RIT/NTID Interpreting Application

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We give every application comprehensive consideration and seek diverse applicants who demonstrate character, resilience, and problem-solving skills.

For Fall 2024, RIT is Test Optional.
Learn more about what this means for your application >

Ways to Apply


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.

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Whichever method you choose to apply, we invite you to create an RIT Admissions account to monitor your application, track the status of your application credentials, receive your admissions decision, and more.

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 >

Timeline

Early Decision I Early Decision II Regular Decision
Application Deadline November 1st January 1st January 15th
Early Decision Financial Aid Application Recommended Deadline November 1st January 1st Not Applicable
Recommended FAFSA Submission Recommended Deadline March 1st March 1st January 15th
Decision Notification Mid-December Mid-January Mid-March
$500 Deposit Deadline - Pay Deposit January 15th February 15th May 1st

Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed on a space-available basis.

Early Decision

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Is RIT your 1st choice school?

Consider one of RIT's Friendly Early Decision Plans, so you receive Admissions and Financial Aid decisions earlier than other applicants. Our Friendly Early Decision plans are different than many other schools, offering special benefits to students who know what they want to do and what they need to get there.

Early Decision I Application Deadline: November 1
Early Decision II Application Deadline: January 1

Learn more about Early 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 an RIT summer camp and your application fee will be waived.

All applicants must submit a high school transcript showing academic work through the junior year and senior year courses. First quarter/semester senior year grades are highly recommended. Contact your high school guidance office and ask your counselor to send an official high school transcript to: Rochester Institute of Technology, NTID Office of Admissions, 52 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623. Transcripts are acceptable if they are faxed, but must include a cover sheet that clearly shows that it came directly from the high school. Transcripts can be faxed to 585-475-2696. An electronic high school transcript will be accepted if it is sent through Parchment Exchange or the Common Application.

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

For Fall 2023 and beyond: RIT is "Test Optional" for all undergraduate programs. Applicants may choose whether to report test scores to be considered with their application. SAT/ACT score results will be required for consideration in the RIT/SUNY Upstate Medical University Accelerated Scholars Program.

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 EssayQuestion: “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

For Fall 2024, RIT will be "Test Optional". This means that you can decide whether you would like SAT or ACT scores to be considered as part of your application. It's entirely up to you! 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). 

Wondering how RIT will make admissions decisions without requiring test scores?

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 or 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 & Animation. In the absence test scores, more weight will be placed upon the overall grade performance and other items mentioned above.

*SAT/ACT score results will be required for consideration in the RIT/SUNY Upstate Medical University Accelerated Scholars Program.

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)