RIT/NTID Interpreting Application

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Statement on Ethical and Fair Admissions Practices
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions continues to put students first in the admissions process. We continue to use fair and ethical practices as we recruit, review applications and counsel our prospective students and their families. Our admissions officers support and promote ethical responsibility with our colleagues in the admission profession.

Manage Your Application

With an RIT admissions account, you can monitor your application, submit a portfolio (if required), apply for the Performing Arts Scholarship, receive your admissions decision, and more.

If you need to change your submitted application, do not submit a new application. Please email ntidadmissions@rit.edu with your request (e.g. change academic program choices, switch to Early Decision, change your term, withdraw application, etc).

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Application Timeline

You may submit your application starting on August 1. 

If RIT is your first choice school, there are many benefits to applying with one of our Friendly Early Decision plans. They come in many different forms and are designed to be flexible. Learn more about Friendly Early Decision Benefits >

Missed the Deadline? Not a Problem! Admission applications received after the deadline will be reviewed, but on a space-available basis for each program. If you have questions, contact ntidadmissions@rit.edu.

Timeline

 Early Decision I Early Decision II Early Action Regular Decision
Application Deadline November 1 January 1 November 1 January 15
RIT Financial Aid Application Recommended Filing Date No longer required - learn more No longer required - learn more N/A N/A
FAFSA Recommended Filing Date As soon as possible January 1 January 15 January 15
Admission Decision Notification Mid-December Mid-January Late-January Mid-March
$500 Deposit Deadline - Pay Deposit January 15 February 15 May 1 May 1

Admission applications received after the deadline will be reviewed on a space-available basis.
Completing the FAFSA by the recommended deadline ensures timely delivery of your financial aid offer, allowing you time to make an informed enrollment decision.

Applying Early

Is RIT one of your top choices? If you act sooner, you will know earlier. Consider applying for one of our early plans – Early Decision I, II, or Early Action. You will receive an admissions decision and financial aid offer earlier than Regular Decision applicants.

purple graphic with "Apply by November 1"

Early Decision I is for students who are certain RIT is their top choice. Apply by November 1 to:

  • Receive the earliest possible decision by mid-December
  • Stand out in a small pool of applicants and benefit from higher acceptance rates, especially for competitive majors
  • Get a full review of your scholarship and financial aid eligibility before committing
  • Wrap up your college search early – if accepted, you'll commit to RIT by January 15 and stress less during your senior year

Learn more about applying Early Decision

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Early Decision II is a second round of application review for students who discover that RIT is their top choice after the Early Decision I deadline has passed.

Apply by January 1 if you like all the reasons listed in Early Decision I and would like to be considered for the second round. If accepted, you'll commit to RIT by February 15 and stress less during your senior year.

Learn more about applying Early Decision

blue graphic with "Apply by November 1"

Early Action is for students who are excited about RIT and ready to apply early and hear back sooner. Apply by Nov. 1 to

  • Receive your decision by late-January
  • Show your interest in RIT without having to commit early
  • Get your scholarship and financial aid offer before Regular Decision applicants
  • Have until May 1 to make your final decision

Academic Preparation and Requirements

To become an interpreter, students must develop competency in both English and ASL. The more adept students become in the grammar and the linguistic structure the more comfortable they will be at interpreting.

To succeed in this program, students need to commit to spending significant time outside of class to record videos, meet with deaf people for feedback, and immerse themselves in ASL and Deaf culture by attending community events.

Students interested in pursuing ASL-English interpreting as a career should take into consideration this additional aspect of time commitment before applying to the program.

Other skills needed to be a successful interpreter:

  • A solid foundation in spoken and written English
  • Basic computer skills
  • Ability to clearly hear the speech of another person (even if the person is behind you or the speech is recorded, and you are listening through headphones)
  • Ability to speak clearly, so others can understand
  • Ability to concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task over a period of time
  • An interest in different cultures
  • An interest in working with people

see College of NTID for degree specific requirements

Application Checklist

Use the list below to make sure you don't miss a step!

