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Admissions

Office of Admissions

Admission Procedures

Application for admission to Finlandia University are evaluated and accepted on a rolling basis. A completed application includes: an application for admissions, official high school transcripts, official ACT or SAT test scores, and for transfer students, official college transcripts from all colleges of attendance and a transfer standing form. Students may also be required to submit an admissions essay at the request of the Admissions Committee. Admission to Finlandia University is considered after an application for admission and self-reported test scores and GPA have been received. However, a student will not be enrolled in classes until official transcripts, test scores and, for transfer students, a transfer standing form, are received.  Students applying for admission are considered without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age. Admission to the university does not constitute automatic admission to academic programs with requirements beyond those for general admission and does not imply automatic continuation in future semesters. The university reserves the right to refuse admission or continuation to any incoming, transfer, or returning student. Any student who intentionally withholds relevant information, or who falsifies such information, may be required to withdraw or may be dismissed from the university. Admission files will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

Application Deadlines

Admission applications are accepted at any time before the last drop/add day of each semester and acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis. Some programs, however, have specific application deadlines. Priority dates, listed in the Financial Aid section of this catalog, are intended to assure students full consideration for financial aid.

General Requirements

Regular Admission

Regular admission to the university for the 2018-2019 academic year requires graduation from a high school program with at least a 2.25 cumulative grade point average (GPA) as reported on the final official high school transcript and a standardized test score of minimum 830 SAT or 15 ACT. Regular admission may also be granted to students who have earned a General Education Development (GED) certificate with a score of at least 600, (60.0 prior to 2003). Applications that do not meet the requirements may still be accepted on regular admissions pending review of an essay by the Admissions Committee.

Provisional Admission

Provisional admission may be granted to students not meeting the guidelines for regular admission. The Admissions Committee will review the complete application file for regular acceptance, provisional admission, or denial. Students accepted on provisional admission are limited to registering for 14 credits in the first semester of enrollment at Finlandia University. Any student admitted on provisional admission who fails to meet the required satisfactory academic standing will be placed on academic probation for the following semester and limited to 14 credits. All other Finlandia University academic standards will apply.

Home-Schooled Students

For admissions consideration, home-schooled students must provide official copies of all work completed and ACT or SAT scores. Many home-schooled students enjoy the small class sizes and educational opportunities at Finlandia, and home-schooled students are encouraged to consider Finlandia. The Office of Admissions will work with each family individually to evaluate the home-schooled curriculum.

Early Admission

The university will admit an academically qualified student upon completion of their junior year of high school. Admittance is based on high school transcripts showing the completion of their junior year of high school and official SAT or ACT test score. All early admitted students are pending completion of high school diploma and receipt of final official high school transcripts. The admissions policies for regular students apply to early admission students.

Notification of Acceptance

Students must submit all required documents to complete their admission file. When all documents have been received and evaluated, students will be notified of university acceptance or non-acceptance by the Office of Admissions. Following notification of university acceptance, students will receive information about course registration, housing, check-in, and further information regarding application to a specific program.

Tuition Deposit

A non-refundable, non-transferable tuition deposit of $200 is required of all accepted students who intend to enroll. The tuition deposit should be paid as soon as possible after the notification of acceptance is received, as residence hall assignments are made, scholarship and grant offers are confirmed, and course schedules are completed only after the deposit is received.

Students with Less Than 24 Earned College Credits

Incoming students with 24 or fewer earned college credits are required to take the one-credit SISU Seminar, UNS 115, and attend orientation activities the week prior to the start of classes.

Dual Enrollment

Eligible high school students may enroll in university courses as dual enrollment students while in their junior and senior year of high school. Registration forms are available from high school guidance counselors and the Office of Admissions. High school guidance counselors are responsible for determining student and course eligibility for school district state funding. The Admissions Committee determines eligibility for home-schooled students interested in dual enrollment at the university. Dual-enrolled students are responsible for all tuition and registration fees not covered by school district state funding.

Guest Students

Students in good standing at another regionally accredited college or university may enroll at Finlandia University as guest students. Guest student applications are available from the university registrar at most colleges and universities in Michigan. Out-of-state students should contact the Finlandia University Office of Admissions for a guest student application.

Audit Students

Only certain courses can be audited. Courses in math, ESL, and music cannot be audited. If a student audits a course in the areas of Art & Design, Nursing, or Physical Therapist Assistant, additional fees will apply. Audit students do not receive course grades or university credit. Students interested in auditing a course must apply through the Office of Admissions. Audit students are permitted to enroll in courses only after all degree-seeking students have registered.

Transfer Students  

Regular Admission

Provided they meet all high school admissions requirements, regular admission for the 2018-19 academic year is granted to transfer students who have successfully completed 6 or more credits at another institution of higher education with a GPA of 2.0 or higher. Transfer students who have been at full time status at another institution(s) must also submit a Transfer Standing Form for each previous institution at which they were full time students. Transfer students must submit official high school transcripts, ACT or SAT scores, and official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Applications that do not meet the requirements may still be accepted on regular admissions pending admissions essay and review by the Admissions Committee.

