Applying

Who May Apply

Any person may apply for admission to Bucks County Community College. Admission is generally granted to graduates of accredited secondary schools, to recipients of a high school equivalency diploma and to others who, in the judgment of the College, are likely to benefit from a collegiate experience. There are no special qualifications, guidelines, or special admissions policies for Distance Learning. It is entirely the student's decision as to whether or not learning via Distance Learning is suitable. If you have any doubts as to whether or not Distance Learning is right for you, and you have already reviewed The Distance Learning section of this orientation guide, please feel free to contact an advisor, counselor, or the Distance Learning office before continuing with the application process.

Things To Be Aware Of:
In addition to filling out the application form and sending it along with your check for $30, there are some things you might want to be aware of when applying:

• Your student category
• Previous experience that may count towards college credit
• Assessment testing procedures
• Disability Services
• Financial Aid

Your Student Category:

• High school graduate - Your high school will need to send a copy of your high school transcript to the Admissions Office.
• Returning adult - You are not just out of high school and have never taken courses at another college. You must meet the standard application criteria.
• Readmission - You've taken courses at BCCC before. You must complete an application for readmission and fulfill all other admission requirements.
• International student - Have you read through the Policies regarding the admission of International Students? Are you aware of the information regarding the international student application process? Do you need a student visa or are you a permanent resident of the United States?
• Transfer student - You must have your previous college(s) send a transcript(s) to BCCC for evaluation. This may take some time, so have your transcript sent as early as possible. You can also check with the Transfer & Job Resource Center. The staff there should be able to tell you what courses may transfer to BCCC in the major you desire. However, you will not receive credit until BCCC's Admissions office evaluates an official transcript.
• Veteran - You will fill out the standard application form, but if you are eligible for Veteran's benefits, there is a Veteran's Registration Verification Form that must be returned with your course registration form.
• Student at another college or university, just wanting to take a few credits from BCCC - You must fill out the standard application form and meet all application criteria. If you want to take a course that has a pre-requisite and you have met the pre-requisite at another college, that college must forward a transcript to BCCC's admission's office for evaluation.
• High School student seeking early admission - You must have written permission from your high school guidance counselor, be in the top 40% of your class, and have received no less than a "C" for a final grade in any class.
• Senior citizen - Bucks County residents aged 65 and over may enroll tuition-free in credit courses during the time period specified in the registration publications - usually just a day or two before the semester begins. If you wish to be guaranteed a seat in a course, then you must register earlier during the registration period and pay full tuition.

Previous Experience Can Count
Your previous experience may enable you to obtain college credit toward your BCCC learning objective. This can include skills you have learned on the job, through self-study, personal interest, or by any other means, Our LLEAP (Life Learning Experience Assessment Program) office will show you how to match your specific previous learning to specific college courses. They will advise and assist you in your demonstration of college level learning

• From other colleges
• From Advanced Placement earned through high school courses
• From Apprenticeship or Armed Services experience
• By taking CLEP or DANTES tests to demonstrate what you have learned on the job or through self-study
• Through Portfolio Assessment

BCCC Assessment Testing

• Full-time students (taking 12 or more credits your first semester) must take the College's assessment tests in reading, writing, and mathematics before you register for any classes.
• Part-time students may wait to take the tests until they have completed 15 credits (unless seeking to take a math class, a writing class, or any class with a math, writing, or reading prerequisite - then the pertinent assessment test must be taken before registering).

Complete details regarding Assessment Testing, including who to contact if you cannot travel to BCCC to take your Assessment tests is available from the Testing Center website.

Disability Services
If you have a physical, psychological, or learning disability you are strongly urged to contact the Office of Disability Services for information prior to registration.

Financial Aid
There are deadlines for filing for financial assistance. If you need financial aid, you should contact the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible. The Financial Aid Office also maintains an extensive website.