Frequently Asked Questions

PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

FAQs

Is Life University fully accredited?
Yes. Life University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Associates, Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral degrees. The doctor of chiropractic degree program of Life University College of Chiropractic is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Chiropractic Education, 8049 North 85th Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85258-4321. Tel: (480) 443-8877. The Didactic program in Dietetics (DPD) at Life University has been granted initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (312) 899-0400 ext. 5400. The Dietetic Internship (DI) Program at Life University has been granted initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (800) 877-1600 ext. 5400 or (312)899-5400.

What are the prerequisites for the Doctor of Chiropractic program?

6 semester or 9 quarter hours of English Language Skills.
- 3 semester or 4.5 quarter hours of psychology.
- 15 semester or 22.5 quarter hours of additional Humanities or Social Sciences.
- 6 semester or 9 quarter hours of biological sciences. The biological science requirement must be met with two or more courses with unduplicated content, and include pertinent, related laboratory.)
- 12 semester or 18 quarter hours of chemistry (At least 3 semester or 4.5 quarter hours of chemistry must be general or inorganic chemistry, at least 6 semester or 9 quarter hours must be organic chemistry and/or biochemistry and 3 semester or 4.5 quarter hours of another chemistry class accepted by the admitting institution with unduplicated content. At least six semester or nine quarter hours of the chemistry courses must include pertinent related laboratory work which cover the range of material presented in the didactic portions of the courses.)
- 6 semester or 9 quarter hours of physics with unduplicated content (of which one must include a pertinent related laboratory that covers the range of material presented in the didactic portions of the course) or 3 semester or 4.5 quarter hours in physics (with laboratory) and 3 semester or 4.5 quarter hours in either biomechanics, kinesiology, statistics or exercise physiology.

How long does it take to receive an answer regarding my acceptance?
Upon receipt of all missing documents and fees, please allow at least five business days to receive an answer regarding your acceptance. Most often, you will receive a response within two-to-three days.

Who do the recommendation letters need to come from?
The recommendation letters should come from someone in a professional field such as an instructor, college advisor, employer, doctor, etc. We can not accept letters written by family members. The letter should be on letterhead and have the signature of the person who is recommending you.

When should I apply and what are the deadlines?
Applications for admission to Life University will be accepted on a rolling basis. In order to assure acceptance to any given quarter, applicants who are United States citizens or permanent residents of the United States should submit a complete application and all necessary documents to the Office of New Student Development no later than 30 days prior to the beginning of that quarter (see dates below).

International students should submit a complete application and all necessary documents to the Office of New Student Development no later than 45 days prior to the beginning of the quarter (see dates below). Students submitting applications later than specified above may have to postpone enrollment for at least one quarter.

Deadlines for US citizens or permanent residents of the United States:

Spring 2007 Application Deadline: March 2, 2007

Summer 2007 Application Deadline: June 8, 2007

Fall 2007 Application Deadline: August 31, 2007

Winter 2008 Application Deadline: December 7, 2007

Deadlines for International Students:

Spring 2007 Application Deadline: February 16, 2007

Summer 2007 Application Deadline: May 25, 2007

Fall 2007 Application Deadline: August 17, 2007

Winter 2008 Application Deadline: November 23, 2007

Can I take a tour of the campus?
Tours of the campus are offered every Monday and Friday (except holidays) from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you wish to book a tour, please contact your admissions advisor by calling (800) 543-3202.

How competitive is it to get admitted to your programs?
Life University's standards for admissions to the DC program follow the Commission on Chiropractic Education's (CCE) standards exactly. We are no more or less competitive than other chiropractic schools following the CCE standards. Our undergraduate program currently has an open admissions policy. You must have a high school diploma or a GED.

How long is the DC program?
The program is 14 quarters long, which is three-and-a-half academic years. However, students attending year-round can complete the program in three-and-a-half calendar years.

What degrees does Life University offer?
We offer the following undergraduate degrees: B.B.A. Business, B.S. Biology, B.S. Nutrition, B.S. Dietetics, B.S. Computer Information Management, A.S. Computer Information Management, A.S. Nutrition Technology. We also offer a curriculum for pre-chiropractic that is not a degree program but may lead to an undergraduate degree.
We offer a Master's of Sport Health Science with a concentration in the following areas: Chiropractic Sport Science, Sport Injury Management, Exercise and Sport Science, Sport Coaching.
The College of Chiropractic offers a Doctor of Chiropractic degree.

