A Simple, Smooth Transition to Sofia.
Wherever you are in your educational journey, it's easy to transition to Sofia.
Sofia offers transfer students a simple and smooth pathway to degree completion. GRE and GMAT not required! To start the process, begin by submitting an online application. After you submit your application, a dedicated admissions counselor will contact you to go over your transfer credits and next steps.
Why transfer to Sofia University?
Sofia offers the following bachelor, masters-level, and doctorate degree programs:
- BS in Business
- Administration
- BA in Psychology
- Master of Business
- Administration
- Master of Science in
- Computer Science
- Master of Arts in
- Counseling Psychology
- Master of Arts in Transpersonal Psychology
- PhD in Transpersonal Psychology
Begin your transfer process:
Interested in chatting with an admissions counselor now? Call 888.820.1484, or send an email to admissions@sofia.edu. Our goal is to pave a way for you to finish what you’ve started, and we want to ensure you’re supported through the remainder of your academic journey.
Transfer requirements:
Transfer to Sofia today by starting your application. GRE and GMAT not required!
Undergraduate Student Transfers.
Looking to continue your education?
Our admissions team is here to help through our simple admissions process. Whether you’re seeking advancement in your field or pursuing a lifelong passion, our undergraduate admissions team will help you find the right plan for your educational and professional goals.
Undergraduate admissions process:
Undergraduate applicants must complete the following steps:
1.
Apply Online
Complete the Online Application and Submit the Application Fee – Start your application, and submit the non-refundable fee of $50 (US dollars) online.
2.
Request Official Transcripts
Contact all prior accredited colleges or universities you’ve attended and request that your transcripts be sent to the Office of the Registrar at registrar@sofia.edu. While we do prefer electronic files, you can also choose to mail them to the Office of the Registrar at:
Office of the Registrar
Sofia University
1069 East Meadow Circle
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Minimum requirements:
Students who wish to complete their bachelor’s Degree at Sofia must have at minimum of an Associate Degree or its equivalent (90-quarter units/60-semester units) which can be earned through a combination of the following:
- Work completed at a regionally accredited institution.
- Credits granted through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) (maximum of 45 quarter units.)
- Credits granted through the Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support (DANTES) Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) lower-division (maximum of 45 quarter units.)
Undergrad pre-requisites for juniors and seniors:
Completion of 60 semester or 90 quarter transferable units to a maximum of 135 quarter units (Use the link to check if your credits will transfer)
- Have a 2.0 or higher G.P.A.
- Be in good standing at the last college or university attended
- Have completed a minimum of 30 transferable semester units (45 quarter units) of college coursework with a grade of C or better in each of the following courses, at a level at least equivalent to courses that meet the following General Education requirements at Sofia:
Usually three-semester units: a public speaking course (A-1 at California community colleges)
Usually three-semester units. A logic or argumentation/debate course (A-3 at California community colleges)
Usually three-semester units. A math course with intermediate algebra as a pre-requisite (B-4 at California Community Colleges) The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) requirements in English communication and mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning are also accepted.
Usually three-semester units: a freshman English composition course (A-2 at California community colleges)
Transfer evaluation:
Please consult with your admissions counselor and academic advisor for a listing of classes you will need to take to complete your program. Students come in with a variety of previous college experiences. Specific degree plans are created for each student individually.
Non-transferable credits:
- Continuing Education Courses
- Vocational Courses
- Non-credit workshops
Graduate Student Transfers.
Looking to continue your education?
Further your education with Sofia. Whether you’re seeking advancement in your field or pursuing a lifelong passion, our graduate admissions team will help you find the right graduate degree for your educational and professional goals.
Graduate application requirements:
In order to apply to Sofia University as a graduate student, you must complete a few prerequisites and meet the minimum requirements listed below. If you have any questions about graduate student requirements, don’t hesitate to reach out to an enrollment advisor today to get clarity on our admissions process.
1.
