International Student FAQ

Can't find your question about international students? Call 802-440-4312 or email Ken Himmelman, coordinator of International Admissions, at khimmelman@bennington.edu.  

Questions:

• Is there an international student community at Bennington?
• What are the application deadlines?
• Can international students apply for Early Decision or spring enrollment?
• Do you accept international transfer applications?
• What additional forms will I need to provide?
• What are the standardized test requirements?
• Does Bennington offer ESL or other intensive English programs?
• How does Bennington view the British educational system and the International Baccalaureate diploma?
• Do international students participate in Field Work Term?
• What are the fees to attend Bennington College?
• Can the application fee be waived?
• What else should I know about financial aid?
• How do I obtain an I-20 and an F-1 visa status?
• How do I get to Bennington?

Is there an international student community at Bennington? Yes. Bennington College prides itself on being a community that values students from all over the globe. International students arrive early for a special orientation session, have a special advisor, and meet periodically throughout the year.

What are the application deadlines? For regular decision (not early decision) fall term admission: Freshman, January 3; Transfer, February 1. Financial aid applications for all international applicants are due on February 1.

Can international students apply for Early Decision or spring enrollment? International students who are not seeking financial aid may apply for Early Decision. Early Decision applications must be received by November 15. International students seeking financial aid cannot apply for Early Decision. First-year students who wish to enroll at Bennington in the spring are advised to apply by the deadline for the preceding fall term. They may then defer admission to the spring term.

Do you accept international transfer applications? Yes. International students enrolled at college-level institutions are welcome to apply. Credits are transferable at the discretion of the Dean's Office. International students wishing to transfer from a U.S. or Canadian university may apply for admission in the spring term.

What additional forms will I need to provide? All enrolling international students, whether or not they will be applying for financial aid, must submit a completed International Student Certification of Finances. This form must be received and approved before the College issues an 1-20 Form. The Certification of Finances verifies that the student has the financial resources to meet the expected education costs not covered by financial aid, for all years at Bennington. Financial aid recipients complete the Certification after they receive a financial aid award.

Students who are applying for financial aid must submit the International Student Financial Aid Application and an official statement of last year's income and benefits from their parents' employers, translated into English and in the currency in which each parent is paid, not in U.S. dollars.

What are the standardized test requirements? Students who are not native speakers of English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. To be considered for admission to Bennington, students must receive a minimum score of 90–91 on the new TOEFL. This corresponds to a score of 577 on the paper test or 233 on the computer test. A Band score of 7 or more on the Academic Module of the IELTS exam is also acceptable. SAT or other standardized tests are optional, as they are for all Bennington applicants; however, if you have taken the SAT, we encourage you to submit the scores to strengthen your application.

Does Bennington offer ESL or other intensive English programs? Because Bennington does not offer intensive ESL or English programs, students who are not native English speakers must demonstrate proficiency in English in order to be considered for admission. Fluency in written English must also be demonstrated in the application essays. Applicants must be fluent enough with English to understand class discussions and to tackle extensive reading and writing assignments.

How does Bennington view the British educational system and the International Baccalaureate diploma? Students enrolled in the British Educational System must be in the process of preparing for G.C.E. Advanced Level examinations after having completed the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Certificate (with a minimum of five subjects). Bennington recognizes the value of the International Baccalaureate and G.C.E. Advanced Level work. Students holding either diploma may petition the Dean's Office for credit approval after completing one term of work at Bennington. Credits are awarded on a case-by-case basis to students who have completed 'A' level work or received an IB diploma. Possession of an 'A' level or IB diploma does not automatically earn college credit. Credits are awarded at the discretion of the College.

Do international students participate in Field Work Term? Yes. International students participate in FWT every year. However, Immigration and Naturalization Service regulations do not permit international students who have been in the United States for fewer than nine months to work off campus for any type of compensation (pay, room and board, etc.). First-year international students complete their FWT by one or a combination of options, such as working on campus, working as a volunteer, or setting up an FWT job in their home country.

What are the fees to attend Bennington College?

For the year 2007-2008, the estimated annual fee for all students was $44,320, as follows:

Can the application fee be waived? Yes. To obtain a fee waiver, please submit a letter from your guidance counselor explaining your inability to pay the application fee.

What else should I know about financial aid? Bennington College offers significant scholarships and financial aid packages to international students. These packages, which consist of Bennington grants, loans, and campus employment, are based on a student's merit and financial need. Admission with these financial aid awards is highly competitive and we are not able to meet the full need of all admitted students. Admission to Bennington for international students is not need-blind and the admissions committee looks at each applicant's academic achievement, community involvement, extracurricular participation, and financial need.

How do I obtain an I-20 and an F-1 visa status? After a student is admitted and has submitted the $500 deposit and an International Student Certification of Finances form to the Financial Aid Office, an I-20 will be issued to the student. The I-20 can then be used with other supporting documents to apply for an F-1 student visa from the nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy.

Where is Bennington, Vermont, and how do I get there?
Bennington is 3 hours west of Boston, 3½ hours north of New York City, and 4 hours south of Montreal. Bennington is a small town of roughly 20,000 residents, with a wide array of restaurants, stores, and other amenities. The College itself is located a few miles outside of town on a beautiful, rural campus of almost 400 acres.

Airline: The closest airport to Bennington, Vermont, is the Albany International Airport in Albany, New York. Students usually fly to Albany via a connecting flight from a major city like New York or Boston. There is bus service from the Albany airport to the Bennington Bus Station.

Train: Amtrak serves the nearest train station, located in Albany-Rensselaer, New York. Students flying into major cities may take a train to Albany and then arrange for a bus to Bennington, Vermont.

The College arranges for transportation to and from Albany for all arriving international students.