Do you offer courses to complete the requirements for entry into the DC program?
Yes, we offer a complete pre-chiropractic curriculum that can be completed in seven quarters (one year and nine months). We also offer an accelerated program for the sciences (biology, chemistry and physics). These three science areas contain eight courses at Life that can be completed in two quarters or six months. The quarters are split into two five-week sessions much like the summer sessions in a semester system. Two courses can be taken in each five-week period. The course work is doubled over a traditional quarter so that the labs and lectures are doubled each week. For example, a chemistry course may have two labs and four lectures per week.
All pre-requisites must be completed prior to entering the DC program.

Is a bachelor's degree required to enter the DC program?
Currently the answer is no. But you do have to have 90 semester / 135 quarter hours of pre-requisite undergraduate courses as specified by the CCE.

What is the cost breakdown of each program?
The current tuition costs are:

$153 per quarter credit hour for the undergraduate program.
$180 per quarter credit hour for the master's program.
$235 per quarter credit hour for the chiropractic program.
The total tuition cost is approximately $28,764 ($153 times 188 quarter credit hours) for the undergraduate program.
The total tuition cost is approximately $9,540 ($180 times 53 quarter credit hours) for the master's program.
The total tuition cost is approximately $80,250 ($235 times 350 quarter credit hours) for the chiropractic program

Can I apply and pay my application fee online?
You can apply online. Just go to the admissions web page and click on Application for Admissions.
You cannot pay your application fee online at this time; however, you can pay it over the phone with a debit or credit card. If you do not have a debit or credit card, you can send a check or a money order to the Office of New Student Development, 1269 Barclay Circle Marietta, Ga. 30060.

How do I know I have been accepted?
You will receive an e-mail as well as a phone call from your Admissions Advisor.

How do I convert semester hours to quarter hours?
Multiply the number of semester hours by 1.5.

Do you accept CLEP and/or AP credits?
Yes. A maximum of 23 semester / 35 quarter hours may be earned toward a undergratuate degree. Credit for CLEP is awarded to a student with a score in the 50th percentile or higher. AP credit is awarded with a score of 3 or higher. For AP courses that contain a laboratory, the score must be 4 or higher. A maximum of 20 semester / 30 quarter hours of a candidate's pre-professional education ( and none of the hours in biology, chemistry, or physics) can be acquired through advanced placement.

What are the score requirements for entrance exams; i.e. SAT, ACT, GRE, MAT, TOEFL?

A minimum SAT score of at least 990 on the old SAT or a 1460 on the new SAT.
A minimum ACT score of 18 on ACT exams taken prior to July 2006 or a minimum ACT score of 18 with an 8 or above on the writing portion on exams taken after July 2006.
SAT/ACT tests must have been taken within the past 5 years.
GRE scores must be a minimum of 800.
MAT scores must have a raw score of a 40.
For international students, the TOEFL exam is required and must have a computer based score of 173 or higher,a paper based score of 500 or higher, or an internet based score of 90 or higher.

Will I receive transfer/advanced standing credits?
Students who have completed 20 or more quarter hours of college-level course work from accredited institutions will receive transfer/advanced standing credit for completed courses that apply to the undergraduate program they are seeking. Courses in English, math and science must have a grade of "C" or higher.

Does Life University have housing on campus?
Life University does have housing on campus in the form of apartments instead of dormitories. These apartments are acailable on a first come basis. For more information please contact Student Life at (800) 543-3661.

Does Life University offer financial aid?
Financial Aid is available to eligible students. For more details please contact the Financial Aid department at (800) 543-3345.

What are the requirements for a returning student to Life University?
Any previously admitted student to Life University who has been away for less than three consecutive quarters may contact the Registrar's Office at (770) 426-2780 and submit a "Petition for Readmission." They do not need to contact the Office of New Student Development. Any student that has been away for or more three consecutive quarters must submit a new application to the Office of New Student Development office. In addition, any new transcripts must be submitted for additional transfer/advanced standing credit. All returning students may be subject to review by the appropriate admissions committee.

What are the admission requirements for international students?

