New Student Advising Sheet for CREDIT/BRIDGE PROGRAM
Name: __________________________________ BC Student ID Number: 950-____________________
Major: _________________________
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Dear New International Student: Welcome to Bellevue College (BC)!
We are glad you have chosen our college. We look forward to working with you and helping make your stay here more
productive and exciting. Also, we want to show you how to take advantage of many opportunities available on and around
our campus. This document outlines important information for new international students. Please read it carefully and keep
it for future reference. ISP wishes you success and good luck at BC!
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IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
CHECK-IN:
ORIENTATION:
Check your acceptance letter for dates, times, and location
Check your acceptance letter for dates, times, and location
All new students are required to attend orientation, which covers important immigration regulations, health insurance,
academic expectations, safety, student clubs, activities, and more. This information is also on the ISP website:
http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/isp/. Free breakfast and lunch will be served at Orientation.
For F-1 visa students who moved from ESL (UP/Bridge) to the Credit Program:
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If you need a new I-20 and plan to travel outside the U.S. before your full-time Credit Program begins, please get
your new I-20 after your grades come out and before you leave. If you need a new I-20, but you are leaving the
U.S. before ISP can issue you a new I-20, please pay a $70 DHL fee and confirm your overseas mailing address
with the ISP Office in order for us to mail the new I-20 to you. You must use the new I-20 to make a new entry
into the US!
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If you will not travel outside the U.S. before your full-time Credit or Bridge Program begins, please pick up your
new I-20 from The ISP Office during the second week of the quarter.
For F-1 visa students from overseas:
If you have not done it yet, please immediately give copies of your I-20, I-94, visa, passport photo page as well as your U.S.
address, phone number, and e-mail address to the ISP Office. Bring these documents with you during Orientation week.
For F-1 visa students who transferred to BC from another U.S. school :
Pick up your new I-20 from the ISP Office after you have been e-mailed by ISP.
Maintaining Your F-1 Student Status http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/isp/maintain.html
You must be enrolled and complete 12 credits each quarter, unless approved by an ISP Advisor. Please
meet with Linda Annable and ISP Advisors in the ISP Office if you are having any academic problems,
housing/homestay issues, or anything else that is interfering with your studies at BC. Advisors may approve you
to take less than 12 credits for certain reasons (medical, finishing degree/certificate, but approval must occur
before the last day of the quarter).
Online classes are allowed, but you must take at least seven credits of on-campus (or hybrid) classes before
you can take at least five credits online. Taking too many online classes will make you out of status with
Department of Homeland security. PLEASE SEE AN ISP ADVISOR FOR EXCEPTIONS.
Address/Telephone/E-mail Address Changes
Please update your address and phone number, either online or at the ISP Office, within 10 days from changing your
address or phone number. (Updating your address is mandated by Department of Homeland Security or Immigration.)
BC will only communicate with you using your BC e-mail address, so please learn how to access and
use your BC e-mail account. BC will not use your personal e-mail address except in emergencies.
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Housing
Your housing is very important to us. Please let Linda Annable in ISP know if you have any housing questions
or problems. We will do our best to help you. If you want to live with a host family, please directly contact one
of the two housing agencies at http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/isp/housing.html.
Student ID cards - Students may purchase a student BC ID (identification) card in the Business Center,
Room C-105. The cost is $5.
Activity Fee
You are charged a one-time $35.00 activity fee (ISP1 on your account). This fee pays for orientations and
subsidizes ISP Office sponsored activities. You will receive e-mail announcements about these activities.
Parking
If you drive to campus, you need to buy a parking permit. Please go to this link,
http://bellevuecollege.edu/publicsafety/parking.asp, to buy and learn about the required parking permit.
Please do not get a parkint ticket, which can block class registration.
Bus Passes
Discounted ORCA bus passes are available at the Cashier’s office in the B-Building one week before the first day
of the quarter. Please go to http://bellevuecollege.edu/about/gettinghere/bus/ to read how to buy an ORCA
card. To find bus schedules and maps, go to C-Building and look for the kiosk (near the coffee shop) or check the
METRO bus website at http://metro.kingcounty.gov/. STUDENTS MUST BE ENROLLED FOR AT LEAST
FIVE CREDITS TO BUY AN ORCA PASS.
