Admitted International Students
Congratulations on your offer of admission!
In order to secure your place, please complete the following as soon as possible:
- Pay your tuition deposit ($100).
- Students who will live on campus should also submit their housing deposit ($100) and Housing Application.
- TIP: Tuition and Housing Deposits are credited toward your first-term tuition and housing and can be paid by credit card, check, cash or wire transfer. Contact your admission counselor with any questions.
Students entering in Fall (September) 2013 please submit your Course Request List to your admission counselor starting May 1, 2013. The course schedule for 2013-2014 is available on Merlin; and we encourage you to submit your course request list as soon as possible, as classes do fill up over the summer.
Before September 1, 2013
- Make arrangements to have your official final transcripts, including any summer course work, sent to North Central before the term begins.
- Get any necessary immunizations and complete your Medical History and Immunization Form for North Central's Wellness Center before August 1st. You will need your college id number to complete the forms. Call the Wellness Center with any questions, +1-630-637-5550.
- Note: Please be aware the State of Illinois has very specific immunization requirements as outlined in the medical forms. If these requirements are not met, you will not be able to register for your second term classes. Please contact Megan Otermat with any questions about these requirements.
- TIP: Although you can get missing immunizations after arriving at North Central, it is usually MUCH less expensive for you to get the required immunizations before you leave home.
- Purchase required health insurance through HTH. (The 2013-2014 brochure will be available in June.)
- TIP: Purchase insurance for all months you will be in the U.S. Use the address: North Central College, 30 North Brainard Street CM#276, Naperville, IL 60540. Blanks asking for ID numbers can be left blank. Print and bring your receipt and medical card to orientation.
- Note: International student athletes who will be participating in intercollegiate sports will need to purchase an additional insurance policy as well. Contact your coach for details.
- Let your admission counselor know if you are interested in participating in any athletics or other student activities on campus, so you can arrange to start practice or rehearsal on time. (Note: Students participating in athletics will also need to submit additional medical forms.)
- Arrange for your flight to arrive at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Monday, September 9, 2013, and provide your Admission Counselor with your flight details no later than Friday, September 6th, so the Office of International Programs staff can meet you at the airport and bring you to campus (students who will be living on-campus).
- TIP: Students arriving on other dates may need to arrange their own transportation to campus. Please be aware that F-1 visa regulations do not allow for arrival in the U.S. more than 30 days prior to the first day of classes; this means students arriving in the U.S. to start classes on September 16, 2013 cannot enter the U.S. in F-1 status until August 18, 2013.
- Note: Due to recent changes in U.S. regulations, please be sure to book your flights to allow at least three (3) hours between connecting flights if your first entry to the U.S. will be at an airport other than Chicago O'Hare. (An example of this would be if you were to fly into Miami or Los Angeles to change planes before flying to Chicago.) You will have to go through immigration and customs when you first land in the U.S. Allowing less than three hours between flights could mean that you miss your connecting flight in the case of delays going through immigration.
- Contact your roommate/s. You will receive your housing assignment and contact information for your roommate/s over the summer once housing has been finalized. Getting in contact before you arrive helps make your first days on campus much easier! For detailed information about what to pack for arrival and check-in, meal plans, the residence hall calendar and more, check out our Housing Packet.
- Consider how you plan to pay your first term tuition. Your electronic invoice is available on Merlin; as part of our efforts to be environmentally friendly, North Central does not issue paper invoices.
- Check out your options for enrolling in a payment plan here.
Applying for an F-1 Student Visa
If you will need an F-1 student visa to study at North Central, please submit the following as soon as possible to ensure an I-20 form (Visa Eligibility Document) can be issued:
- Documentation of sufficient financial resources. This includes:
- A completed and signed Declaration of Finances & Affidavit of Support.
- An Original Bank Letter for each sponsor that includes an original signature on bank letterhead with the bank's contact information. Photocopies will not be accepted. It must be dated within the past six months and include the name of the account holder and the amount in the account. It must also specify the type of account (e.g., savings, checking, time deposit, etc.) and the currency. Please be sure the amount in the account is at least equal to the amount pledged to the student by the sponsor.
- A photocopy of your passport identification page.
- A Transfer Verification Form and photocopies of your current I-20 form and I-94 card, if you are currently in the U.S. in F-1 status.
Once we receive your documentation, your I-20 will be sent to you with tips for paying your SEVIS fee and applying for your visa.
Welcome Week and International Student Orientation
Required International Student Orientation is scheduled to start in the Office of International Programs on:
Tuesday, September 10, 2013, at 9:00 a.m.
During Welcome Week, you will have the chance to get your student ID, tour campus, meet with your faculty advisor, open a bank account, visit a local store (to purchase items you just couldn't fit into your suitcase), participate in social events, and much more. Over the summer, you will receive more information about what the Office of International Programs has prepared for you.
Please note that international student orientation is required for all new international students - even those who have attended another U.S. institution in the past. Plan to be on campus Tuesday, September 10th through Friday, September 13th. (Weekend events scheduled for September 14th -15th are optional - but most students choose to participate in these as well).
Check out your Orientation Book. (Students will receive a printed copy at Orientation. The 2013-2014 Orientation Book will be available in late May 2013.)