Rend Lake College maintains an open-door admission policy that provides access to higher education for those individuals who can benefit from its comprehensive programs. Admission to the college does not guarantee entrance into a particular course or program of study since applicants may have to meet specific requirements for entrance into certain programs. In addition, students are required to complete specified prerequisites prior to enrollment in certain courses. There is no discrimination in the admission or recruitment of students on the basis of age, disability, marital status, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex or other legally protected status.

Prospective students should apply to the Student Records office in advance of their expected starting date as registration priority is given to early applicants. Applications are available at the college, on the college’s website – http://www.rlc.edu – and at district high schools.

Applicants for a certificate or an associate’s degree from Rend Lake College should submit official transcripts from high schools and colleges they have attended. Students taking college-level courses must demonstrate college-level competency in language, reading and mathematics. Students entering a degree program or enrolling in a math or English course can determine placement with COMPASS/ASSET scores or ACT/SAT scores.

GENERAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

High School Graduate or GED Recipient

To be admitted to Rend Lake College, the prospective student needs to:

1. Complete and submit a Rend Lake College application for admission.

2. Submit ASSET, COMPASS, ACT or SAT placement scores or make arrangements for placement assessment with the Academic Counseling Office.

3. Make an appointment with the Academic Counseling Office for educational planning.

Transfer Student from an Accredited College

To be admitted to Rend Lake College, the prospective student needs to:

1. Complete and submit a Rend Lake College application for admission.
   
2. Submit ASSET, COMPASS, ACT or SAT placement scores or make arrangements for placement assessment with the Academic Counseling Office.
   
3. Submit official transcripts to the Office of Student Records from all colleges previously attended.
   
4. Make an appointment with the Academic Counseling Office for educational planning.

Student Currently Enrolled in High School

To be admitted to Rend Lake College, the prospective student needs to:

1. Complete and submit a Rend Lake College application for admission.
   
2. Submit ASSET, COMPASS, ACT or SAT placement scores or make arrangements for placement assessment with the Academic Counseling Office.
   
3. Secure permission of high school official to attend Rend Lake College and submit a completed authorization form to the Office of Student Records.
   
4. Make an appointment with the Academic Counseling Office for educational planning.

Non-High School Graduate 18 Years of Age or Older

To be admitted to Rend Lake College, the prospective student needs to:

1. Complete and submit a Rend Lake College application for admission.
   
2. Submit ASSET, COMPASS, ACT or SAT placement scores or make arrangements for placement assessment with the Academic Counseling Office. The applicant will need to demonstrate ability to benefit through Rend Lake College assessment testing. These scores will be used for course placement and ability to benefit as defined for financial aid.
   
3. Make an appointment with the Academic Counseling Office for educational planning.

Home-Schooled Student or High School-Age Student Not Attending High School

A home-schooled student is defined as an applicant who has officially severed his or her relationship with the district secondary education provider but is completing or has completed a home-study program believed to be the equivalent of a high school diploma or GED certification. This program must include, but is not limited to, reading, language arts, mathematics, social science and science. Students must be high school-age or older to attend Rend Lake College.

To be admitted to Rend Lake College, the prospective student needs to:

1. Complete and submit a Rend Lake College application for admission.
   
2. Provide documentation when possible stating the student has never had or has officially severed his or her connection with the school system. (Document certified by the chief executive officer or designee of the public school district.)
   
3. Provide any transcripts available to document credit or completion of secondary education. If transcripts are not from a regional accreditation association recognized by Rend Lake College, the applicant will need to demonstrate ability to benefit through Rend Lake College assessment testing. These scores will be used for course placement and ability to benefit as defined for financial aid.
   
4. Submit ASSET, COMPASS, ACT or SAT placement scores or make arrangements for placement assessment with the Academic Counseling Office.
   
5. Make an appointment with the Academic Counseling Office for educational planning.

International Students

Prospective international students who wish to apply to Rend Lake College must have a minimum score of 500 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or 173 on the computer-based TOEFL or 61 on the Internet-based TOEFL and must meet all degree program requirements. International students must provide documentation that the student has met TOEFL guidelines or provide certification that English is the student’s first language. For complete information concerning the TOEFL exam, applicants may write to: TOEFL/TSE Services, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541, or visit the Web site at http://www.ets.org/toefl. In addition, international students must be able to document their ability to be self-supporting or be financially sponsored.

A TOEFL exemption may be obtained for students from countries where English is a main mode of education. These countries include: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antartica, Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bngledesh, Barbados, Barbuda, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Canada, Cayman Islands, Commonwealth Caribbean, Cyprus, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, India, Ireland, Islas Malvinas, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Miconesia, Montserrat, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tobago, Tonga, Trinidad, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Virgin Islands, Western Samoa, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Students should provide certification and successful completion (C or better) through translated high school transcripts.

A committee comprised of the Registrar, Executive Director of Academic Counseling, Vice President of Instruction, and Division Chairperson of Liberal Arts may waive TOEFL requirements for students who can prove to the satisfaction of the majority of the committee they have sufficient command of the English language to succeed at Rend Lake College.

The Office of Student Records at Rend Lake College may issue an I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant Student Status) to an international student for the purpose of obtaining a F-1 or M-1 Visa. An international student will be registered and an I-20 will be processed through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). In order for the Office of Student Records to issue an I-20, the international student must complete the following steps:

1. Complete and submit a Rend Lake College application for admission.

2. Provide proof in an English translation of completion of secondary education.

3. Complete a financial statement which shows evidence that the student has the resources to be self-supporting or is being financially sponsored and provide official documentation of funds and amounts via a current bank statement or letter from the sponsoring organization.

4. Declare the student’s intention to pursue an A.A., A.S., A.E.S., A.F.A., A.A.S or A.A.T. degree.

5. Provide official documentation indicating the student has met TOEFL guidelines as previously described or provide certification that English is the student’s first language.

When the I-20 has been issued, the student must pay the I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee. For information on the I-901 fee, visit www.fmjfee.com/index. Students must have the I-20 and proof that the I-901 fee has been paid before a VISA can be obtained.

International students who are residing in the United States under VISA status other than a F-1 or M-1 and wish to take courses at Rend Lake College must provide proper documentation indicating the student is registered with the Department of Immigration. The Office of Student Records requires the following steps to be completed:

1. Complete and submit a Rend Lake College application for admission.

2. Provide proof in an English translation of completion of secondary education.

3. Provide official documentation indicating the student has met TOEFL guidelines as previously described or certification that English is the student’s first language.

4. Provide official documentation indicating visa and passport status.

If an international student has college credit from a country outside of the United States which the student would like to have transferred to Rend Lake College, the transfer credit will be evaluated under the following guidelines:

1. The student asking for the evaluation is a resident of our college district.

2. The student must be enrolled at Rend Lake College in a degree-seeking program.

3. The student must present the Office of Student Records with copies of certificates and diplomas earned, marks/grades, transcripts (if available) and course descriptions/syllabi for each course completed. All copies should be translated in English.