On-Campus Employment
http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/isp/work.html
If you are in good F-1 status, you may work up to 19.5 hours per week on campus. To find an on-campus job,
you can ask various departments on campus if they have job openings. Please stop by the ISP Office or visit the
ISP website to get an Verification of On-Campus Employment form. If offered a job, please bring this form
(signed by your supervisor) to ISP. We will issue a letter for you to take to the Social Security Office to apply for
your Social Security Number. You will receive a Social Security Number card in the mail. This is an important
document. If you do not maintain your immigration status while you are working on campus, you will be
required to stop working. Some places to search for on-campus employment: Academic Success Center,
Bookstore, Childcare Center, Cafeteria, Library, Gymnasium, Student Programs, Tutoring Center, etc.
Student Health Insurance
http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/isp/insurance.html
All F-1 visa students on BC’s I-20 document need to buy BC offered health insurance. (Dependents on F-2
visas are not required but recommended to have BC’s insurance.) The cost is $258.75 per quarter and this
amount is automatically included in the tuition and fees. (Dependent health insurance cost is not included;
dependents need to be added by the ISP Office.) Students will receive an insurance card and brochure,
which shows how to find a medical provider, contact information, claim forms, etc. (Dependents cannot be
covered if they skip a quarter of coverage; dependents must be covered at the same time as F-1 relatives.
Please inform the ISP Office if you want your F-2 dependent children and/or spouse to have BC’s offered
health insurance.)
If you are sick, go to http://www.fiig-insurance.com/ for information about your coverage and to find a doctor.
If you go to a doctor who is not listed on the approved list, you will pay a higher amount. For BC’s health
insurance, you will pay $15.00 co-pay each time you see a doctor. If the doctor prescribes medication, go to
the pharmacist/drug store and buy your medicine. BC health insurance will reimburse you 50% of the cost of the
prescription medication after you submit a claim form, which is available at the website above. Please keep
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copies of all of your receipts, bills, and claim forms that you mail. Make sure the doctor charges the insurance
company at: HTH Worldwide PO BOX 30259 Tampa, FL 33630, Claims Payor ID #60054. Otherwise, the
bill will be mailed to you. You must file a claim to receive your reimbursement. Keep your insurance ID card
with you at all times. Please see an ISP Advisor for assistance.
Scholarships
http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/isp/scholarship.html
Scholarship information is available through the Career Center. Please visit Room B231, or call 425-564-2018 to
make an appointment. International Student Programs offers scholarships each quarter:
1. TOP 15 Scholarship: $500 per quarter is awarded to the top 15 full-time students with the highest GPA..
Students must be taking 12 graded credits. You will be notified is you are selected as a recipient.
2. ISP Ambassador Scholarship: 10 students are selected every spring to participate in a year-long
program of service and outreach to the BC community. Upon acceptance, students are required to
complete 40 hours of service each quarter. In exchange, students receive $400 per quarter. Applications
are available in the ISP Office during spring quarter.
The BC Foundation department offers scholarships every year. For more information go to Room A-102 or
visit: http://bellevuecollege.edu/foundation/scholarships/
Taxation in the U.S. (Filing/Submitting Income Tax Documents)
Everyone in the U.S., regardless of residency and immigration status, is responsible each year for giving an
income tax statement to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Whether you earn income or not, you should file the
right tax return (form) every year. ISP offers a Tax Workshop in February and/or March, so you can prepare your
tax forms. You can also check the IRS website at www.irs.gov to download tax forms and publications. It is your
responsibility to do your income tax forms. For more information, go to:
http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/isp/ustax.html or www.irs.gov. BC will not assist students with filling out tax
forms due to liability issues.
NEED HELP WITH YOUR CLASSES?
Academic Success Center - Free Tutoring on Campus :Room D-204: Student and
Professional Tutors are available to assist you with understanding your coursework and
assignments.
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Academic Tutoring D-204 www.bellevuecollege.edu/tutoring : Free tutoring for a variety of credit
subjects; individual, group and drop in available.
Writing Lab D-204 www.bellevuecollege.edu/writinglab/vt.html : is a resource for students
experiencing difficulty in any classes with college level writing skills. Lab assistants provide help and
assistance when writing a paper. It also assists in preparing resumes and scholarship applications.
