Requirements of Prospective International Students 

_____ Original or certified copies, plus English translations, of high school and all college transcripts. 
             These can be obtained through:

_____ A letter explaining your previous educational background and your future educational plan.

_____ Arrange for housing in the surrounding area. MCC does not have on-campus housing.
             A prospective student must provide proof of housing arrangements.

When all the required information has been received and evaluated, an approved I-20 form may be issued by Montcalm Community College. This process could take up to 6 months from the time that all requirements are submitted. This is the necessary document required by immigration for a person to obtain a student visa. The student must present the I-20 form to the American Embassy Consulate Officer in his/her home country to apply for a student visa. If the applicant is denied admission, notification will be sent with an explanation.

 Financial Responsibility

Applicants must complete the financial statement on the international student application for admission, and submit official documents indicating the ability to cover all expenses for the entire stay in the United States. Documents typically include a current bank statement and letters from banks, agencies, sponsors or other official sources to verify the amount of funds to which the student has access. Evidence must also be provided for a deposit of at least $3900 in a local bank or with the college, to cover tuition and fees for the first semester of attendance at MCC.

Students whose tuition and fees will be paid by a sponsoring agency must also submit a letter of authorization from the agency for billing.

International students are expected to assume all of their financial obligations (tuition, fees, room, board, transportation, insurance, etc) while they are attending Montcalm Community College. Students cannot expect to be employed in the U.S. to supplement their educational expenses.

Montcalm Community College has no grants or loans available for international students. It is very important for the student, as well as the sponsor(s), to evaluate all their financial resources before applying for admission. Students must have enough money to provide for all their needs while attending MCC. Montcalm Community College must be satisfied that the student is financially secure before he/she is admitted.

⁽¹⁾ Based on full-time enrollment of 30 credit hours per academic year.

⁽²⁾ This cost range estimate is based on modest, single accommodations in the college community, with the student preparing most meals at home. The college does not assist with, supervise, or provide student housing.

⁽³⁾ Based on private automobile plus gas and insurance. Does include purchase price of used private auto (approximately $200/month for two-year financing).

*Tuition rate subject to change upon action of the MCC Board of Trustees.

The college academic counselor is one who helps the student in his/her educational or vocational development. Students should visit the academic counselor each semester to discuss program of study and transfer requirements.

Perhaps the role of the counselor can be understood better by describing briefly some situations where international students may use counseling services.

Examples:

One student plans to later transfer to Michigan State University. The counselor acts as the academic advisor and helps the student select courses so that the student can transfer with greater ease to Michigan State University.

Another international student enrolls in MCC but soon realizes that he has selected a curriculum which is not appropriate for him. The counselor and student work together to select a curriculum most appropriate for the student.

These simplified examples illustrate only some of the ways international students make use of counseling services at MCC. You may have similar or different concerns; do not hesitate to contact Counseling and Career Services for assistance.

Counseling and Career Services is located in Student Services in the upper level of the Library and Administration building. The phone number is 989-328-1231.

The Special Populations Office offers free tutorial services for MCC students. Every effort is made to make this a rewarding educational experience for all students involved.

International students who plan to continue their education at another institution will need to meet with an academic advisor. Transfer applications for many other Michigan colleges are available in Counseling and Career Services. Catalogs from most Michigan colleges and many out of state schools are also available in this office. Applications for other schools can be obtained by writing to the admissions office of a selected college or university.

After you have completed the necessary application form, mail it and any required application fee to the appropriate address. Also, be sure to have official transcripts from all schools you have attended sent to the selected schools. After the school has sent you a letter of acceptance, it will also send you the required INS forms to properly permit your transfer. You must follow the directions of your INS form.

It is important for every student, and particularly for international students, to have an idea about college classroom procedure. Unfortunately, it is difficult to predict exactly what a student may expect when he/she enters a class because course procedures vary according to the subject matter and the instructor. However, the following information may contribute to the student’s adjustment to Montcalm Community College.

