International students
An international welcome Appalachian State University has a long tradition of creating opportunities for students to understand the world and be active participants in it. This includes integrating global awareness into the classroom and co-curricular activities, sending students abroad and welcoming students from other countries to the Appalachian campus. By joining our community as an international student, you can immerse yourself in American culture and benefit from a challenging academic environment that believes people’s different backgrounds and experiences enrich everyone’s education. We look forward to getting to know you and your culture!
Why Appalachian? Appalachian is truly a college experience unlike any other. Its breathtaking location in the North Carolina mountains is the homeaway-from-home for an increasing number of students from across the globe each year. International students find Appalachian’s campus a safe and friendly learning environment in which to meet new academic challenges and make new friends. At Appalachian you’ll have the opportunity to explore life outside the classroom, too. More than 300 clubs and organizations offer you the chance to try new things, participate in sports, and develop leadership skills.
Opportunities Await You! Appalachian’s Office of International Education and Development provides academic support, a social network, and a wide range of services for international students. These include: • Airport pick-up service and transportation at the beginning and end of each semester • Orientation to Appalachian and the Boone community • Academic advising and personal advising • Host families to expand opportunities for friendship and community connection • A student “App Peer” to help you adjust to life at Appalachian • Assistance with passports, travel documents, visas, and immigration • Written letters of reference or recommendation • Assistance with on-campus housing • Coordination of health insurance • Collaboration with student employment, payroll and other on-campus offices
Student Life Notable opportunities for international students include: International Coffee Hour – Join students, faculty, staff and the community every Friday for global cuisine, music, presentations and other entertainment, and fun conversation. “This too, is America” – This series of optional evening classes and short excursions is offered once a month and introduces international students to special aspects of American culture. Trips include New York City, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Grandfather Mountain, football games, picnics and much more! INTAPP (International Appalachian) – This student group enhances internationalization at Appalachian by increasing international understanding and direct involvement with other cultures on campus and abroad. INTAPP sponsors a variety of activities for international students and those preparing to study abroad. www.internationalappalachian.com
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People are nice at Appalachian and it’s a very safe place to go to school. The classes were wonderful, and I learned a lot from the people there as well as from the international students from other countries.
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– Nobu Tanaka of Japan
How to apply 1) Apply online at www.admissions.appstate.edu and pay the U.S. $50 application fee. 2) Submit official secondary school and post-secondary transcripts including English translations. 3) Official TOEFL scores. 4) An original notarized financial statement or visa. 5) Optional materials – personal statement, recommendation letters, etc. Read more about the application process at www.admissions.appstate.edu/international-students
Questions? Ask us. • Admissions Counselor for International Students: Karen Binger, bingerkn@appstate.edu; www.admissions.appstate.edu/counselors/karen-binger • Visas or international student life: Natalie Best, bestne@appstate.edu or www.international.appstate.edu • Website: www.admissions.appstate.edu/international-students • Phone: 828-262-2120