We value the backgrounds and distinct perspectives that all of our students bring to the Lake Forest community. Our first-year and transfer international students are a vital part of what makes Lake Forest unique and special. International students represent more than 108 countries and 19 percent of our student body.
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Application Requirements
You may contact your international admissions counselor who will assist you with the application process and answer any questions you may have. We ask applicants to submit the following materials as part of the application:
Secondary School Transcript
Most students applying to the College have taken a college preparatory curriculum. We look at your transcript within the context of your high school, knowing that all schools offer different academic programs. You can receive college credit for both AP and IB classes based on exam scores (review our AP/IB credit score requirements for more information).
Interview
Interviews are required if you apply test-optional. A member of our admissions team may reach out to you to schedule an interview as a way to evaluate your English proficiency.
Applicants from China are welcome to submit a Vericant interview. This service provides the opportunity to talk personally with an interviewer in China. The conversation will be recorded and can be reviewed by the Lake Forest Admissions Office.
Letter of Recommendation
We require a letter of recommendation (in English) from a teacher or a college counselor. While we only require one recommendation, we recommend submitting a letter from both a teacher and a college counselor as it will provide us with a more complete picture of you.
Standardized Test Scores
Lake Forest's classes are instructed in English. Only students who have a strong command of the English language (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) will be offered admission. International students are required to show proof of sufficient English-language ability. This may be fulfilled in the following ways:
1. Submit one of the following official score reports:
-
TOEFL score with a minimum TOEFL score of 83/TOEFL-iBT
- IELTS score with a minimum 6.5 composite
- SAT examination results (Code 1392)
- ACT examination results (Code: 1054)
- GTEC Computer Based: 1200
- Duolingo English Test (DET) score of a minimum 115
- PTE Academic and PTE Online score of a minimum 56
2. If you believe that you can provide proof of English proficiency in another way, please submit the English proficiency waiver request, also available in your application portal.
3. US citizens and US Permanent Residents who study and/or live outside the US do not need to provide proof of English proficiency unless requested to do so by the Office of Admissions. Additionally, if you will have completed two years of secondary education in an English-based curriculum by time of graduation, you need not submit one of the above proficiency tests.
CSS Profile
The CSS Profile is required for all non-US citizens who would like to be considered for need based aid.
Application Deadlines
First-Year Student Admissions Deadlines
| Application Round | Apply By | Notified By |
| Early Action/Early Decision I | November 1 | December 15 |
| Early Action/Early Decision II | January 15 | February 1 |
| Regular Decision | February 15 | April 1 |
|
Start Term |
Apply By |
|
Spring |
November 1 |
|
Fall First-Year |
February 15 |
|
Fall Transfer |
June 1 |
Contact
Molly Noyed
Senior Associate Director of Admissions, International Recruitment
noyed@lakeforest.edu
Admitted Students
Confirm your place at Lake Forest College today: submit your $200 deposit now.
Admitted student checklist
“
Staff and professors were there to assist me in navigating the campus, my classes, and the extracurricular activities I needed to participate in to advance my personal and professional goals. I was given the chance to start my own dance team at Lake Forest College, which performs a range of dance styles like Kizomba and Afrobeat. I love being able to pursue what I love while I study.
Abdullahi Abdulle '24, Somalia
United World College Students
Students from the Davis United World College Scholars Program are a vital part of what makes Lake Forest unique. Each year, we welcome over 60 Davis Scholars to campus from nearly 45 countries.
International Student Financial Aid and Scholarships
The College demonstrates its commitment to global diversity by providing significant financial aid to international students.
Life in Lake Forest
Lake Forest, Illinois is a city on the picturesque North Shore of the Chicagoland area. Just 30 miles north of Chicago, the third-largest city in the US and Time Out's third-best city in the world, Lake Forest is a peaceful community with dining, shops, and more in the charming Market Square. (Ever see Gilmore Girls? Think Stars Hollow meets Midwest-nice.) The Metra train station in Lake Forest's downtown leads directly to Chicago with no transfers, ensuring the community can take part in all the big city has to offer.
Lake Forest boasts access to the gorgeous body of water known as Lake Michigan by way of a sandy beach that's perfect for picnics, sun-soaking, and swimming. Lake Michigan, the fifth-largest lake in the world, is one of five interconnected bodies of fresh water known as the Great Lakes. The land along Lake Michigan is often referred to as the "Third Coast" of the United States.
Lake Forest is a great home for a institution like ours, and it's an even greater home for college students such as yourself. You won't find yourself surrounded by corn fields and expansive stretches of highway here. The College is located just a 10-minute walk from the train station, downtown Lake Forest, and Lake Michigan.
“
When I was searching for universities, I was looking for something that felt like home. Lake Forest College’s location, close to the beach and the city, was exactly what I was looking for.
Arefa Murtaza Hakimjee '25, Tanzania
Join a diverse and dynamic community
At Lake Forest College, we are academically excellent, curious about the bigger world, and interested in making connections with others. With a campus community representing over 100 countries and nearly every state, Foresters develop a sense of global responsibility and cultural awareness that makes us more empathetic, more connected, and more in-tune with the consciousness of the world.
Lake Forest College was ranked #24 for Best Quality of Life by the Princeton Review for 2023.
“
After two challenging yet rewarding years in the International Baccalaureate program, Lake Forest College felt like the perfect place to unleash my creativity and focus on what I love. The opportunity to access so many resources while still nurturing close relationships with professors was what immediately drew me to the College.
Ivana Budjarovka '24, Macedonia
Complete high-level research through the Richter program
The Richter Scholar Summer Research Program provides students with the opportunity to conduct independent, individual research with Lake Forest College faculty early in their academic careers.
Academically excellent students with an interest in research are invited to apply for the Richter Scholar Summer Research program in the early spring of their first year. During this time, they work one-on-one with a faculty member, doing independent research in one of a wide variety of fields. As the Richter Scholars live and work together and participate in a weekly colloquium, they become a community of peers, providing encouragement and support for one another’s research endeavors.
The result: a group of scholars motivated to continue their intellectual achievement in the future.
“
I was particularly drawn to the College's exceptional career development facilities, which offer invaluable resources and guidance to students as they prepare to embark on their professional journeys. I am thrilled to be a part of this dynamic community and look forward to contributing to its legacy of excellence.
Taqiul Ghani '25, Bangladesh