admissions

Academy of Couture Art is a private institution that prepares students for careers in the creative design and fashion industries. 

Demonstrated talent, academic accomplishments, and other achievements that indicate success on a college level are factors that the Admissions Committee considers when evaluating applications. 

Overall grade point average is considered when evaluating transfer applications.

Online Application
Paper Application (PDF)

Admission Requirements

Common Requirements for all ACA Programs

Academy of Couture Art applicants may be admitted provided they can demonstrate they have either of the following: 

• A high school diploma (this can be from a foreign school if it is equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma)

• The recognized equivalent of a high school diploma, such as a general education development or GED certificate; or

• Completed homeschooling at the secondary level;

In case of a high school graduation under the compulsory age of school attendance (18), a parent, legal guardian or spouse of legal age is required to co-sign the enrollment agreement.

Additional Requirements for the Certificate Programs

Applicants for the Creative Fashion or Pattern Design Laboratory Certificate Programs should also provide proof of a recognized degree in fashion, and professional experience in design or pattern making.

Applicants for the Professional Fashion or Pattern Design Laboratory Certificate Programs should also provide proof of at least 5 years work experience or ownership in a related field.

Admission Procedures

Application Deadline, Form and Fee

You can request an Application Form from an admissions representative or you can apply online at:

www.acawh.com/admission/application.html.

Your Application Package should be postmarked no later than:

A $40 non –refundable application fee ($10 for veterans) must accompany your completed application form (please see the refund policy for further details).

Personal Essay

Submit a one-page essay focusing on your vision and mission statements. It is important to focus on your current passion in life, what makes you unique, what you would love to bring professionally to the community, what you plan to change, and how you envision doing it successfully.

Portfolio

The Portfolio is requested only to assess what you love and not your technical skills. Only digitalized portfolio will be considered. 

It should contain a mood board of all the subjects that inspire you, and sketches that you would love to see realized.  If you do not have any art work, please provide pictures of what you consider are the best products of the industry corresponding to your major.

You must send your Portfolio by email to your admission representative.

Transcripts

All official transcripts must be sent sealed, directly from the institution issuing the credentials, to:

Academy of Couture Art                                                                                                                                      Office of the Registrar                                                                                                                                          8687 Melrose Ave, Suite G520                                                                                                                               West Hollywood, Ca 90069

For secondary education transcripts, send one of the following:

·         an official sealed transcript from your high school showing evidence of graduation

·         a copy of your high school diploma

·         a General Educational Development (GED) Certificate

·         a high school equivalency certificate such as the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE)

Home-schooled applicants shall submit documentation that outlines the curriculum studied. This may be in the form of course syllabi or transcript from a recognized home-schooling agency. If documentation is not possible, GED or CHSPE scores must be submitted.

Students who have earned a Higher Education degree at an accredited institution recognized by the US Department of Education, may submit their post-secondary education transcripts.

Students wishing to transfer credits, please see the Transfer of Credit Policy.

Consultation and Tour of the School

Meet with an admissions representative (more than one meeting may occur) and receive a tour of the school.

Entrance Interview and Test

Schedule a time with an admissions representative to participate in an entrance interview and take the 12 minutes Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam that measure basic learning and problem-solving aptitude.

If you have earned a bachelor’s degree at an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or if you have earned a degree at a foreign institution, recognized by the federal government of that nation, you may be exempt from taking the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam; please contact an admissions representative for further information.

Those applicants that have completed either the SAT (Reading: minimum 470; Math: minimum 440; Writing: minimum 480) or ACT (Composite Score: minimum 20) exams may submit official test scores in lieu of completing the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam (Score: minimum 16).

The entrance interview and a passing test score are required for admittance to the College.

Calculators are not permitted when taking the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam.

Acceptance Notification

A representative will notify you if you are accepted to Academy of Couture Art. You must then complete the enrollment agreement and all required enrollment forms.

An acceptance at ACA is valid for one year from the date of acceptance.

Maximum Transfer of Credit

Maximum transfer credits cannot exceed 45% of the entire units or credits needed for graduation from Academy Couture Art:

·         1 year certificate program: 45% of 48 credits or units = 21.60 transfer credits or units 

·         2 year degree program (A.A.): 45% of 96 credits or units = 43.20 transfer credits or units;

·         4 year degree program (B.A./B.S.): 45% of 192 credits or units = 86.4 transfer credits or units.

 Refer to the Credit Transfer Policy in the Academics section.

Articulation Agreements

Academy of Couture Art participates in an articulation agreement with the following institutions recognized by the US Department of Education, to facilitate mutual credit evaluation:

·         Aspen University (www.aspen.edu)

·         New Technology Training Institute (www.newtechtrain.com)

·         Career College Consultants, Inc. (www.sticcc.com)

New Student Orientation

Participation in New Student Orientation is required.

