Application tips

Tips for applications

Before you begin your application, take a few minutes to review the information below. Many international applicants accidentally enter incorrect information, skip required sections, or misunderstand certain questions on the online application. These mistakes can delay the processing of your application and may require additional follow-up.

The tips provided below are designed to help you complete your application accurately and confidently. By reviewing them before you start, you can avoid common errors, submit all required information correctly, and ensure your application receives timely consideration.

A few minutes of preparation now can help prevent delays later and make the application process much smoother. Be sure to read each tip carefully before completing and submitting your application.

What email address should I enter for this section? My personal email, a family member, or a friend’s email?: Enter your own personal email address, not a school associated email or email belonging to anyone else. All communication regarding your application will be sent to the email address entered here.

Do I need to enter a Social Security Number (SSN)?: No. Providing a Social Security Number (SSN) is completely voluntary and will have no effect on the processing or consideration of your application. If you do not have a U.S. SSN, simply leave that field blank and proceed.

What format should I use for my date of birth?: Always enter your date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY (month/day/year) format—this is the U.S. standard. For example, a person born on November 10, 1997, would enter 11/10/1997.

I am an international student. What should I select for veteran status?: If you have never served in the U.S. Armed Forces and are not a spouse or dependent of someone who has, select No for the first question and Neither for the second question. Most interational students on F-1 visas will select these options.

This is one of the most common errors international students make.

Please read carefully before selecting your citizenship status.

Which citizenship status should I select?: If you are currently on an F-1 student visa or you are planning to apply for an F-1 student visa to study at Metro State, you must select:
"International Visa Holder or Seeker"
Do not select "U.S. Citizen or Dual National with U.S. Citizenship" unless you actually hold U.S. citizenship.

What is my "current International Visa status?"

If you already have an F-1 visa (or any other international visa), select "I have an International Visa"
If you are applying from outside the U.S. and do not yet have a student visa, select "I am seeking an International Visa"
If you are a dual citizen and hold a U.S. passport and a passport from another country, you should select “U.S. Citizenship or Dual National with U.S. Citizenship"

Which visa type should I select?: For most international students coming to study at Metro State, select F1—Nonimmigrant Academic Student from the visa type dropdown. This is the standard student visa for full-time academic programs.

Very common mistake

Many students on OPT or CPT select "No" for this question—but the correct answer is "Yes"

"Are you currently attending school in the United States?"—What should I select?

Select "Yes" if any of the following apply to you:

You are currently on OPT (Optional Practical Training)
You are currently on CPT (Curricular Practical Training)
You are currently on STEM OPT Extension
You are currently enrolled in a U.S. English Language School or community college
You are attending a U.S. institution, including while on summer or other approved breaks.

Note: Selecting "No" because you are on OPT and not physically in class is incorrect. OPT is part of your F-1 program, so you should select "Yes" because your F-1 status is still active.

What is the difference between "country of citizenship" and "country of birth?"

Country of citizenship—the country you are a legal citizen of and whose passport you currently hold
Country of birth—the country where you were physically born, which may be the same or different from your country of citizenship

Both fields are required. Enter them accurately as they appear on your passport.

Why is an international address required?: Because you indicated you are an international visa holder or seeker, the I-20 or SEVIS requires you to enter an international (home country) address. This is your permanent home address in your country of origin. Do not skip this field.

Do I have to enter both a permanent address and an international address?: Yes, you must enter an address in both areas. However, you may enter the same address in both sections. Please enter your address in its entirety.

Do I have to enter a local address?: If you currently live in the U.S. then you will need to enter your local address. Please enter your address in its entirety.

How do I enter my phone number?

Local (U.S.) phone number—enter in the format XXX-XXX-XXXX (example: 123-456-7890). Enter your U.S. number in both the "Home Phone" and "Mobile Phone" fields if you only have one number.
International phone—enter your country/city code in the first box (example: 91 for India, 49 for Germany) and your full phone number in the second box.

Important

All school names must be entered in English, using only standard English characters, even if your school's official name is in another language.

"Are you currently a High School Student?"—What do most international transfer students select?: If you have already graduated from high school, select "No." Only select "Yes" if you are currently still enrolled in high school at the time of application.

I attended high school outside the U.S. What do I select for "High School State" and "High School?"

For High School State, select the state where you attended if it was in the U.S. If your high school was outside the U.S., select: Non-U.S.
For High School, select "Other – International" from the dropdown.
You will then see a text field labeled "Other High School Name"—enter your school's name here in English.

My high school's name is not in English. How do I write it?

Write the name of your high school in English transliteration—spell it out phonetically in English characters, even if the original name uses a different script or language.

Incorrect: Würzburg High School (German characters not accepted). Correct: Wuerzburg High School (English transliteration).
Incorrect: गुरुकृपा विद्यालय (Non-Latin script). Correct: Gurukrupa Vidhyalaya (English transliteration).

This applies to school names in all languages—Spanish, German, French, Hindi, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, and any other language. Always use the English spelling or phonetic equivalent.

Do I have to enter all of the previous colleges I went to?: Yes, please enter the names of all current and previous colleges or universities you attended. This does not include English language schools or high schools.

Will I have to provide transcripts for the names I enter?: You will be required to submit official transcripts for each institution you attended, regardless of whether you intend on transferring credits to Metro State.

What if I don’t see the term that I want to apply for listed as an option?

The terms available for you to apply to are based on your response to the question on Step 2—Citizenship and Step 2—Citizenship: International demographics.

Your available start terms are determined by your current location—in the U.S. (in-country) or outside the U.S. (out-of-country).

Application deadlines for in-country transfer students:

Summer semester: May 1 (undergraduate students)
Fall semester: August 1
Spring semester: December 1

Application deadlines for out-of-country students:

Summer semester: March 15
Fall semester: May 1
Spring semester: September 1

How do I know which option I should select for my educational goal?

If you are applying to Metro State with the intention of completing your bachelor’s/undergraduate degree, then you should select: “Earn Bachelor’s (four-year) degree."
If you are an international student at another institution and want to take a course/s at Metro State but do not want to transfer to Metro State to earn your degree, then you should select “Complete courses and transfer without a degree.”

Am I supposed to select Full Time Student or Part Time Student?: If you are applying to Metro State with the intention of completing your bachelor’s/undergraduate degree, then you should select: “Full Time Student.”

How do I know which major/program is eligible to me as an international student?: You can find the list of international student program availability here: International Student Program Availability | �鶹ֱ��

What do I select for my “Preferred delivery method?": F-1 student visa regulations only allow international students to be enrolled in “On Campus” programs.

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