One of the essential points that the student should consider is the time factor. Classes begin at the time specified in the schedule book. For example, if a class is listed to begin at 9:10 a.m., it officially starts at 9:10 a.m. Instructors expect punctuality from students. Students who consistently arrive late to class not only disrupt the other students and the instructor but also miss valuable class time.

At the beginning of each term, the instructor often distributes a course syllabus in order to give the students a better understanding of the policies and requirements expected in the course. The instructor may go over the syllabus with the students, explain its content in detail, and answer questions or they may simply expect you to read and follow the syllabus on your own.

A concern shared by many new students is the purchase of assigned books. New and used books are available at the MCC Bookstore in the Activities Building and books should be purchased before classes begin. The bookstore employees have a list of the assigned texts and are able to help students find any item they may need for a course.

The actual structure of the courses themselves is quite varied. In some classes, the instructor may lecture while the students take notes. Other classes may require student discussions, individual or small group projects, or total student interaction while the instructor acts solely as a resource person.

In most classes several quizzes and/or examinations are given during the course of the term. There are two basic types of examination techniques: subjective and objective. The subjective examination consists of selected essay questions and some short answer questions requiring interpretive skills. The objective exam contains many questions, such as, those requiring one or two word answers, filling in the blank, multiple choice, matching the correct answers, and true/false.

Cheating and plagiarism are considered very serious offenses and may result in dismissal from the college. Excuses that "other students do it" or "that’s the way it’s done at home" are invalid. Each student is expected to be completely honest in his/her academic work. If students have any questions about academic honesty or what constitutes plagiarism, they should talk with their instructor immediately.

Although class procedures differ from course to course, there is one characteristic that remains common throughout Montcalm Community College: the faculty and administration view students on a personal rather than a statistical basis. Staff members urge the international student to ask questions, share ideas, or express concerns about the courses offered at MCC. Remember that the first person to contact for any questions is the course instructor.

A student’s classroom behavior is an important part of classroom procedures. As was indicated previously, promptness in coming to class is expected. It is considered discourteous in the U.S. to come late to class and disrupt the instructor and other students. If, however, a student is late for a class, it is better to enter the class as soon as possible and as quietly as possible rather than miss the entire class. Students should talk to their instructor immediately after class to explain their situation and receive any missed assignments.

MCC expects that students will attend classes regularly. If a student is unable to attend classes because of an emergency, she/he should try to contact the instructor by phone or e-mail to inform him/her of the situation. She/he must be prepared to make-up any missed assignments or get notes from other students on lectures upon return to class.

Plagiarism is defined as using another’s work without giving credit to the creator. The results of such charges against students can lead to dismissal from the college and termination of the student visa. Whenever, or in whatever form, a student uses someone else’s work, the student must give proper credit to the other person(s). If a student is unfamiliar with the procedures for citing sources, they should speak with their  instructor for assistance.

Cheating is defined as "dishonesty by the student in class assignments, examinations, quizzes, and all other academic work." Of special interest for international students in the past has been the practice of talking to another international student, particularly in a non-English language, during examination or quiz times. Instructors view this as a dishonest attempt to give or receive information about the test. Giving or receiving information during a test is the prerogative of the instructor alone. Students must not talk during tests.

All new college students will find themselves in an unfamiliar environment and will need time to adjust and become familiar with MCC and its community. Perhaps this will be especially true for  international student swho will find themselves in both a new educational and cultural environment. You efforts to adjust to the MCC community will be both educationally and personally rewarding.

Because Montcalm Community College does not provide or supervise student housing, the following information is intended to serve as a general guidelines in the search for housing. It should be noted that the wide variations in costs and quality of housing facilities requires the student to exercise great caution when selecting a place to live. Housing normally entails a twelve month (sometimes 24 month) legal contract or lease which is binding once it is signed. An initial deposit equal to two months rent is frequently required upon signing a lease.

Single students may find some apartments with cooking facilities ranging in price from approximately $400-$600 per month. Utilities (electricity, water, and gas) are usually not included in the rental cost. The added cost may range from $60 to $200 each month. Telephone service is always an additional cost. Private, single telephone service costs approximately $50 per month plus $45 to $80 installation costs and an advanced deposit of about $30 plus long distant phone charges. Students are urged to understand the total cost of utility services at the time of choosing housing.

