Application Documents 2014

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

The following documents (A to G) except the official test scores should be enclosed in an envelope and sent to the following address by express registered mail or international courier service. They must reach Sophia Admissions Office by the deadline of submission. Late applications may be refused. Official test scores (TOEFL, SAT etc.) must be delivered directly to Sophia University from the testing service by the application deadline. On the envelope, please make sure to write:

SOPHIA UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS OFFICE
7-1 KIOI-CHO, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 102-8554 JAPAN
FLA SPRING (or AUTUMN) APPLICATION

or

102-8554　東京都千代田区紀尾井町7-1
上智大学入学センター
国際教養学部（春学期　or 秋学期）出願書類在中

Note:
・ Documents printed in languages other than English or Japanese should be translated into English and certified by a school official or an official agency, such as an embassy or consulate.
・ If an original document cannot be reissued (e.g., a school report handwritten by a teacher), a copy certified by the school official (Principal or Registrar) or Sophia University Admissions Office is acceptable.
・ Applicants will receive a notice of reference number within two weeks after the application deadline.
・ The application documents once submitted are not returnable.

A. Application Forms & Essay (3 pages)
Application forms should be filled out through the web application system (https://sophia.applyjapan.com/) and printed out after the application fee payment. In the application essay, the applicant must give the reasons for wishing to study at the Faculty of Liberal Arts of Sophia University. It should be approximately 500 words in length and written in English.

B. Official Transcripts
1. Freshmen
An official transcript showing all courses taken and grades received in high school(s) including the dates of graduation (or expected graduation) must be submitted. Applicants who have graduated from high schools in Japan are required to submit official transcripts (chosasho). The documents must be certified by a school official and be officially sealed in a school envelope.

Note:
・　If a freshman applicant has attended university, submission of the official university transcript(s) is recommended.

2. Transfer students
An official transcript showing courses taken and grades received from all academic institutions attended (high schools and universities/colleges) must be submitted. The transcript must be certified by a school official and be officially sealed in a school envelope. The university/college transcript should clearly indicate that an applicant has completed/will have completed two full academic years as a regular student or have completed/will has completed an associate degree at university/college before the prospective date of entering Sophia University.

C. Certificate of Graduation (or expected graduation / early graduation) from High School 　　　　　　　
Applicants whose transcripts do not show the dates of graduation (or expected graduation) are required to submit an official Certificate of Graduation (or expected graduation). Those who have graduated early, or have skipped a grade, should submit an official document issued by the school indicating this fact.

D. Standardized Test Scores for Freshmen / Transfer Students
All freshmen and transfer applicants are required to submit one or more of the following:
1) SAT (Reasoning Test) Scores
2) ACT with Writing Scores
3) IB (International Baccalaureate) Diploma

1) SAT (Reasoning Test) scores
SAT scores must be taken not more than two years before the application deadline, and delivered directly to Sophia University from the College Board by the application deadline. If the official scores have not been submitted by the application deadline, the application will be considered incomplete. Be sure to indicate our institution code number, 0819, when registering for the test, to ensure that your official score is sent to Sophia University.　The scores can be sent to Sophia prior to the application period. For Information about SAT and test registration, please refer to the SAT Program website: http://www.collegeboard.com/ 　　　　　　　　　　　

Note:
・　Applicants can report the highest individual subscores (Critical Reading, Math, and Writing) taken from multiple SAT test dates.
・　Applicants who have completed, or are expected to complete, two full academic years at an undergraduate degree / associate degree -conferring institution as regular students may submit scores which were taken more than two years before.

2) ACTwith Writing Scores
ACT scores must be taken not more than two years before the application deadline, and delivered directly to Sophia University from the ACT by the application deadline. If the official scores have not been submitted by the application deadline, the application will be considered incomplete. Be sure to indicate our institution code number, 5575, when registering for the test, to ensure that your official score is sent to Sophia University. The scores can be sent to Sophia prior to the application period. For Information about ACT and test registration, please refer to the ACT website: http://www.actstudent.org/

Note:
・ Applicants can report the highest individual subscores taken from multiple ACT test dates.
・ Applicants who have completed, or are expected to complete, two full academic years at an undergraduate degree / associate degree -conferring institution as regular students may submit scores which were taken more than two years before.

3) International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　 　
Sophia University requires a FULL IB Diploma (six subjects). An IB Certificate is not acceptable.

IB Diploma holders:

A "Transcript of Results" must be sent directly to Sophia University from the International Baccalaureate Organization(IBO) by the application deadline. For further information on how to request IBO to send a transcript to Sophia University, please visit:

http://www.ibo.org/informationfor/alumni/transcripts/.

IB Diploma candidates:

Applicants whose IB Diploma has not been issued by the application deadline are required to submit predicted grades. Request your IB Diploma programme coordinator to issue predicted IB grades by using the designated form (International Baccalaureate Predicted Grades Report Form).

Such applicants must also make prior arrangements through their IB Diploma programme coordinator for a "Transcript of Results" to be sent to Sophia University from IBO. For further information on how to request IBO to send a transcript to Sophia University, please visit: http://www.ibo.org/informationfor/alumni/transcripts/.

Note:
・Even though applicants may have been accepted to Sophia University on the basis of IB predicted grades, failure to obtain a full IB diploma or have the results submitted before our deadline (January 31 for Spring entry, and July 31 for Autumn entry) will result in cancellation of their acceptance.

E. Proof of English Proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS)
Applicants must prove their English proficiency by taking the TOEFL or the IELTS (Academic). It should be taken not more than two years before the application deadline. The official test score must be delivered directly to Sophia from each testing institution. When registering for these tests, be sure to indicate Sophia University to ensure that your official score is sent to Sophia University. For TOEFL, Sophia’s institution code is 0819.
For information about TOEFL and IELTS and test registration, please refer to the following websites.
TOEFL: http://www.ets.org/toefl
IELTS: http://www.ielts.org

Note:
TOEFL or IELTS can be waived if
a. An applicant has taken the SAT or ACT test, and has studied at least five years out of the last six years in an institution where English is the primary medium of instruction
b. An applicant has taken the English version of one of the following Group 1 subjects in the IB Diploma Program: "Language A: Literature" or "Language A: Language and Literature"
c. An applicant holds the Cambridge ESOL Examinations CPE certificate (Official test result is required)

F. Three Letters of Recommendation (use forms provided)
Letters of recommendation from three teachers and/or officials of the most recent school(s) attended by the applicant must be submitted. Each letter must be sealed in a separate envelope with the recommender’s signature written across the seal.

G. Application Materials Checklist (use the form provided)
Check the items you enclose in your application.

*Medical attention
While medical certification is not required at this time, any applicant with physical conditions that might require special attention when undertaking university work should notify the Sophia Admissions Office in writing before the application period.