Admissions

Admission Requirements

Admission Policy

Tri-County Technical College is an open admissions College dedicated to serving the educational needs of applicants by admitting all citizens who can benefit from available learning opportunities. A minimum reading placement test score is required to help ensure academic success.

In order to receive the best possible finanicial aid package, submit to the Admissions Office proof of a high school/GED credential and transcripts from any colleges attended.  Students may be registered provisionally for one term until appropriate documentation of a high school/GED credential is provided.  Applicants without a high school diploma or GED may be admitted into a certificate program, and federal financial aid will not be available.

Minimum Age for Admission

Students must be 17 years of age to be admitted into an associate degree, diploma, certificate program, or as a transient or non-degree student. Students under the age of seventeen must meet with the Director of Admissions or designee for an assessment interview to determine eligibility for admission.

Admissions Requirements

Students seeking admission to an associate degree, diploma, or certificate program must:

• Submit an admissions application at www.tctc.edu/apply. If you need assistance or a paper application, contact Admissions at 864-646-1550 or info@tctc.edu. 
• Pay the $30 non-refundable application fee.
• Take the math, reading, and writing portions of the COMPASS placement test (see the
  Placement Testing
    section of the Catalog for testing locations and times), provide COMPASS scores achieved within the past three years to the Assessment Center, or submit to the Admissions Office proof of college credit-level English and math courses (e.g., 101, 155) from an accredited or approved institution with minimum grades of “C.”  
• Participate in an admissions meeting to discuss assessment results.  Note: A minimum COMPASS reading score of 37 is required for admission.  Students not eligible for admission based on the reading score will be referred to Adult Basic Education or other literacy programs as appropriate. 

Students may be admitted provisionally for one term until appropriate documentation of a high school/GED credential is provided to the Admissions Office. Returning students who have not attended TCTC within the past year must submit an admissions application. Admissions will notify students of any missing requirements.

Some programs have additional curriculum-specific requirements.  Students should review the appropriate section of the Catalog for more information on the academic program.  For example, most health education programs are limited in the number of students who can be admitted to the clinical portions of study. Space may be restricted for a number of reasons, including availability of clinical teaching facilities, limits imposed by state or professional accrediting agencies, and budgetary restrictions. Advisors and specially-trained staff are available to help students who have questions.

Transient Students

Students planning to transfer one or more courses to their home college with no intention of graduating from Tri-County must:

• Submit a transient admissions application at www.tctc.edu/apply.
• Pay the $30 non-refundable application fee.
• Submit a completed Transient Coursework Approval Form to Student Records.

Non-Degree Students

Students planning to take courses with no intention of graduating from Tri-County and with no intention of transferring courses to their home college must:

• Submit a non-degree admissions application at www.tctc.edu/apply.
• Pay the $30 non-refundable application fee.
• Provide COMPASS writing, reading, and math placement scores within the past 3 years or submit proof of college credit-level English and math courses (e.g., 101, 155) from an accredited or approved institution with minimum grades of “C.” See the
  Placement Testing
    section of the Catalog for additional details.  Note: A minimum COMPASS reading score of 37 is required for admission. Students not eligible for admission based on the reading score will be referred to Adult Basic Education or other literacy programs as appropriate.

Students must satisfy all course prerequisites. To register for any courses with prerequisites, provide proof of prerequisite course completion to the appropriate Tri-County department or meet any required placement test scores.

Dual Enrollment Students

Students seeking admission to take college courses while in high school must:

• Submit a dual enrollment admissions application at www.tctc.edu/apply.
• Complete the Dual Enrollment Permission Form with the appropriate signatures.

Students must take the placement test prior to enrollment. See the Placement Testing  section of the Catalog for additional details. 

International Students

International students seeking F-1 student visa status must be at least eighteen years of age and must complete all admission requirements by the following deadlines:  Fall Semester - June 1, Spring Semester - November 1, Summer Semester - March 1.  Transfer students from a college, university, or language school in the U.S. must complete admission requirements at least 30 days before the desired semester begins.  F-1 visa applicants must complete the following steps:

1. Submit an international admissions application at www.tctc.edu/apply.
2. Pay the $30 non-refundable application fee.
3. Submit a certified English translation of secondary school records, including evidence of graduation. 
4. Send certified English translations of the final, official transcripts from any post-secondary colleges or universities attended. If the institutions are located outside the U.S., submit a professional credential evaluation from any member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), www.naces.org. If requesting transfer of credits, a course-by-course report is required. The report must be sent directly from the evaluation service to Tri-County’s Admissions Office.
5. If you are from a country where English is the official language, you are considered to be proficient in English.  Otherwise, choose from one of the following options:
   • Send TOEFL scores from the Educational Testing Service (www.ets.org/toefl, Tri-County’s code: 5789). Minimum TOEFL requirements: score of 61 on internet-based (iBT); total of 500 with a minimum score of 50 on each of the three sections on the paper version.     
   • Take the IELTS with a minimum overall band score of 6.0 (www.ieltsusa.org). 
   • Submit an official report showing successful completion of an English language program in the U.S.  For example, an official report from ELS Educational Services showing completion of ELS level 109. For more information, visit www.els.com.
   • Send transcripts from other colleges or universities in the U.S. showing completion of appropriate English courses at the 100 level or higher with a minimum grade of “C.”
6. Provide proof of health insurance coverage for the first year in the U.S.
7. Complete and submit the International Financial Certification Form and provide proof of financial support by choosing one of the following options:
   • A certified bank statement showing at least $23,141 (U.S. dollars) available for the first year of study. This amount includes tuition and estimated expenses.  
   • A notarized affidavit of support (Form I-134) from a U.S. citizen claiming financial responsibility. 
8. Pay a tuition deposit for two terms that is refundable before the term starts. Tuition is based upon 12 credit hours per term at the out-of-state rate and is subject to change without notice.  

