INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE GUIDELINES

Welcome!

Thank you for your interest in Ursuline High School in Santa Rosa, California. Our high school is one of 175 Ursuline sister schools from around the world belonging to the Ursulines of the Roman Union, Rome. Our school accepts and welcomes international students to become part of our community.

In past years, we have had international students from Spain, Germany, Sweden, Singapore, Japan, Korea, China, Argentina, Columbia, Mexico, and Canada and look forward to adding more students from other countries around the world. Our international students attend classes and have a strong impact on our community. From sharing their culture, making new friends, or teaching groups about their country, we consider our international students vital members of the community.

General Admissions Criteria

Junior Year Exchange Student

This program offers international students an incredible cultural opportunity. We strongly recommend that students apply in their own country through one of the international educational exchange organizations if they’re interested in applying to Ursuline High School. These organizations screen the applicants for English proficiency, handle all of the application procedures directly with Ursuline High School, coordinate the host family selection, arrange for the one-year Visa to study in the USA, and oversee the travel arrangements to and from the U.S. Students also need to be independent, self-sufficient and mature to spend a year away from home. Ultimately, the international student graduates from her home school in her country following the junior year spent abroad at Ursuline High School.

International Students—Attending for Multiple Years

An international student, who will be living with a Sonoma County relative for multiple years while attending high school, can apply to Ursuline High School for admissions consideration. Ursuline has a college-preparatory curriculum, and we do not have an ESL program. International students need strong verbal and written communication skills, and should be highly proficient in English. All international students must take the TOEFL test. Once TOEFL test results are received by the Admissions Department, then further discussion and review can take place as to whether the student is eligible to apply to Ursuline.

For applications to be considered, the following minimum English proficiency scores are required.

GRADE 10th *11th

TOEFL Paper 497 550

Computer-Based TOEFL 170 213

iBT 60 80

*Note: 11th grade applicants must also take the SSAT (Secondary School Admissions Test).

Please contact Kathleen Kelly, Co-Director of Admissions, at 707-524-1133 or kkelly@ursulinehs.org if you have additional questions. Thank you.