Complete application & submit app fee
Start your application, and submit the non-refundable fee of $50 (US dollars) online.
2.
Request your official transcripts
Contact all prior accredited colleges or universities you’ve attended and request that your transcripts be sent to the Office of the Registrar at registrar@sofia.edu. While we do prefer electronic files, you can also choose to mail them to the Office of the Registrar at:
Office of the Registrar
Sofia University
1069 East Meadow Circle
Palo Alto, CA 94303
3.
Submit your statement of purpose
Requirements vary from program to program, please call our admissions team to further discuss what is needed for your program of interest. Send us an email at admissions@sofia.edu or give us a call at 888.820.1484.
4.
Request letters of recommendation
Requirements vary from program to program, please call our admissions team to further discuss what is needed for your program of interest. Send us an email at admissions@sofia.edu or give us a call at 888.820.1484.
5.
Complete the TOEFL exam
If this step is applicable to you, we ask that you please request scores to be sent to Sofia University.
6.
Faculty interview
After going through our application process, we’ll coordinate a meeting with our Program Chair to go over things like why you’re interested, what your goals are, and more. This last step is important because we make sure our program is right for you and your goals.
Why should you consider transferring to Sofia?
Accredited
Sofia University is regionally accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), the nation’s premier accreditation body for higher education.
Affordable
Many of our programs are the most affordable in the California area, providing you an opportunity to get ahead and graduate with less debt.
Supreme Location
We offer you two influential metropolitan cities to choose from. Our Palo Alto campus is located in the heart of Silicon Valley, home to companies like Google, Facebook, and Apple, and a short drive to San Francisco. Our Costa Mesa campus is located in Orange County, home to fortune 500 and 100 companies, beaches, and a short drive to Los Angeles.
Steps to transfer to Sofia University:
Start your application, and submit the non-refundable fee of $50 USD Application Fee. Submit an official copy of your Official Transcripts or Foreign Transcript Evaluation.
Step 1: Submit Your Application
Start your application, and submit the non-refundable fee of $50 USD Application Fee. Submit an official copy of your Official Transcripts or Foreign Transcript Evaluation
Official transcripts:
- Please mail your previous sealed official transcripts from all secondary/high schools and/or universities attended to Sofia University. Official e-transcripts can be sent to Registrar@sofia.edu as well. You may send/scan unofficial transcripts while we wait to receive your official U.S. transcripts. You can also send a sealed copy of your transcripts to our office by mail at Sofia University, Registrar Office 1069 East Meadow Cr. Palo Alto, CA, 94303
Foreign Transcript Evaluation: (*waived with completed bachelor’s degree or master’s degree from the U.S.)
- If required, Sofia will convert international GPAs before conduction the application evaluation. Applicants submitting transcripts from outside the United States may submit a document-by-document GPA report equivalent to a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the U.S.A. course-by-course GPA report will be required if you wish to transfer course credits to Sofia University.
Foreign Degree Transcript Evaluation Instructions:
- Official transcripts evaluation report must be done by an approved NACES agency (https://www.naces.org/members) and sent directly to the Office of the Registrar at registrar@sofia.edu or via post to: Sofia University Office of the Registrar 1069 East Meadow Cr. Palo Alto, CA 94303
Documentation Required:
The Admissions Counselor will review all the documents provided and send your official Sofia acceptance letter. In addition to that, please submit the following documents for the issuance of your initial Sofia I-20 through the Sofia portal or directly to our admissions team at admissions@sofia.edu
- Passport (passport should be valid for at least six months after your date of entry to the U.S.)
- Financial Documents
- Financial affidavit of support (if applicable)
- Completed Initial I-20 request Form
If you’re a TRANSFER student, please also submit the following documents.
- Copy of Visa
- Current I-20
- Current I-94/I-797A
- EAD Card (if applicable)
- Complete SEVIS Transfer Form and return to dso@sofia.edu
Sofia University accepts document-by-document GPA reports equivalent to a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the U.S. if your degree is NOT from a U.S. accredited institution. A course-by-course GPA report will be required if you wish to transfer course-credits to Sofia University; this report includes the CGPA and course listing.