Provisional Admission-Transfer Students

Provisional admission may be granted to transfer students with a transfer GPA below a 2.0, pending review of admissions essay and all application materials by the Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee will review student files for acceptance or denial. Transfer students admitted on provisional admission are limited to registering for 14 credits in the first semester of enrollment at Finlandia University. Any student admitted on provisional admission who fails to meet the required satisfactory academic standing will be placed on academic probation for the following semester of attendance and limited to 14 credits. All other Finlandia University academic standards will apply.

Transferring Credit to Finlandia University

The Finlandia University policies for acceptance of academic credit from other colleges and universities, and from Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate Program (IB), Ontario Academic Credits (OAC), Institutional Challenge Examination (ICE), and Experiential Learning are listed in the Academic Information section of this publication. Finlandia University course equivalencies for many Michigan colleges and universities can be found through the Michigan Transfer Network website at www.michigantransfernetwork.org. Finlandia also has articulation agreements with various Michigan colleges and universities. Contact the Office of Admissions for more information.

Former Finlandia University Students

Applications for readmission to the university must be approved by the University Registrar, Dean of Students, Director of Financial Aid, and Director of Student Accounts. The Office of Admissions initiates this re-admission process upon receiving the completed application of a former student. Any former student who was not enrolled at Finlandia during the previous semester must go through the re-admissions process. Students who have been academically suspended and desire to return to Finlandia University (after an absence of at least one semester) must apply through the Office of Admissions and file a formal appeal form. Students should not expect automatic readmission after serving a period of suspension. Academically dismissed students who wish to return to Finlandia University must apply through the Office of Admissions. Students who have been academically dismissed will not be eligible for re-admittance to Finlandia University until they have successfully completed at least 12 credits of college-level courses at another college or university. Socially dismissed students must submit documentation showing compliance with re-admission directives.

International Students      

International students may enroll directly in an undergraduate degree program, or enroll in the university’s English as a Second Language (ESL) certificate program for a semester, a year, or longer. In addition to meeting the Regular Admission requirements, entrance to undergraduate programs for international students requires one of the following official scores for admission: TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic, STEP (Japan only), or SAT 1.

  • TOEFL: minimum 550 PBT, 213 CBT, 79 iBT (paper-based, computer-based, Internet-based), www.ets.org/toefl.
  • IELTS: minimum 6.0 overall band score (minimum 6.0 writing and speaking portion), www.ielts.org. (IELTS is jointly operated by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.)
  • PTE: minimum score of 53, www.pearsonpte.com/PTEAcademic. (NOTE: Score reports available in 5 days.)
  • STEP (Japan only): “STEP Pre-1st” allows for admission to any undergraduate degree program; “STEP 2A” allows for conditional admission to a degree program (ESL or English language program required).
  • SAT 1: minimum 420 writing, 500 critical reading, www.collegeboard.com. (Score report must be sent directly from the testing service.)

Degree-seeking students who require additional English language support may enroll in the English as a Second Language (ESL) certificate program described below. All international students must be enrolled full-time. A completed international admissions file includes: 1) international application for admission; 2) personal statement; 3) certified and sealed official transcripts in English from all institutions where previous academic work has been completed (high school or secondary school, college or university); 4) completed Finlandia University affidavit of financial support form; 5) an original bank statement showing support in U.S. funds for one academic year; and 6) a copy of the applicant’s passport photo page.

After admission is granted to an international student, in order to issue an I-20 immigration form the university must receive a completed Finlandia University health form, a doctor’s statement testifying to the good health of the student, and a record of inoculations. The policies for transferring credit from universities outside of the United States and Canada are listed in the Academic Information section of this publication. An international application checklist and the required forms are available at http:/www.finlandia.edu/admissions/international-students/.

English as a Second Language Certificate Program (ESL)

The same international student admissions procedure must be completed for acceptance to the English as a Second Language certificate program. Entrance into the ESL program requires an internet-based TOEFL score of 32 (or equivalent test), or permission of the international admissions officer. Finlandia University ESL students must enroll in at least 12 credits per semester and receive an overall 2.5 GPA to be awarded an ESL Certificate. A full description of the ESL program can be found in the Academic Programs section of this publication.

Program-Specific Admission Requirements      

Nursing Program (B.S.N.)

Freshmen BSN students are enrolled as pre-nursing students and are eligible for entry into the Nursing major upon successful completion of the pre-nursing curriculum. Students may enter pre-nursing at any time. Entry into the Nursing major occurs in the fall semester of each academic year. Admission to the Nursing major is limited.

Eligibility requirements for entry into the pre-nursing freshman curriculum include the completion of one full year of high school courses in algebra, chemistry, and biology (and/or equivalents). High school science courses require completion with a minimum grade of “B-”, math placement in MAT 140 Intermediate Algebra is based on University requirements, and a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0-point scale is required. College-level course equivalents require a minimum grade of “C” or better with the exception of Anatomy and Physiology I and II and MAT 140 Intermediate Algebra which require a minimum grade of B- or better, and a minimum cumulative college GPA of 2.85. Admission to the pre-nursing curriculum does not guarantee admission to the nursing major. For information regarding progression from pre-nursing to the nursing major, please refer to the Nursing Program requirements located under the College of Health Sciences.

