First Time in College Students

A First-time-in-college (FTIC) student is an an entering student who is attending college for the first time. FTIC students include high school graduates and GED recipients, with or without college credit earned prior to enrollment, such as dual credit or other advanced standing.  

As an open-enrollment institution, the College requires incoming students to provide documentation for admission, verification, and financial aid purposes, as outlined below:

  • An official high school transcript. (If the transcript submitted is not final, a final record must be submitted post-high school graduation.)  

- or -

  • An official copy of the General Education Development (GED) certificate of completion..

Additional supporting documentation may be required for admission verification purposes. If college credit was earned prior to high school graduation, an official college transcript must also be submitted. If coursework is in progress at the time of submission, an updated official transcript reflecting all completed coursework will be required. 

'Individual Approval Restricted Admissions' may be granted to applicants who are 18 years of age or older and who did not graduate from high school or its equivalent. Concurrent enrollment in a GED preparation program is encouraged. Applicants admitted under this category must take the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA) to be eligible for enrollment in college-level coursework. 

Note: First-Time-in-College (FTIC) students who earned their degrees internationally may require an evaluation by the American Association of Collegiate Registrar and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) for equivalency purposes. Laredo College reserves the right to accept or reject the results of the evaluation completed by the professional agency. Students who completed their studies in a country where English is not the native language will be required to submit proof of English Proficiency. International students will be required to submit additional supporting documentation, see International Student.