Manchester College (International Students) - Overview
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Manchester College is a liberal arts and sciences college with approximately 1,275 students in North Manchester, Indiana, a Midwestern town with a population of approximately 6,000.
Manchester's 75 faculty members are passionate about their disciplines, and the extremely low student-to-faculty ratio of 16 to 1 ensures that students are educated in a nurturing and supportive environment.
Ninety-four percent of Manchester's courses are taught by full-time faculty, and 84 percent of faculty members hold Ph.D.s or the highest degree in their fields.
A Wide Range of Academic Programs
Manchester College students earn Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in more than 55 areas of study. These include broad areas, such as biology, chemistry, environmental studies, elementary education, accounting, and social work, and more specific specialized subjects, such as biotechnology, management, marketing, peace studies, and sports management.
The school also offers two-year Associate of Arts degrees in computer applications, criminal justice, early childhood education, and gerontology, and master's degrees in education and athletic training. Manchester has applied for pre-candidate accreditation status for a new School of Pharmacy to award the Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm.D.) and plans to admit its first class in fall 2012.
A Global Perspective on Education
Students come to Manchester from 22 states and 20 countries. All international students are automatically eligible for membership in the International Association. Here, students come together to support one another, exchange cultural traditions, and educate the Manchester community about different nationalities, cultures, and religions through events like the biannual International Fair. The association works closely with the Office of Admissions to help recruit international students.
To foster cultural diversity, the school is home to the Manchester College Intercultural Center, established to meet the social needs of ethnic minorities on campus by offering a gathering place and an educational library.
Courses for English Language Learners
Several courses are of particular interest to international students, such as the Structure of the English Language and History of the English Language. In addition, Second Language Acquisition explores how people learn language and the relationship of culture to language development.
Financial Assistance to International Students
Manchester College encourages students from around the world to apply.
With the hopes of making Manchester a truly international, cross-cultural institution, the College offers the International Student Scholarship. This scholarship covers a portion of tuition for international students, and is based on academic ability as shown on grade reports, final exam results, and test scores.
In addition, many international students find that an on-campus job during the academic year helps to cover the costs of tuition, room, and board.
Requirements for International Students
Students interested in applying to Manchester must read, write, and speak English. They also need to supply an official TOEFL or SAT I score, national examination results, evidence of financial support, a letter of recommendation in English, a personal essay, and certified copies of transcripts in English. Students should also expect to pay their first semester fees for tuition, room, and board plus a deposit for the second semester.
Exceptional Pre-Professional Tracks
Manchester offers several pre-professional tracks, including those in pre-law and pre-medicine.
The school's programs in the health sciences include concentrations in pre-pharmacy medical technology, pre-dentistry, pre-optometry, pre-veterinary medicine pre-occupational therapy, pre-physical therapy, and athletic training. Students who choose these concentrations have opportunities for internships at one of three local hospitals.
A Commitment to Service
A basic tenet of Manchester College is service to others. Last year, Manchester students contributed more than 35,000 hours of service to the college, surrounding communities, and churches. Opportunities for service include working with local food banks, disabled individuals, emotionally troubled youth, seniors, Habitat for Humanity, and tutoring with the Indiana Reading Corps.
Opportunities abound for students from other countries to use their language skills in service to others. International students can assist in language classes with pronunciation and conversation, respond to requests for interpreting and translating, and volunteer to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) to immigrants in the larger community.
A Thriving Religious Life
Manchester College maintains a rich religious life that encourages students to nurture their faith in God through worship, fellowship, learning, and service, and to dedicate their lives to justice, peace, kindness, and love.
Manchester welcomes persons of all faith traditions and encourages religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity.
A Vibrant Student Experience
Manchester students have plenty of opportunities outside the classroom.
Student-athletes participate in 19 NCAA Division III varsity sports, and more than 75 percent of students participate in intramural sports. The College offers more than 60 clubs and organizations, including dance team, campus newspaper, comedy improvisation, ministries, and music and theatre groups.
North Manchester is 35 miles away from Fort Wayne, Indiana's second largest city. With a population of 250,000, Fort Wayne is home to museums, a children's zoo, sporting events, shopping, movies, and restaurants.
For students who want to explore even further, Indiana's largest city, Indianapolis, is 105 miles away. They can also drive 155 miles to Chicago, Illinois -- a major American city offering good food, cultural events, and opportunities for exploring diverse neighborhoods and enclaves.
Many Opportunities for Learning and Growth
Manchester's Success Center offers a high level of support to help students reach their goals. The school's academic support services include workshops in time management, note taking, and test preparation.
Career Services offers an online image review, job shadowing, and mock interviews. The Writing Center has writing consultants and workshops for students to polish their skills.
Counseling Services has individualized counseling and support groups, and Health Services includes health education and vaccines.
In addition, Manchester College runs an honors program that is open to students with a grade point average of 3.5 or better. Honors students are eligible for special courses, can choose to write a thesis, and receive an honors diploma.