Has anyone received a TOEFL waiver from TESC?

[Beate]

Hi all,

My first post here, but I have been lurking for quite some time. Thanks to everyone for all the information that would have been harder or impossible to find without the forum. Anyway...

Has anyone received a waiver from TESC so you didn't have to take the TOEFL as an international student?

My background: German national, living in the UK, U.S. GED (in English), ~20 CLEP and DSST exams (including English Composition with Essay).

I have e-mailed TESC and received this (cut and paste) answer: "If the official language is not English in your country of origin, if you do not reside in the United States, you must submit (...) We do not make exceptions to this requirement."

Now, I think that my educational record shows that my English language skills are good enough, but obviously TESC will have the final say.

The wording of their answer seems a bit random; what if I was still German, but living in the US? What about if I had a British passport, but still don't reside in the US? Yes, British and American English are not quite identical, but that would be taking things too far?

I could "pass" the TOEFL (and have done so before in 1994 and 1997, with 673 and 670 on the old scale of up to 700(?) points - scores too old to be reported by ETS), but I'd rather invest the $185 plus a day of holiday in CLEP/DSST, if possible.

I am looking for any experiences with TESC regarding getting or not getting a waiver for the TOEFL. Thanks!

Thanks for reading, all the best from the UK,
Beate

[perriquit]

Your GED should be enough to get you into college in the United States.
The purpose of the English requirement (that does not necessarily requires the TOEFL) is basically to demonstrate that the student is capable of doing college level work in English.
TESC might consider that your GED is not enough so if you have college credit to prove your proficiency that could help, written work could help.. I hate when the bureaucrats don't realize the obvious that is a big part why education is in such a great crisis in this country.

If you were a permanent resident even if you didn't speak a word of English (which happens a lot in New Jersey) they would allow you in the school without a problem.
Georgetown does not required the TOEFL... and I could give you a long list.. but you have Excelsior if they are bothering too much.