Admissions

Recommended deadline for admission is July 15.

All new and transferring applicants for admission to Northwest College of Art (NCA) must comply with the following:

1. A. Submit a completed application accompanied by a $50 nonrefundable application fee made payable to NCA. $100 application fee for International Students.
2. B. Students must: Be a public or accredited private high school graduate and must have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA. or: Be an accredited home school graduate and must have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA. Students who have completed a home school program must show proof of school accreditation or program accreditation or GED. or: Have earned a GED and will be required to submit SAT or ACT scores or submit college transcripts that show a minimum of 30 college credits and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above. or: Students with below a 2.5 cumulative high school or college GPA will be required to submit an additional 1-page typed essay explaining why their GPA is below the required minimum and how they would overcome a similar situation in the future.
3. C. Submit official high school transcript or GED certificate and scores.
4. D. Submit official transcripts for all colleges attended.
5. E. Submit transfer credit information (if applicable) as outlined under “transfer credit” in this catalog. The transfer credit deadline is July 15. Credit will not be transferred after this date.
6. F. Submit a minimum 1 page typed personal essay addressing the following:
   1. 1. Why are you applying to Northwest College of Art? Prioritize four expectations that you have of this program.
   2. 2. How did you come to focus on the area of concentration that you wish to pursue at Northwest College of Art?/li>
   3. 3. Describe in detail two personal challenges that you have faced and how you met those challenges.
   4. 4. Describe one of the most important people in your life and how they have contributed to your success.
   5. 5. Describe two pieces of work you wish to create, and why.
   6. 6. What are your artistic career goals for the future, which begin with earning this degree? What employment positions
      do you wish to seek?
7. G. Arrange for an informational interview with an Admissions Representative. This can be conducted on the phone or at the NCA campus. You will be asked to complete a questionnaire and interview form at this time.
8. H. Arrange for an interview to be completed on-campus with the Review Committee and take a campus tour if you haven’t previously visited the campus. All application materials must be submitted prior to this interview.

Portfolio Requirements

A portfolio of 8–10 pieces of your best recent work is to be submitted with your application packet. All pieces need not be in your chosen medium of concentration, but they should enable the Review Committee to assess your current skills and potential for success in the program.

All applicants are required to submit their portfolios in digital form only. No original artwork or print reproductions should be submitted as part of your application package.

Digital formats that are considered acceptable include .jpegs of individual images/work or .pdfs of compilations of work. Please contact an Admissions Representative for more specific information about digital portfolio submission requirements and the portfolio submission process.

The portfolio of 8–10 works should include:

1. 1. A minimum of 4 observational drawings these should be drawn from real life observations such as objects, still life’s, landscapes, etc. Observational drawings should not be drawn from photographs.
2. 2. Any of the following: design, illustration, painting, digital art, video, animation, printmaking, sculpture or photography. Work selected for your application portfolio should include creative and compositional thinking.
3. In addition to the 8–10 pieces of recent finished work, applicants may optionally submit several sample pages from their sketchbook in digital form that include both exploratory and more developed works that illustrate the applicants artistic process.
4. The Review Committee may determine additional information is necessary from the applicant (i.e., additional essay, artwork, etc.) in order to make a determination for enrollment.

International Students

There is a $100 application fee for International students.

In addition to completing all of the admissions requirements listed previously, international students must submit a translated copy of a high-school transcript and TOEFL test score of at least 500 (paper) or 173 (computer). TOEFL test scores are not required for students from English speaking countries or for students who have graduated from a US high school. NCA reserves the right to require ESL classes if deemed necessary. If the international student is accepted, the college will begin the required paperwork for the I-20 Visa. At this time, the international student must submit documentation that demonstrates his or her ability to pay for all tuition, fees, and living expenses for the duration of the program. The appropriate I-20 form will be processed after all documentation is satisfied. For more information on obtaining a student visa visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services web site at www.uscis.gov.

The appropriate I-20 form will be processed after all documentation is satisfied. For more information on obtaining a student visa visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

Early Action Program

Northwest College of Art recommends high school juniors who demonstrate strong academic and artistic potential consider the early action program. The benefits include early communication of admissions decisions, the ability to focus on obtaining scholarships, and early information about housing and employment opportunities. To discuss this option further, contact an Admissions Representative at (360) 779- 9993.