Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Cal State Hayward change its name to Cal State East Bay?
For information about the University name change, go to the following Cal State East Bay web page: http://calstateeastbaynews.com/news/publish/article_386.shtml

How long does it take to process my application?
Upon receipt of your completed application and fee, it takes 5 to 10 working days.

How many students are there in one class?
There is an average of 15-19 students per class.

Do students need to have purchased major health insurance coverage before arriving?
If you have insurance purchased from your home country that meets the required amount indicated in the application, you must bring proof of the coverage with you. The company must have a home office in the United States so that it can be contacted if necessary. If you do not have major health coverage, it may be purchased on campus through the Associated Students. This will be discussed during Orientation. To be a student and take classes you will need to have insurance.

Do I have to stay at the dormitory or can I have a homestay when I first arrive?
Our program strongly suggests that ALP students stay at least one quarter in the dormitory before going to homestay or apartment living. We have found that students coming to the United States are not aware of the distance to campus. Living in the dormitory allows the student to adjust to the American culture and geography before moving off campus.

Can I submit my application using e-mail?
Not yet. You can download and print the application. We must have a completed application with a signature of the applicant and the application fee. The application fee can be paid by money order, check, Visa, or MasterCard. Along with the Affidavit of Support, U.S. Immigration now requires that a copy of your passport or national I.D. card that shows the spelling of your name and date of birth be attached to the completed application. This is necessary to process the immigration documents required by our government, which is necessary for you to obtain your student visa.

What is conditional acceptance?
If you wish to attend Cal State East Bay and know you have the qualification academically, but do not have the TOEFL score to meet the entrance, you may want to consider this option. An I-20 will be issued to the student for nine months only by the ALP, indicating that you are going to attend a University degree program upon meeting the TOEFL requirements. Once students have successfully completed the language program and met the TOEFL requirement, they will then be issued an I-20 from the University for them to begin their degree program.

How do I apply for conditional acceptance?
In order to grant conditional admission, a formal application must be submitted at the same time to the University and to our ALP intensive English program. The University requires all transcripts be sent and sealed along with the application and fees. This must be mailed to us at the ALP office. The Admissions Coordinator of the ALP will take the application to the University and other paperwork for review by the Admissions Office of the University. If you meet the academic requirements, you will receive from the University a conditional admission letter stating that you meet all requirements except English and will begin your study toward your degree when you meet the TOEFL score through the ALP. Then, the I-20 will be processed by the ALP office and sent along with the letter from the University for you to obtain your student visa, F-1. Note: Conditional admission is offered for undergraduate programs only.