Once Accepted to NWACC as a New International Student | NorthWest Arkansas Community College
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New International Student

Once Accepted to NWACC

Once you are accepted to NWACC as a first time international student, you will be required to obtain a visa, find housing, purchase medical insurance, participate in an international student orientation and take an Accuplacer test. View the steps below to learn more. 


Next Steps Once Accepted

In order to obtain F-1 Visa to attend NWACC, you must pay your I-901 SEVIS fee and then schedule your DS-160 visa interview. Be sure to bring the following items to your visa interview:

  • Passport
  • NWACC acceptance letter
  • I-20 document
  • I-901 fee receipt
  • DS-160 confirmation receipt
  • Passport size photograph
  • Education financing
  • High school transcript
  • Standardized tests (if applicable)
  • College transcript (if applicable)
  • English verification (if applicable)
  • Evidence of intent to return home

If you are awarded an F-1 Visa, please upload a photocopy to NWACC's upload dropbox. 

Visa Interview Tips

The Visa interview process can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be. Here are some NWACC facts you need to know and websites that can help you prepare for your interview.

NorthWest Arkansas Community College Facts

  • Northwest Arkansas ranked Top 5 Best Communities By U.S. News & World Report
  • NWACC is the largest community college in the state of Arkansas
  • Top rated programs in Culinary, Health Professions, Business, Computer Information, and Social Sciences
  • Affordable college tuition and fees that cost less than $8,000 USD per year (Assuming minimum enrollment)
  • Accredited college by the Higher Learning Commission
  • 100% transferable college credits to the University of Arkansas (A Top 50 University in the United States)
  • Large international student body
  • Located in Bentonville, Arkansas, near the home office of Wal-Mart, J.B. Hunt, and Tyson.

Helpful Websites:

Like most community colleges, NWACC does not have dormitories, so you will need to search for a place to live during your time at NWACC. Feel free to check out NWACC's off-campus housing information, and if you are unable to find housing prior to arrival, there is Temporary Housing available across the street at Wood Springs Suites, which is a five minute walk to campus.

As an international student at NWACC, you are required to purchase college supplied medical insurance during your studies as indicated on your Financial Statement Form and in the NWACC Policy 4014.3. This is due each fall and spring semester by the last Tuesday prior to the start of classes and can be paid on the NWACC Marketplace.

At NWACC, we make sure that all new students are connected to the campus community as soon as possible. You are required to arrive at least seven days before classes begin to attend a two-day international student orientation.

Be sure to arrive in northwest Arkansas no later than 7 days before classes begin. Your NWACC acceptance letter indicates the orientation date and time. If you are unsure of this, please email InternationalAdmissions@nwacc.edu to inquire.

Missing orientation will cause delays with enrollment and could negatively affect your immigration status. Please contact us in advance if you will not make orientation on time.

  • Your I-20 will indicate your sessions start date and you should be here by that date. Once you arrive, you may need to take the Accuplacer Test if you have never attended a U.S. institution before. 
  • If you have at least 24 U.S. credit hours then you may skip this step.

Accuplacer

NWACC will require an Accuplacer test prior to your first semester of advising and enrollment. No matter the score, you will be a student at NWACC. The Accuplacer test allows academic advisors to know your current skills and be able to properly place you in the courses that grant you the highest chance of success. You may wait to take this test during orientation or you can take it in advance online with Examity.  If you wish to take it sooner then please email InternationalAdmissions@nwacc.edu. 

Request an Accuplacer test voucher. 

You may practice for this test for free online at the Accuplacer College Board.

The Advising Center is here to help you choose the right classes, graduate quickly, and safe you money. Once you have finished your Accuplacer test, you may schedule an advising appointment.   

During your first semester at NWACC, you will have a hold posted to your account after the first month called “IR” which references that the International Review is due. This hold will block your enrollment for the future semesters until you complete it. The requirement takes about 30-45 minutes and you may complete it on Canvas by clicking the below link. 

Enroll in International Review 

Once you click the link, it will require you to sign into Canvas before adding the course to your library. In short, this International Review will recap many of the important aspects you learned about in orientation like your immigration requirements, support services on-campus, degree plans, etc…. There will be a quiz after each section and you must average an 80% or better to pass. You may have multiple attempts on the quiz. These quiz grades will not be reflected on your college GPA. Once you complete it, please email  InternationalPrograms@nwacc.edu so it can be verified and your IR hold can be removed.