Send all correspondence along with a copy of the biographical page of your passport to Tri-County Technical College, Attn: International Admissions, Post Office Box 587, Pendleton, SC 29670.  Once the international admission process is complete, an acceptance packet is mailed that includes the I-20 Form, which is used to apply for the F-1 student visa. 

Additional Requirements for International Students

Before registering for classes, international students must:

1. Take the College placement test. Students who transfer from other colleges or universities in the U.S. and have completed appropriate English and math courses with at least a grade of “C” may be exempt from taking the placement test. See the
   Placement Testing
     section of the Catalog for additional details.
2. Make an appointment with the International Student Advisor in the Admissions Office to ensure all immigration and admission requirements are fulfilled.

While attending the College, international students must maintain F-1 visa status.

• Full-time enrollment is required each fall and spring semester. In order to be considered full-time, students must register for, and stay enrolled in, a minimum of 12 credit hours.
• A minimum of 9 credit hours each fall and spring semester must be taken on campus, not online.
• Before dropping any classes or changing the academic program of study, students must meet with the International Student Advisor.
• Make normal progress towards completing the program of study by finishing courses before the completion date on the I-20 Form.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement provides information about F-1 student visa requirements on its website at www.ice.gov/sevis.

Placement Testing

Developed by American College Testing (ACT), the COMPASS test is an untimed computer-adaptive placement test which measures skills in reading, writing, and math. Even though COMPASS is a computer-based test, very little computer skills are necessary to complete the test. COMPASS is not a pass/fail test. The purpose of placement testing is to make sure students have the necessary skills in reading, writing, or math to be successful in achieving their educational goals.

All students (except transient students) must take the placement test and score a minimum of 37 on the reading portion of the test prior to acceptance. Students not eligible for admission based on their reading score will be referred to Adult Basic Education or other literacy programs as appropriate. Students may be exempt from all or a portion of the COMPASS test if they have completed college courses in English or math at the 101 level or higher from an accredited or approved institution with a minimum grade of “C” or if they have previously taken COMPASS or ASSET and have sufficient scores. COMPASS placement test scores are valid for three years. Students who are unsure if they need to take the COMPASS test should contact Admissions to determine if placement testing is required.

SAT, ACT, or other standardized test scores cannot be substituted for the placement test. The COMPASS placement test is given in the Assessment Center in Miller Hall on the Pendleton Campus. Testing hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The COMPASS placement test is also given on a limited basis at the Anderson, Easley, and Oconee Campuses. For further information about testing schedules call 864-646-1300.

A picture ID is required for placement testing. Acceptable forms of identification are a state-issued picture ID (a driver’s license for example), a military ID, or an official school ID (high school or college). Use of a scientific or ACT-approved graphing calculator is allowed during COMPASS testing. To prepare for the test, view sample questions, and review calculator guidelines visit www.tctc.edu, click on the links Admissions and Placement Testing.

There is no charge for initial COMPASS testing. If a retest is needed or requested during a three-year period, one may be taken at a cost of $10. An academic advisor or the Assessment Center can help determine if retesting is needed. Other fees are applicable to complete placement testing or to have test scores sent to another institution.

Alternative placement testing for students with disabilities is available as approved by the College’s Disability Services Coordinator, Pendleton Campus, Student Center, Suite 155, 864-646-1564.

For more information about placement testing, call 864-646-1300 or visit www.tctc.edu/x829.xml.

Orientation

The College offers orientation sessions for all new, transfer, and readmitted students prior to the start of each semester.  The orientation introduces students to the College experience, informs them about resources and services they will use as Tri-County students, and facilitates their transition into their chosen academic program.  Students admitted to the College may register for orientation via their electronic Tri-County (eTC) account under the “Get Ready” tab. Orientation registration instructions are provided to admitted students in their admissions materials.  The orientation sessions are held on a variety of dates at multiple campuses and typically take up to three hours.  As part of orientation, students meet with academic advisors for course planning and course registration.  For more information, contact Orientation Services, 111 Anderson Hall, Pendleton Campus, 864-646-1502, or send an e-mail message to orientation@tctc.edu.

In addition to the general student orientation, some departments offer orientation or information sessions specific to their programs. The appropriate departments will notify students as applicable regarding orientation or information sessions for specific programs.