ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS Admission standards at Northwest Missouri State University are moderately selective. New freshman, transfer and returning student admissions are based on a combination of academic and personal considerations. Northwest takes an individual, holistic approach to the review of applications. An applicant’s academic accomplishments are a priority and are demonstrated by test scores, grades, class rank and exposure to a college prep curriculum. Admission to Northwest is not viewed as an entitlement based on grades and test scores. Our admissions process combines an examination of academic ability with flexible assessment of an applicant’s experiences and potential.
New freshmen are required to have completed a 24-unit core curriculum (16-unit core curriculum for 1996-2009 graduates) and meet the academic requirements in either Category I or Category II. (See box on pg. 3 or index guide on pg. 9.) Transfer students who have completed at least 24 hours of transferable, collegelevel coursework must have a 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) cumulative college GPA in transfer. An ACT score is recommended for placement purposes. For students with a cumulative college GPA in transfer below 2.00, consideration may be given based on professional judgment, and acceptance
may be granted on a probationary basis. In all cases, a student must be eligible to return to the last institution attended in order to be accepted to Northwest. ACT scores are required for all education majors. Transfer students who have fewer than 24 hours completed will be considered for admission on the basis of the freshman admission requirements, in addition to college work that has been completed. (Students transferring from non-accredited institutions also will be considered as first-time freshmen; credits cannot be transferred to Northwest from a nonaccredited institution.)
FIRST-TIME FRESHMEN APPLICATION PROCESS 1. Take the ACT (SAT is acceptable) on one of the national test dates. Have your test scores sent to Northwest by entering the ACT college code number for Northwest (2338) on the test registration form. Your high school counselor will be able to provide information and assistance. 2. Complete the application for admission in one of the following ways: Complete and submit your application online and pay no application fee. To access the Northwest online application, go to www.nwmissouri.edu/ admissions. Complete and submit the paper application on pages 5-7 of this booklet, along with a $25 application fee, to the address below. This fee will be credited to your University account upon enrollment at Northwest. MAILING ADDRESS: Office of Admissions Northwest Missouri State University 800 University Drive Maryville, MO 64468-6001 WALK-IN ADDRESS: 246 Administration Building or call 660.562.1148
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There is no deadline for admission applications as we have a rolling admissions process. Have your high school send an official copy of your six- or seven-semester transcript with class rank and GPA at the time of application and a final eight-semester transcript showing the date of your high school graduation. Official ACT (or SAT) scores must come directly from ACT (or College Board). Scores reported on your high school transcript will not be accepted. If you have earned any college credit or dual credit while attending high school, you must request each college or university from which credit has been earned to send an official transcript to the Office of Admissions. For more information, go to www.nwmissouri.edu/admissions/ academics/dualcredit.htm. Student copies of transcripts or personal copies of test results do not constitute official records or copies.
ENHANCED FRESHMAN SEMINAR The Enhanced Freshman Seminar program at Northwest is designed for the first-time freshman who, after thorough and thoughtful review of academic records and transcripts, is believed to have the potential to be successful at Northwest given the proper support. Students selected for participation in this program have identified areas of weakness
and must participate in this program in order to enroll as a student at Northwest. HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENTS Home-schooled students will be considered for admission on the same basis as traditional high school graduates. Submit ACT/SAT results and descriptive information regarding your high school program of study. In order to be accepted, home-schooled students must meet one of the following criteria: 1. A 21 or higher on the ACT (or SAT equivalent) OR 2. A GED score of 2550 or better (or 255 depending on the date of the test) with a minimum subscore of 510 in each of the five content areas. GED APPLICANTS Based on the 2002 GED score standards, a student may be considered for admission after receiving an equivalency certification meeting the following criteria: a total score of at least 2550 and no subscore lower than 510. ACT/SAT test scores are required. 1. See item 2 under First-Time Freshmen Application Process. www.nwmissouri.edu/admissions/ apply 2. Submit official GED and ACT/SAT test results to Northwest. 3. Have your high school send an official copy of your partial high school transcript.
TRANSFER STUDENTS APPLICATION PROCESS 1. See item 2 under First-Time Freshmen Application Process, above. 2. Request an official transcript be sent to the Northwest Office of Admissions for all college-level work you have attempted from each college or university attended. If you are in the process of completing courses, also have a final transcript sent at the end of the semester to complete your transfer file. 3. If you have earned fewer than 24 hours of college-level credit, you must
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request an official transcript from your high school showing your class rank, GPA and high school graduation date. Official ACT/SAT scores must be sent directly from ACT/College Board. For students who have earned more than 24 hours of college-level credit, it is recommended that ACT scores be sent for the purpose of course placement. ACT scores are required for all education majors. 4. You must submit previous transcripts regardless of whether those credits will apply to a Northwest degree. Hand-carried, personally-delivered or
NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
issued-to-student transcripts are all unofficial even though they carry the college seal and/or signatures that are placed on official records. 5. Northwest has developed an automated process that defines exactly how your courses transfer to Northwest and meet your degree requirements. Information about equivalent courses from other institutions may be available on Northwest’s website at www.nwmissouri.edu/admissions/ transfer/equivalencies.htm.