Applicants must use a NACES certified evaluation service (https://www.naces.org/members) for evaluation. These evaluation services are not affiliated with Sofia University, and applicants are responsible for any associated processing fees.
Official foreign transcript evaluation reports should be sent DIRECTLY from the evaluation service. Documents sent from students will not be considered during the admissions process.
Instructions
Option 1: Please refer to the NACES website to select an evaluation agency.
Option 2: If you have decided to choose the Foundation for International Services (FIS) as your evaluation service, please refer to the instructions below. NOTE: FIS is not affiliated with Sofia University.
Step 1: Please navigate to the FIS website and select the “Individuals” option.
Step 2: Follow the below instructions:
- Select the Modified Document-by-Document Evaluation option to include the CGPA calculation.
- Select the Course-by-Course evaluation option IF you wish to transfer course-credits.
Step 3: Pick the ideal delivery time based off of the schedule that works best for your needs.
Step 4: Follow the below instructions:
- Please have official evaluation reports emailed to Registrar@sofia.edu (recommended).
- Any sealed evaluation reports can be mailed to: Sofia University, Registrar Office, 1069 East Meadow Cr. Palo Alto, CA, 94303
Step 4: Follow up with the FIS and Sofia’s Registrar Office (registrar@sofia.edu) to ensure that your Foreign Transcript Evaluation Report has been delivered.
Step 5: For more information or inquiries, please email FIS at info@fis-web.com.
Requirements vary from program to program, please call our admissions team to further discuss what is needed for your program of interest. *Undergraduate Applicants are not required to complete a statement of purpose.
If your native language is not English but you have been instructed in the English language, you are not necessarily exempt from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Test of Written English (TWE) and the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) requirements.
If you meet at least one of the following requirements, you are exempt from TOEFL/TWE/OPI:
- Your native language is English.
- You have completed all secondary or postsecondary education in the United States, Canada or other another English-speaking country.
- Attended a U.S. educational institution for 1 academic year or more and earned a degree (not a certificate) with a 3.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) or higher.
- Attended an institution in a country where the native language is English for 1 academic year or more and earned a degree (not a certificate) with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher.
- Attended an institution for a year or more and earned a degree (not a certificate) with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher where the official language of the institution was English for ALL coursework.
- Attended and successfully completed a Sofia approved Intensive English Program in the U.S. (Please contact the Office of Admissions for an approved list of English programs.
- Have taken a different English proficiency exam and achieved an equivalent score that meets Sofia’s requirement. Please send your official valid English score to the Office of Admissions.
Your English score cannot be older than 2 years at the time that is submitted to Sofia University
The following countries are also exempt from TOEFL/TWE/OPI:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Anguilla
- Australia
- Barbados
- Bermuda
- Bahamas
- Belize
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica
- Ghana
- Great Britain (UK)
- Grenada
- Greenland
- Guyana
- Jamaica
- Liberia
- New Zealand
- Saint Lucia
- South Africa
- Kitts Nevis Ang.
