Hello, I have an issue with some TOEFL policies with FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology). FIT is my first choice and they recently sent me an email stating that in my application I am required to provide TOEFL scores otherwise my application that I worked so hard on won’t be even looked at. I need help because my situation is different than students that are non-citizen and studied abroad.
I lived in the US for more than 5 years now, I came here in March 2010, I spent 2 years in US middle school P.S. I.S. 187 Hudson Cliff and currently completing my 4th year in Fiorello LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts.
During my first year in High School I got an extra English class (ESL), however during all the years present in the US I’ve completed not only 3 years of ESL but also 6 years of basic English. ESL was my extra English class. I’ve passed all of my English classes, I’ve taken English regents and got a 90 on it (it is officially on my transcript) I just don’t understand how is that not enough to prove that my English is proficient. I’ve called the Office of Admissions at FIT and asked them why am I required to take TOEFL and she said that it is because I have ESL class listed in my transcript.
I then visited their website once again and checked TOEFL requirements and it said “Students who have completed less than four years of English (not ESL) at a U.S. high school are required to take the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE.” I do not meet that criteria therefore I don’t need to take TOEFL. Like I’ve mentioned before all the years I’ve spend in High School Ive been taking a standard English class each year. Only in my Freshmen year of High School they gave me an ESL class as an addition to my schedule. After passing ESL exam I could take a language course and I took Spanish for a year and passed it.
Please help me, I have worked so hard to get a chance to go to FIT and now all of my hard work will mean nothing. Tell me who should I contact to maybe resolve this issue. What additional information I can send to their Admission Office to assure them of my English Proficiency.
P.S.
REASONS WHY I CAN NOT TAKE TOEFL:
My family has low income, I got fee waivers for all of my college applications and SAT registration. There is no fee waiver for TOEFL. I am unable to pay the fee.
Test date is April 9th and results come in May which Admission Office said will be too late to even consider my application. Even if i find the money, I won't have the results on time.
You have had only three years of high school in the US in which you were not enrolled in ESL classes, so they are justified in asking you for TOEFL scores under their own policy.
Understand that you are not entitled to have the TOEFL requirement waived.
That being said, you can ask for an exception to their usual policy, but do it nicely. You are asking for a favor. They don’t owe you anything.
The best way to ask for an exception is to arrange a meeting, either in person or on the phone, with a full-time admissions officer who is entitled to make these decisions. Emails and phone calls are likely answered by lower-level staff (maybe even students on work-study) who are bound to repeat the official rules to you.
During the meeting, explain that taking the TOEFL would be a financial hardship for your family. Point to your success in your high school coursework and verbal/writing SAT scores. If your grades and SAT scores look fine, and you can SPEAK and BE UNDERSTOOD in that meeting without much difficulty, there’s a good chance that they’ll give you a pass on the TOEFL requirement.
But you do need to talk to a higher-level admissions officer who is in a position to make exceptions.
I’m not sure I buy this argument. When I just tried to register for the TOEFL near New York City, I immediately found an available appointment on March 5.
Test Dates and Deadlines
Test Dates Mail-in Registration Deadline Online Registration Deadline
10 Oct 2015 24 Aug 2015 7 Sep 2015
14 Nov 2015 28 Sep 2015 12 Oct 2015
9 Jan 2016 16 Nov 2015 30 Nov 2015
9 Apr 2016 22 Feb 2016 7 Mar 2016
If you are already proficient in English, you won’t even have to practice for the TOEFL, believe me. I just walked in and got a 100+. Try and check for a March date. I think there should be one. You’ll be fine. But like @b@r!um said, you probably wanna call them.