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Polk State College maintains an open-door policy for admission to the College. Prospective students with qualifying high school diplomas or an equivalent are eligible to apply. Generally, qualifying students have earned a standard high school diploma, General Education Development (GED) diploma, or a college placement test-eligible certificate of completion. For information on other completion codes on high school diplomas, students should contact the Admission and Registrar’s Office at registrar@polk.edu. Students must submit official transcripts to the College.
Home-schooled students who have met the school attendance policy as defined in Florida Statute 1002.41 and have completed all curriculum requirements for graduation as defined by Florida Statute 1003.43 must submit a completed Home School Affidavit. All newly admitting students are strongly advised to follow the Admission Steps on our website. These steps help the student walk through the admission process. Students will have an admission checklist that is specific to them in their PASSPORT accounts.
Students may not qualify for financial aid and may not use the developmental education exemption without official high school transcripts. A high school transcript is required unless the student has an associate’s, bachelor’s, or higher degree.
Students can apply for admission at any time and may begin taking courses in the fall, spring, or summer sessions. Students attending fully online must report the state in which they will be living while taking online classes every semester. Correspondence concerning admission, student records, or registration may be addressed to registrar@polk.edu or:
Admission and Registrar’s Office
Polk State College
999 Avenue H, N.E.
Winter Haven, FL 33881-4299
Transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions are required, unless the school is in a foreign country. Foreign college-level credentials are required if students wish to transfer credit. The College may use the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) to research post secondary institutions where the student previously attended. If a student has omitted a school on the application, that school will be added to the student record, and the student will be required to obtain a transcript and provide an explanation in writing. If for any reason a student cannot obtain a transcript due to a school closing, moving, or losing the student’s record, the student may contact the Polk State College Registrar and petition to remove that school from his or her admission requirements. The student will be required to document his or her efforts to order a transcript. Transfer students should submit all requirements six weeks before open registration for the term in which they expect to attend classes. See Academic Calendar for registration dates.
Determination of placement in courses and the necessity of prerequisite classes in mathematics or English are based on scores earned on the SAT and/or ACT, or on a college placement test such as the P.E.R.T. administered at an authorized location, qualification for placement exemption, and/or on previous college course work, or the exemption policy per Florida Statute. All test scores must be within two years to be valid for placement purposes.
There is no application fee to apply for admission to Polk State College. Applicants are notified of their application status through their personal email account provided on the application and their newly assigned Polk State College institutional email account at my.polk.edu which is activated within 4 business days. All forms and residency documentation may be submitted in the following ways:
- In person at the Winter Haven or Lakeland campus or at the JD Alexander Center
- Faxed to 863-297-1023
- Mailed to Polk State College, 999 Avenue H, N.E., Winter Haven, FL 33881-4299
- Scanned and emailed to registrar@polk.edu
- Imaged via smart phone and emailed to registrar@polk.edu
General admission procedures for Bachelor, Associate in Arts, and Associate in Science degree programs; Advanced Technical and College Credit certificate programs; Applied Technology diploma programs; and non-degree seeking students include the following Admission Steps found online at polk.edu.
All students will have a personalized checklist in their PASSPORT accounts to help them with the application process.
Details on Admission Steps
- Apply to Polk State College free of charge.
- Submit official transcripts: 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 post-secondary institutions attended. Transcripts must be current with print date within one year. 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 enrollment. Without submission of all transcripts at that time, students may not continue enrollment.
The Home School Affidavit can be submitted in the aforementioned methods of document submission.
- Secure Financing through Financial Aid or the Tuition Payment Plan or other forms of payment. Students must pay for their registered classes by the due dates published through the PASSPORT student portal.
- 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, should be done prior to 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 and will guide the student in making an informed decision about reading, writing, and mathematics. Transfer students may be exempt from the testing requirement if they have successfully completed college-level English and mathematics. All students should refer to the Admission Steps to Polk State and their personalized Admissions Checklist.
- Take Orientation. Students new to Polk State College, including dual enrolled students, must complete an Orientation once the application is submitted online. Detailed admission communications will be sent to the student upon submission of an application. Communication is sent to the personal email address entered on the application. Students can expect communication within 24 hours of submitting an application. Students will receive a credential notification within 24 hours except holidays and weekends.
- Buy books and go to class. It is important to take your schedule to the bookstore to ensure the purchase of the correct text and materials.
- Use Your Polk Tools. Students have tools such as the student portal called PASSPORT; student email; CANVAS, our online learning “classroom”; and others that students must familiarize themselves with prior to the start of classes.
- 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. No appointment is required to see an advisor. The Advising Services section of the catalog and the Admission Steps 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 which is accessible 24/7 online at Student Orientation.
- Students should consult the College’s Academic Calendar for important registration dates.
For additional information, students should visit the Polk State College website at polk.edu.
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