Graduate Admissions for International Students
Graduate enrollment counselors, ISS is here to support you in your recruitment efforts. Please do not hesitate to contact us about anything you may have questions about.
Here are a few tips:
1. Getting students fully accepted – In order to get students accepted, they should also have completed the international requirements. For all international applicants, this includes a passport copy and a bank statement. For transfer applicants, see the transfer page. They also need to do the above plus submit a copy of their current I-20, visa, and EAD card if necessary.
2. Creating a Checklist – In our experience, it is helpful to have a checklist for the admission requirements specifically for international students. Look at this example from the MBA program.
3. Acceptance letters – Acceptance letters need to have certain requirements on them in order to work for students. These letters will most likely be read by consular officials in their home country. Look at this page on what a good acceptance letter looks like.
4. Sending the acceptance letter – It is best practice if ISS sends the acceptance letter to the student that way we can make sure everything has been completed and we aren’t missing any required documents. If transfer students receive acceptance letters prematurely, they can try to get their current school to transfer their I-20 to NU when they haven’t completed all of the international requirements. This causes both the student and NU a problem because they haven’t actually been fully admitted yet.
5. Communicating with students – Sometimes email communication can be challenging with people from foreign countries. Please be patient and let us know if you have any questions. We will try to copy you on any relevant emails that we receive from your students.
6. Agents – Many students, particularly students from Asia who haven’t studied in America before, use an agent to help them enroll in a university. This is normal. You may receive communication from an agent about their application. Approved agencies should have an agreement on file with ISS.
7. English proficiency – Students should meet your English proficiency requirements. Keep in mind that students who have already completed a degree in the United States do not need to meet a TOEFL or IELTS score. If prospective applicants have a low English skill, they can start in NU’s CELE program. Graduating from the CELE program satisfies the English language requirement.
8. Transcripts – If students need to submit a prior degree completed in a foreign country, they should have their transcripts evaluated and sent to NU. There are a number of agencies that evaluate transcripts, but we do have a relationship with FIS. If students select FIS, they should choose the document-by-document evaluation. If they are wanting to transfer credits, they should select the course-by-course evaluation. It will take a few weeks and cost a fee.
9. Arrival & Orientation – Students will need support with arrival, housing, and orientation. New international graduate students should attend international student orientation in order to check in with the International Student Service office. Please be sensitive to their needs if they are newly arriving to the United States. Imagine if you were moving to a new country yourself!