Reading Lab D-204 www.bellevuecollege.edu/writinglab/ReadingLab.html : Lab is linked to
Developmental English courses and English 106 for 1-2 credits.
The Math Lab D-204 http://scidiv.bellevuecollege.edu/MathLab : Has professional and student tutors
to provide tutorial assistance on a drop-in basis for student enrolled in BC math classes.
The Science Study Center S-114 http://scidiv.bellevuecollege.edu/rkr/sciencecenter/ : Drop-in
tutoring and study area available for students taking math or science courses.
Business Economics Study Center is for transfer students studying Accounting, Economics, Law, and
Statistics classes.
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Homework
Part of being a successful student is to plan for homework and class time. A coursecredit is a measurement of
“in class” time. To help you pln your time, usually 1 credit = 1 hour of class per week; 1 hour of class = 2 hours
of homework; 15 credits = up to 45 hours of study per week!
Cheating & Plagiarism: !
Plagiarizing and/or cheating on class assignments, tests, or in Physical Education (PE) classes at BC will not be
tolerated, according to the Student Code (see BC Catalog). If academic dishonesty is suspected or caught,
students will face possible severe consequences. Please understand that in the U.S., academic dishonesty is
a serious matter and is sometimes punishable by school dismissal! If you have any questions about this topic,
please meet with an ISP Advisor. Plagiarism and cheating is not allowed at BC. If an instructor catches or
suspects cheating or plagiarism, Matt Groshong, Dean, Student Success, will be contacted. Disciplinary
actions will then occur.
Books:
You may purchase your textbooks two different ways:
1. At the BC Bookstore - bring a copy of your schedule. The bookstore staff will find the books you need
for new or used books.
2. You may also purchase your books online. Go to http://bcc.collegestoreonline.com/
CHOOSING CLASSES
Please read the Academic Calendar in the quarterly Credit Class Schedule for important dates about class
registration, withdrawal, and tuition refunds. The ISP Office website, http://bellevuecollege.edu/isp/, has many
of these forms for you.
Credit Class Schedule: available online at (http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/schedule/), or in the printed
version. You can find a description of all classes in the BC Catalog that you received or online at
http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/classes/catalog/ . Refer to the degree worksheets to find the list of classes you
are supposed to take in order to complete that degree. All worksheets can be found at
http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/worksheets/.
Meet with your academic or major advisor each quarter prior to the next quarter’s registration. This is
especially important if you are pursuing a professional/technical degree (e.g. Business Technology Systems,
Information Technology, Interior Design, Early Childhood Education, etc.) Please find your Program Advisor at
http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/programs/az/.
Prerequisites and Entry Codes:
Sometimes you must complete a particular course BEFORE you can register for another course. For example:
Accounting 201: Principles of Accounting I requires completion of ENGL& 101. To check, go to
http://bellevuecollege.edu/enrollment/transfer/prerequisites/ and follow the instructions.
Entry Code
A five digit number you get from BC allowing you to register for a class that requires prerequisites or
“permission of instructor.”
ENGLISH and MATH TESTS
PLEASE TAKE THESE TESTS, IF NEEDED, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
All students must take a test prior to registering for English or Math classes unless students transfer these courses
in from another U.S. school. Go to this site to learn more: http://bellevuecollege.edu/enrollment/assessment/.
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To Take The English and/or Math Test(s):
Step 1: Look at the assessment calendar (on their website above) to select the day/time to take the
test(s). No appointment is needed. Both tests will take about two hours combined.
Step 2: Bring photo identification and payment of $21.50 fee to the Assessment Office in B-132F.
English
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Take the non-native speaker test. The test is a reading and listening test. If you score into English 093
on your first attempt, you will be offered to take the native speaker test. If you then do well on the native
test, you may place into English 101. (Your highest score will always be used.) Your COMPASS
English placements are valid for two years. (Taking the native speaker test first may give you a score
lower score than your actual ability level, so do not take the native speaker test first unless your
native language is, indeed, English.)
If you place into Deved 061/062, please see an ISP Advisor. If you place into English 071-074 or English
093, you may register to take the English Challenge Test. This test is a computer-based test; if you do
well on it, you will be allowed to move up one English level. The test costs $28.50. You are eligible to
take it once every other quarter. You must pre-register for the test. You may do this and learn more
about the test here: http://bellevuecollege.edu/enrollment/assessment/challenge/ Results are valid for two
years from the test date.
