I am a new student who has never attended college before.
- Click Here to complete an admissions Application
- Eastern Gateway Community College’s open admissions policy applied to all students, whether the student attend on-campus, online, or in a hybrid format. The open admissions policy provides guaranteed acceptance to students with equal access to quality educational programs.
- As part of the application process, students must provide proof of high school completion by submitting either a high school transcript, high school equivalency (GED), proof of associate degree, or self-certification acknowledgement. The self-certification is the student’s acknowledgement that they completed high school or obtained a high school equivalency (GED) that can be used in lieu of the transcript or diploma.
- Guaranteed acceptance is awarded once the college application is completed
- Begin the Financial Aid Process
- To begin the financial aid process, you (and a parent if you are considered a dependent student) will need a FSAID to electronically sign the FAFSA. Obtain your FSA ID by visiting https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
- After you have obtained your FSA ID(s), visit https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa to compete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The EGCC school code is 007275.
- Take An Optional Placement Test
- Assessment testing is optional for all students, regardless of the modality of their studies. Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) is the official assessment test used by the college and is offered in seat and virtual. The TABE test is a diagnostic test that determines deficient areas in math and language. Students may opt in or out of assessment testing at different intervals of the admissions and registration process.
- For those degrees that have program requirements, each student must provide proof of an adequate background to enter the program or complete placement testing (Accuplacer). This applies to all students, whether the student attend on-campus, online, or in a hybrid format. Eastern Gateway Community College offers introductory courses which provide the opportunity to develop sufficient background and subsequently enter the desired course/program. This can be established via multiple measures which include placement testing, submission of previous college credit for evaluation, SAT/ACT scores. Placement testing is recommended prior to registering for courses. The test is offered both in seat and virtual.
- Provide Proof of High School Completion
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- As part of the application process, students must provide proof of high school completion by submitting either a high school transcript, high school equivalency (GED), proof of associate degree, or self-certification acknowledgement. The self-certification is the student’s acknowledgement that they completed high school or obtained a high school equivalency (GED) that can be used in lieu of the transcript or diploma.
- Eastern Gateway Community College will consider the following appropriate documentation of high school graduation or equivalency:
- Copy of the final high school transcript with graduation date. Any electronically sent transcripts must be legible.
- Original GED certificate and scores or GED transcript directly from the Department of Education of the state in which the test was taken. If a student is able to log into an online account to access GED scores, we will accept a printout.
- Certificate of completion of an approved home school program signed by the program principal.
- An official college transcript of an associate degree or higher, from an accredited institution.
- Copy of high school diploma with date of graduation and official signature.
- Self-certification acknowledgment completed as part of the admissions application and/or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Foreign high school diplomas/transcripts are acceptable. All credentials submitted for admissions become the property of the College and are not returnable or transferable.
- Students may self-certify on the FAFSA and/or the admissions application that a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate has been received or secondary school through homeschooling as defined by state law has been completed. If information is conflicting, registration for courses will be restricted until clarification is provided. In some cases, EGCC may require the submission of official copies of the diploma, transcript, or high school equivalency to resolve the conflict. Official copies of POG take precedence over any self-certification acknowledgment.
- GED test scores for each test subject range from 100-200. Test-takers must earn a minimum of 145 in each test area in order to earn high school equivalency. Students can also test college-ready, meaning they do not need to take placement testing.
- Following submission of an enrollment application, students will meet with an academic advisor to be approved for course registration and to verify validity of proof of graduation documentation. If EGCC has reason to believe official POG credentials submitted, or listed on the self-certification acknowledgment, are not valid or were not obtained from an entity that provides secondary school education in accordance with 34 C.F.R. § 668.16(p), a registration hold will remain on the student’s account until the information provided is validated. Validation will require submission of an official POG copy and a transcript showing all courses taken along with the graduation date. Alternatively, EGCC may verify validity by checking with the high school to confirm the validity of the diploma AND confirming with the relevant department or agency in the state in which the secondary school is located that the secondary school is recognized as a provider of secondary school education. When validity is confirmed, the student will be permitted to register for courses.
- Students who have successfully completed secondary school outside the United States must have their transcript evaluated by a transcript evaluation agency (see below list of, “Approved and Accepted International Verification Agencies”). The cost of the evaluation is the responsibility of the student. In most cases, the student must submit documents issued by the school, the ministry of education, the government, or official office responsible for issuing school records. The evaluation must demonstrate that the foreign secondary school credentials are equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma. The agency should send the evaluation directly to the EGCC Admissions Office.
- Self-certification that a student has completed a foreign high school (or equivalent) education is only acceptable if:
- On the FAFSA, the student is selected for verification tracking groups V4 or V5 in which the student must provide proof of high school completion; and
- It is impossible for a refugee, asylee, or victim of human trafficking to obtain documentation of his or her completion of a secondary school education in a foreign country.
- Students who have completed college level coursework outside the United States must have their transcript evaluated by a transcript evaluation agency (see below list of, “Approved and Accepted International Verification Agencies”).
- The cost of the evaluation is the responsibility of the student. If the evaluation confirms that an equivalent to a U.S. Associates degree or higher was completed, this will meet the high school requirement. The agency should send the evaluation directly to the EGCC Admissions Office.
- Submit Official Transcripts For All Post-Secondary Institutions Listed On Your College Application
- Eastern Gateway Community College requires submission of official transcripts from all previously attended institutions of higher education listed on the application prior to registering for courses.
- An official college transcript waiver form is available to students who do not wish to submit an official college transcript for registration purposes. The waiver form can be requested from Enrollment Services or the Registrar’s office.
- Transfer students must comply with all admission procedures for Eastern Gateway Community College and its program delivery partners. An official evaluation of transfer credit will be completed as the college receives official transcripts from previously attended institutions.
- An official transcript is one that has been received directly from the issuing institution. Records that have been opened or have been in the hands of the student (i.e. student copies of transcripts, grade reports, diplomas) are not considered official documents.