International Students

Paul Smith's College offers a unique opportunity for international students by combining a hands-on approach to education within the world famous Winter Olympic area of Lake Placid (1932 and 1980) in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. The Adirondacks have been designated by the state as a natural park (Adirondack Park); this 6 million acre park is actually the largest in the continental United States. Paul Smith's College consists of over 14,000 acres of the Park. Subsequently we are in an area of the country known for forests, waterways, wildlife, recreational adventures for every level, skiing, Olympic training, small businesses, and resort towns.

We are a small school of about 900 students in the heart of a beautiful rural area. The town of Saranac Lake is 15 minutes away, and Lake Placid is 30 minutes from the College. Please take a moment to review the websites of these towns, Saranac Lake (www.saranaclake.com) and Lake Placid (www.lakeplacid.com).

International Application Checklist:

1. Completed Application Form
2. $30.00 application fee (Payable to Paul Smith's College in U.S. funds) See Payment Options.
3. Official transcript(s) from your high school(s) and or college(s)/university. If transcripts are not from an accredited American school, please provide a certified translation from World Education Services, Inc. or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc.
4. Official copy of TOEFL scores. If English is not your native language, you must submit a TOEFL score of 500/61/173 (paper/internet/computer) to be admitted. Paul Smith's College TOEFL code number is 2640. Paul Smith's College does not offer an ESL program.
5. Confidential Statement of Finance: Certified bank statements to cover all expenses or notarized letter(s) of support from financial sponsor(s). Expenses are approximately $29,900 in U.S. funds.

Please note that it is your responsibility to provide all documentation in English. Please send application, application fee, official transcripts, TOEFL scores and confidential statement of finance to:
Paul Smith's College
Office of Admissions
Rts. 86 & 30, P.O. Box 265
Paul Smiths, NY 12970
USA

Upon receipt of all documents, decisions on acceptance will be made. If you are accepted into Paul Smith's College and your documents are in order, you will receive an official acceptance letter. Please note that upon acceptance and proof of finance, a deposit of US $2,000 will be required before an I-20 will be issued. This deposit is only refundable if you are denied access to the U.S. through the visa process. See Payment Options to submit deposit.

Also, please note that upon confirmation you will be required to pay an I-901 fee (www.fmjfee.com) of $200 to the Department of Homeland Security. In order to enter the country you must present both Paul Smith's College issued I-20 and the I-901 payment receipt. If you are already attending school in the U.S. and wish to transfer to Paul Smith's, then please request a Transfer Form.

Note: Due to time sensitivity of processing International Applications and accompanying paperwork, applications for admission will not be accepted by Paul Smith's College after November 30 for the spring semester or July 14 for the fall semester.

If you are accepted to Paul Smith's College, you will be mailed paperwork from the Paul Smith's College Health Services Office. Please get a complete physical exam as the form requires and get any inoculations that are not up to date. You must be able to present a record of all of your inoculations. Without an MMR and PPD, you could be forbidden from attending classes. Send all documents to the Health Services Office as soon as they are complete.

You will automatically be enrolled in the college's health care insurance unless you bring proof of other coverage to the Student Accounts Office when you arrive.

Plan to arrive at the Adirondack Airport, Saranac Lake (SLK), serviced by Cape Air through Boston, Massachusetts. As soon as you know your arrival time, contact the admissions office and we will schedule your pick-up. Present your I-20, your passport and your I-901 payment receipt when you pass through immigration.

You must supply your own linen and bedding. We are able take you shopping when you arrive and you can purchase necessities at that time if you prefer.

You will need some cash or traveler's checks to purchase books, etc., when you arrive. An ATM machine is on campus. Please check at your local bank to find the best way to get money from your family or sponsor while you are in the U.S.

Payment Options
The three methods of payment available to international students are as follows:
Credit Card:
We accept Visa and Mastercard.
Contact the admissions office for information on how to pay by credit card.
I-20 will only be issued after payment is verified.

Certified Bank Check or Money Order:
Please make sure that amount is in U.S. dollars and payable to Paul Smith's College.
Payment can be mailed to:
Paul Smith's College
Admissions Office
P.O. Box 265
Paul Smiths, NY 12970

Wire Transfer:
Account Info:
Paul Smith's College
Acct #: 7000694597
ABA #: 021303618
Attention To:
Paul Smith's College
Admissions Office
P.O. Box 265
Paul Smiths, NY 12970
Tel #: (518) 327-6227
Please state "phone advise" on transfer.