Mills is a proudly inclusive college community in one of the most diverse cities in America. If you are a citizen of a country other than the United States or a resident of a US territory, you will apply to Mills as an international student.
During the coronavirus outbreak, the Mills Office of Admissions continues to accept and process admission applications and related materials. We strongly encourage the electronic submission of transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other required materials. If the issuing institution or your recommender emails materials directly to us at admission@mills.edu, we will consider them to be official. Materials submitted by regular mail will be subject to delayed processing times. We will continue to accept admission applications now through July 15, 2020.
Dates & Deadlines | Requirements | Frequently Asked Questions
There are slightly different application requirements and deadlines for international students who have previously attended college or university and those who haven’t.
Note: Undocumented, AB 540, DREAMer, and DACA students should visit our admission and financial aid information for undocumented students page to learn how to apply to Mills.
We offer several different options for applying to Mills as an international student, including spring admission. Here are the important dates to remember:
Fall Early Action for First-Year International Students
This is a nonbinding option for first-year students who want to receive an admission
decision as early as possible. If you meet the early action deadline, you will hear
back from us by December.
Fall Regular Decision for First-Year International Students
If you have never attended college before, this is your deadline for fall admission.
Fall classes start in late August. We will send you an admission decision by March.
Financial Forms for First-Year International Students
Make sure to submit your completed Certification of Finances form (PDF) and official supporting financial information. See application requirements
below for more details. International students are also eligible for merit scholarships
from Mills.
Spring Admission for First-Year International Students
Spring classes start in mid-January. If that’s a better time for you to start at Mills,
this is your application deadline. You’ll hear from us by December.
Priority Scholarship Consideration for International Transfer Students
Send in your completed application by March 1 to receive priority consideration for
merit scholarships from Mills. We’ll send you an admission decision by April.
Financial Forms for International Transfer Students
Make sure to submit your completed Certification of Finances form (PDF) and official supporting financial information. See application requirements
below for more details.
Fall Regular Admission for International Transfer Students
Submit your transfer application by the April 1 deadline and you will receive an admission
decision in just a few weeks. Fall classes start in late August.
Spring Admission for International Transfer Students
Spring classes start in mid-January. If that’s a better time for you to transfer to
Mills, November 1 is your application deadline. You’ll hear back from us by December.
The Mills admission process is designed to let you share a full picture of who you are, where you’ve been, and what you want to achieve at Mills. If you have any questions about the following requirements, please reach out to us at 800.87.MILLS (in the US), +1.510.430.2135 (outside the US), or admission@mills.edu.
This is the heart of the Mills admission process. In addition to submitting standard information, you’ll also share a personal statement and/or response to our supplemental question. The application fee is $50.
Please follow the application instructions for first-year students or transfer students according to the criteria above. Apply today using one of the following:
*The College Official’s Report and the Final Report forms in the Common Application are not required for international transfer students.
Official transcripts provide the clearest record of your academic experience and achievement. Non-English transcripts need to be accompanied by a certified translation. Please have all transcripts mailed directly to the following address:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Mills College
5000 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, California 94613
USA
When you send us your official transcripts, please include the following documents:
Applicants who have taken college- or university-level classes (including A-levels) are required to have a course-by-course evaluation of their official transcripts conducted by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. This evaluation must be conducted prior to your enrollment at Mills.
Mills has a test-optional admission policy. If you feel that your SAT or ACT score is a good indication of your academic ability, we’d love to see it. If not, you don’t have to submit your score. During the application process you’ll indicate whether you intend to submit a standardized test score. Note that the English language proficiency requirement may be waived for international students who score 600 or above on the critical reading portion of the SAT.
To ensure your academic success at Mills, all non-native English speakers or students who have lived in a non-English speaking culture for three or more years must show proof of English language proficiency. Mills accepts the following tests and certificates:
| Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) | Minimum of 550 paper, 213 CBT, or 80 IBT |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | Minimum score of 6.5 CBT |
| English Language School (ELS) | Level 112 Certificate |
| American Academy of English | Completion of Intensive English as a Second Language (ESL) for Academic Purposes |
| Duolingo English Test (DET) | Minimum score of 105 |
Please note that the English language proficiency requirement may be waived for international students who score 600 or above on the critical reading portion of the SAT.
In accordance with US government regulations, all international students should have sufficient funds to meet the costs of tuition, fees, and living expenses in the United States. As part of the Mills admission process, you will need to submit a completed Certification of Finances form (PDF) and official supporting bank documentation. Bank documentation must include an official English translation and show available funds in US dollars. Photocopied or faxed documentation is not considered official, and unfortunately, we cannot accept it.
If you have any questions about supporting documentation, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 800.87.MILLS (in the US), +1.510.430.2135 (outside the US), or admission@mills.edu.
As an international student, you should start the admission process about one year prior to the semester in which you would like to enroll at Mills. This will give you plenty of time to learn about Mills and gather the documents you will need to submit your application using the Mills Application or the Common Application.
In order to receive your Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status I-20, you must complete the following steps:
Your I-20 will be sent to the mailing address you listed on your application for admission.
If you are applying as a first-year student, you can choose to take advantage of our early action admission plan. By applying under our nonbinding early action admission plan, you can receive a decision from our Admissions Committee in December, but you have until May 1 to make your decision to attend Mills. When you submit all the required application materials, just indicate that you are applying under the early action plan and provide all of your remaining documents by November 15. Please note that transfer students are not eligible for early action.
If you are applying as a first-year student, you will be considered automatically for a Mills academic merit scholarship if you submit your admission application and required materials by the normal early action or regular decision deadlines. Since these merit scholarships do not meet the total cost of education and living expenses, you will need to meet these remaining costs with your own funds.
Unfortunately, international students are not eligible for need-based financial aid at Mills. Our transfer scholarships require both demonstrated financial need and academic achievement, so international transfer students are not eligible for Mills scholarships. For additional questions, please contact your admission counselor using our Connect with a Counselor form or call +1.510.430.2135.
In order to transfer your F-1 student visa, you must complete the following steps:
1. Submit your $300 nonrefundable enrollment deposit.
2. Submit the following documents:
3. Complete the I-20 Transfer Request form, part 1) (PDF), and ask the Designated School Official (DSO) at your current institution to fill out part 2. The DSO at your current institution will be asked to release your record and transfer it to Mills College.
Your I-20 will be sent to the mailing address you listed on your application for admission.
Yes, undocumented, AB 540, DREAMer, and DACA students are invited to apply for admission to Mills. All applicants to Mills are considered for our merit scholarships, and you are eligible to apply for need-based scholarships. Visit our admission and financial aid information for undocumented students page for details.
Websites can’t always cover everything you want to know, but Mills admission counselors are here to help you through every step of the international application. Find your counselor.
Mills College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, marital status, age, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, or disability in our admission policies, in our scholarship and loan programs, or in the educational programs, cocurricular activities, and residential facilities which we operate. Students of all genders are eligible for admission to our graduate programs. Self-identified women and people assigned female sex at birth who do not identify with the gender binary are eligible for admission to our undergraduate programs.