Welcome International Students!

Thank you for your interest in Eastern Mennonite School. We welcome international students and will be happy to talk with you by email or phone. Our International Program Coordinator is Mrs. Barbara Byer.  She may be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 540.236.6000 and will be happy to talk to you about any questions you may have.

Want to know more?

Check out our international student website!

Admissions procedures before you arrive:

The first step to enrollment is to ask any questions about the school that you may have after you have looked at the website and the application.  When you have decided to apply, print out the Application for Admission and send it, with the required documents, to the address at the top of the application.  The school Admissions Committee will review your application and decide if Eastern Mennonite School is a good fit for your educational background and future goals.

List of Materials for Application (see the application for details):

1. Your completed Application for Admission for International Students
2. Official transcripts
3. Your official TOEFL score
4. A health form completed by a doctor and a copy of documented immunizations
5. A copy of your passport or Visa or birth certificate
6. $100 application fee
7. Completion of a writing assessment with an EMS admissions counselor through Skype.

Begin the application process early! The time between sending the application until you receive your F-1 visa can take many weeks. Be sure your Application for Admission is completely filled out and all required documents are included when you apply.  You will need to be accepted for enrollment, pay the school fees, receive your I-20, and have an interview at the US Embassy.  Each of these steps takes time.  Please check http://www.ice.gov/sevis/students/index.htm for immigration information.

All international students should take the TOEFL test in English before applying and send the results to Eastern Mennonite School.  This will give an indication of your knowledge of English.  We will also want to interview you via Skype to meet you and get to know you a bit prior to your acceptance for enrollment.  During that interview, the Admissions Counselor will ask you to write a brief essay to confirm your writing skills.  Every international student will take at least one semester of English for International Students, a course designed to help you succeed in your other classes as you strengthen your English skills.

International Student Frequently Asked Questions

I am not a Christian.  Can I still attend EMS?
You don't have to be a Christian to attend EMS.   We expect that students who are not Christians be respectful of Christian beliefs and values, just as we will be of theirs.
We are a Christian school, and therefore, students are required to take one semester of Bible class for every year that they are at EMS.  Each day students and faculty gather  for a brief chapel, which is planned by students and has a variety of speakers and presentations.  You'll also be encouraged to go to church with your host family.  Students should demonstrate good moral behavior.  For example, students may not drink alcohol or use tobacco.

My English skills are not very strong.  Can I still attend?
Yes!  We are looking for students who have reached an intermediate to advanced level of English, based on a TOEFL score, transcripts, and a Skype interview with our admissions counselor.  Each international student will spend at least his first semester enrolled in English for International Students (EIS), a class that meets just one time a day, to further strengthen your English skills.  Our new international students find that their English speaking and listening skills improve quickly as they make friends, spend time with their host families, and take classes with their peers.

Where will I live?
Eastern Mennonite School does not have a dormitory so all international students will live with American families unless they make their own arrangements with a local family.   Mrs. Byer, our International Program Coordinator, will find you a host family.  You should talk with her about any questions you have related to your living arrangements or any other problem you may have.

When will I need to pay for my tuition and other expenses?
Full payment of tuition, room and board, student fee, and other required fees is required before your I-20 is sent.  During the year, there may be small expenses (field trips, personal trips and shopping, etc.) that you will need to cover.  EMS will cover the cost of transportation to the airport a few times a year on specific dates. If additional travel is necessary out of a Washington metropolitan area airport, transportation must be arranged by the student and paid for at the student's expense.

Will I have to wear a uniform?
No, but students are asked to dress modestly and neatly.  If you would like to know more, please refer to our handbook which contains the clothing code for students.

What information do you need from my doctor?
Please print out the health form and ask your doctor to complete the information and sign it.  We will need proof of your immunizations.  In the state of Virginia these immunizations are necessary: DPT, DTaP or Tdap (3 doses); MMR Vaccine (2 doses); Polio (3 doses); and Tetanus (1 dose).
Also, when you arrive, you will need to have a medical insurance policy.  EMS will buy this for you and add the charge to your bill unless you can show proof of having other insurance.

How will I get to Harrisonburg, Virginia from the airport?

EMS will send a van and driver to the Dulles International Airport (IAD) on Saturday, August 11, 2012, to pick up the new international students. Please make sure your flight arrives that day at Dulles, not Reagan National! If you need help making flight arrangements, please talk to Mrs. Byer, who will be very happy to help you.  On that date, we will meet you at the airport and take you to your host family’s house.  We’re sorry, but if you cannot arrive that day, then you will need to make your own arrangements to get to Harrisonburg.   As soon as you make your flight plans, please email Mrs. Byer at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your flight information. (Returning international students: a van will pick you up at Dulles on Thursday, August 16, 2012.)
Students may also fly in to our local airport, Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD) in Weyer's Cave, Virginia.  Since it is so close and convenient to EMS, Mrs. Byer would be happy to meet you at that airport at your convenience.  In the future, we may require that all students fly in to the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport.  See www.flyshd.com for flight information.

When will I know my class schedule?
New international student orientation will begin Sunday afternoon, August 12.  At that time, you will meet Mrs. Byer, EMS’s boarding coordinator.  During the next few days of orientation, you will get your class schedule, locker number, computer password, and other important information to start school.  Together we will visit downtown Harrisonburg, tour the school building, and meet some of your classmates.  

For additional information on making the most of your American educational and boarding experience, contact Mrs. Barbara Byer, International Program Coordinator at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 540.236.6000.