Students unable to attend orientation must notify the admissions department prior to the scheduled orientation date to make alternate arrangements. Consult the academic calendar for orientation dates.

Additional Requirements for International Students

International Transcripts

You do not need to have any documents sent from your international institution to Academy of Couture Art.

Foreign-educated applicants must present an evaluation of all required academic documents compiled by an independent academic credential evaluation provider.

Academy of Couture Art requires that all applicants use World Education Services, a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES):

World Education Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 5087
Bowling Green Station
New York, NY  10274-5087
Phone:  (212) 966-6311
Fax:  (212) 739-6100
email:  info@wes.org

www.wes.org

Send your documents directly to WES, and ACA will receive a copy of the original documents along with the evaluation.

For High School diploma evaluation, please request the Document-by-Document Report of your credentials.

For Higher education transcripts evaluation, you must request the Comprehensive Course-by-Course Report of your credentials.

English Language Proficiency

International applicants whose primary language is not English must have sufficient command of English to benefit from instruction at ACA. To demonstrate this proficiency, all applicants from countries where English is not the primary languages, must submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores.

To demonstrate sufficient English proficiency for acceptance in ACA degree programs, applicants must obtain either: 

·         A minimum TOEFL internet based score of 61 (or a paper-based score of 500, or a computer-based score of 173). 

·         A minimum IELTS band score of 5.0 or higher.

To demonstrate sufficient English proficiency for acceptance in ACA certificate programs focusing more on hands-on learning than academic learning, applicants must obtain either:

·         A minimum TOEFL internet based score of 53 (or a paper-based score of 477, or computer-based score of 153).

·         A minimum IELTS band score of 4.5 or higher.

To demonstrate sufficient English proficiency for acceptance in ACA Intensive English Language Program, applicants must obtain either:

·         A minimum TOEFL internet based score of 9 (or a paper-based score of 310, or a computer-based score of 33).

·         A minimum IELTS band score of 1.0 or higher.

Applicants can make arrangements for the TOEFL test by writing to TOEFUTSE Service, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, USA. Information is also available on the Internet at www.toefl.org.

Academy of Couture Art TOEFL code is: 2916

Applicants can make arrangements for the IELTS test by consulting the Internet at www.ielts.org.

Test scores must be sent directly to ACA Registrar’s Office at the following address:

Academy of Couture Art                                                                                                                                              Office of the Registrar                                                                                                                                           8687 Melrose Ave, Suite G520                                                                                                                           West Hollywood, Ca 90069

Acceptance as an International Student

In addition to the other required documents for admission as an international student, you will need to fill out the International Student Visa Document Request Form provided by your Admission Representative or accessible on our website. You must fill out the form completely; failure to do so will delay the visa process and ultimately your enrollment in ACA.

Included in the International Visa Document Request Form:

·         Biographical Information. Please fill out completely. Must be notarized. 

·         Dependent Information. Please fill out completely, if required. Must be notarized.

·         Declaration of Finances. All international students who apply for an F-1 visa are required to provide evidence of adequate financial support. Therefore, we require that all international students and their sponsor provide evidence of the ability to pay for tuition and cost of living expenses for at least one academic year. One academic year of tuition and living expenses for 2010 is estimated to be $50,000 (U.S. Dollars). You must provide evidence that you have enough liquid assets to cover at least this amount. Must be notarized.

·         Affidavit of Support for the student must be notarized and submitted by a parent/guardian or sponsor who is willing to vouch for financial support for the program. We will need a current bank statement (must not be over 45 days old) and a conversion report attested by the bank for verification of funds in the bank.

·         If the student will reside with friends or family, a document attesting the same must be notarized and submitted. This document must state the residential address and the telephone numbers along with three emergency contacts in the United States. 

·         If the student changes their residence a change of address letter with the new address must be submitted to the ACA Admissions Office immediately.

Acceptable forms of financial documentation are bank documents or loan information which proves that you or your sponsor has sufficient funds to provide for your educational and living expenses for one full year. All forms must be notarized.

Once you have filled out the International Visa Document Request Form you must submit it to our Admissions Office with your completed file and pay the Acceptance Fee in order to receive the acceptance email and letter.

As soon as an international student receives an acceptance email, he has 10 (ten) calendar days from the date of issuance, to wire transfer the first year tuition and fees to ACA.

As soon as ACA receive the wire transfer for the first year of attendance, a form I-20A-B will be processed and a copy will be mailed to you for verification that the information on the processed form is correct; if there are any errors please contact your admissions representative as soon as possible. Once it has been determined that the information on the form I-20A-B is correct, you will be eligible to apply for a student visa and your admissions representative will send you the original form I-20A-B signed by the ACA Registrar officer. 

In the case of an F-1 visa application declined, Academy of Couture Art agrees to refund within 30 days, the amount wired less non refundable and wire transfer fees.