Unreasonable TOEFL requirement.

Maryia
Thu, 25 Feb 2016 19:25:34 +0000

FIT is my first choice and they recently sent me an email stating that in my application I am required to provide TOEFL scores otherwise my application that I worked so hard on won't be even looked at. I need help because my situation is different than students that are non-citizen and studied abroad.

I lived in the US for more than 5 years now, I came here in March 2010, I spent 2 years in US middle school P.S. I.S. 187 Hudson Cliff and currently completing my 4th year in Fiorello LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts.

During my first year in High School I got an extra English class (ESL), however during all the years present in the US I've completed not only 3 years of ESL but also 6 years of basic English. ESL was my extra English class. I've passed all of my English classes, I've taken English regents and got a 90 on it (it is officially on my transcript) I just don't understand how is that not enough to prove that my English is proficient. I've called the Office of Admissions at FIT and asked them why am I required to take TOEFL and she said that it is because I have ESL class listed in my transcript.

I then visited their website once again and checked TOEFL requirements and it said "Students who have completed less than four years of English (not ESL) at a U.S. high school are required to take the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE." I do not meet that criteria therefore I don't need to take TOEFL. Like I've mentioned before all the years  I've spend in High School Ive been taking a standard English class each year. Only in my Freshmen year of High School they gave me an ESL class as an addition to my schedule. After passing ESL exam I could take a language course and I took Spanish for a year and passed it.

Please help me, I have worked so hard to get a chance to go to FIT and now all of my hard work will mean nothing. Tell me who should I contact to maybe resolve this issue. What additional information I can send to their Admission Office to assure them of my English Proficiency.

P.S.
REASONS WHY I CAN NOT TAKE TOEFL:

My family has low income, I got fee waivers for all of my college applications and SAT registration. There is no fee waiver for TOEFL. I am unable to pay the fee.

Test date is April 9th and results come in May which Admission Office said will be too late to even consider my application. Even if i find the money, I won’t have the results on time.