Meet the same educational requirements as a student from the United States. See specific admission requirements for your program of study.
International transcripts must be evaluated by an approved evaluation agency.
Exception: Some Canadian universities do not need to be evaluated by an evaluation agency (contact Office of Admissions for more information).
If English is not your first language, provide proof of proficiency in English with a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 500 or higher, or 173 or higher on computer based TOEFL. (You may be accepted with a lesser score but will be required to take English as a Second Language courses)

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires the international student to show the university evidence of adequate financial resources to provide for at least one year of full-time educational expenses and living expenses as estimated below. The student must provide a financial statement from a bank or financial institution showing a minimum of the following amount (Financial Statement Form in PDF format):

For undergraduates, a financial statement showing a minimum of USD $36,040.
For graduate students in the Sports Health Science Program, a financial statement showing a minimum of USD $35,100.
For the Doctor of Chiropractic Program, a financial statement showing a minimum of USD $50,960.
For dependents: add $6,000 for spouse, spouse plus one child add $8,800, spouse plus two children add $11,040, no spouse and one child add $3,480, no spouse and two children add $5,640. The financial statement or statements, which together total the needed amount, can come from personal funds, family funds, scholarships, loans or on-campus work.
Complete and return I-20 request form (in PDF format).
Copy of current Form I-20 if presently a student in the United States and completed Transfer Eligibility Form (obtain from International Student Services; located in Student Accounting).
International Students Application Deadlines (effective July 1, 2004) International students should submit a complete application and all necessary documents to the Office of New Student Development no later than 45 days prior to the beginning of the quarter. Students submitting applications later than specified above may have to postpone enrollment for at least one quarter.

The Financial Aid Office can be contacted at:
LIFE UNIVERSITY
Financial Aid Office
1269 Barclay Circle
Marietta, GA. 30060
(800) 543-3345
(770) 426-2901
FAX: (770 )426-2926
E-mail: FinancialAid@life.edu

To contact a Financial Aid Counselor:
If your last name begins with the letter:
"A"-"M", your counselor is Tara Atkins 770-426-2982 tara.atkins@life.edu.
"N"-"Z", your counselor is Amber Stokes. 770-426-2747 amber.stokes@life.edu

Please refer to the chart below to determine your admission adviser.

Undergraduate Advisors	Advisor	Phone
A-K	Larrie Smisson	(770) 426-2940
L-Z	Theresa Murphy	(770) 426-2936
Doctor of Chiropractic (includes Pre-DC)	Advisor	Phone
A-D	Aisha Willis	(770) 426-2962
E-K	William Green	(770) 426-2835
L-R	Robin Thornhill	(770) 426-2937
S-Z	Marquesha Jackson	(770) 426-2889
International Student Advisor (all programs)	Advisor	Phone
A-Z	Matrice Wononuah	(770) 426-2847
Master of Sport Health Science	Advisor	Phone
A-Z	Lauren King	(770) 426-2961

You can apply by submitting an online or hard copy application, including all additional documented materials.
You may submit an online application by clicking here.
To request information click on request information link on the admissions page of the Life University web site.

How do I apply for financial aid?
You must complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), print version or electronically to the central processing center. You must also complete and submit the Life University Certification Form (cert), available in PDF format on our web site or in print from the financial aid office. If federally selected for the verification process, you must also submit copies of your most recent federal income tax forms and other appropriate documents. Your eligibility for various federal, state and institutional programs will be determined based upon the results of your FAFSA and your cert.

What scholarships are available at Life?
Our web site has a complete list of internal and external scholarships for which you may apply through the Office of Financial Aid.

What is my Cost of Attendance (COA)?
This is your budget for a given academic year. It is the University's best estimate of how much it will cost you to pay for school and nine months of living expenses. It includes allowances for tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, personal expenses and loan fees.

What is my EFC number?
The EFC is a federally calculated number that reflects the "expected family contribution." This represents the governmentally mandated calculation of the amount of money you (and your family if you are a dependent) are expected to have available to help pay your educational costs for a given academic year. This is not the amount of money you are expected to pay to Life University.

How is my financial need determined?
Your financial need is defined as your COA minus your EFC. This is the amount of money that you are eligible to receive through need-based financial aid. Need-based aid includes Pell Grants, SEOG grants, Perkins loans, work-study and subsidized Stafford loans. If the EFC is not readily available, other types of aid can be used in place of EFC. These include unsubsidized Stafford loans and PLUS loans.

How long does it take to hear about my financial aid award?
Once we receive the results of your FAFSA and your cert, you should receive an eligibility letter within about 10 days. The eligibility letter will tell you the types and amounts of financial aid you will receive for each quarter of the academic year.

Are federal student loans credit based? How can I get a loan if I have no credit or poor credit?
Federal student loans are not credit based. These loans are made to you based on the assumption that you will complete your education, get the job for which you trained and will be willing and able to repay the loans with your income. Your eligibility is not based on credit, but rather upon the results of your FAFSA, (your calculated need). These loans do not have to be repaid until beginning no earlier than six months after you graduate or your enrollment drops below half-time.