Health services and practices in the United States are perhaps different from those in other countries. Most treatment is obtained through private-practice physicians or dentists; there is no federal government facility open to the general population. Students may want to seek a personal physician or dentist for routine attention. The Montcalm County yellow pages can assist you.

Because hospitalization is very expensive, international students are urged to have hospitalization insurance.

Students are encouraged to open a checking and savings account in one of the various banks, credit unions, savings and loan, or other institutions. This is a good idea for several reasons. First, it is dangerous to carry or keep large sums of money. This invites trouble and possible loss by theft, fire, or misplacement. Second, many places of business, including banks, will not cash checks without an account, and in the case of checks drawn on foreign banks, one must have a checking account. Third, it is a convenient and safe way to handle purchases, tuition, etc. Lastly, interest is accumulated in a savings account and some checking accounts.

Checking accounts - can be opened locally. A checking account enables one to write checks against money deposited in the account. Of course, checks should not be written for larger amounts than those which can be covered in the balance. If this happens by accident, a charge is made by the institution for each check paid by overdrafts or returned unpaid. Overdrafts can be a federal offense if intentionally done to defraud someone.

Savings accounts - can be opened at most local institutions for a small initial deposit. Interest is paid on the amount of deposit in the account.

Money from home - Most banks can exchange foreign currency to American currency or vice-versa. Money can be sent from the home country in the form of a draft if it is payable in U.S. dollars. The sender can do this by making arrangement with the home country’s central or national bank.

Other banking services - In addition, banks also provide inter-bank charge cards, installment and auto loans, safe deposit boxes, travelers’ checks, cashier checks, and other services.

Postal Information

International rates Postage rates, fees and regulations vary from country to country; one should check the local post office for packing instructions, mailing regulations, restrictions, and fees and rates. International students are urged to take extra caution when posting important papers such as passports and INS papers. Send all such mail by Certified Mail/Return Receipt. There is an additional charge for this service.

Change of Address Forms should be filed with the post office whenever one moves from one address to another. If, however, the change is only temporary, mail may be held be the post office and then delivery may be started after the temporary absence.

International students should be aware that, with few exceptions, access to a personal auto is necessary.  MCC is located in a very rural area with very limited public transportation.

Automobile and Motorcycle Transportation

The automobile is the preferable mode of transportation for students attending MCC. It has the advantage of getting you from your doorstep to your destination at any time. Students must decide how much they can afford to pay for this convenience. New cars in the Montcalm area range in price from $7,000 to $35,000, but a reliable used car can be purchased for less.

Automobile and motorcycle owners have many responsibilities and expenses. Oil changes, replacing broken windshield wipers, and worn out brake shoes are just a few of the maintenance costs you can expect. Automobile insurance must be purchased and is rather expensive. Automobile owners must be responsible, safe drivers in all weather conditions. A Michigan driver’s license and license plates must be purchased.

Emergency Transportation

This type of transportation is for someone with a serious illness or injury only. Many local communities use the emergency telephone number, "911" for police, fire, and rescue assistance. If the community does not use 911, keep fire, police and ambulance telephone numbers posted near the home telephone.

Costs for emergency transportation are the responsibility of the student.

When all the required information has been received and evaluated, an approved I-20 form will be issued by Montcalm Community College. This is the necessary document required by immigration for a person to obtain a student visa. The student must present the I-20 form to the American Embassy Consulate Officer in his/her home country to apply for a student visa. If the applicant is denied admission, notification will be sent with an explanation.

Name ____________________________________________________________________
               Family                                                              First                           Middle

Local Address _____________________________________________________________
                                            Number and street                                                     City                  State Zipcode

Sex: q Male q Female

Marital Status q Unmarried q Married

Degree Expected: q Certificate q Associate q Bachelor (transfer program)

Entrance Date: q Fall q Spring q Summer Year _________

Do you plan to transfer to another institution? q Yes q No

Visa: q F-1 q F-2 q M-1 q J-1 q J-2 q B-1 q B-2 q Other _______