges, Early Action and Early Notification mean that you find out the school's decision on your admission early, but you do not need to commit to the school until May 1. While Clark does not offer Early Action or Early Notification, we do offer Early Decision. Early Decision allows students to let their first choice school know that they will enroll if admitted.
How do I apply Early Decision?
Simply check the Early Decision box on the application supplement and submit the application and supplement to Clark by November 15th. The Admissions Committee will notify you of a decision by mid-December. This early response means that, if admitted, you do not have to spend additional money and time applying to other colleges and universities.
If I apply to Clark's Early Decision program, can I apply to other schools?
Yes, you can apply to other colleges or universities. However, applying as an Early Decision candidate does mean you must withdraw those applications once you have accepted our offer of admission.
What if I am not admitted Early Decision?
Some Early Decision candidates will be deferred to the regular admission pool. Candidates will automatically be reconsidered in March. We welcome any additional information such as senior grades, additional standardized test scores or recommendations. In addition, some applicants may be denied admission during the Early Decision review.
I am interested in transferring to Clark as an international student. What do I need to submit to provide a complete application?
You can find a checklist of all the components you need to submit here. Please be aware that you will need to have all of your transcripts from universities outside of the United States evaluated by an outside agency before sending them to Clark.

International Transfers: Credit Evaluation Services

International students applying for transfer admission from colleges and universities outside the United States are required to submit their academic records to a credit evaluation service (see below) to receive transfer credit and advanced standing from Clark. All costs associated with these evaluations are the responsibility of the student.

Since overseas educational systems, requirements and credits differ from those in the United States, we ask you to contact these agencies in order to assist us in granting you appropriate transfer credit. Applicants who fail to submit their academic records to an evaluation service will be considered incomplete and will not be considered for admission to Clark. International students transferring from U.S. colleges and universities may submit their U.S. transcripts directly.

Suggested Credit Evaluation Services:

Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
Tel: 414-289-3400
Web: www.ece.org
E-Mail:eval@ece.org

Education Evaluators International
Tel: 401-521-5340
Web: www.educei.com
E-Mail: eval@educei.com

World Education Services
Tel: 212-966-6311
Web: www.wes.org
E-mail: info@wes.org

Educational Perspectives
Tel: 312-421-9300
Web: www.edperspective.org
Email: info@edperspective.org

Center for Educational Documentation
Tel: 617-338-7171
Web: www.cedevaluations.com
E-mail: info@cedevaluations.com

I am interested in attending Clark as a graduate student to earn a master’s degree. Am I eligible for the Global Scholars Program?
No. Only undergraduate students (those looking to earn a bachelor’s degree) are eligible for the Global Scholars Program.
Does Clark give financial aid to international students?
Yes. Clark's awards are based on financial need as well as merit. In order to be considered for an award, you must file an award application with your admissions application by the January 15 deadline. When you apply you will be asked to provide information about your family’s savings and income. Using this information we will assess the ability of your family to pay for a Clark education and determine how much aid we are able to provide to students who are admitted to the University. Sometimes an international applicant may be eligible for admission based on their academic and personal merit, but based on the financial information they provide, they appear unable to afford a Clark education. In these cases applicants will be awarded no aid at all, since our resources are limited and we must reserve funds for students who show they are clearly able to fund at least part of their education. The average international student at Clark pays approximately $25,000 per year towards their education.
Is there anything else I should be aware of when applying to Clark?
We require a minimum of three complete years of educational data in order to properly evaluate your education. For students in countries such as China, where a 6-3-3 educational system is in place, you will need to submit a transcript from your middle school showing results from at least the final/third year (the US equivalent of “9th” grade) in addition to the first two years of your three-year secondary school. We cannot review an application with only two years of credentials, so please ensure that we receive your documents in their entirety before the January 15 deadline.