Frequently Asked Questions
International Applicant/Student Questions
- What is the required TOEFL score for international applicants?
- Am I eligible to apply to the MBA program if I received a bachelor's degree from India?
- If I'm an international student, but I received a bachelor's degree from a university in the U.S., do I still need to take the TOEFL and pay for AACRO?
- Why are the deadlines and requirements different for international applicants?
- What percentage of the OCOB Graduate Program is comprised of international students and what countries are represented?
- Why, as an international applicant, do I receive letters and information requests from two different offices?
1. What is the required TOEFL score for international applicants?
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is administered in three formats, paper and pencil, internet-based, and computer-based. If you take the paper and pencil version, your score must be at least 550. If you take the internet-based you must earn a score of at least 80. If you take the computer-based test, you must earn a score of at least 213. For detailed information about the TOEFL please visit the TOEFL web site at http://www.toefl.org/.
2. Am I eligible to apply to the MBA program if I received a bachelor's degree from India?
Minimum academic requirements for international applicants are a 4-year bachelor's degree or a master's degree (2 years after your bachelor's degree). Recognized basic or first degrees from India include B. Engineering (in Engineering only), B.Sc in Engineering, B. Tech, B. Architecture, B. Veterinary Medicine, B. Agriculture, B. Pharmacy or a master's degree in a non-engineering field. Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Institute of Cost Works Accountants, Associate of Business Management, and Associate of Institute of Engineers are NOT acceptable as substitutes for a four-year degree. You are ineligible to be admitted with only a 3-year bachelor's degree; therefore, you would need to complete a master's degree (2 years after your bachelor's degree) in order to apply. A Postgraduate Diploma (PGDM) awarded by the Indian Institutes of Management at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, and Lucknow (2 years beyond bachelors) is recognized as a basic or first degree.
3. If I'm an international student, but I received a bachelor's degree from a university in the U.S., do I still need to take the TOEFL and pay for AACRO?
International students, unless from an exempt country, must submit a TOEFL score. However, the TOEFL requirement is waived if an international student earned their undergraduate degree from a U.S. university. Likewise, international students must have their academic credentials evaluated by AACRAO or ACEI unless their bachelor's degree is from a U.S. university.
4. Why are the deadlines and requirements different for international applicants?
The deadlines for international applicants are established by the University Admission office so that international applicants will have time to satisfy the University requirements for admission as well as the U.S. government requirements to acquire the necessary student visa.
Often one of the major delays faced by international applicants is caused by the academic evaluation of your previous academic experiences. Evaluation of your academic transcripts can take several months at the height of the applicant season. Since an admission decision cannot be made until the academic evaluation is completed and received, and visa documentation cannot be sent until the admission decision has been made, it is critical that international students start the process early and follow the requirements exactly to optimize their chances for admission.
5. What percentage of the OCOB Graduate Program is comprised of international students and what countries are represented?
In general, the OCOB graduate student population is comprised of 5% to 10% international students. No one country is preferred. Each year varies but in general we primarily have students from a variety of Asian and European countries.
6. Why, as an international applicant, do I receive letters and information requests from two different offices?
It should be noted that you are requested to provide information by two different Cal Poly offices - the University Admission office and the Orfalea College of Business Graduate Programs office.
The University Admission office will contact you regarding the submission of documents that are required by the University to comply with their regulations or those established by the U.S. government for international student admissions. You can also expect to hear from, and submit documents directly to, the Orfalea College of Business Graduate Programs office. That office will make the ultimate decision as to your admission into the program and as such has separate requirements to aid in that decision. Carefully review the admissions section of the web site to insure that you have satisfied all requirements and submitted documents to the proper offices.