Admissions Process

International students who seek admission follow the same process that all students follow except that the full tuition payment is required when the contract is submitted. The school will then issue the I-20 form to the family in the country of origin. *NOTE: International students are not eligible for financial aid due to the difficulty in determining financial need in a different currency and tax structure.

REQUIREMENTS

• All international applicants must have a strong command of English.
• Students who reach the age of 19 years old on or after September 1, and who have not exceeded his/her four-year limit of eligibility, may participate in interscholastic athletics during the school year.
• Tampa Preparatory School does not admit postgraduate students.

Diploma-seeking international students who wish to graduate from Tampa Prep and seek admission to an American university or college are required to take the SSAT (Secondary School Admissions Test) as well as the TOEFL.

APPLICATION PROCESS

1. Submit an online application with the $75.00 application fee by February 1. Subsequent applications for limited openings will be evaluated on a rolling admissions basis.
2. Submit a School Record Form with all previous years of official high school transcripts. Transcript(s) must be translated into English. We need both translated and untranslated versions of your transcripts.
3. Submit two Teacher Recommendations (Math and English teachers). Teachers may submit their recommendation forms to us via email (scanned), fax or mail.
4. Interview. A Skype interview may be required during the admissions process.
5. Testing. International students entering grades 9 through 12 for whom English is a second language must take the TOEFL. www.toeflgoanywhere.org International students entering grades 6 through 8 should take the TOEFL Junior test.

There are two formats for the TOEFL test. The format you take depends on the location of your test center. Most test takers take the Internet-based Test (IBT). Test centers that do not have Internet access offer the Paper-based Test (PBT).

Guidelines SSAT Test

COLLEGE PREPARATION
Families of international applicants should be aware that in order for our College Counseling Officers to be the best advocates for an international student matriculating to the American university system, an international student must attend Tampa Preparatory School for the last two years of their schooling. This two-year period provides our College Counseling Officers with a better understanding of a student’s knowledge, skills, abilities and habits, and allows for a more personal relationship with the student.

Q: I need to make travel arrangements for the entire year. How do I plan my trip?
Please view the school’s major dates calendar before making travel plans so you do not miss any school commitments. We do understand there will be times when some adjustments are needed. Please bring any concerns to Betsy Zollinger, Assistant to the Director of Admissions

Q: What is the purpose of the I-20 form?
Every non-U.S. citizen needs this form to get a student visa; the student visa allows you to attend Tampa Preparatory School. Your student visa must apply to the entire academic year (August – May). In addition, you need this form whenever you travel, both within the U.S. borders and especially when you leave the U.S. This form and your visa are your legal documents from the U.S. Immigration Department and should be kept safe and secure at all times.

Q: What courses will I be taking?
All international students take courses in the following areas: English, History, Mathematics and Science (Biology, Chemistry or Physics). Students may also choose three more courses from the electives listed in the Guide for Academics and Student Life or two courses and one study hall.

Q: What clothing should I bring to school?
The weather in Tampa is some of the best in the country! Tampa lies just north of the tropic zone. During the Fall, it can be 30° Celsius, Winter is usually between the 4° – 16° Celsius and in the Spring it’s in around 26° Celsius. Our dress code is informal, so plan to bring items that are practical for the weather and comfortable for you. You may review the details of our Dress Code in our Guide to Academics and Student Life. If you have questions about clothing, you can wait until you arrive and do some shopping here.

Q: Spending Money?
Some students use Visa or MasterCard Debit/Credit cards for purchases in addition to cash. We strongly discourage students from keeping large amounts of cash in their possession.

Q: Religious Observances?
Religious holidays are not formally recognized on the Tampa Prep calendar. Because we have many devout students from all faiths, we are sensitive to their significance. Devout students who plan to miss three or more classes must inform their teachers and submit an Absentee Permissions Form in advance of the upcoming absences. Students who miss school for a religious holiday will not be required to turn in any assignments or take any assessments on the holiday or the day after. Furthermore, they will be allowed five school days upon returning to school to complete missed assignments and assessments.

Q: Can I participate on a sports team?
Participation in sports at Tampa Prep is a highly demanding endeavor. International students should be aware that the level of skill required for many teams is quite high. Students are required to attend daily practices after school and attend all scheduled games on weeknights. All practices and games are mandatory, not optional. To participate in a sport, international students may not have any grade lower than a C.

Please contact Athletic Director Chris Lavoie (clavoie@tampaprep.org) or Assistant Athletic Director Eric Snow (esnow@tampaprep.org) for more information on how to join these teams. Paperwork for participation in the Florida State High School Athletic Association (FSHAA) must be completed before students officially join a team.