Math
The math test can be taken twice per quarter and the test result is valid for one year. If you do not take and pass a
math class within one year of taking the test, you will need to retake the test.
PAYING FOR CLASSES
All tuition and fees are due within 7 days from the day you register or the first day of classes, whichever is
first. Please pay tuition at the Cashier’s office in B building or online. If you pay online, make sure to print out
the confirmation receipt and save it for your records. If your tuition is not paid by the deadline, your classes may
be dropped for non-payment. A $21.50 non-payment fee will be charged if you have been dropped for nonpayment in the past. If you re-register for the dropped classes, your payment is due immediately.
Deferring Your Payment
For special circumstances, if you are unable to pay your tuition before the due date, you need to fill out a
Deferment Request Form at the ISP Office before your payment due date. This will prevent your classes from
being dropped for non-payment.
HOW TO REGISTER FOR CLASSES
ONLINE REGISTRATION
1. Go to www.bellevuecollege.edu and click "My Online Services"
2. Click "Register now" to register.
3. Type your BC student number and your PIN number, using no spaces, dashes (-), or slashes (/ \)
Your PIN is your birthdate formatted MMDDYY (Month/Day/Year).
4. Select the quarter you will take classes, and then click “Log In”
5. Select the Program from your I-20 document, then click “Submit and Proceed”
6. Read instructions then click “Continue”
7. Answer questions (1st time registration) then click “Continue”
8. Read the instructions to register and pay for classes.
DO NOT CLICK “AUDIT” DURING REGISTRATION. SEE ISP ADVISOR FOR DETAILS.
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Waitlist
If a class you want to take is full, you can go on a waitlist. Please check your schedule daily to learn if you are
registered for the class. You will be automatically enrolled into the class through the third day of the quarter (or
second day if it is summer quarter) if a space opens up unless there is a time-conflict, unpaid fee, etc. BC EMAILS YOU AT YOUR BC EMAIL ADDRESS WHEN YOU ARE REGISTERED FROM A
WAITLIST. If enrolled, please pay your tuition immediately, otherwise, your classes may be dropped.
Check your schedule one last time after the 4th day of the quarter to make sure you are registered appropriately.
Blue Permission Card
To add a class after class registration is over, to overload a full class, or to add a class with a time conflict,
students need to get blue cards from their instructor, starting on the 4th day of the quarter (except summer). You
can get the blue card in two ways:
1. Receive a paper blue card from your instructor and bring it to ISP, who can register you in the class. Pay
the tuition immediately, otherwise, your classes may be dropped.
2. For online classes only, you can request a blue card online at
http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/services/bluecard.asp by filling out and submitting this form. If the
instructor approves your request, you will receive an e-mail confirmation, and you will be added in the
class automatically if there are no registration conflicts. Pay the tuition immediately, otherwise, your
classes may be dropped and you may be charged a non-payment fee of $21.50.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Official Transcript
You may order your official BC transcript at http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/services/transcript/. Transcripts
are $8.60 per transcript.
Graduation
You must submit a graduation application and pay a fee by the following deadlines (about two quarters before
you graduate) in order to graduate. Learn more here: http://bellevuecollege.edu/enrollment/graduation/
Graduation (Final) Quarter:
Application Deadline:
Winter Graduation
Spring Graduation
Summer Graduation
Fall Graduation
October 10
December 10
March 15
June 1
IF YOU DO NOT APPLY AND PAY FOR GRADUATION, YOUR DEGREE / CERTIFICATE WILL
NOT APPEAR ON YOUR OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT AND YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A DIPLOMA.
Transferring
 BC Transfer Advising Webpage: http://depts.bellevuecollege.edu/advising/transfer/
Use this website to help you plan your classes, meet with university representatives, and attend Transfer Group
Advising workshops on many majors. If you plan to transfer to a university, see an ISP Advisor and your major
advisor to plan your classes as well as to research the universities and programs that interest you. The sooner you
research, the better prepared you will be later.
 Other four-year institutions in Washington State: http://www.50states.com/college/washingt.htm
 University Transfer Fair at Bellevue College
BC holds a Transfer Fair most quarters. Check http://depts.bellevuecollege.edu/advising/transfer/ for more
information about dates and times.
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