 

Admission to RIT is competitive, but our admission process is a personal one. Each application is reviewed holistically for strength of academic preparation, performance on standardized tests, counselor recommendations, and your personal career interests. We seek applicants from a variety of geographic, social, cultural, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.

Application Checklist for students in the American Sign Language-English Interpretation program:

Instructions on how to submit your $65 fee are included with your application. Visit the RIT campus or attend a virtual visit and your application fee will be waived.

Transcripts may be sent electronically or mailed/emailed to NTID Admissions from your high school. 

  • Email: NTIDadmissions@rit.edu
  • Mail: Rochester Institute of Technology, NTID Office of Admissions, 52 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623.
  • Fax: 585-475-2696

Homeschooled Students - review guidelines developed for homeschooled students in our FAQ section.

Provide official or self-reported test results from the SAT or ACT.

RIT is "Test Optional" for all undergraduate programs. Applicants may choose whether to report test scores to be considered with their application.

If you choose to send scores, you can send scores in the following ways:

  • On your application for admission
  • Via email to NTIDadmissions@rit.edu
  • From your school/college counselor via mail or email

If you plan to submit official test scores directly to RIT from the SAT or ACT Testing Centers, please use college code 2760 (SAT) or 2870 (ACT). Students who complete the ACT may submit scores with or without the optional writing section. To send scores from the testing centers, please use www.collegeboard.org for the SAT, and use www.ACT.org for the ACT.

RIT reviews its applicant pool using a holistic review process. Each applicant is reviewed individually taking all classes, rigor of high school coursework, grade point average, rank, final exams, portfolio, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and many other factors into the final decision on admission to their RIT major. For those not submitting scores, our admissions officers will consider with increased weighting on their “additional information”, looking for important qualities and characteristics along with academic and personal accomplishments.

Submit two letters of recommendation. If you have ASL experience, it is advised that at least one of your recommendations is from someone who has a strong background in ASL or deafness.

The personal essay helps us to become acquainted with you as a person and student, apart from courses, grades, test scores and other objective data.

ASL Supplemental Essay Question: “Is Interpreting the Career for Me?”
Based on the question posed, share with us why you will make an outstanding sign language interpreter. Include any relevant information about past work or personal experiences that demonstrate your aptitude for the physical and intellectual demands of a sign language interpreter. Additionally, describe your experience with American Sign Language including course work, family, and social interaction.

Submit a brief YouTube video demonstrating your ASL skills. The ASL video sample is primarily used to determine ASL placement as ASL II-VII is offered in the ASLIE program. Get more information about the video submission and instructions here.

Test Optional Information

RIT is "Test Optional". This means submitting SAT or ACT scores as part of your application is not required. You can choose whether or not you'd like to submit them. It's entirely up to you! 

Please note: If you are applying to a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) program and are planning to submit your ACT scores, we recommend including the optional ACT Science section.  

Frequently Asked Questions

On the Common App or RIT Application, you'll have the option to include test scores. If you do not include them as part of your application, RIT will not see your scores (even if you've taken a test).

RIT will continue to review applications with a holistic approach, taking all of the applicant’s credentials into account. For applicants requesting to be reviewed without test scores, the admissions committee will continue to look at all factors of a student's application including grades earned in academic coursework; performance in honors, IB/AP courses; regents coursework and exams (for NYS residents), essay/personal statement; letters of recommendation, involvement in activities; and other achievements, along with a portfolio for those students applying to one of RIT’s BFA degrees in the Schools of Art, Design, and Film and Animation. In the absence of test scores, more weight will be placed upon the overall grade performance and other items mentioned above.

Contact Admissions


If you have questions regarding your application, we're here to help.

585-475-6700 (voice)
866-644-6843 (toll free in the U.S. and Canada)
585-743-1366 (videophone)

ntidadmissions@rit.edu

Admissions Counselors