Transfer students who wish to directly enter the Nursing major must be in good academic standing with a minimum earned GPA of 2.85 on all work attempted, and must satisfy the Finlandia University pre-nursing curriculum. Transfer students enter on a space-available basis and should plan on at least three years to complete the Nursing major. Interested students are encouraged to review the suggested course sequence and detailed program requirements in this publication. Transfer students may direct inquiries to the Nursing Department.

RN – BSN Completion Program (B.S.N)

Students seeking admission in the RN-BSN program must:

  • Be eligible for admission to the University and clinical component of the nursing program.
  • Have graduated from a state approved nursing (RN) program.
  • Possess an active and unencumbered state license to practice nursing at the RN level.
  • Have completed all transferred Gen Ed and Pre-Nursing courses with a minimum grade of “C”.
  • Have attained and maintained a college GPA of 2.85 or above.
  • Have completed basic science and math requirements including 8 credits of Anatomy and Physiology, 4 credits of Microbiology or combination of human biology coursework, and 4 credits of Intermediate Algebra; or their equivalents with the required grade expectations.

Physical Therapist Assistant Program A.A.S. (PTA)

Freshmen PTA students are enrolled as pre-PTA students and are eligible for entry into the PTA major upon successful completion of the PTA admission requirements. Students may enter the pre-PTA curriculum at any time. Entry into the PTA major occurs in the fall semester of each academic year. Admission to the PTA major is limited.

To be eligible for admission to PTA Major, the student must;

  1. Complete a PTA Program Application for admission to the Finlandia University PTA Program;
  2. Have earned a minimum of a 2.7 (B-) in the following courses: BIO 171 and BIO 172 or equivalent within the past five years and must achieve at least a C (2.0) in any individual required course and must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in the required general education core course work. Required courses may be repeated only once, including any combination of Finlandia University courses and transfer courses. All prerequisite course work must be completed before the final year;
  3. Complete 12 documented hours of clinical observation in more than one physical therapy setting prior to the start of the technical phase coursework;
  4. Participate in an interview with the PTA faculty in person or via telecommunications.

The PTA Department strives to admit students who can provide evidence of adequate potential to succeed in the PTA program. Students are selected on a competitive basis based on their GPA and interview content. The PTA faculty reserves the right to use professional judgment when selecting students for admission. Although GPA is strongly considered, other factors such as communication, interpersonal skills, and critical thinking ability are considered. Qualified students are considered for admission to the PTA program regardless of race, color, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin or disability that does not interfere with the performance of physical therapy.

Students who have attended a college elsewhere may apply as transfer students. Qualified students that meet the PTA admission requirements and meet the application deadline will be considered. Although preference is given to Finlandia students, enrollment is not limited to such applicants. Qualified students that meet the PTA admission requirements and apply after the deadline will be accepted on a space available basis. Transfer students must be in good standing and eligible to return to all institutions previously attended and have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better (on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent) on all work attempted. Transfer students must satisfy the pre-PTA curriculum in order to transfer directly into the PTA Major.

For more detailed PTA admissions information please see the PTA Student Handbook

Certified Medical Assistant Program A.A.S. (CMA)

Incoming students apply to the Certified Medical Assistant program through the Office of Admissions. Admission to the first year of the CMA program requires the successful completion of one full year of high school algebra and two full years of high school science in biology and anatomy/physiology or chemistry, all with a minimum grade of “C”; and a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 point scale.

Transfer students who wish to enroll directly into the final year (three semesters) of the Certified Medical Assistant program must meet the required academic standards and progression criteria. Completed college-level courses require a minimum grade of “C” and a cumulative college GPA of 2.5 or better. The number of students enrolled in the final year of the program is limited. Successful completion of the first-year Certified Medical Assistant curriculum does not guarantee enrollment in the technical phase of the CMA program. The exact number of students admitted is determined each year by the CMA program director based on academic performance, the availability of clinical site rotations, and available resources. Student admission to the CMA program is considered without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age.

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist A.A.S. (MBC)

Incoming students apply to the Medical Billing and Coding Specialist program through the Office of Admissions. Admission to the first year of the MBC program requires the successful completion of one full year of high school algebra and two full years of high school science in biology and anatomy/physiology or chemistry, all with a minimum grade of “C”; and a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 point scale.

Transfer students who wish to enroll directly into the final year (three semesters) of the Medical Billing and Coding Specialist program must meet the required academic standards and progression criteria. Completed college-level courses require a minimum grade of “C” and a cumulative college GPA of 2.5 or better. The number of students enrolled in the final year of the program is limited. Successful completion of the first-year Medical Billing and Coding Specialist curriculum does not guarantee enrollment in the technical phase of the MBC program. The exact number of students admitted is determined each year by the MBC program director based on academic performance, the availability of clinical site rotations, and available resources. Student admission to the MBC program is considered without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age.

Admissions Staff

Anthony Schwass
Anthony SchwassDean of Enrollment, PDSO (Principal Designated School Official)Finlandia UniversityAnthony.Schwass@finlandia.edu-DISABLED906-487-7260

2018-19 Catalog

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