ESL Options

	Continuing Ed ESL	ESL Certificate (Credit)	ESL within other credit programs
Contact	Lisa Cheeks WM 317, Beltline Campus 803-738-7684 cheeksl@midlandstech.com	See Lisa Cheeks OR apply directly to college. You can apply to the college in one of the following ways: Online through MTC Admissions E-mail MTC to request a paper application Phone 803-738-8324 to request a paper application At the Admissions Office or Information Desk on either campus For information, visit the Prospective Student pages at the MTC web site.	Current Students: see Academic Advisor in current program New Students: Apply as for ESL Certificate
Admission requirements	Students must meet placement or course prerequisites for each course. Students are placed into ESL courses by scores on COMPASS/ESL, the writing sample, and interviews.	Students must make at least 36 on the COMPASS/ESL (or regular COMPASS) reading portion for entry to the ESL Certificate program, and students must meet placement or course prerequisites for each course. Students on F-1 visas (who need an I-20) must make at least 500 on the TOEFL or 173 on the computer-based TOEFL and meet all other college admission criteria. Those wishing to apply to Midlands Technical College as an F-1 student should contact the Admissions Office at (803) 738-7840 for further information, or see the International Information pages at the MTC web site.	Students must meet placement or course prerequisites for each course. Students are placed into ESL courses by scores on COMPASS/ESL, the writing sample, and interviews.
Credit	No credit is awarded for CE courses. However, they may be used to satisfy reading and writing prerequisites if the student makes a satisfactory grade.	All ESL and other courses numbered 100 and above, listed on the certificate curriculum, and taken for credit count towards the ESL certificate. See ESL advisor for details.	All ESL and other courses numbered 100 and above are credit courses (if taken for credit), and some may be used as general electives in other programs. See program advisor for details.
F-1 Visa Related Issues	Students on F-1 visas (who need an I-20) may not use Continuing Ed courses to fulfill the requirement for fulltime enrollment.	Students on F-1 visas (who need I-20) must enroll in at least 12 credit hours each semester. Students on F-1 visas (who need I-20) must make at least 500 on the TOEFL or 173 on the computer-based TOEFL for admission and meet all other admission requirements.	Students on F-1 visas (who need an I-20) must enroll in at least 12 credit hours each semester. ESL courses taken for credit may be used to fulfill the requirement for fulltime enrollment. Students on F-1 visas (who need an I-20) must make at least 500 on the TOEFL or 173 on the computer-based TOEFL for admission.
Effect on GPA	CE courses will not affect GPA.	All ESL and other courses numbered 100 and above will be computed in the student’s GPA.	All ESL and other courses numbered 100 and above will be computed in the student’s GPA.
Costs	Costs $250 per 3-hour course, regardless of residency or status.	Tuition is determined based on the student’s residency classification. The costs of taking the same 3-semester -hour course in the various tuition categories are: In-county $213 In-state-out of county $426 Out-of-state $639 Note: All applicants to the college are classified into one of the above residency classifications at the time their admission application is processed. Questions concerning residency should be referred to the Residency Coordinator at (803) 738-7839.	Same as ESL Certificate.
Financial Aid	No Financial Aid is available.	Only citizens, eligible non-citizens, and legal residents are eligible for Financial Aid (FA). Students must meet income qualifications for grants and loans. See Andrea Perry in FA for more information. When students complete the ESL Certificate, they will have a "fresh start" and may be eligible to receive Financial Aid if all citizenship requirements are met.	Eligibility for Financial Aid (FA) is the same as for the ESL Certificate. However, students may take only 150% of the hours in their program and still receive Financial Aid, so ESL courses that are not included in their program will use up part of this eligibility.
VA Benefits	No Veteran’s Administration Benefits are available.	The ESL Certificate has been approved by the VA office, so students enrolled in this certificate are eligible for benefits. Students who qualify must maintain enrollment and attendance requirements. See VA office for more information.	Students may receive VA benefits for ESL courses in other programs only if: (1) those courses have been approved as electives that will count towards the degree, diploma, or certificate, (2) OR if the ESL courses are prerequisites for curriculum courses (ESL 037, 038, 100, and 110—or equivalent test scores-- are prerequisites for ENG 101, and ESL 100 or equivalent test scores serve as a prerequisite for most MTC courses numbered above 100). See program advisor for more information.