Frequently Asked Questions for Transfer Applicants

Apply as a first-year student (first time in college for their first year) if you are currently enrolled in high school (grade 12 in the U.S.) and have not yet graduated. Some students will have earned college credits or earned their associate’s degree in conjunction with their high school diploma; they are considered first-year students and thus would apply as first-year applicants. 

If you have taken a gap year or have not enrolled in a degree-seeking program, then you are also considered a first-time college student and first-year applicant and thus would submit the first-year application. Gap year and deferred students can take a maximum of two classes in total during their gap year/deferment period. Taking more than two college courses during a gap year/deferment period will make the student a transfer student and thus the student would submit a transfer application. Taking more than two courses also negates any financial aid and merit scholarships that were previously awarded to the deferred student.

Transfer students are students who have graduated from a high school and matriculated into a degree-seeking program. Regardless of the type of program–vocational, specialized, technical, etc–the student enrolled in a degree-seeking program will be considered as a transfer student. There is the possibility that no credits will transfer from vocational, specialized, technical, etc., programs if Lafayette does not offer an equivalent course or program. If the student did not complete the degree/course work, they are still considered a transfer student and thus would submit the transfer application. 

Lafayette uses the Common Application. Please visit Apply as a First Year for information on first-year admissions and the Transfer Applicants page for information on transfer admissions.

International students will need to submit the Transfer Common App and all the supporting admissions documents listed under the requirements section.

If English is not the first language, the student will need to submit English Proficiency exam scores, either IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo, as part of their application. If English is your first language or you have received academic instruction in English for the past 3 years, you may submit proof that you meet these requirements so that the English proficiency test is waived. Please email proof of satisfying the requirements to admissions@lafayette.edu.

While we do offer financial aid for international students, it is very competitive. International students will need to submit the CSS Profile in order to identify financial aid eligibility. Lafayette does not offer CSS Profile waivers.

International transfer students whose academic transcripts are from a college or university located outside the United States are required to have their transcripts evaluated by World Education Services (WES) as part of a complete transfer application. WES is an international academic credit evaluation agency. WES is not required for international high school transcripts. Lafayette College requires the Course by Course Evaluation and does not offer WES fee waivers.

International transfer students are also not eligible to be commuters to Lafayette. International transfer students are required to live in college-owned housing, and if the student receives financial aid, that will be reflected in their College Financing Plan. International transfer students can request private off-campus housing in their senior year, after being approved to live off-campus by residence life.

You do not need to submit a transcript evaluated by World Education Services (WES) as part of your application if you are enrolled in a U.S. institution. Only students attending international post-secondary colleges and universities are required to submit a transcript evaluated by World Education Services (WES). WES is not required for international high school transcripts. WES is an international academic credit evaluation agency. Lafayette College requires the Course by Course Evaluation and does not offer WES fee waivers.

Yes, you will need to send an official transcript from each college or university you have attended, even if you do not want certain credits to be transferred. Please have all official transcripts sent from each school to the Admissions Office, admissions@lafayette.edu. Transcripts received from the students are considered unofficial and will not satisfy the requirement until the official transcripts are received from the college/university.

Lafayette provides a credit evaluation only after extending an offer of admission. Students are required to submit course descriptions and syllabi for the credits to be evaluated. The Office of the Registrar will make the final determination on what college credits will transfer to Lafayette College. For more information on the criteria used to evaluate transfer credits, please review the Transfer Credit Policy.

An unofficial evaluation may be available to admitted students through the Registrar’s Office if a student has an official college transcript(s), course descriptions and syllabi for the credits to be unofficially evaluated.

Test scores are not required, but are recommended if previously taken. Lafayette will accept self-reported test scores on your Common App. Official SAT or ACT scores are required upon enrollment if you self-report on your application.

Yes, interviews are available for transfer students. Interviews are optional, but recommended. We conduct them on campus and virtually from late June through mid-January.

Merit-based scholarships are determined by the Office of Admission. All transfer applicants to the College are considered for merit and are encouraged to schedule an admissions interview as part of their application experience. All scholarships are awarded at the time of admission and are noted in the applicants’ acceptance letters. Notifications can be found on the applicant portals.

Please email the requirements as attachments to admissions@lafayette.edu.

Lafayette uses the Common Application. Please visit the Transfer Applicants page to learn more.