Admission - General Procedures

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General admission procedures for Bachelor, Associate’s in Arts, and Associate’s in Science degree programs, Advanced Technical, and College Credit certificate programs; Applied Technology diploma programs; and non-degree seeking students include the following steps.

Applications for admission are processed year round. However, to complete all admission requirements and be well prepared for course registration, prospective students should apply at least six weeks before open registration for the term in which they expect to attend classes.

Students may apply for admission online at polk.edu. Students should read the information online under the Admission and Aid links and download the Admission Guide, referred to as the GPS (Guide to Polk State) or pick one up at any campus or center. The Admission Guide gives step-by-step instructions for the admission process. Students may also apply in person at any campus or center.

There is no application fee to apply for admission to Polk State College. Applicants are notified of their application status by their primary e-mail account and their newly assigned Polk State College institutional e-mail account at my.polk.edu. All forms, transcripts, and residency documentation may be submitted in person at or mailed to the Winter Haven or Lakeland campus or to the JD Alexander Center.

• The Affidavit of Residency must be completed with two valid proofs of Florida residency, according to Florida Residency for Tuition Guidelines found at www.flv.org. The online application serves as a Residency Affidavit in cases where students meet two of the three basic residency requirements. 

• The Home School Affidavit  can be submitted in person or by mail. 
   
• It is the student’s responsibility to request that official transcripts be sent directly to the Admission and Registrar’s Office from a high school or state GED office and from all colleges attended. Students may be admitted without official transcripts, but may not be placed into college-level courses until official transcripts have been received and evaluated.  Students may also not exercise exemption from developmental education until official high school transcripts are received and evaluated. Students must provide all transcripts before the registration of the second term of the student’s enrollment. Without submission of all transcripts at that time, students may not continue enrollment.
   
• First-time-in-college and new Polk State College degree-seeking applicants must register for an Orientation class once the application is submitted online or take the online Orientation. A detailed admission letter with admission procedures is sent to the student immediately upon submission of an application. The applicant’s admission letter is sent to the personal e-mail address entered on the application. The letter is used as a testing ticket for those required to take college placement tests. Testing is available at the following campuses: Winter Haven, Lakeland, or JD Alexander/Lake Wales. Based on test results, students are placed into appropriate level courses in English, reading, and mathematics. Testing, if required, must be done prior to the scheduled Orientation. Polk State encourages all students who have not taken college-level English and mathematics to take the placement test as it is an inventory of what concepts the student has mastered.  Transfer students may be exempt from the testing requirement.  The Admission Guide is available in the Admission and Registrar’s Office at all campuses and centers with further details about admission. All students should refer to the Admission Guide.
   
• Students whose first language is not English must provide documentation of English proficiency. The International and Visa Student section of the catalog provides more details regarding this requirement.
   
• All students complete academic advising prior to registration, which is done during Orientation for new students. No appointment is required to see an advisor. The Advising Services section of the catalog and the Admission Guide list the hours of operation.
   
• Students take the Polk State College Orientation for an introduction to College resources, for an interpretation of college placement test scores, for assistance in developing a personalized educational plan, and to learn how to search and register for classes online. There is no cost for the Orientation session. 
   
• Students should consult the College’s Academic Calendar for important registration dates.

• Students with disabilities needing admission or orientation assistance may contact the Deans of Student Services on the Lakeland and Winter Haven campuses or call 863 297-1000.

For additional information, students should visit the Polk State College website at polk.edu.