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Virgin Islands (British)
- Virgin Islands (US)
Bachelor's Degree:
Test | Minimum Score Required | How to Submit |
|---|---|---|
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Internet Based Test (IBT) | 61 | Official English score sent by Test Center; Sofia University School Code:9770 |
TOEFL Computer Based Test (CBT) | 173 | Official English score sent by Test Center; Sofia University School Code:9770 |
TOEFL Paper Based Test (PBT) | 500 | Official English score sent by Test Center; Sofia University School Code:9770 |
International English Language Test System (IELTS) | 6.0 | Official English score sent by Test Center
|
Person Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) | 50 | Official English score sent by Test Center
|
International Test of English Proficiency (iTEP) | 3.5 | Official English score sent by Test Center
|
Cambridge English Exams | 169 | Official English score sent by Test Center
|
Duolingo English Test | 105
| Official English score sent by Test Center
|
Master's and Doctoral Degree:
Test | Minimum Score Required | How to Submit |
|---|---|---|
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Internet Based Test (IBT) | 79 | Official English score sent by Test Center; Sofia University School Code:9770 |
TOEFL Computer Based Test (CBT) | 212 | Official English score sent by Test Center; Sofia University School Code:9770 |
TOEFL Paper Based Test (PBT) | 548 | Official English score sent by Test Center; Sofia University School Code:9770 |
International English Language Test System (IELTS) | 6.5 | Official English score sent by Test Center
|
Person Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) | 50 | Official English score sent by Test Center
|
International Test of English Proficiency (iTEP) | 4.0 | Official English score sent by Test Center
|
Cambridge English Exams | 176 | Official English score sent by Test Center
|
Duolingo English Test | 110 | Official English score sent by Test Center
|
Step 2: Receive an Initial Sofia I-20 Form
The Admissions Counselor will review all the documents provided and send your official Sofia acceptance letter. The admitted student is expected to pay the $200 program acceptance fee as this will automatically confirm your acceptance into your program and allow us to activate your student email account.
Initial international students need to pay the $200 program acceptance fee when arriving in the US, transfer international students need to pay the $200 program acceptance fee when we receive the SEVIS record.
Step 3: Prepare for Your F-1 Visa Interview
You must present the complete admissions package to the U.S. consulate/embassy in your home country. Before you make an appointment for an interview at the U.S. consular/embassy office near you, be sure to pay your I-901 SEVIS fee and complete DS-160 application.
Also, ensure to bring the following documents with you:
- Sofia I-20 Form (Do not forget to sign I-20)
- Passport valid for at least six months
- Printed receipt of your I-901 SEVIS Fee
- Documentation that you have paid the Visa Application Fee
- Confirmation of your visa interview appointment
- Evidence that you have the amount of funding indicated on your I-20
- Sofia Program Acceptance Letter
- English TOEFL Test Scores or Transcripts if needed
Helpful Links:
- Study in the States: How to obtain an F-1 Visa (Guide)
- Find a list of consulates and embassies on the US Embassy site.
- Visa Wait Times to learn how long will it take to book a visa appointment at your nearest U.S. Embassy.
- Review the Frequently Asked Questions for instructions about using the DS-160.
- “Ten Points to Remember When Applying for a Non- Visa Tips”
Information for transfer students:
International Transfer students are students who have completed university credit at another college or university and intend to complete their new degree at Sofia University. University credits can be transferred from community colleges/universities in the United States.
Admissions counselor disclosures:
If you have started taking university courses in the United States, you must disclose this to your admissions counselor. The admissions counselor requires that we have your entire academic record before completing your admissions process.
Step 1: Reach out to your DSO at your current institution:
Notify your DSO at your current school that you intend to transfer to Sofia University. The DSO will enter a SEVIS release date into your record. On this date, your SEVIS record will automatically transfer to Sofia University. The release date is usually the last day of enrollment at your current school. Please coordinate accordingly with your DSO and choose an appropriate date to make these changes.
Step 2: SEVIS
Please provide the name, direct phone number, and email address of your International Student Advisor at your current school. Also, please inform the date in which your SEVIS record will be released to Sofia University.
Please remember, Sofia University can only issue an initial I-20 for you once your current school releases your F-1 record to us in SEVIS, and your SEVIS release date has passed.
Admissions counselor disclosures:
In order to obtain a new transfer I-20 from Sofia University:
- Copy of passport identification page (passport should be valid for at least six months)
- Copy of current F-1 Visa
- Financial Documents
- Financial affidavit of support (if applicable)
- Completed Initial I-20 request Form
Please contact the DSO at Sofia University, should you have any additional questions at 888.820.1484 ext. 10361 or via email at dso@sofia.edu
